Kent Brushes

Kent – A brush with tradition!

Its like the Sony of Hair Brushes – Kent Brushes have been handcrafting the most exquisite hair brushes since 1777. 

GB Kent & Sons Ltd. is one of the oldest established companies in Great Britain and have been involved in creating the most cherished brushes since then.

After almost 3 centuries of tradition, Kent is synonymous with the shaving brush – and recently have even diversified into products for Hair grooming, Body care, Apparel, Make-up and Shaving accessories.

Kent Products occupy the shelves at some of the most prestigious stores in UK - John Lewis, Selfridges, Harrods, Fortnum and Mason.

So, whatever be your hair type – Kent Brushes will have a handcrafted range for it. With over 250 variations to choose from, the selection ranges from - Styling brushes, radials, ceramics, vents, ionic, paddle, volumising and pure bristle. So, whether you are Salon owner or an Individual with taste, Kent brushes will be a perfect solution for your hair and shaving needs.

History & Heritage

The oldest Hair Brush Maker in the world . Holder of the The Royal Warrant for the last consecutive reigns of British monarchy. 

William Kent founded the Kent Brushes in 1777 during the reign of George III. For the next six generations, the Kent Family was at the helm of the company affairs before the last of the three Kent brothers passed away.

Mr Eric L.H Cosby, another connoisseur of hair brushes and owner of Cosby Brushes Ltd., entered into a partnership with G.B Kent & Sons. This partnership saw the Kent brushes scale new heights of innovation, craftsmanship, product portfolio and market reach.

At present, Mr Alan H.L Cosby, grandson to Eric Cosby is the Managing Director and Chairman of Kent brushes – with the company headquartered in Apsley, Hertfordshire.

So, how does Kent compete with technologically advanced competitors – who utilize the best computer aided design and creative solutions? The answer is simple – touch of hand. Even today, Kent manufactures many of their original brushes by hand – but, at the same time, adopting the most cutting edge technologies for giving a fast turnaround to their creativity and craftsmanship.

A brush with Quality – Kent craftsmanship

Quality never sprouts in a day and nor does it come at the push of a button. Rather, quality is like a child needs to be nurtured in a conducive environment. Kent brushes have quality etched on every bristle and every tuft. Three centuries of unwavering belief in their craftsmanship and passion for their product has resulted in a range of products, which are synonymous with unequaled quality.

What you get in any Kent Hair Brush?

Finest timber..hand selected Pure natural bristles..specially designed tufts..

• Bristles are imported from the top bristle merchants in India and China who are not only associated with Kent from centuries, but who also share the same passion for brushes as Kent does.

• Timber comes from sustainable forests throughout the world, selected for their beauty, grain, color and suitability to be shaped, drilled and polished.

• Rubber cushions used by Kent ensure a gentle touch tender scalp while having the durability to last for years

• Plastic quills are crafted in a way so that the hair is not tugged or pulled in any way.

Some brushes might take 540 hours of artistry before it touches your scalp – all 100% handmade. With Kent brushes, you have got a lifetime of quality at a reasonable price.

Fendrihan - Kent Shaving brushes

Will King: The Shaving King

The making of the King... dom!

Failures are considered to be the precursor of success but when they come in heaps, confidence creeps out of the window. But, that didn't happen with Will King – the challenger to the Gillette empire. Found unfit to design Yachts and thrown out for sloppy organizational skills, this mariner by heart hung on to carve his niche – by the razor's skin.

Stung by the aftershave rashes, he tried his girlfriend's essential bath oil and it was soothing for sure. He roamed around in aromatherapy shops and procured essential oils in bulk – A cocktail of essential oils was created and bottled as an aftershave miracle. Of his entrepreneurial start, he said: “I filled 10,000 bottles by hand at home. It took me two weeks.”

Now this Will King invention needed a shelf – a respectable one... What better than Harrods?

Next Stop: Harrods
Mohamed Al-Fayed, the owner of Harrods, is a business man to his bones and he responded to Will King's cold calling techniques and perseverance and allowed him to put 12 bottles for £29.

At first Harrods sold one shaving oil every two weeks and the company's first year sales (1993-1994) were £300.

Harrods to Boots
Getting into Boots was easier once King had the Harrods label behind him. 1994 saw his entry into Boots, one of the most respectable departmental stores in the UK. The year-end saw the sales going up to £58,000.

Of his product's folksy look, he commented: “It sat on a Boots shelf with a sad little homemade label stuck on the front of the bottle. But it worked and because it looked amateurish people thought they would give it a try. I would get phone calls and letters saying how it had transformed someone’s life.”

The march onwards
1995 saw the launch of a second shaving oil and one year later came a range of men's skincare products. A collaboration for 'King of Shave' Fragrances with Ted Baker, the clothing chain was another feather in the cap for Mr. King.

