The Male Waxing & Shaving Blog

Archive for the ‘Shaving’ Category

Whenever possible I now always use Shaving Brush when shaving, I find it gives a much better shave and is so much more convenient to use and much cleaner. Once you have lathered the face with shave creme you can set the brush aside then shave. If you need to add a little extra or want to do a second shave for a really close shave then you can just pick the brush up and reapply without the need to lather up. And the bristles really help to lift the beard to give a great shave experience.

Here is my quick guide to using a Shaving Brush:

1. Rinse or wash your face to begin with, using water as hot as you can comfortably bare – or shave right out of the shower
2. Dip your brush into the hot water – just a second or two is fine, gently shake off any excess
3. Add a pump or squirt of your chosen Shave Creme into a small plastic bowl
4. Then with brisk circular motions build up a lather in the bowl
5. Now using circular motions apply the foam all over the face, scoop the foam out of the bowl using the brush and apply

If needed you can add a little extra water (usually just a few drops does the trick) to build a fresh lather for any touching up work. I usually use a plastic bowl to mix the foam up as its easier and cleaner then getting foam all over your hands – and it is super quick to rinse out.

Once you have finished shaving you must wash the brush out thoroughly with hot water to remove all shave cream and then place it in its stand with the bristles facing down so that the water can drain away. Don’t boil or put your brush in the dishwasher, treat it with love it will be your shave friend for a long time.

Just when you thought you couldn’t get any more metal into a razor it turns out you can! In American ShaveMate have just launched their Titan 6 … the first razor to include 6 blades!

With each new razor comes more blades. With each one the claims of a smoother, closer shave with less irritation make it better then anything we’ve had before. Surely more is better? Personally I don’t think so, the closest, smoothest and best shaves I’ve had and seen have all be done with a single straight-edge razor. Just to check I picked up the razor earlier to count the blades: One.

There is going to become a time when ShaveMate, Gillette, Schick / Wilkinson Sword won’t be able to fit anymore blades into a disposable head. What will they do then? They’ve spent millions on telling us with each additional blade comes a better shave … can they really turn around and say “oops, sorry guys turns out we were wrong … this new razor with less blades is even better!”

There are some interesting quotes from Mark Sproston of Shave Doctor in this post in the Seattle Times and this one in the Washington Post. Mark has surveyed approximately 14,000 men on their shaving habits so has learnt a thing or two along the way.

In the article he says that multi blade razors peaked at three, and I agree – personally I only use a three blade disposable for everyday shaving. The only difference I notice about those with more blades … they cost more.

Just when you thought the razor was fairly standard now, Shick – owned by Energizer (them of the bunnies) have come out with a “complete reinvention of the razor”.

A complete reinvention of the razor, the Schick Hydro results from years of testing and consumer collaboration, making it the most thoroughly researched product in the brand’s 87 year history.

Over this extensive development period, thousands of consumers provided their insights into the shaving experience and their feedback on prototypes, models and technologies. Consumer testers included men and women of all ages, from all walks of life, and with a wide range of sensitivity to adjustments in razor technologies.

“We had conversations with thousands of men, and what we heard, in short, was the shaving experience needed to be refreshed. They told us the potential for irritation kept them from feeling good during their shaves and that they wanted something that would refresh and rejuvenate them,” said Dan Kinton, senior brand manager for Schick. “With Schick Hydro, we knew that if we could create a shaving line that actually made men feel better, we’d be able to return shaving to its rightful place as a refreshing daily ritual. Our goal was to create a razor that gives back the hydration other razors take away.”

Read the full press release or checkout the new website.

It is launching the US in April, and I’m not sure of a UK date yet – but they sell under the Wilkinson Sword brand.

I came across the fascinating article yesterday, it shows just how sharp razor blades are under a very powerful microscope. So if you’ve ever wondered how smooth is smooth or how sharp a razor is, then I’d definately suggestion having a look at this article.

King of Shaves recently launched the latest version of their Azor Razor … the Azor M Alloy System Razor.

Designed and manufactured in the UK and tipping the scales at 47g, compared to the 17g Azor, the Azor M is perfectly balanced and ideally weighted for maximum control and comfort whilst shaving. The Azor M utilises King of Shaves’ internationally patented “Bendology Technology” flexible hinges which allows the Azor’s head to bend and follow every contour of your face whilst pressing the blades progressively closer onto the skin for a superbly comfortable yet close shave. The unique wishbone shaped head design provides greater visibility when shaving.

