The Symphony of Shaving Accessories

Hey its’ happened to us all.  We get up early in the morning, still half asleep.  We start shaving and #@!!? we cut ourselves.   Blood running everywhere.  It always seems to happen when we’re in a hurry or have an important meeting that day, doesn’t it?  Early on many of us learned that the quickest way to stop the bleeding is to apply a small piece of toilet paper, right?  Yes, that usually does the trick until such time as you remove it from your face.  With the paper usually comes the scab and it starts bleeding all over again.  Or worse yet you forget it’s there and you show up for that important meeting with a wad of bloodied toilet paper stuck to your face.  Not quite the impression you were looking for.

There are better ways you know.  Probably the most common method to stop the bleeding from a razor nick is the good old fashion styptic stick applied directly to the cut.   A styptic or hemostatic pencil is a short stick of medication, usually anhydrous aluminum sulfate (a type of alum) or titanium dioxide which stops the bleeding by constricting the blood vessels and promoting coagulation at the site of the cut. Readily available at most drug stores.  It will put you back about $1.75 or so.  A shaving accessory that should find a home in every bathroom drug cabinet.

But just suppose you’re on the road and forgot to drop it in your dopp kit.  What then?  Well there are a couple of lesser known but effective ways to approach the problem.

• Try applying an ice cube to the cut.  The ice will  cool the affected area, constricting the blood vessels and stem the bleeding.

• Apply a dab of Vaseline jelly to the cut.  This serves to clog the cut allowing the blood to coagulate quickly.

• Apply witch hazel.  Apply with a Qtip or cotton ball.  Witch hazel is an astringent which,like a styptic stick and ice constricts, the blood vessels.

• · Got a tube of Chapstick around?  Try that.  It works like Vaseline jelly clogging the cut.

• · Check your deodorant.  Many contain aluminum chloride or a derivative like aluminum chlorohydrate.   It helps a blood clot to form quickly.

• Although I’ve not tried this one, I’ve heard that applying a bit of sugar to the cut will stop the bleeding immediately.  Not sure what it is about sugar that makes it so, but worth a try if nothing else is available.

• · What if you don’t have any of the above handy, then what?  Take a dry wash cloth or towel and apply pressure to the cut.  It will stop eventually but your significant other may not be too pleased with to find the towels spotted with specks of blood.

Of course, the best way to solve this problem is to prevent a nick from occurring in the first place.  Slow down and pay attention to what you’re doing whenever  you shave.  If you are nick prone try moisturizing  your face before you shave.  That may help lessen the occurrences.

Pick you poison.  There are a lot of different shaving accessories that will help to avoid nicks and the dreaded toilet paper fix.

Technorati Tags: chap stick, shaving, Shaving Accessories, shaving nick, styptic stick, vaseline, witch hazel

For a whole host of reasons, mostly related to convenience, many men have chosen to use an electric razor as their shaving accessory of choice.  Although primary a wet shaver myself, I have an electric razor that I use when time is an issue or for a quick touch up before a meeting or a special event.  So the question of the day is….If I plan on using an electric razor as my primary or secondary shaving tool how do I go about selecting the right one?

There are essential two basic configurations of electric razors: foil and rotary.  Their principal difference lies in the cutting action of their blades. The blades in a foil shaver move side to side while the blades in a rotary, as their name would imply, in a circular motion.

Foil Shavers

Foil shavers are available in three versions depending on the number of blades employed.  They are single, double or triple foil.  The basic difference between them is, a triple foil will get the job done faster than a single blade with the double falling inbetween.  Pretty simple.

Rotary

Rotary cutters feature two or three rotating blades beneath a circular screen.  Variations here include the double action variety, fitted with devises that “lift” the whiskers for a closer shave.  The other is a micro-action variety which features a thinner screen.  Less metal between blade and face means a closer shave.

Which is best???  Really a personal preference.  I terms of actual performance…the cutting action itself…neither style has much of an advantage.  If your face is a bit craggy and difficult to reach a rotary may be able to get into the tight spots and result in an overall better shave.

What other issues should you consider when making an electric razor selection?

Portability

There are four basic versions here: The plug in, battery operated, a rechargeable, or a combination plug in/ rechargeable model.  The overriding consideration here is how and where you shave.  If you shave once a day and always in the same place then the basic plug in should serve you well.   I use a rechargeable model since I use it as a supplemental shaving device at the office or when I’m on the road.  Battery models are clearly the most expensive to operate although they in and of themselves are relatively inexpensive.

Other issues

Price:  As with most things, you get what you pay for.  Opting for a bargain basement brand isn’t always a good deal.  It  pays to check out user recommendations on amazon or other consumer evaluation sites.

Waterproof:  Many like to shave in the shower and a waterproof model allows you that flexibility.

Size: Here size relates to the hand fit.   Is it comfortable in the hand?  You’re likely to be using it every day for a very, very long time so a comfortable grip is important.

Face comfort:  Does the rotary heads or the foils feel comfortable on the face?

These last two really necessitate getting a “hands on” experience available only at brick and mortar stores.  If you contemplating buying a brand or model you’ve never used before, it’s probably a good idea to pay a visit to your local vendor for a close up and personal evaluation.

