The Symphony of Shaving Accessories

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.

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Aaah the shaving brush.  What better shaving accessories to spend a bit of time contemplating and writing about.  It has a wonderful image, one that harkens back to the turn of the 20th century.  The corner barber shop, a place of camaraderie where everyone met to exchange views on the subject of the day.  A simpler, kinder time and place.  Well maybe not really, but it’s still fun to contemplate.

While in use as early as ancient Egypt, the true reign of the shaving brush began with the invention of the straight razor in the early 19^th. .  That made it no longer necessary to see a barber to get a shave.   It could be done at home and every man had a shaving brush and cup on his nightstand.  The wealthy were happy to spend, for the time, extravagant amounts of money on brushes with gold, silver or crystal handles and the most exotic bristles.   The shaving brush held sway until the mid-20^th century when the advent of the aerosol foam can rendered it obsolete.   Although a shade of its former greatness, it hasn’t totally disappeared.  It continues in use today with a small but growing cadre of fans who continue to use the shaving brush and fervently sing its’ praises.

While the handles are the status symbol the business end, the bristles, is where the action is.  From the very beginning, because of its’ durability, water retention properties and soft, pliable texture, badger hair was the preferred medium. While boar’s hair and, more recently, synthetics have attempted to supplant it, badger hair still remains on the top of the heap. But is all badger hair the same?  No not even close.  Typically badger hair is broken down into three grades.  Although some manufactures cut the distinctions even finer.  Those three grades are pure, best and silvertip.

• Pure grade  badger hair comes from the underbelly, an area that covers about 60% of the badger’s body and is therefore the most abundant and least expensive.  The hair follicle is a bit thicker than best and silvertip and as a result is a bit coarser than their brethren.  Its color varies between a light tan to dark gray.  Unlike the other two, pure grade bristles are mechanically trimmed during the manufacturing process and that results in a stiffer, rough tip.
• Best grade badger hair is next on the totem pole.  The hair in this category tends to be a bit finer and more flexible than the pure grade.  Best grade brushes tend to be denser and as a consequence produce more lather.  They typically don’t require trimming so they are more comfortable to use than the pure.
• Silvertip badger hair is the top of the line both in quality and price.  It’s called silvertip because the tips of the bristles are white in color which extends well down the shaft.  The bristle has a somewhat flared shape that increases its water retention and therefore its ability to create thick, creamy lather.

No matter what the quality level.  Shaving with a badger hair shaving brush is a “hair rising” experience since it softens and lifts the whiskers, resulting in an extremely close and comfortable shave.  So hats off to furry our four legged friends.  For their fur makes our comfort possible.

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