Perfect Shave Dispatch

Sure, but don't forget to come back for him

2011-09-21T21:18:00.000-04:00

Ikea Australia has introduced what is basically a daycare for grown men to one of their stores. Manland is how the patronizing container meant to hold bored husbands is called.

Women can drop their boyfriends there and let them enjoy sports on TV, video games, pinball or Foosball; they'll even get a free hot dog for their compliance. The girls are then free to roam the store and shop to their heart's content. But only for half an hour; they are actually given a buzzer to remind them to pick up their guys after 30 minutes.

The video spot on Australian TV is so condescending, and they actually found a whole bunch of guys who went happily along with it.

I say, if you don't want to be in Ikea, simply don't go. I really hope this is a spoof.

For a non-patronizing store for men, visit the Fendrihan Shaving Shop

Do we look worse than what we think?

2011-09-20T13:12:00.000-04:00

I was just reading this news release about Van Heusen's new campaign, their Institute of Style, geared to challenge men to share their transformation from "Schlub to Swagger".

What caught my eye were these numbers:

A nationwide survey commissioned by Van Heusen and GQ supported the need and desire for style help. While 85% of the men surveyed think they have style, they also recognize that they could benefit from a style upgrade and help selecting clothes that are up to date and in fashion. Conversely, the women surveyed believe that the majority of American men need a style upgrade and that they don't have a sense of style. Baggy pants and shirts were the two biggest style mistakes that men make, according to women, suggesting that men could use the most help selecting clothes that fit nicely.

So most of us think we have style, but the women don't agree. That's preoccupying for me, as experience has taught me that she's always right!

For stylish grooming gifts for men visit Fendrihan.

Happy Birthday, Jack!

2011-09-19T11:59:00.000-04:00

Jack Daniel's Whiskey is turning 160 and to celebrate it they've produced 200 of these smart-looking bottles.

Via Lovely Package.

Alf is cutting again!

2011-08-26T12:44:00.004-04:00

Keep Aaron Cutting - Back in Business from BBH Barn on Vimeo.

Amidst the preoccupying news stemming from the UK riots earlier this month, it's uplifting to hear stories of successful community involvement.

In the case of Alf Biber, the ravages caused by his immediate community were repaired by a larger pool of strangers brought together over the net to get his destroyed barber shop up and running again.

The veteran barber is welcoming his clients into his shop once more, as he's done for the past 41 years. He is back in business just as his craft experiences a British renaissance: barber shops' popularity has risen all across the spectrum, from the simplest to the fanciest, as men of all ages take refuge in tradition in the face of economic uncertainty.

Find barber shop products at Fendrihan.com

The Portland Whisky and Tobacco Shave

2011-07-18T13:31:00.000-04:00

A good single malt and a cigar are natural companions. Add friends and good talk and you've got perfection.

The folks at Portland General Store have figured out that the relaxing qualities of these ritualistic manly scents will work great in wet-shaving soaps, creams and aftershaves. They complete the package by using vintage-looking, apothecary-inspired labels and glass bottles.

Their story started when they "happened upon some vintage soap and perfume recipe books and a collection of antique, Czechoslovakian pharmacy bottles". Their grooming line sounds intriguing enough, with natural, organic ingredients and traditional production methods.

Via The Aspiring Gentleman

If you like manly scents, such as tobacco, try Alt-Innsbruck aftershaves.

Listerine, still a cure-all?

2011-07-08T16:35:00.000-04:00

This mental_floss article remembers six products that were shamelessly misrepresented.

Topping the list is no other than Listerine. The pioneering mouth wash brand has been ordered to spend $10 in corrective advertising over the years to account for false claims including "declaring itself a cure-all for common cold ailments like sore throats and coughs, a dandruff preventative, an anti-shave tonic, and a safe way to protect yourself from cuts, bruises, wounds, and stings".

Listerine, why so greedy? You're still a great mouth wash!

For some real anti-shave tonics and effective post-shave concoctions visit the Fendrihan Shaving Shop.

Shaving for the first time in 41 years!

2011-07-05T13:39:00.004-04:00

Rod King's eight-inch-long beard didn't prevent his employer, a company with a clean-shaven policy, from hiring him ten years ago. It was only recently, after fearing he'd lose his job that he finally decided to shave it off, for the first time in 41 years!

His wife and daughters had never even seen his face before, and thought he looked horrible without his beard. My opinion is that now that he is clean shaven he just needs to get a proper haircut.

At 59 years old, Mr. King is in the market for a razor, and maybe searching the net or asking friends for tips about shaving. He admits "I don't even know how to shave - I'll probably cut my throat!"

Find the story here.

The Saphire-Blade $100k Razor from Outer Space

2011-06-22T19:12:00.002-04:00

The Zafirro Iridium Cartridge Razor

The folks at Zafirro have been hard at work reinventing the cartridge safety razor with the best of our technology and materials harvested from meteorites. Now they want to see their efforts rewarded by selling their admittedly-cool creations at $100,000 each. For a limited run of 99, that would raise them close to $10 million.

I couldn't say I'm not intrigued. How much does $100k really improve your shave? But I guess if you have to ask, this is not really the razor for you.

Put your beard to hibernate

2011-06-03T10:19:00.002-04:00

Some of us shave. And some others wax, pluck, use creams or epilators, or pay for costly laser hair removal.

At one end of the hair removal continuum are treatments that are easily performed, reasonably priced and painless, but that take care of the problem for a short time, such as shaving. Then we have a succession of options that involve more care and patience, pain endurance and substantial investment. And for all that's worth, it hasn't been quite proven that any of them, including the latest laser technology, are 100% permanent.

So we are still very much in search of that silver bullet. Something effective, easy to use, that can be done at home in the blink of an eye, and with no pain. The makers of this product claim they've done it. Adonia is a gel that promises all that, suggesting that even men will be able to shave just once every three weeks by using their product.

The product's organic formula is said to put hair follicles into hibernation, thus slowing hair growth by 70%.

Sounds very promising, but only time will tell if it is as effective or natural and safe as advertised.

Shaving and Hair Reducing products at the Fendrihan shaving Shop

Pacific Shaving snaps back at Budweiser

2011-05-27T13:28:00.011-04:00

I'm all for conserving water. If there is a way of getting any of my daily routines done with less of it, I'll consider it and make a god habit out of it.

But what is the best way to reduce your water usage? According to Budweiser, stop shaving.

The king of beers is asking us to stop shaving until June 5 to save water. To this, Pacific Shaving Company says: why not drink a couple fewer beers a week instead?

For a company that uses a lot of water to produce a product that is non-essential for most women and men under 18 years of age, what Budweiser is asking of their customers is somewhat extreme (hypocritical?) and also random. And Pacific is right, they could as well ask them to drink less beer (but they won't).

I know that for us wet-shaving aficionados the thought of doing away with shaving altogether can be preposterous at best; reason enough to dismiss Budweiser's plea. But Pacific Shaving is not just protecting their way of life. As an environmentally responsible enterprise, they have found ways to take something we do every day and take a conscientious look at it to make it better.

I am sure that each and every one of us has the potential to make the right choices. But this is a journey that has to start with some sincere questioning, and then we have to follow through. Not shaving for a few days, and then going back to business as usual, doesn't involve a real commitment and might give you the idea you are making a change when you're not.

Pacific Shaving, I'm with you. We don't need more extremism in this world, especially not the corporate-gimmick kind. If we can make improvements in every area of our life, one step at a time, we are going in the right direction.

Some bargains in the unassuming world of luxury goods

2011-03-28T17:27:00.013-04:00

Bespoke Louis Vuitton Humidor Trunk, Clive Christian No.1 for Men perfume spray, Dockers K-1 Limited Edition Khakis

The reasons why people dish out inordinate amounts of money on luxury goods is anybody's guess. In my case, I purchase them hoping for two specific outcomes:

A product of very high quality
The luxury item, very often something that can't be bought outside Japan or the old-continent, will reflect some of its uniqueness and mystic distinction on its modest and humble owner

The second outcome never seems to come to fruition (putting lipstick on a pig is the expression that somehow comes to mind) and the first one is very much hit and miss (with my luck, mostly miss).

However, in the case of the following luxury goods the happy and thoughtful owners must certainly have some other reasons in mind since I can think of none that will move a sane person to spend:

$68,000 on a cigar humidor
$185 on a pair of Dockers
$850 on a bottle of perfume

It is possible that I'm missing something else, and this is the result of the minds of brilliant professionals working in the marketing departments of the purveyors of these exquisite goods.

I want to extend my thanks to my very good friend M.S. who spent some of his office time wisely and researched these products.

The Modern Apothecary

2011-02-17T12:06:00.000-05:00

(MALIN+GOETZ) is a family-owned and operated apothecary that designs their products with sensitive skin in mind. Their line launched March 2004 in New York's Chelsea neighborhood, a collection of natural-based treatments, produced with gentle technologies.

The line is comprehensive, with products to care for the entire body. Check out the apothecary section and their perfumery. Even though I'm not a candle-type of guy, their aroma combinations caught my eye; tobacco, cannabis, dark rum, mojito. If I bought them for my office, I'd have some explaining to do!

