Not the safety that you were probably thinking of when you saw the title, but it has everything to do with safety...razors that is. I think I talked about the unfortunate situation a while back when the care package my mom sent was promptly returned to the states without my knowledge. That storm has passed however, and after finally getting to transition to the next phase of my shaving journey I can say that I´m quite please. I gotta show appreciation to my mom for taking the time to send me some new shaving goodies and I have enjoyed them show much I´ll even give a free shoutout to the products I use.
Now you may not shave or you may not have the exact same genetic makeup as I do that makes me prone to skin irritation after using multi blade razors, BUT I do think that most people will shave at one point or another in their lives and if I can give you some insight into some products that are top notch, it would be my pleasure. Plus I feel like the reviews you get on websites, not the super in depth blogs such as this, are sparse in the usage description and reaction. Pardon me but 3.5 stars out of 5 doesn´t tell me a whole lot about what I´m about to buy.
The core reason I´m writing this is that over the years I was one of those people caught up in the train of thought where after hearing Gilette added another blade it must be better for me. After years of dry skin and irritation I decided to call it quits on the multi blade experience. I can thank DAPPERED for the nudge in the right direction and they also have great deals for any guys looking to upgrade the wardrobe without emptying the wallet.
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| Out with the old. |
Also I think presenting them in the order you would shave in, is most convenient.
Step One: The Pre Shave Oil
L´Occitane Shaving Oil
Let me first say that my mom really did me a solid here. I didn't even ask for the extra shaving cream and oil as I know they can get pretty pricy. So yes these may not be the entry level product and you use a less expensive brand, but that´s even more of a reason to talk about them. Also with the razor (yes it's pricy) you can make up for the cost of buying replacement cartridges within the first year of use. Hopefully when I'm back in the states I can compare to some other brands.
So after you've showered it´s time for the pre shave oil to go on. This particular oil doesn't smell particularly great, they really aimed for the male musk with this one, but it doesn't matter because you've got at least a few cream applications and some rinses before it´s all said and done. This oil may not smell so rosy but as men is that what we want?? Plus it does a really good job of getting your skin ready. After you shower pores are open and your skin is holding moisture. This oil does a good job of keeping your face moist and makes it even easier for the blade to do it´s job.
Step Two: Shaving Cream and Brush
L´Occitane Shaving Cream
Again this brand comes through in a good way. After the oil it´s time for the shaving cream and this stuff is considerably better smelling for starters. They say in many shaving guides that you only need a ¨dollop¨of shaving cream to do the job. I´ve always had trouble with this word not only because it sounds funny to me but because when I think of dollop I envision large portion of whipped cream topping off a piece of pie. Because this word is often open to interpretation, I went on the conservative side and found that a quarter sized amount is just fine. The cream definitely works into a nice lather without a large amount plus at this rate you´ll that many more shaves. Win win.
Art of Shaving Silvertip Brush
It´s hard to review a brush because I´ve only had this one. Though I can say that so far it has been as advertised. I know it´s not one of the highest quality animal hair brushes but so far it has been a pleasant upgrade to the lathering process. I really don´t think you need to buy a bowl either, because in hand works just fine.
Step Three: The Shave
The Jack Black Double Edge Safety Razor
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| In with the new. Looks cool too |
I was pretty excited for this to come in the mail as the indicator strip on my Gilette fusion was screaming, ¨STOP USING ME¨ but I had no other option at the time. Aside from the cool name and packaging the Jack Black looks exactly as it it´s shown and has good weight to it as well. There is also a blade included in the box that can go unnoticed if your not paying attention.
Upon first use, I was delighted to find the difficulty cutting through longer beard hair presented by the 5 blades was erased. The safety razor cut through each subsequent length of hair like a molten knife through butter. (Hot knife just wouldn´t do the description justice) The warnings are true and you do have to focus on not cutting yourself. Before you could just tug and pull at the hair until it came off, with a razor blade that´s not so wise. Blood there will be young padawan. If you follow the instructions in the box you should be fine. So to summarize, the build quality is great, there was absolutely no trouble with any hair length, didn´t pull or tug on the skin at any point.
Step Four: After Shave (probably the most important item)
Now that the shave is done the last step is the aftershave. For years I had been using a mixed bag of products some containing alchol and some not. I have no doubt the contributed to my dry skin and irriation. Alcohol based aftershave products are a big no fly zone in my opinion. Just think, if drinking alcohol can dehydrate your entire body imagine what the stuff will do to your face.
This product is outstanding in my opinion. The cream doesn´t sting at all after you put it on and it leaves your face feeling good for a long while. I found in that past that other products would wear off after a few hours but this stuff does the trick. Oh and it smells good too.
I hope that this short review helps anyone that comes across it. I´ll link the products and hope that if you´re stuck in a rut of razor bumps and dry skin you´ll make the leap to a safety razor. If a fusion proglide or another multi blade razor gets the job done for you then ¨If it ain´t broke don´t fix it.¨ For the others out there, this helped me and it will probably do the same for you.
Thanks mom.
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