For speed and convenience you can beat an electric razor shaving accessory.  A bit of time spent up front in the selection process evaluating your needs and preferences can help insure

Technorati Tags: electric razor, foil shaver, rotory razor, Shaving Accessories

Came across this shaving accessories item the other day and thought it was interesting enough to post on the blog.  It’s an item called a Razor Pit.  What does a Razor Pit do you might ask?  It’s a product designed to extend the life of your razor to about 150 shaves.  That’s about 5 months.  Kinda caught my eye.  Always looking for ways to save a buck so I took a look.

The product is based on research that the company did into why blades get dull.  Much to their amazement and mine I might add, they didn’t get dull at all.  What caused a razor to stop cutting well was the buildup of shaving “residue” i.e. skin, soap, hair, etc.  These leftovers would cling to the razor’s edge significantly diminishing its’ effectiveness.  Using the Razor Pit cleans the blade and prolongs its’ useful life.

It’s a simple case with a silicon pad in the bottom.  You add a bit of shaving foam to the pad.  Push you razor down against the pad with a constant pressure and push the razor up rather than you usual downward stroke.  This action removes the entire shaving residue and you left with a clean sharp blade again.  It seems to be compatible with most Gillett and Wilkson razors.

The trick is that it’s made in Denmark.  Although they appear to ship to the US it’s always a bit more costly and complex when getting products from overseas.  At an exchange rate of $1.51 to 1 British Pound it will run about $30 plus freight and duty if any.  But if a set of eight replacement blades cost you somewhere in the neighborhood of $25, this little shaving accessories gizmo will pay for itself in pretty short order.

Technorati Tags: razor, shaving, shaving accessoires, shaving foam

Shaving oils are well-kept shaving accessories secret.  Not many know about them and even fewer use them.  However for those few, their trusted shaving oil is a critical component allowing them to achieve a complete, comfortable shave.

Oils are massaged into the face prior to the lathering and the shave.  Their primary functions are three: to help soften the beard, protect the face and lubricate the shaving action.  They accomplish these goals by providing an extra layer of skin protection keeping the active ingredients in shaving creams, soaps and gels, designed to soften your facial hair, from being too harsh. Using shaving oil provides protection from razor burn by allowing blades to run over your skin more smoothly, and thereby preventing irritation to areas like dry patches and bumps.  The principal components of oils also provide conditioning properties that are absorbed by and soften the whiskers.

At a very basic level shaving oils are simply oils with a touch of glycerin added.  But they can expand well beyond that, as a quick review of the wide array of product currently on the market will attest. If you’re simply interested in the face protection and lubrication benefits, literally any old oil will do.  Baby oil, Olive oil or even vegetable oil will give you adequate protection.  If you’re looking for a bit more, and the idea of eating what you shave with puts you off a bit, then we need to dig a little deeper.  Most if not all shaving oils are composed of three elements.  The first is what’s called a “carrying oil”.  The second is one or more essential oils and the final component is glycerin.  The “carrying oil” is just that, a vehicle that carries the other ingredients.  Different manufactures employ different ones.  Some examples are almond oil, coconut oil, palm oil and jojoba oil.  Too this are added the essentials oils, a highly concentrated extract of the source material, usually a plant of some sort.  The list here is virtually endless.  Three of the most common are sandalwood, lavender and orange.  Many of the essential oils do possess some conditioning properties in addition to their pleasant and/or invigoration aromas.  The final ingredient, glycerin, is really the work horse in shaving oils.  It lubricates and moisturizes by actually drawing moisture up from and attracting it to the skin.  Plus it slows the rate of water evaporation.

There are a wide array of shaving oils on the market.  I took a look on Amazon and found that the top three selling brands in the category were “All Natural Shaving Oil” followed by “The Art of Shaving Pre-shave Oil” and “The King of Shaves for Men Kinexium Shaving Oil”.  Prices on these three range from $7 to $22.

If you have dry skin or frequently suffer from razor burn, do yourself a favor and try one of these shaving accessories out and see if it doesn’t give you a better more comfortable shave. 

Technorati Tags: glycerin, shaving, Shaving Accessories, Shaving Cream, shaving oils, shaving soap

What’s the key to a great shave?  Can anyone guess?  Simply put, it all starts with a great lather.  Why? Because the basic function of the lather is to moisten the whiskers and lubricate the face for a nice, smooth razor pull that gets the entire beard quickly and effectively. 

What medium works best?

Opinions differ between the chief shaving accessories contenders: cream, foam, gel or soap.  My personal opinion?  It’s creams and soaps hands down.  With foams and gels you really can’t affect the outcome.  You get simply whatever comes out of the can or tube.   Since creams and soaps need to be whipped into lather, they can be manipulated to deliver the maximum benefit.  Performed correctly a well whipped soap or cream lather can dramatically impact you shave’s comfort and results.