Via Think Silly.

Farrah for a Perfect Shave

2011-02-05T22:44:00.003-05:00

Farrah Fawcett and Joe Namath Noxzema Ad @ Yahoo! Video

Farrah Fawcett has been making the news as her iconic red bathing suit became part of the Smithsonian's collection. Yes, the bathing suit that made poster-history, selling millions of copies, making it the best-selling poster of all time.

To remember Farrah in all her greatness, here's her video for Noxzema shaving cream. Talk about talent! She can make that lousy injector give the perfect shave.

Does kyoku have it all?

2011-01-24T00:21:00.004-05:00

kyoku for men is a complete grooming line developed by skin care and beauty whiz Asim Akhtar, based on his findings at the "village of long life", the town of Yuzuri Hara in Japan.

The brand's history is intriguing enough, with Akhtar embarking on a quest to find the purest, most natural solutions to our common skin issues, stumbling upon his holy grail in a small Japanese village, developing a range of products distilled from the essence of ancient philosophies and testing them on himself with amazing results.

The stuff legends are made of, or pure marketing genius? Hard to tell... the exotic ingredient lists, Japanese-inspired packaging, stark web site and amazing photography have me in a daze.

A Binding Ritual

2010-11-26T12:34:00.002-05:00

This moving essay from Globe and Mail's Colin Perkel, employs the shaving ritual to convey the passage of time, the unfolding in the relationship between son and father as their family dynamics reshape, and that bond that may change but not break.

I won't be drinking this beer

2010-11-23T09:32:00.008-05:00

Fructis - Brewed for men only from La Cavalerie on Vimeo.

Hello, Fructis,

Until recently, I knew you as the shampoo my wife used to use before she jumped on the organics bandwagon. But now you have launched a men's line. I saw one of your ads on TV, and it didn't sit quite right with me.

I don't know if it was the I'm-too-cool-to-even-be-voicing-this-ad voice-over, or the beer sound effects, or the "brewed for men only" slogan, or the pastel-colored bottle, or all of the above, but your pitch felt patronizing.

First of all, men do not only respond to the beer ad format. Hard to believe as it might be, we are discerning creatures, and you will find we are willing to listen. So you could try less of a canned approach for a change.

Second, Fructis sounds more like an umbrella drink; something that is definitely not brewed. I really don't see how we jumped from there to beer.

Third, your bottle design seems like a toned-down version of your women's products. It doesn't look like something I'll be willing to take home. Why so tame, pastel, sedate?

Lastly, all of this makes me doubt your sincerity. Is your shampoo really a product developed just for men or a redress of one of your women's products?

So, Fructis, I'm sorry to say that as curious as I usually am about trying new products, I'm not inclined to try your shampoo any time soon. I still wish you good luck in your endeavors. I hope we can see eye to eye in the future.

Shampoos for Men at Fendrihan

Merkur Cameo

2010-11-05T14:24:00.005-04:00

The Merkur Futur makes a cameo appearance on this Royal Wood video. The concept seems to be contemporary things viewed as if they were vintage. Watch carefully, just a second into the video, right after the piano.

Romancing Your Face into a Nice Shave

2010-10-26T15:57:00.005-04:00

Alex Bill, in his article for Ohio University's The Post, deftly compares Pogonotrophy, the art of beard shaping, with taking your face out on a date. As he very well puts it:

As a man, you will have hair that insists on growing out of your face long after it refuses to grow out of your head. Embrace this; stop treating shaving as a chore and start enjoying it.

If it only were this easy with other things in life, like jury duty or ab crunches...

Why wet-shaving: shaving advice at the Fendrihan Shaving Shop

Shave with the same blade for 22 months?

2010-10-22T17:25:00.003-04:00

This story appeared at lifehacker and caught my eye not so much because it claims to extend the life of a razor cartridge for years or because it says to use no other prop but your arm, but more because what it basically proposes is to strop the blades, and that sounds somewhat reasonable.

Leather Strops at the Fendrihan Shaving Shop

Shave, Wax and Sanitize

2010-10-02T11:37:00.004-04:00

The manscaping trend is far from new. It's a preoccupation for some, while others dismiss it. Obsessing about it can even reach criminal proportions.

Though there's been a lot of hype in the media about how a huge percentage of the population is tirelessly removing every last bit of body hair, it turns out some of the studies that support this data were funded by grooming companies with a direct interest in inflating the figures.

The San Francisco Sentinel discusses what's true and what's not and sheds some light on this hairy business. Some of the points that caught my attention:

A man should not be ashamed to order the standard selection of treatments at the waxing front desk: “back, crack and sack.”
Teenagers as young as 14 or 15 feel that pubic hair is disgusting and unhygienic.
A recent study concluded: “Unshaven women have fewer sex prospects.”
Although some studies claimed that 88 percent of women and 67 percent of men depilated their genital areas, in reality just a little more than 20 percent of young people do.
Because this practice uncovers those former private parts, it is easier to feel self-conscious about them. A plastic surgeon states “people are increasingly asking me about surgery.”
Having hair in the crotch and in the armpits keeps one’s skin from chaffing.

Over-shaven? Aftershaves at the Fendrihan Shaving Shop

Shaving With a 21" Sword

2010-09-27T21:53:00.000-04:00

Now that's a sharp shave!

Blade Hoarding To Fight New Multi-Bladers

2010-09-24T21:19:00.003-04:00

Gillette Fusion Macro by gtorelly

I'm one of those men who just had it with cartridge razors and decided to quit one good day. Not quit shaving, mind you; but quit playing the game. I was tired of buying ever-more-expensive refills because my cheaper and older ones had been discontinued. Tired of adding yet another blade, aloe strip, pivoting head, vibrator, odometer or whatever else some engineer or big-shot marketer came up with to double or triple the price of my shave.

But that's just one way to opt out. Jeff Hagan, the hero of our story here, decided to hoard Mach3 disposable cartridges. He bought 100 of them and started using some of that oil that claims to expand their lifespan. In Mr. Hagan's words:

I'm basically investing in blade futures. That's my hedge against getting forced to upgrade.

Nick Meyers, another man swimming against the current, was confronted by the futility of it all one day while trying to get a drug-store employee to unlock a display case to buy some Schick Quattro blades. This was the blade that broke the razor's back, and he has moved on to a double-edge razor and a shaving brush. As he puts it:

It's easier to buy uranium. They're so expensive, they have to keep them locked up, and that's when I realized what a gimmick all of it is.

Now, what's your coping mechanism? How much money is too much money for a cartridge? How many blades are too many? How far will you go for that morning shave?

RazorPit Razor Blade Sharpener at Fendrihan.com

An Empty Can Full of Opportunity

2010-09-11T20:34:00.003-04:00

It's been so long since the last time I shaved with canned gel or foam that I had almost forgotten the sad scenario of running out of foam when you least expect it. Matt Sullivan from Esquire takes it with a grain of salt and gives us his picks for cheap shaving soaps and brushes, sure not to leave you high and dry.

Find more Shaving Soaps & Shaving Brushes at Fendrihan.com

Magnetic Shave for iPhone

2010-07-30T21:21:00.003-04:00

Magnetic Shaving Derby, a game for iPhone, got good reviews from touchArcade, but it made me cringe all over.

Might have been the resemblance of the character to myself, especially in the rate at which his facial hair grows. Or the fact that he's shaving with a naked blade pulled by a magnet and sometimes aided by a penguin, while chewing gum, while getting a cucumber eye-mask, while fighting and/or collecting frogs, bees, fish, fruit and vegetables, mushrooms, hamburgers, ice cream, umbrellas, golden goblets, ninja stars, and the ghost from pac-man. Or the inordinate amount of blood and tears that are shed, never mind the cuts in the eyes!

If you're playing with this little app your shaving may soon be falling by the wayside.

Via Bruce on Shaving.

On Shaving and Irrational (predictable) Behavior

2010-07-22T01:31:00.010-04:00

Professor Dan Ariely is an authority in behavioral economics; he's actually recognized as such without having any formal training in economics. Taking in consideration the track record of economists in predicting the course of economy, I'm not sure how his lack of a degree in the field is actually a handicap; but let's not deviate from the subject.

Unfortunately, his knowledge of the proper shaving technique is far from satisfying. While his behavioral economics is brilliant, his choice of shaving tools is pathetic. And it pains me, since I actually really like his book and he seems to be a very nice person.

But "improving" from Mach 3 to Fusion, ouch... this is like "evolving" from purgatory to hell.

To his credit, he acknowledges that the current tools make the whole experience unpleasant and the new hi-tech razor from Gillette is only "supposedly" to improve his shaving experience.

I can only hope he'll see the light; which in our case can be a shaving brush, a classic safety razor or straight razor, etc...

The Power of an Unsightly Beard

2010-07-15T11:56:00.001-04:00

Facial hair has an extraordinary power to affect the perception others have of you. This bit of news reflects a perfect social experiment on the negative influence the wrong kind of whisker can have on your career and life in general.