Now, the King of Shaves brand is stocked in approximately 30,000 stores worldwide including the US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South America. It is estimated that one King of Shaves product is sold every 3.5 seconds. (Wikipedia)

Gillette at Razor's Edge – Azor is coming!
I am sure Gillette bosses won't be amused by Will King's statement - “If Gillette were in the business of making plasma TVs, they would have launched at £10,000, and now they would cost £50,000”.
But, the above rhetoric is not entirely unfounded - and that is where Azor brand of razors by Will King is going to take its cut. Mr. King firmly believes that because of the monopoly in this commodity segment, Gillette has been able to dictate higher prices.
Azor is also set to share the shelves with Gillette and Wilkinson Sword – the two big brothers in the razor business. Azor will be launched in America, Japan, Brazil and South Africa as a first step towards sharing the market pie of £5 billion.
The British launch has proved a hit, with the company claiming to have sold almost 600,000 Azor “handles” since it went on sale last summer – about 9% of the market.

Can Ladies be left behind? Nope. King has also introduced a woman’s version of the razor, called the Azure.

So Ladies & Gentlemen - Look out for the Shaving grace of Azor-Azure!

“I enjoy the challenge of doing what people might think is impossible. People think that Gillette is completely unassailable because it is at the top of the tree. But big companies were small companies once and people forget that.”
- Will King

Helping the Cause

"So, what have you done to promote proper shaving?"

I found this question on a mantic59's blog post about Classic/Traditional Shaving Advocacy, and I found it quite interesting too. Just because you enjoy a hobby or daily routine, and that routine is not mainstream, should you try to advocate for it or try to convert people to it?

Maybe. In my opinion, and from a purely-selfish perspective, it does have its benefits to try and convert a friend or recommend traditional shaving to a relative. I think if wet-shaving became better known it'll definitely be easier to find the paraphernalia. But then, would the charm disappear?

Also, if we know and enjoy the benefits of wet-shaving, wouldn't it just be plain selfish (again) not to share the knowledge? Mantic59 calls it "proper shaving", and that has judgement built into it, but I quite agree with him. Then again, I'm a wet-shaver myself, and proud of it.

What do you think? And what are you doing to promote classic wet-shaving?

Fendrihan - Classic Wet-Shaving Shop

Men's Skin Care

Men..No longer from Mars

Rugged, Gun slinging, wrinkled – Eastwoodesque - gone are the days of the Texas man puffing eternally. Gone are the days when men would use their wives' rosewood oil for an occasional aromatherapy session. Beauty Industry is turning over its head to meet the demands for Men's beauty care products.

Tall, dark and handsome still holds true – but, Young, Clean and Glowing has been added to the list. Companies are stumbling over each other to beat each other to the market – to get the attention of the young and the restless.

Baxter of California, Taylor of Bond Street, Clubman Pinaud, Col. Conk, Muhle Germany, Edwin Jagger – No, they are not classic movie titles – but, well-known names in the Men's beauty segment.

Love Thy Skin!

Is it so un-macho and does it mean you have to be glued to your mirror for hours? I mean your skin care regime. Let me break the myth – It takes just a simple change in attitude to take years off your face.

A glowing male skin is just a matter of choice and loving your existence – what a marvel the almighty has bestowed upon us. Years of negligence and torture transform this shining creation (body & skin) into a crumbling fort. Well, an iota of discipline is all it takes to turn things around and set the the biological clock back by years.

Moisturize your way to Youth

Most of us used to think that moisturizers are for our wives and girlfriends – but, that's ancient grooming myths. Male moisturizers are in vogue and its a known fact that moisturizing is a daily requirement for a male skin. You can choose from a rich variety of essential oil moisturizers or fragrance free one. To double up as a UV protecting moisturizer, any moisturizer with SPF is a great choice.

What about Your Lips?

Lips – soft, luscious and hydrated... seems straight out of a Maybelline ad? Not really. That's a pitch for 'Chap Stick for Men'. But, come winter or for that matter any dry weather, you feel like grabbing a lip balm. Chapped and scaly lips are for screen cowboys and not for the 'Look Good, Move Fast' types of today.

Don't just shake your hands

Hands are in perpetual motion and we hardly seem to notice – until, one day we find them jutting out in an ugly way out of our Luis Phillip sleeves. We need to take care of our hands as they take care of us. Find a moisturizer for the most hard working part of your anatomy.

3-Steps to glory!

Lets make this simple. It's as easy as - Ready, Set, Go!