The latest addition to the award winning Azor line-up also introduces the new v2 slim blade cartridge, that makes shaving under the nose and other hard to reach places even easier. The tactile handle features side creases for improved dexterity and grip, trim guides for shaping and styling facial hair, a larger skin pre-tensioner (reducing the risk of unwanted nicks and cuts whilst helping to prevent in-growing hairs) and an improved soft-touch cartridge ejection mechanism making it even easier to change blades – not that you will be doing that very often as our Endurium coated blades last longer!

The razor has a RRP of £6.99 with blades costing between £0.81p and £1.25 depending on the pack size. Very competitively priced, and a very different design … so how does it compare? Well this will naturally be a part of the Big Razor Test to compare.

I’m a bit late picking this up, but a few days ago Procter & Gamble Company announced the latest product in the Gillette shaving range, yes they have done it again and designed a razor that is better, smoother and more comfortable then all their previous razors that were better, smoother and more comfortable then all their previous razors.

As is the way now for Gillette this will come in the standard and “powered” varieties.

So there you have it, the best a man can get just got better! This new razor is launching in the US in June 2010 and around the world at some point after that, yet to be announced. But as soon as I can get hold of one I’ll bring you a full review and my own opinion of it.

One thing that I think we can be sure of … it is going to be expensive, the current Fusion Power blades cost upto £2.51 a head!!

For the corporate view here are some bits from the press release.
Read the rest of this entry »

We’ve added a new treatment to the shave menu here at Waxing for Guys. We’ve been using a straight edge cut throat razor to shave beards, well now we can use that same style of razor to shave your head!

There are quite a few guys who like the look and feel of a smoothly shaved head, but its one of those shaves that isn’t really that easy to do yourself. So why not let us do it for you!

That is what it says on the box of the gift set from The Shave Doctor. These fantastic mens shaving products are now in stock and I cannot recommend them highly enough. In my view the best complete shave products on the market!

So why not get along to the Shave Shop and check them out for yourself.

So I have completed the shaves for the first Razor in the Big Razor Test, and this is going to take some time! There are nearly 30 razors to get through, hence the name. Each model of razor will be tested twice, once as a quick shave and once as a full shave. The products used and routine are outlined here for future reference. For each test the razor’s will be marked out of five for the following categories:

1. Grip – How is it to handle?
2. Glide – Is it a smooth shave, or does the blade feel like its dragging?
3. Closeness – How smooth a shave does it feel, was it a good shave?
4. Comfort – Was it comfortable to use, did it cause lots of nicks and cuts?
5. Ease – Is it easy to use or does it require a bit of skill and practoce
6. Value for Money – Is it worth it?

And then the results from both shaves will be averaged out to give an overall result. So how are the shaves being conducted? Here is the procedure for each one:

Quick Shave

1. Use Men-U facial wash in the shower to prepare
2. Rinse and dry
3. Apply Men-U Shaving Cream with Men-U Premier shaving brush
4. First shave with the grain
5. Rinse and re-apply Men-U Shaving Cream with Men-U Premier shaving brush
6. Second shave across the grain, checking skin and shaving to give a close finish
7. Rinse, cool skin with cold flannel
8. Smooth over with Men-U Facial Moisturiser

Full Shave

1. Use Shave Doctor facial wash in the shower to prepare
2. Rinse and dry
3. Apply Shave Doctor Shaving Oil
4. Apply Shave Doctor Shaving Cream with Men-U Premier shaving brush
5. First shave with the grain
6. Rinse and re-apply Shave Doctor Shaving Cream with Men-U Premier shaving brush
7. Second shave across the grain, checking skin and shaving to give a close finish
8. Rinse, cool skin with cold flannel
9. Smooth over with Shave Doctor Moisturazor

As part of the Big Razor Test I thought it would be interesting to see what your experiences of shaving was. So I have created a short survey that you can see here. It takes less then a minute to do, and by completing it you will be entered into a prize draw to win a free set of Men-U shave products!

You can also expect to see the first result of the Big Razor Test published over the weekend … the Gillette Blue II Plus single use disposable.

Click here to complete the Survey.