Brad Pitt, once considered one of the world's best looking men, was said to had lost his appeal after growing a bushy beard worth of Lord of the Rings Gimli. Actually, my apologies to Gimli, the dwarf's beard was far better kept. Fortunately for him, Mr. Pitt, or his agent showed some quick wit and the actor shaved the messy tangle away. This turned things around for him in such a way as to prompt the media to exclaim "He's back!"

Mr. Pitt has complemented his look by getting a proper haircut, removing the fuzzy hat and combing his hair.

Leisureguy reviews update

2010-07-13T17:31:00.000-04:00

Go to Leisureguy's blog for his review on Vie Long shaving brushes, iKon double-edge razors and Speick shaving cream and splash.

If you don't already fear canned shaving foams...

2010-07-11T17:25:00.000-04:00

... you might once you've watched this video.

How To Get Out Grease Stains From Carpet on Howcast

It claims you can get grease stains off carpet using canned shaving gel. Way to go guys! You've created a product abrasive enough for heavy-duty cleaning.

Via stain-removal-101.com.

Sensible shaving cream choices at Fendrihan.com

Of Taildraggers and Shaving Brushes

2010-07-09T17:08:00.000-04:00

This blog post at Travel for Aircraft marries the seemingly dissimilar subjects of aircrafts and wet-shaving in a lengthy article. The blogger concludes that:

In either case — whether moving away from conventional gear type aircraft or leaving the shaving soap brush behind — when one modernizes one must often leave a little good behind to advance.

Though I'm not certain how soap and brush are like an airplane, I surely can agree with the rest.

Shaving Brushes at the Fendrihan Shaving Store

Bruce on Shaving

2010-07-07T16:49:00.004-04:00

Bruce on Shaving is a new blog by veteran games industry marketer Bruce Everiss. This one is hot of the presses (he just started blogging today!) but already has a few interesting articles on wet-shaving.

More wet-shaving info at Fendrihan.com

The iPad Suit

2010-06-08T13:41:00.003-04:00

The latest Apple-inspired fashion statement is the iPad suit, this one crafted by upscale Manhattan tailor Mohan's Tailor Shop. The suit features an inside pocket for the Apple gizmo.

Will it catch on?

If you don't mind the lopsided look resulting from the weight of the iPad, plus the steep price, this might be the suit for you.

On related news, Stephen Colbert of the Colbert Report claims he invented the iSuit. Watch the video here if you're in Canada or here for US viewers.

Shaving Basics Video

2010-05-31T13:11:00.007-04:00

Shaving:
How To Wet Shave
Videojug has this nice video explaining the basics of wet-shaving. It only mentions cut-throat razors and double edged ones in passing, assuming that using a disposable will be good enough. But it does a good job of covering all the bases when it comes to prep, shave and post treatments.

More Shaving Tips at Fendrihan

Gillette Setting Its Sights High With Fusion ProGlide

2010-05-27T18:52:00.001-04:00

Gillette is reaching for the upscale male grooming market by placing its new ProGlide shavers at the recently acquired Art of Shaving stores. The shopping place for affluent professionals in search of that better shave has had the Fusion ProGlide since April, though the model won't hit most stores until June 6.

The AoS ProGlide set retails for $40 and includes trial sized bottles of the chain's pre-shave oil, shaving cream, after-shave balm and a badger hair brush. Another set with a chrome power razor and eight of the blades is on sale for $150 at stores and online.

Gillette is confident that general sales for its new razor will mirror the warm reception they've gotten at the AoS stores until now.

Meanwhile, rival Schick debuted the Hydro line last month.

Full article here.

Gillette Razors at the Fendrihan Shaving Shop

New Barbasol Plant Opens in Ashland, Ohio

2010-05-25T18:29:00.001-04:00

Barbasol has just opened a new plant in Ashland, Ohio. Read the article here. Part of their press release:

Building maintenance supervisor Tony Pifher, of Mansfield, joined Barbasol in
March from a similar job at Hi-Stat Manufacturing in Lexington.
"This is a family-oriented operation and a great place to work," he said. "It's just
exciting because it's a brand new facility and it's good to see a business growing instead of downsizing."
Barbasol officials hope to reach full production of 180 cans per minute in June.

To celebrate Barbasol's heritage, here is some of their vintage advertising:

Shaving Creams at the Fendrihan Shaving Shop

Toronto’s Truefitt and Hill Owner Backs Up Schick HYDRO

2010-05-23T16:23:00.000-04:00

Toronto’s Truefitt and Hill Owner Rick Ricci is pictured in this Toronto Star article giving a customer a shave with the new Schick HYDRO and quoted saying "I can’t compete with this. We’re world renowned barbers and, I’m telling you, the single blade can’t do as well as this."

Schick has unveiled the HYDRO as Gillette presents the ProGlide, a reworked version of the Fusion. Both companies keep vying for customers as the male grooming market grows (though this other Star article claims razor blades sales are dropping).

Both razors are the result of extensive trials and the best that shaving engineering has to offer. But have they really outdone the single blades and straights? Mr. Ricci seems to think so.

The Razor Blade Hits a Slump

2010-05-21T13:32:00.004-04:00

A bad offender: Alec Baldwin's unshaven neck on the red carpet

According to the Toronto Star, the razor blade has seen better days. Sales of the shaving staple and other grooming items are down. The reasons are varied:

Some men just can't stand the daily grind. A shave a day has become too much to bear.
Out-of -work men don't need the presentable look and rather sport the "unemployment beard".
There's poor population growth in the boys' sector, so that means fewer new teens to purchase blades in the future.
Another demographic factor, the number of baby boomers becoming retirees and now sporting scruffy looks or beards.
These boomers also need shave less often as a hormonal decrease means less hair.
Finally, the unkempt look is being sanctioned by Hollywood and other media.

Will the shaven face become the exception? Or is this just a trend that will come and go like many others?

I'm of the opinion that no matter what, a groomed face, whether clean-shaven or bearded will work better for any man who needs to look presentable socially or for work reasons. So proper grooming won't go away just yet as long as we keep being social animals.

Behind Every Badly Dressed Man...

2010-05-14T00:04:00.006-04:00

...is a woman who should know better?

At least that seems to be the case with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama. His wife, Miyuki, seems to be responsible for his garish outfits as she "coordinates what her husband wears for public events and styles his hair".

Mrs. Hatoyama has appeared on TV with some inspired wardrobe choices of her own, such as a shirt made from coffee sacks she acquired in Hawaii. She has been called the most colorful first lady Japan has produced, and her reputation shines through her husband's clothes.

Whatever the reasons or persons behind Mr. Hatoyama's fashion offenses, a Japanese fashion critic seems to think his choices are the cause for his decreasing popularity. Sounds like it's time to bring in the experts, or to at least buy a trusty old black suit and tie!

The Razor of the Future

2010-04-06T19:44:00.002-04:00

This one's an oldie by internet standards, but still holds true! (Just substitute five blades in the "Today" scenario)

Cold-Water Shaving

2010-04-05T19:15:00.004-04:00

The Art of Manliness brings the old Victorian case for cold-water shaving to the table.

The reasons today might be different from those of the past. Getting hot water then involved boiling it; certainly more time consuming that just getting it out of the faucet. But nowadays we could bring up energy wastage as a disadvantage of a hot-water shave.

But how do hot and cold water compare when it comes to the end result? The shave?

I did notice that my razor tugged on my whiskers a bit more than when I shave with hot water. But according to Shaving Made Easy that’s to be expected. Hot water softens whiskers, causing the blade to slip over them instead of cutting them. With cold water, my whiskers remained stiff, thus allowing the blade to cut every single one. It’s like the poor man’s Lectric Shave.

The end result was a surprisingly close shave with just one pass, and my skin felt great. My face often feels puffy, irritated, and dry after shaving with hot water. Not so with the cold.

Will I convert completely to cold water shaving? Maybe.

Why is the hot-water habit so hard to break then? Will I give it a try myself? Maybe. I'll keep you posted.

Shaving basics at the Fendrihan Shaving Shop

What's a Bear to do About Global Warming? Shave?

2010-04-03T10:36:00.001-04:00

Shaving seems to be the answer in these two ads; the first for Halls and the second for Nisshinbo.

Scary Shaving News

2010-03-31T11:54:00.003-04:00

This goes to prove that our inventiveness when it comes to hand-held device use in the car knows no boundaries.

A 37-year-old woman in Florida has been charged with reckless driving after causing an accident because she was distracted as she shaved her pubic hair. She was also charged with with driving with a revoked license, leaving the scene of a wreck with injuries and driving with no insurance...

The full article here.

Leather Soul Shoes

2010-03-29T19:22:00.000-04:00

I always like it when a shop gathers some of the best names in a certain niche market.

Leather Soul is a wonderful Hawaiian shop specialized in high-end shoes, enjoy!

Wallets

2010-03-03T19:01:00.001-05:00

Wallets occupy a special place in my heart. My wife says it is because they carry money. She might be onto something, but I won't elaborate now.