Preparation

The first phase is the warm up.  This is a key step toward enhancing the basic comfort of your shave.  Two basic items need to be warmed in preparation for a shave: the brush and the mug.  Insuring that both are warm, will ultimately result in a warm comfortable lather applied to your face….one of the truly pleasurable aspects of a classic wet shave.   If you use a cream heat the bowl and brush in hot water for 30 seconds, the hotter the better. If you are a soap user and employ the same mug for soap  storage and lather generating, add hot water to the mug  and soak the brush and soap, again for about 30 seconds or so, remember, the hotter the better. Some suggest that the soap be kept in a container other than the one in which it’s lathered but I’m not quite the purest.  Shaving cream users should add a small dab of cream (about the size of a pea) to the warm mug.  

Lathering

After the preparation soak, empty the bowl and shake off the excess water from the brush.  Be sure to give it a good shake.  Too much water in either the bowl or brush will give you a runny lather.  You can always add more water if necessary.  Whip the soap or cream by turning the brush in a rapid circular motion, alternating clockwise and counter clockwise.  Continue this for about 30 seconds or so until the bristle tip of your brush has a ¼” layer of foam, covering it completely, and the lather is stiff enough to come to a nice peak.   If you’re having difficulty getting enough lather, try adding a tiny bit more water to the mug.  A tiny splash will do.

Application

The final step is to apply the lather to the face.  The best results are achieved by rubbing the foam onto the face is a circular motion, again alternating between clockwise and counterclockwise motion.  Work it in.  If you’ve got a warm lather the experience will be worth spending a little time at it. Massaging the lather into the face enhances the beard moisturizing, acts a mild defoliant and opens pours and cleans the skin. Don’t apply the lather in a paint brush fashion you won’t get the in-depth coverage you need for a great shave.  Once that’s accomplished it’s on to the shave.

A good shave starts with a good lather.   I’ve found he best lather comes from a shaving soap or cream.  It takes a bit more time than pressing an aerosol can button but as shaving accessories go the results can’t compare. 

Technorati Tags: brush lather, How to Shave, mug, shaving, Shaving Accessories, Shaving Cream, shaving soap, Wet Shaving

Opti ons, Options, Options.  Sometimes it seems as though  we have too many choices to make, too ma ny decisions on too many issues.  Being a wet shaver offers no respite.  Pre and post shave oils and lotion, type of razor, brand of blades and brush shaving accessories that all require some thought and scrutiny.  Probably one of the most important however is the source of the lather we apply to our face. Although there are a wide variety of brands there are only four basic mediums: Foams, Creams, Gels and Soaps.  Which to Choose? What are their differences? Advantages? Disadvantages?

We’ll not pass judgment on which is the best medium since it’s largely a personal preference issue.  We’ll simply provide some basic information and you can make up your own mind regarding which you prefer.  “One man’s preference, another man’s poison.”

Foams

For this exercise foams are defined as being can contained and aerosol activated. What 2/3 of the shaving population use every day.  Relatively new, they were first introduced in 1949.  Because of their primary advantage, convenience, they meshed well with emerging cultural trends of the 50’s and 60’s.  While canned foam certainly gets you out of the bathroom quickly, there are a couple of downside issues to consider.  Many brands contain significant levels of alcohol.   Alcohol tends to dry skin when is should be hydrated and conditioned. Additionally, the canned foam product contains a good deal of air which negatively  affects its’ ability to adequately suspend your facial hairs upright during the shave.  This ultimately decreases its’ softness and thoroughness and also increases the likelihood that the razor will drag across your skin and ‘burn’ it.

Gels

Gels come in a tube or aerosol can.  They are applied directly to the face and typically remain clear and don’t lather-up upon application.  Herein lays their principal advantage.  They can be useful for those who need to skillfully maneuver around the shave of thier goatee or mustache.  You’ll alwyas be abot to see the hair beneath and avoind trimming too far into your beard.  In addition, for those with easily irritated skin or “problem areas” (due to break-outs, etc.), the gel makes it easier to avoid cutting in affected areas.  Disadvantagre.  Many find them gunky, over reliant on chemicals and harsh on the skin.

Creams

Creams are cross between soaps and gels, and are available in a tube or jar. You can use your fingers to apply it directly to your face and lather up or in conjunction with a brush and/or mug.  They often contain glycerin which helps create a smooth and creamy lather that holds plenty of water and leaves the skin smooth and soft.  Since they need to be lathered, creams lack the convenience of Gels and Foams.

Soaps

Traditional soaps come in a cake form.  They produce a thick, whipped, creamy foam when lathered with a decent shaving brush.   They often contain oils, herbs and plant extracts that not only leave a pleasant fragrance but help hydrate and condition the skin, resulting in a smoother shave.  They may also help with some skin conditions.  Soaps, like creams, require a bit of time to work up lather, so they too rank a bit lower on convenience scale.

So there you have it.  If your shaving accessories preference is convenience the first two are for you.  If you’re looking for a bit more from you daily shave then creams and soaps are it.  Regardless which you chose be sure to look at the ingredient and avoid products that contain harsh chemicals or additives.

Technorati Tags: shaving, shaving accessoires, Shaving Cream, shaving foams, shaving gels, Shaving Mug, shaving soap, Wet Shaving