Shaving Brush

[marcmagus]

Back at the end of the summer, I found myself spending a lot of time browsing men's style forums and blogs. I must have stumbled there looking for information on cravat-tying or something like that, but I ended up learning a whole lot about shirting, shoe types and construction, and all sorts of other things I never thought I'd find interesting.

One of the things I read about was shaving with a brush and soap and a safety razor. I was intrigued. During the recent holidays, I obtained a brush and bowl set as a gift and picked up one of those really cheap cakes of shaving soap CVS carries. I'm still using my Gilette Mach 3 (and don't get me started on the new disposable razors with batteries in them...)

I must say, I'm loving shaving with a brush and shaving soap. It's kind of fun, but I also feel like I can do a two-pass shaving without getting nearly as much razor burn as I used to with the expensive gel.

I'm glad I did all that reading, though, or I would probably be doing the lather wrong. You work up the lather on your face. That puts it right where you want it. It also makes sure it's nice and wet. It works kind of like this: wet the brush, brush it on the soap until the bristles have some soap in them, brush it on your face to deposit some soap there, dip the brush lightly to pick up a little more water, whisk on your face, pressing enough that the bristles fan out, and brush it around vigorously until you work up a lather. Kind of like whipping cream or egg-whites, but you don't have to do it as long.

I've also tried using the brush with some of my leftover shaving gel, and I find I get a nicer, smoother, moister lather on my face with the combination than with just the gel alone. I think gel (and cream, and whatever) just don't manage to integrate enough water for me when I apply them normally.

In short, I highly recommend men who shave regularly invest in a brush. For $25 (brush + soap + some other junk), it's well worth it. I have no idea if it would be advantageous for shaving anything other than one's face.

One of these days, I may try the whole quality razor thing, but that's a bigger initial investment...

Comments

[pixel.livejournal.com]

Shop around other pharmacies and see if you can find a different brand of shave soap. I've been shaving with soap & brush for several months now and can tell you the CVS brand is the worst lathering I've found. The stuff they sell at Rite-Aid o Walgreens in a green box is much better and even comes in different types (regular, aloe/sensitive skin, glycerin).

I agree that shaving with a brush & soap is way better than shaving with modern shaving gels. I also like it because it makes a bit of an event out of a very mundane task.

Oh and for those besides marc reading this, the various pharmacies sell the brushes as well. Use an old coffee mug for a shave mug and you can have a sufficient setup to give it a try for under $15.

[marcmagus]

Yeah, I plan on doing so...but even with the cheap stuff CVS stocks (it's Mug brand), I'm happier than I was using pretty expensive gel. Do you have a preference among the soaps you've tried yet?

I agree that the bit of event/bit of ritual helps.

(My local pharmacy doesn't actually carry brushes, but that might just be because they suck.)

Safety Razors

[(Anonymous)]

Check out Safety Razors too...they are a great way to shave a save a ton of money...

I got a RetroRazor starter kit for Christmas and it is very gentle. Merkur is also a well regarded brand from what I have heard!

Charles Drew