I like good looking wallets and I dread when someone ahead of me at a pay counter takes up a raggedy, beaten-up wallet fully packed with notes and credit cards. Oh, and they use it to pay for something they might actually not need. Why not save some of that money and buy yourself a nice wallet? Granted, they'll have to save for about several years until they can afford some of the wallets discussed below.

These wallets are nice looking, handmade in UK or Japan and they wear slim, mostly because you won't have much left in your wallet after you buy them. And, surprise, surprise, we won't talk about the usual suspects: Coach, Louis Vuitton, Hermes or Tumi.

Black Calf/Red Lamb Wallet from Launer's Japanese Collection

Launer: Established In England 60 years ago by Sam Launer (a Czechoslovakian emigrant), the company holds the Royal Warrant to H.M. The Queen for handbags and small leather goods. Their style is elegant and the quality top-notch. Their production is still in England, near Birmingham. I would definitely check their Japanese collection as well, since it has some very nice pieces.

Ettinger's Purple Visiting Card Case

Ettinger: Founded by Gerry Ettinger over 70 years ago, the company is still family owned and run by his elder son, Robert Ettinger. With a big following in Japan, the company prides itself as one of the most distinguished British producers of small leather goods. In 1996, the company was appointed with a Royal Warrant to HRH the Prince of Wales.

Swaine Adeney Brigg's Breast Wallet

Swaine Adeney Brigg: Renowned for their exquisite umbrellas, Swaine Adeney Brigg also manufactures a wide selection of small leather goods. Enjoying a stellar reputation, the company has been producing their famous umbrellas since 1750. The company is appointed as

"Whip and Glovemakers" to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and as "Suppliers of Umbrellas" to HRH The Prince of Wales.

Whitehouse Cox's S-9692 Key Case

Whitehouse Cox: Quite a hidden gem, the company benefits from a rather lousy web-site (except for the first page) and dedicated Japanese customers. Since the Japanese tend to go as far as counting the stitches on each side of a wallet and return the product if the number of stitches is not the same (for high end items), we can assume that Whitehouse Cox's quality is up to task. Some of their products can also be seen here.

Bridle Wallets with Dividers by Glen Royal

Glen Royal: Very much the same story as above. Small Scottish manufacturer with a loyal following in Japan. And to make the similarities even more obvious, their web-site is rather lousy as well (for a producer of high-end leather goods). But again, they must be doing something right to earn the trust of their Japanese customers. More of their products here (sorry, couldn't get Google to translate this page, but main sections have English titles).

Cypris' Cordovan and Vegetable Tanning Leather Collection

Cypris Japan: Japanese manufacturer of high-end small leather goods. I find their designs superb. As any other Japanese producer of high quality luxury goods who has a little respect for themselves, they totally ignore international markets. Their Shell Cordovan collection stands out, and the rumor is that they produce cordovan wallets for Brooks Brothers.

"Grip Spring" grained leather money clip wallet by Valextra

Valextra Italy: In the spirit of their design we'll keep it minimalistic:

Superb design
Top notch quality
Prices to match the above 2 qualities

Honorable mention:

Goldpfeil Germany
Smythson of Bond Street
Mulberry
Bottega Veneta
Loewe Spain

Travel cases and pouches at the Fendrihan Shaving Store

Dolerma and Primalan Finest Almond Emulsions

2010-02-09T11:26:00.000-05:00

We are proud to introduce Dolerma and Primalan to the Fendrihan Shaving Shop.

These are fine emulsions with antiseptic, restorative and protective properties, carefully formulated and manufactured in Austria. Simple, high quality ingredients such as nourishing sweet almond oil, lanolin, menthol, wheat germ and camphor guarantee an honest, natural product.

New to Fendrihan, our own Oversized Shaving Mug

2010-02-07T22:15:00.004-05:00

Just added these new ceramic shaving mugs to the store. You got to hold one in your hands to realize just how large they are. They will accommodate any size shaving soap and are very comfortable to hold and work with. I hope you enjoy them.

How to Impress the Ladies (The 50s-Ad Way)

2010-01-31T20:33:00.000-05:00

Check out these vintage advertisements from the 1950s.

On this first one sparks seem to be flying between our cool disembodied gentleman and our long-legged blonde beauty. "They all tell me you feel cool. I'll tell you, you look smooth." Ok, she might be playing it a bit on the aloof side, but no reason to despair when you're using Mennen Menthol-Iced Lather Shave, right?

This one is a bit more daring, and probably the best and only way to shave. I bet even the sand on your face might make for a good scrub. "Bury your summer shaving cares in soothing Barbasol. No brush, no lather, no rub-in".

I'm sold!

Original posts from Glamoursplash here and here.

Plastic, Boar or Badger?

2010-01-30T20:56:00.000-05:00

Roger Stewart of the Health & Fitness Report compares the usual suspects when it comes to shaving brushes and gives his verdict based on water retention, life span and friendliness when that brush makes that momentous contact with your face.

Go here for the full article.

For my two cents on the subject see my previous post about shaving brushes.

Shaving Brushes at the Fendrihan Shaving Store

Thiers Issard Straight Razors at Fendrihan.com

2010-01-29T21:21:00.000-05:00

Stop by the Fendrihan Shaving Store to see our new selection of Thiers Issard straight razors featuring scales of precious wood, such as bocote and snakewood, exclusive Mount Thiernois gold blade inlays and "Evide Sonnant Extra" singing blades.

Candlelit Shaving?

2010-01-28T20:12:00.004-05:00

Blogger R. Jason Bennion of Simple Tricks and Nonsense proves that necessity is the mother of daredevilry. And that lack of electricity won't always succeed at keeping you from your morning shave.

But it occurred to me during the process that it's probably a good thing our ancestors, who lived in much dimmer circumstances than we and shaved with straight-edged razors, tended to reproduce before their beards came in fully. Otherwise, the human race might've died out from accidental throat-cuttings...

Full article here.

A Well-Choreographed Shave

2010-01-19T18:29:00.006-05:00

Set to Johannes Brahms's Hungarian Dance No. 5, and said to have been performed and recorded continuously in one take, Charles Chaplin's barbershop scene from his 1940 film (and first "talkie") "The Great Dictator" is nothing short of a masterpiece.

The piece is half shaving ritual, half choreographed dance and with its share of musical references. At times it seems Chaplin is directing an orchestra, as when he shakes his hand to get rid of foam and water in keeping with the tempo of the song. The honing and stropping motions echo the playing of the violins. And as a funny gesture, note how he checks the edge of the razor by slicing one of his own hairs.

One of my favorite movie scenes of all times. And quite an efficient shave, save for the mustache, that got missed. And all for a very reasonable fifty cents.

Happy Holidays and New Year!

2009-12-24T09:33:00.002-05:00

Just a heads up to let you know we're taking a little time off at the store.

I want to wish you all happy holidays and thank you for reading my musings. I hope to see you again in 2010.

A Greener Shave

2009-12-07T17:32:00.010-05:00

Shaving is an everyday routine for many men and an often overlooked place when it comes to caring for the environment. Try the following tips to clean up your act while still enjoying your morning ritual.

Williams shaving soap by scottfeldstein

Choose shaving soaps or creams made with natural ingredients and no harmful chemicals

Some traditional cosmetics use harsh chemical agents to soften (or break down) the skin, and give the impression of nourishment. Skew these in favor of simpler products, made with natural ingredients. Also beware of antibacterial agents, these are non-biodegradable and harmful for you and wildlife.

Greener Choices: Pacific Oil Company All-natural Shaving Oil, Edwin Jagger 99.9% Natural Aloe Vera Shaving Soap, eShave 100% Natural Avocado Oil and Linden Shaving Soap.

Manage the Packaging Equation

When choosing your shaving cosmetics, one option is to go for bigger packages. They mean more product per container, so less container wastage. Some products will also list how many uses you can expect from each package, so use this information to make an informed choice. In the case of shaving oils, a tiny container goes a long way, so this is an even better option. Check if the container can be recycled. Shy away from pressurized foam cans; they hold little product and are often non-recyclable. Try a hard shaving soap; they require little packaging and last a long time.

Greener Choices: J.M. Fraser Classic Shaving Cream (16 oz), Taylor of Old Bond Street Chamomile Shaving Oil, Cyril R Salter Classic Shaving Soap.

Alien Shave by Andrew Mason

Switch to a Greener Razor

Disposable razors and blade cartridges are wasteful, non-recyclable and made with petro-chemical compounds. They pile up in landfills and leach chemical agents into the soil. The kindest option in shavers is a straight razor, as its blade can be resharpened instead of disposed of. A double-edge safety razor is also a good choice as their blades produce less waste. Be sure to dispose of used blades safely. You can get tips on how to do this from your local waste management authority.

Keep your Razor Dry

Allowing the razor blades to dry between uses will make them last longer. A razor stand will allow your razor to dry naturally while keeping things tidy around your sink.