1. Cleanse: The idea is to clear out the pores without damaging the fresh cells. This means gentle cream cleanser – no hot water – mild exfoliant to scrub out the dead epidermal cells – and finally a gentle splash.
2. After Shave care: Use a gentle non-alcoholic antiseptic shave cream – follow it up with a cold water splash – wrap it up with a moisturizing oil or lotion.
3. Moist it Up!: Find an essential oil & SPF combo moisturizer which suits your skin – avoid the thin skin around your eyes – use before the day starts as well as when it ends.
   

This is all it takes to grab the attention with a glow!

It Pays to look Young

Being young is a privilege, more so in these fast and furious time where skin gets the majority of the brunt of neglect. So, here are some simple rules for 'Male Youngivity':

• Care for your natural pearls – Let them be white – Get them cleaned – Do whatever you can but let your teeth have a bright and shining demeanor. White is attractive.
• Moisturizer is your friend – Let the light reflect from your skin – Moisturize your skin to keep it healthy and glowing.
• Sunscreen is not an option – SPF is a good thing to look out for.
• Facial hair – You must be kidding! Any hair on your face adds years, so let it be gone if you want to look young.
• Don't forget the Nose & Ear hair – Look out for a trimmer and weed them out – That will spruce up your personality
• Hit the Treadmill -Let the sweat take the toxics away – It will sure make you look fresh and vibrant

Help is at hand

Well, by now you must have seen the changes coming. But, let me assure you, there are a lot of skin-friendly products to help you get back those lost years. Have your pick from:

1. Nivea for Men Revitalizing Cream: A good anytime moisturizer which is also not greasy. Many people find the aroma too dominating. Priced reasonably at $15.48.
2. Dr LeWinn's Men Eye Cream: This one is from the old block – with oceanic algae and herbal extracts. The peptide in it makes it an anti-wrinkle cream. Price is slightly on the higher side at $44.90 but considering the ingredients, this price tag looks OK.
3. The Body Shop Maca Root Shave Oil: A good lubricating oil for a super close shave. As with all oils, the inter-blade gaps seem to be clogged. Comes at a price tag of $24.
4. Clinique Skin Supplies for Men Age Defence Hydrator: Good things come at a price – This one is a great moisturizer with SPF. So, if you can afford it, Go get it for $95.
5. L'Oreal Men Expert Pure and Matte Deep Exfoliating Gel Wash: This might be the quality cleanser you are looking for. It is a gentle exfoliator for young and oily skins. This well-known brand comes at a great price of $16.99.
6. I Colonali Men's Delicate Shaving Cream: The willow bark extract does the trick for your skin here. Absence of soap saves you the irritation while your razor is gliding away to glory. Priced at $30, it has its own fan base.
7. Clarins Men Moisture Balm: This Men's hydrating balm claims to be anti-pollution and known to contain skin firming plant agents. The best part is that it can be used on your sagging neck too. It is priced at $56 and comes from one of the biggest men's skin care specialists in France.

Let your skin make the decision. The greatest moisturizer for my skin might be an Acne-generator for yours. Listen to your skin and make the right decision!

Care for your skin and it will pay you back!

Mr. Briggs crashes his Razor

Mr. Briggs may have escaped this one, but that pesky razor sure got him

Some people are shadowed by news – Lance Briggs is one of those dudes who guarantees spicy ESPN news items every fortnight. So, when the Chicago Bear's linebacker arrived with a bandaged right hand, rumor mills were rife.

Bar brawl, Abandoned Bike Crash (not another Lamborghini..), Friendly sparring session, or just a fashion statement...

Mr. Briggs spilled out the story – The culprit was an old fashioned Straight-edged razor. With shaving going in the wrong lane, it seems that the Razor had the final word. Good for Bears that that Briggs is back for practice.

Old timers would be chuckling at the exploits of the Straight-Razor – many of them have made the transition to the Double-Edge Edwin Jagger, Parker, Weishi and Merkur Razors quite some time back.

So it goes – Big things come in small sizes. The tough linebacker had a hard time handling the Barber shop equipment – may be it's time to change the franchise.

Good luck with the next shave Mr. Briggs!

Week in 3 shaves: Bay Rum Shea Butter Shower and Shave Cream

Bay Rum Shea Butter Shower and Shave Cream at sweetpetula's Etsy Shop

This old timer is for citrus lovers - Bay Rum is a zesty, refreshing, clean and spicy citrus blend. Oils used in this blend are Bay Leaf, Lime, Clove and Cinnamon. Shea butter and White tea make this Etsy product a natural anti-aging cream.

One fact that deserves a mention is that it can also be used as a shampoo for dry, curly or color treated hair. My favorite ingredients in this timeless product are - aloe, evening primrose oil, orchid, jasmine & heather extracts, grapefruit essential oil, litsea cubea essential oil, rose geranium essential oil.

These are all my shaving secrets for this week. Stay awake for my next week's Etsy panorama.