SOD - October 2, 2008 by apswartz

Watch your water consumption

Turn off the tap when not in use. Instead of running the tap, fill your sink or a container with warm water. Use this to dip your shaving brush or clean your razor.

A Well-Appointed Can of Tea

2009-12-07T17:32:00.000-05:00

To drink a can of Royal Milk Tea sounds like a disgusting idea. But kudos on the packaging, this is one distinguished-looking beverage.

Via The Dieline.

Howling Monkey Beer

2009-12-03T19:09:00.000-05:00

Cool chubby bottles and awesome box. I understand Howling Monkey is not being manufactured anymore, though.

Via bad banana blog.

A Movie with Clout

2009-12-02T11:09:00.000-05:00

This might be the odd chance when I recommend a movie on this blog. "In the Loop" opened in theaters here not long ago. But although I wanted to go and see it then, it proved tough. The showings were very limited and it was gone it a heartbeat. It is now available for rent, purchase or download.

This is a hilarious, and rather blunt, political satire. Expect lots of imaginative epithets from beginning to end and an amusing plot that imitates life all too well. There's really no lovable, cuddly characters, not unlike politics, I guess. All in all, a movie that is smart but also easy to enjoy.

Holiday Gifts for Him, a Super Short Guide

2009-11-30T12:03:00.000-05:00

I was reading an article online (and now that I want to blog about it I can't seem to find it anymore) about holiday gift trends. It talked about grooming items being a hot choice as gifts for men this season.

Now, as someone who deals with grooming items 24/7, I wanted to see what else was there outside of this arena. As I'm only listing four products, this could be the shortest holiday gift guide in history. It's also sort of an old-fashioned one, no gadgets or flavor-or-the-week Cool Aid here. These were the items that caught my eye:

Leather Shoe Shine Kit from Pottery Barn: I enjoy taking care of my shoes, but don't own a shoe shine kit. I think this is one of those staples that every man should have. So if the Mrs. is reading this, please take note, dear.

Dashboard Tray from Williams-Sonoma: a very sleek way of delimiting your area of influence at home. It wouldn't hurt getting it together with the coaster set, decanter and glasses to hold the single-malt.

Mr. Beer Home Brewing Kit from Red Envelope: This looks like an interesting experience, but I have the slight fear that the beer will be crappy, just because I made it myself. I mean, can I really beat the pros at this? But definitely cool to try out.

The Mustache Ornament at Urban Outfitters: this is an odd one, but I guess not bad if I wanted to bring a bit of holiday spirit into the office. Not as garish and over-the-top as most tree ornaments out there. OK for a stocking-stuffer, I guess.

I hope the fact that I didn't discuss any grooming- or shaving-related gifts is not a disappointment. For ideas in this department, you can always head to the gift set section at the store. We've put our experience to the task to build sets that will work well together. So that's always an option.

Gillette FatBoy, Revisited

2009-11-29T16:23:00.014-05:00

When I started shaving with a double-edge razor, several years back, everyone on the wet-shaving forums was singing praises to the old Gillette FatBoy. This is an adjustable, butterfly opening razor produced by Gillette in the late '50s, early '60s. The razor was well built, sturdy and with good heft. Consequently, Gillette stopped its production after a while and moved towards slimmer, lighter, crappier models with the plastic disposable being the frosting on that cake.

You might think that I was a big fan of the model from the get-go. Wrong, I actually didn't like it at the beginning. The shave was rough and unpleasant. "Must be the razor and not my technique" I thought at the time and, disgusted, I relegated the almost mint Fat-Boy to a corner of my storage room. Yes, you heard it right, it didn't even manage to secure a dusty corner in my bathroom cabinet.

As it turns out, it actually was my technique. Several months ago I decided to give another shot at my collection of old Gillette razors. Since the first experiences with a Gillette British Aristocrat #66 and a Red-Tip were encouraging, I took the courage to try the Fat Boy this morning. I guess all those wet-shavers were actually right, this is a great razor; nice smooth shave and with almost no nicks and irritation at all, and while using a Feather (a blade so sharp that is better suited for those who like auto-flagellation rather than those who enjoy a good shave).

You can still find a Fat Boy on Ebay these days, but expect to cough up $100 or more for a model in good condition.

Fendrihan, Classic Safety Razors

Tabac Aftershaves and Shaving Soaps

2009-11-13T17:21:00.003-05:00

The classic scent of Tabac was created by the house of Maurer & Wirtz in 1959. And its reputation is still going strong. You can now find Tabac aftershaves and shaving soaps at the Fendrihan Shaving Shop. Also for a very close look at their scent (if you're not familiar with it), go to basenotes, where you'll find a comprehensive breakdown of the fragrance and lots of user reviews.

How to Use Sharpening Pastes to Maintain your Straight Razor

2009-11-13T16:48:00.004-05:00

Straight Razor Sharpening Pastes

You can now find at Fendrihan a great article about straight razor maintenance, compliments of Thiers Issard. It covers the matter deep and wide and is a must read for straight razor owners or anyone considering to buy one. There you will find information about grits, strops, techniques and routines needed to maintain, restore or make your straight razor ready for that first shave.

Thiers Issard at the Fendrihan Shaving Shop

Big In Japan

2009-11-04T22:33:00.020-05:00

Campanola CTR57-1001

Probably the name is not quite fitting. However, I like the 80's Aphaville hit, so here we go.

(Big in Japan refers to failed Western celebrities who found success in Japan.)

The watches, mechanical high end watches, I'm going to talk about were actually never offered in the Western world. They were produced by Japanese companies for the Japan market only.

Even though we know the Japanese watchmakers like Seiko or Citizen as producers of affordable and reliable timepieces, they actually produce some very high end mechanical watches as well. The bad news is that these watches are offered to the Japanese market only (sometimes available in Hong Kong and Singapore as well).

Seiko by far is the company that has the largest and most prestigious portfolio of high end time pieces. Credor line watches (produced by Seiko Corporation) can retail for as high as $150,000 (no it's not a typo). Case in point: this Spring Drive Sonnerie.

Detail of The Credor Spring Drive Sonnerie

I'm far from an expert in Japan-only models but I'll list some names though. It is up to you to study and find more about them:

Grand Seiko; high end watches that can retail for as much as a Rolex, if not higher. The watch connoisseurs are willing to swear this watches are as good as the high-end Swiss timepieces, if not better. One model I really like is the Grand Seiko, High-Beat 36000. Only one other manufacturer is making a 36000 beat movement (Zenith). Rolex used to buy these calibers for their Daytona chronographs .
As mentioned earlier: Credor. Their timepieces tend to be elegant, dressy models.
Izul, also owned by Seiko. High-end mechanical complications.
Galante, you guessed it, Seiko again. A rather fashionable line of superb watches.
Campanola, (not a Japan only brand) by Citizen. Mostly high end mechanical complications. As far as I know, they are actually available worldwide.
Royal Orient, superb (and somewhat more affordable mechanical watches) produced by Orient (company in which Seiko has a 52% controlling stake).

Taiwanese magazine ad for Orient Japan

So, the natural question would be: How can you buy such a watch? Well... they are not cheap but at least they are hard to get.

Higuchi and Seiya are two known japanese based retailers (as far as I know with regular brick-and-mortar stores) who will sell to Westerners. I have dealt only with Higuchi and the customer service was very good. Many watch enthusiasts will say the same about Seiya. Even if they don't have a particular model listed on their web-site, they are willing to accommodate and source you a particular watch, if available.

One word of caution. Market forces are very much at work here, and I'm referring to high demand and low offer, so don't expect huge discounts when purchasing. Prices will tend to be rather close to MSRP.

Katsu-san, the owner and manager of Higuchi, has a very interesting blog as well. BTW, from blog pictures you can easily deduct that he likes good food as much as he likes watches.

Another good option would be the sales forums on different watch aficionado forums (i.e. Timezone or Watchuseek, etc..). However, don't hold your breath, you might have to wait a long time until a Japan-only model is posted for sale (as I said, these models are rare).

Sartoria Caraceni

2009-11-04T21:12:00.008-05:00

Men tend to have fewer choices when it comes to their wardrobe, so quality becomes essential. It's not unlike Japanese real estate. Scarcity taught them to value the small spaces and forced them to invest more into fewer but better pieces of home decor or furniture.

Modern men fashion has barely changed for the past 150 years or so. It's a continue variation on the same theme: trousers, jacket and tie. Sometimes tighter on the body, sometimes looser; also, the length of the trousers might vary across the decades and from time to time the double-breasted suits come back into fashion. But in the end the men's uniform remains the same. This, I guess, speaks about men's lack of imagination or about women's lack of observation acumen, or both.

This might be the reason why Sartoria Caraceni can continue doing the same thing, superbly handcrafted men's suits, and still be enormously popular and fashionable with the European elites. Their clients, past and present, include: Silvio Berlusconi , Giovanni Agnelli and Yves Saint Laurent.

This famous Italian tailoring house makes only about 400 suits a year while employing 8 full time tailors. This translates, if my math is correct, in about 1 suit, per tailor, per week. Enough to say that they take their time, and that in a country famous for its people's impatience. Obviously all this comes at a cost, about $4000 per suit (might be more now due to the collapse of the US$ vs the Euro).

Fendrihan - Wet-Shaving Supplies

Plisson-Joris Fine Shaving Brushes, Razors and Toiletries

2009-11-01T16:28:00.003-05:00

We are pleased to introduce the fine French brands of Plisson and Joris to our Fendrihan Shaving Store. Plisson's exquisite badger hair made an appearance in my past (and rather explanatory) post about shaving brushes, as an example of the best and most select hair available in today's market.

Receiving this shipment was like Christmas come early for me; go to the store and see for yourself what I mean. These are expertly crafted, elegant products, in my opinion. You will also find their shaving creams, soaps and natural hair brushes (for combing your hair, I mean).

For the past 200 years, Plisson France has been at the forefront of the manufacturing of grooming tools for men. Each product that leaves the hands of their expert craftsmen attests to their drive to produce quality, traditional products with no compromise on style.

Florid Description for Plain Old Talcum for Men

2009-10-28T19:28:00.009-04:00

I ran across this Boing Boing article while doing some product research for the store. It's a tad old (in web terms, alright, from last year) but short, sweet and guaranteed to make you laugh, or at least smile (some people are harder to crack than others). It refers to Bálla Powder's unusual branding of their talcum product into a wondrous testicle talc concoction. Make sure you read some of the comments too.

I still couldn't figure out what getting a "bat wing" means, but if a little well applied talc will fend it off, count me in. It's a time-honored concept, and it's by no means the practice of it that is funny, but just somehow the product description here, which was apparently dreamed up by Bálla Powder's marketing team to make and old product new again. Amazon didn't shy away from using this description, but other vendors use cleaned-up versions or more vague descriptions. Afraid of scaring off the faint of heart? Maybe.

P.S. Found the explanation for the bat wing syndrome: scrotum-leg adherence syndrome.

Bronnley: Traditionally-Made Grooming with a History

2009-10-22T16:01:00.003-04:00

A new brand to the Fendrihan Shaving Store, but an old one to the world of wet-shaving . A paragon of the English grooming tradition. Their line of fine colognes, aftershaves and shaving creams can be found here.

James Bronnley was 19 when he founded H Bronnley & Co in 1884 after studying perfumery and the traditional art of soap making in Paris. Using only the finest natural ingredients sourced from around the world soon earned him an enviable reputation. His traditional methods and recipes continue to be upheld in the heart of the English countryside with this fine line of handmade superior quality soaps and toiletries.

Back by Popular Demand: the Blade Giveaway

2009-10-18T22:11:00.003-04:00

There's another edition of the Blade Giveaway at the Fendrihan Shaving Shop. Starting midnight EST (that's roughly two hours after this post goes live) we're giving away a free blade sampler with each double-edge razor purchase. Eleven days only, it ends October 30, 2009.

Are fairer prices on multi-bladers on the horizon?

2009-10-17T18:40:00.006-04:00

Katharine McPhee Unveils the Gillette Fusion Power Phantom Razor

British retailer Asda is slashing up to 40% off the prices of Gillette replacement cartridges lines Fusion, Mach 3 and Mach 3 Turbo. From roughly $16 a pack, Asda sells these now for the equivalent of $10.

The Mail Online article raises interesting questions about how a product that costs about 10 cents to produce ends up with a 4,000% markup, making this category one of the most shoplifted ones at the stores (you have heard the stories about secret cameras hidden behind the Gillette display, haven't you?). There seem to be a long line of suspects, from endorsing sport celebs such as Tiger Woods, a possible worldwide retailer cartel, and the manufacturers themselves. To what Gillette seems to reply "Us? It's the retailer who sets the prices!"

Other British retailers are expected to follow in the footsteps of Asda, and let's keep an eye open to see if the movement makes ripples this side of the pond.

Via Wet Shavers Blog

Safety Razors at the Fendrihan Shaving Store

Leather Straps for Watches

2009-10-13T01:44:00.016-04:00

From time to time I indulge myself in a very slight obsessive compulsive behavior. No need to worry, the object of my short lived obsessions are superficial, mostly vanity items. One by one, my interests in mechanical watches, sunglasses, modern violins, double edge razor blades or fountain pens, all come and go. My latest meaningless area of interest is watch straps. For the past several days, I've researched the subject a little, and I would like to share my discoveries with you. Firstly, I discovered that the field of custom, hand made watch strap is as populated as the wet-shaving one. Secondly, as with wet-shaving, people are willing to spend significant amounts of money on a small non-essential item. So, without any further delay here are some excellent sources for some great watch straps:

Europelli

They have some wonderfully looking cordovan leather straps. Never tried them or seen them in person (remember, my obsessions are short-lived) but their straps look killer in pictures and the person who runs the business seems to have a great reputation on Timezone and Paneristi, two very influential watch forums (they are like the Oprah of high end watches, the latter one dedicated to Panerai watches).

Panatime

Great straps at great prices; and the guy who runs it is very good at marketing as well.

Don's Straps

He's based in Canada, for the patriotic Canucks who want to put their money where they mouth is. Don seems to have a great reputation on both Timezone and Paneristi, and he's an active member on both forums. His prices are great as well; so, who knows, maybe when I buy my new watch, probably a MarineMaster, I'll contact him for some advice.

Freda Watch Straps

Don't know much about them, except for the fact that people on Watchuseek seem to like them.

You can also find some high end factory straps (Di-Modell and Hirsch) on their web-site.

Strapculture

Great straps, especially for Panerai. They are based in Hong Kong, and like the above members, they have a great reputation.

I'm sure, there are more great strap makers that I missed. However, if you have an interest in a new watch strap, here you have a good starting point (actually several of them). Also, for a far more complete list check this thread on Watchuseek.

Straight Razor Section Repopulated

2009-10-09T15:20:00.000-04:00

There's plenty of new straight razors by Dovo over at the Shaving Store. Just a heads-up.

Semogue Hand-Made Shaving Brushes

2009-10-08T14:56:00.001-04:00

Semogue is a family operated business with a tradition of brush-making passed on from father to son for generations. The brush master is at the head of the business and ensures that the highest standards are upheld in the brush-making process.

You can now find an assortment of these fine Portuguese shaving brushes at the Fendrihan Shaving Store. Classic-styled handles in oak wood, painted wood and Plexiglas, natural bristles from boar and high quality badger hair.

Mont St-Michel Traditional Colognes

2009-10-07T14:35:00.003-04:00

A range of colognes that's one of France's hidden gems. Made in the traditional way with natural scents, Eau de Cologne Mont St-Michel has gained an enviable reputation over time, since its inception in 1920.

Now stocking these fine French colognes at the Fendrihan Shaving Shop.

Ingram Cooling Shaving Cream

2009-10-06T13:53:00.003-04:00

Added to the Fendrihan Shaving Store: Ingram's quality preparation, introduced in 1932, and endorsed by no other than Babe Ruth.

Ingram Quality Lather Shave is a mentholated, ultra-lubricating, classic shaving cream produced in the UK.

All Natural Alt-Innsbruck Aftershaves with Fine Virginia Tobacco

2009-09-28T23:59:00.003-04:00

Alt-Innsbruck Eau de Cologne/Aftershave with real Virginia Tobacco

Alt-Innsbruck cologne and aftershave is one of those rare finds. We're proudly stocking some of their marvelous products, made with natural ingredients such as mint oil, menthol and camphor, and scented with the finest Virginia Tobacco. Their masculine scent is priced by cigar lovers and is the result of a turn-of-the-century Austrian recipe, originating in Innsbruck and kept unchanged since.

Shaving Stands on the Cheap

2009-09-27T23:44:00.000-04:00

If you are the crafty kind (kudos to you BTW, that's a set of abilities I was not gifted with) head over to Instructables for two recipes for shaving stands on the cheap.

This stand is made out of a wire coat hanger and will hold a razor and a brush.

This other stand is for the more ambitious DIYer. It will hold the same two basic implements but it also works well at delimiting a space for other shave-related paraphernalia.

Probably a good work-around for the single guy, but I really don't see my wife letting me display either of these on our bathroom counter. But that's another topic altogether.

Razor & Brush Stands at Fendrihan Shaving

Quality Shave-Wares and Shaving Creams by Cyril R Salter

2009-09-26T23:16:00.002-04:00

Cyril R Salter 3-Piece Shaving Set

New at the Fendrihan Shaving Shop, the Cyril R Salter grooming line. This established London family company specializing in the manufacture of wet-shaving products, is renowned for its uncompromising quality since its foundation in the 1940s.

You'll find their shaving creams in various fragrances, shaving soaps and other grooming products such as shaving sets and real horn hair combs. Enjoy!

Shaving with a Pumice Stone?

2009-09-25T22:46:00.000-04:00

28th October 1960: Eric Sykes reviving the mass shaving machine, a nineteenth century invention, for a television series called Brainwaves.

(Photo by Ken Howard/BIPs/Getty Images)

No, it's not some new fad but a rather painful-sounding way of doing away with your facial hair in the time of the Roman Empire.

In an article I read for a previous post I found a reference to barbers in the Bible, but that was hardly the beginning of shaving. We've been trying to get rid of, or at least style, our whiskers since those faraway prehistoric times.

Some times have definitely been harsher than others, as shaving implements have included clamshells, flint knives, shark teeth, volcanic glass, well I guess we can say it involved some experimentation.

If you'd like to put your morning shave into context, head on to the full article on CNN and see how shaving evolved into the more pleasant incarnation we know today.

And as it is so aptly put at the article's closing, now that we've come so far...

...it's just a matter of time before we're all shaving with a 17-bladed behemoth

Pashana Hair Tonics, a Touch of Vintage

2009-09-24T15:00:00.001-04:00

Pashana Blue Orchid Scalp Tonic

Head over to the store for some traditional hair tonics from Pashana. Don't be fooled by the hip packaging, Pashana has represented excellence in hair tonics since its inception in London's barbering district around 1910. Its traditional recipes based on essential oils have made it a staple of London's exclusive barbering trade.

I'm a hair tonic junkie myself (I don't drink it, just apply it on the scalp) and I haven't checked if their use is on the rise or not, but I'd like to see that happen. Tonics are a classic and nothing beats the way they feel on the scalp. I've gone trough different phases where I've used all sort of hair concoctions, but I'm sticking to my old tonic.

Roosters

2009-09-23T16:12:00.004-04:00

Roosters Men's Grooming Center in Ohio

I was writing the last post when I happened upon a reference about Roosters Men's Grooming Center. This is a franchise based in the U.S. that started out in 1999 with a barbershop in Michigan.

Owner Joe Grondin wanted to go back to the real barbershop experience, complete with tricolor barber pole, oversized leather chairs and services for men only. The concept took off and at some point became a franchise.

You can head over to their site to check out their services, locations or take a virtual tour. While looking at it I spied some Clubman talc on one of the stations (way to go) and several bottles carrying the Roosters brand, so I guess they stock the stores with some private-label concoctions that might in turn be provided by some of the major grooming labels.

The stations are neat and the chairs are awesome. If anyone has made it to one of these stores, let me know how the service and the atmosphere are, I'd be interested to know. Some of the shop locations have web sites of their own. You can find the directory here.

The Right to Wield a Razor

2009-09-22T20:45:00.000-04:00

I found this awesome article at the Austin American-Statesman about a turf war being fought in Texas among barbers and cosmetologists over who has the right to shave your face. Way too long to summarize it here and definitely worth a read, so go over there and read it. But here are some facts from it that just blew my mind:

Legally, barbers are the only profession that has the right to shave a man's face.
A barber's training includes the 14 distinct strokes of the classic straight-razor shave.
Barbers are mentioned in the Bible; now that's a long time ago ( I had to google this one since studying the holy book is not one of my credentials. It turned out to be Ezekiel 5:1 and it reads "Now, son of man, take a sharp sword and use it as a barber's razor to shave your head and your beard. Then take a set of scales and divide up the hair.")
Barbers are in short supply (in the State of Texas there are nearly 110,000 licensed cosmetologists but only 13,000 barbers) and they make little money compared to stylists, since men's haircuts and shaves command only a small amount of what is charged for ladies' styling or coloring.
There is no legal definition for "shave" or "razor", which complicates matters when trying to decide who can wield a razor and give you a shave.

Straight Razors at the Fendrihan Shaving Store

Erasmic Lather Shave Cream and Soap

2009-09-15T22:01:00.003-04:00

Erasmic is a British purveyor of traditional preparations for wet-shaving, dating back to the 1880s. We've just added their renowned shaving cream and travel shaving stick. Hope you enjoy them.

Dominica Bay Rum Aftershaves

2009-09-11T19:06:00.000-04:00

Dominica Bay Rum Lime Aftershave

We are proud to introduce two Dominica Bay Rum products over at the store.

The original West Indies Bay Rum is double-distilled and appreciated for its cooling, toning, conditioning, refreshing, pore-tightening and skin-stimulating properties. It can be used as an aftershave, a cologne or a body lotion. It also comes with the addition of the light, crisp fragrance of limes.

The Brushanator

2009-09-09T14:06:00.000-04:00

The new Clarisonic for men

Old trusty badger brush, beware!

Combining the talents of an electric toothbrush with a synthetic shaving brush, the Clarisonic promises to upgrade both your shave and your face to a whole new level.

The device has been around for a while, in pink and white versions, and mainly proposed for cleansing and exfoliating purposes. But in a astute marketing turn, it is now available in a sober charcoal casing and ready to help men improve that daily shave. It promises to rid your face of dead cells and become the ultimate tool to lather on your shaving cream.

Retailing for $195, and with brush heads that should be changed every 3-4 months, at $25 a pop, I can't help but conjure images of cunning execs with curling smiles. "Gentlemen, we've just come up with a brand new product to stretch that R&D buck. And all we have to do is change the color and slap a picture of a guy on the box".

But that's just the cynic in me. The theory behind it seems OK; vibration + soft bristles = clean, healthy skin. And bristles are an ideal carrier for shaving foam or soap.

Of course, the benefits of the Clarisonic are patent when compared to regular face washing and hand-applying of shaving soap; but it's not proven yet to be an improvement on the hand-powered badger brush.

Via The Star

For Elite Shavers

2009-09-09T13:32:00.000-04:00

Merkur 34C with a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake skin handle

I wanted to give a nod to woodworker extraordinaire Bob Quinn over at Elite Razor. He has been turning pieces of wood into wondrous creations for over 25 years. Check out his up-scaled Merkur razors and badger shaving brushes. Make sure to explore the site, there are custom creations all over the place. It's guaranteed to make you gawp. He'll even turn a special keepsake (a piece of furniture of sentimental value to you, for example) into a custom razor or brush.

Fendrihan - Classic Safety Razors

The Blade Equation

2009-09-04T22:01:00.000-04:00

Adam Tschorn goes from bearded to shorn

Adam Tschorn of Los Angeles Times asks "How many blades are enough?". To take his question further I may ask "How many blades are too many?"

However you feel about it, Adam does bring up questions I hadn't thought about concerning the blade race. Such as, how we're forced into accepting one more blade at a time because our cartridges are not available anymore or are hard to find. And the resistance to change some of us might experience.

Even as a wet-shaver, it is hard to ignore the super-bladers. As many problems as they caused me in the past, I used them for a good number of years and got huge number of shaves out of them. And that's the reality for most of us. Last year, Americans spent some $177.8 million on 3- and 5-blade cartridges; not a pittance.

Also related to this author, here is a link about his transformation from bearded to shorn.

Fendrihan - Single Edge Safety Razors

All You Need to Know About Shaving Brushes, Sort of...

2009-08-08T17:03:00.000-04:00

Shaving brushes are essential for a complete shaving experience. A brush is the best way to apply the shaving cream or any other shaving product onto the face prior to the actual shaving. To ensure that you get only the highest quality shaving brushes, you need to familiarize yourself first with the types out in the market. The experience will be much more enjoyable with the right type of brush for your needs and preferences.

Exactly how does a shaving brush work?

Think of it as a sponge that absorbs water, which would then blend with the shaving cream before it is put on your face. The amount of water the brush absorbs would greatly depend on the type of bristles used, so choosing the material the bristles are made of will be one of the most important decisions you will make. The types of brushes are also divided into the material used for the bristles.

Types of Shaving Brushes & the Hair Used

Shaving brushes made of badger hair are some of the finest ones available in the market; shaving enthusiasts also claim that these brushes are an absolute luxury to use. The badger hair bristles are extremely soft to the touch, which is important for use on sensitive facial skin. These are also the most durable brushes, superior to the ones using synthetic materials for their bristles. Higher priced than brushes made of other materials, these brushes are still the best ones considered by wet shaving enthusiasts.

Brushes made of boar’s hair have a lower water-retention capacity, less than the ones made of badger hair; the smaller amount of water retained by the bristles results in a less effective lather. Boar’s hair bristles often feel prickly and stiff, a far cry from the soft and fine badger hair bristles.

Synthetic fiber brushes are available in varying prices and quality, mostly depending on the specific synthetic material used and the durability. Some of these brushes are made purely from nylon; some are mixed with boar hair in hopes of making the brush more usable (which sort of defies the logic of having a synthetic brush in the first place, if you were looking for a vegan option, for example). These brushes are the least expensive kind, although they are also known to be the stiffest and prickliest; they also hold the least amount of water. Users who are allergic to animal hairs would benefit the most from using synthetic fibers.

After establishing the different shaving brush types and the various materials used to make them, we can concentrate on the material most preferred by most wet shaving enthusiasts – brushes made with badger hair. These high quality brushes are further classified into the kind of badger hair used.

Types of Badger Hair Used for Shaving Brushes

Plisson High Mountain White Shaving Brush

Silver Tip – these are the hairs from the badger’s neck, considered to be the softest and most luxurious. It is the most expensive kind of badger hair, because of its limited availability. During the colder winter months, the neck hair becomes very light-tipped. Brushes made from silver-tip hair are mostly hand-assembled or handmade. Some manufacturers are known to produce brushes made of a high-end variety, carefully selected two-band, silver-tip hairs: the now defunct Simpsons Manchurian and Plisson High Mountain White.

Simpsons Manchurian

Super Badger – these hairs are almost like the silver tips, with the super badger brush tips having a silver, almost off-white color. The material is also very soft, almost as luxurious as the silver-tip.

Best Badger – these are made from the badger hairs that are found in 20-25% of the animal’s body. The hairs are lighter in color and longer compared to the pure badger hair.

Pure Badger – these are dark brown or black in color and are made from a more inferior grade of badger hair, which are from the badger’s underbelly. It is also more identifiable with its darker hair. Some shaving enthusiasts prefer this material for its stiffer qualities. Generally, most of the pure badger brushes are machine-made (i.e. Muhle pure badger shaving brushes). One notable exception is Vulfix, who still make their pure badger brushes by hand.

After deciding on the material that you would like for your shaving brush bristles, it is time to look for the brush handle that would work best for you. Before discussing the different materials used for the handle, you should first consider the knot size, which is the diameter of the bristles at the end of the handle; this would give you a clear idea of how big the brush would be against your face. Brushes with a larger knot size would be able to produce more lather, but might pose problems for those with smaller faces. With everything considered, determining the best knot size would still depend on your personal requirements and preferences.

Shave Brush Handles

Brush handles should be closely considered to make sure you are getting the perfect shaving brush (at least for your personal use). Regardless of the material, the handle should feel perfectly comfortable in your hand, to eliminate or minimize any difficulties when you are maneuvering the brush prior to shaving.

Plastic handles are very common nowadays, even in the most expensive shaving brushes. Aside from being a sturdy material which can withstand even the roughest handling, plastic also feels very comfortable when held. Users also encounter fewer problems with plastic handles in the slippery and wet environment of the bathroom, where the shaving is mostly done.

Wooden handle brushes are also very versatile, and are also water-resistant. These handles give a more classic look to the shaving brushes, and if cared for properly, can give years of service to the owner. Those who opt to go for wooden handles should be diligent in taking care of them, as wood will weather over time; this process can accelerate if proper maintenance is not done.

Metal handle brushes are very sleek and classic-looking. Some of the materials that can be used for shaving brush handles are gold, brass, chrome and nickel. Just like handles made of wood, those made of metal should be properly cleaned and taken care of to maintain their distinctive finish. Metal handles are great for those who want to have a brush with a unique statement; they can also be personalized and given out as presents. The drawback of metal handles is their weight; heavy brushes tend to be more difficult to maneuver.

Other unique and exotic handle materials include tortoise shell and ivory, which give the brush a distinctive feel. However, it should be noted that the handle’s material does not affect the quality of the brush when used.

You can turn to a number of reliable manufacturers to help you in your quest for the perfect shaving brush. Some of the industry’s most trusted brands include Edwin Jagger, Kent, Simpsons, Shavemac, Omega, Muhle, Plisson and Vulfix; these are the brands most known to wet-shaving enthusiasts from all parts of the globe. Most of these brands can be bought online at their respective manufacturers’ websites, or through merchant sites; both options provide clients with convenient shopping and delivery processes.

If you are unsure of what brands to purchase, it would be best to look at the product reviews and testimonials from clients who want to share their views. This is a good way to start weighing the options, as you will get unbiased and straight-to-the-point comments from people who have actually used the products (compared to advertisements that, naturally, just focus on a brand’s positive features).

Searching for the shaving brush that answers all your needs may require a considerable amount of time and effort; you may have to try a number of brushes first before discovering what brand or kind fits your requirements perfectly. When you finally find the ultimate shaving brush, expect your wet-shaving experience to be much more fulfilling.

Fendrihan - Badger Shaving Brushes

Gourmet Shaving, the 3rd Edition

2009-07-30T17:57:00.000-04:00

LeisureGuy kindly wrote to let us know that the third edition of his shaving bible is out:

The third edition of Leisureguy’s Guide to Gourmet Shaving is now available. It contains new material, it’s priced back at $11.95 (down from $12.95 for the second edition), and I have moved it from Lulu.com (because their shipping charges were excessive). You can find it now at www.gourmetshaving.com.

This is an absolute must read for the wet-shaver. Michael is not only a gentleman of opinion and principle, but a guy who knows his shave. Thanks for the heads up!

"Clunkers" for Cash and Australian Inductees

2009-07-29T21:27:00.000-04:00

It is becoming increasingly appealing for our American neighbors to consider letting go of their old vehicles in favor of more efficient, newer ones, and of course with the added nudge of a monetary incentive.

It is only natural that we wish to improve the way we do things and the quality of the things we own. Always trading up. As for me, efficiency was one of the things that drove me to keep switching to the newest, fastest, most aerodynamic, and latest blade-laden cartridge razor on the market.

But some aspects were falling short of my expectations; I was spending a small fortune to coerce my facial hair to grow in, instead of out, where it could be shaven the next day. So this is where I looked into replacing my state-of-the-art plastic wonder with a clunker, an old, used (or more gently called vintage) double edge razor. On the long run, this led me to an improvement of my shaving outcome and to a more natural and economic way of achieving it. I've since replaced that clunker with a new double-edge razor (the trading up again), but I keep hanging on to my wet shaving routine.

Now this idea didn't just pop into my head one day. As many of you, I started googling left and right my shaving woes and happening onto articles written by guys who already had figured this out, tutorials, and forums about traditional shaving. The interweb was there to support and guide me.

It's sort of neat that a new tool can point us to discovering and keeping alive old traditions.

And on that note I wanted to share this article about our Aussie friends using the web to their advantage to convert to wet shaving. It doesn't forget to give a nod to Badger & Blade, which is instrumental for any new wet-shaver and definitely was for me.

And to all the guys who are giving this a try of late, way to go!

Fendrihan, Double-Edge Razors

Sweet Kent Hair Brushes and Combs for a Steal

2009-07-28T20:50:00.000-04:00

We've not only recently added some sweet, handmade Kent hair brushes and combs over at Fendrihan, but seven of them are considerably marked down for a while. You can head to the store to check them out.

The ST-3 and ST-12 are discreet brushes that clean the hair and stimulate the scalp. The Mini Hog is small as well and convenient for general styling. The Slim Jim is a stylish, pocket-sized comb. Both the MS23D and the MG2 are beautiful classic brushes with natural wood bases. So is the OG1, with a handy club shape.

So I think there's a little something for every taste; some of these brushes are designed to address specific hair typologies such as fine, thinning or dull hair.

Most Popular Double-Edge Safety Razors

2009-07-14T23:26:00.000-04:00

Shaving has ceased being just a daily, bothersome task; to some, this activity has evolved into an art form. And just like any form of art, you would need the perfect tools to be able to produce a masterpiece – a perfectly-shaved face. Let’s talk about the double-edge safety razors that are still being produced and are still available in the market today. Which one is the best product, you ask? Read on, and you can be the judge.

The Weishi Razor is a classic safety razor, nothing frilly or complicated about it. It is straightforward enough to be used by those who are just getting started on wet-shaving. Once you get the feel of how wet-shaving with a classic razor is like, you won’t have any problems with using this tool.

The simplicity of the Weishi makes it very easy to use – you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure out how it works. Your shaving prowess can be perfected using this razor, as it is not an aggressive one – the results lie on how well you actually do the shaving. The lightness of the Weishi will also be a delight to those who are not comfortable with a bulky, heavy razor close to their faces.

The Weishi’s strengths can also be seen as weaknesses, depending on one’s point of view. With the results relying on the technique used instead of on the razor’s capabilities, it may defeat the purpose of buying a good quality razor in the first place. The light weight also has its disadvantages – you might not be able to control the amount of pressure needed to have the closest shave; coupled with bad luck (and unsteady hand), this can result to painful nicks and small cuts.

Merkur HD was regarded by many users as a bargain considering the results it brings. It used to be one of the middle-priced razors delivering results comparable to higher-priced products.

You will know that you have a high-quality razor in your hands the moment you touch it – starting from the handle. The grooves on the handle provide a good grip while shaving, and while changing the blade. This razor is perfect for wet-shaving beginners and experts alike. With its rugged design and chrome finish, the Merkur HD is designed to stand the test of time.

Those who have used the Merkur HD seem to have only good things to say about it. This was one product that seemed to have found the perfect balance in terms of quality and price, until Dovo decided to increase the price by 30%.

The Merkur 38C is a beautiful shaving tool. As with razors bearing the Merkur brand name, you are assured of the same high-quality results that their other products deliver.

Aesthetically, the Merkur 38C is hard to beat. It has a lovely chrome finish, and the handle has a spiraled barber pole design. It gives an excellent close shave without causing irritating burns even on the most sensitive skin. This razor is built for long-term, heavy-duty use, like its other Merkur brothers.

Let’s now take a look at the Edwin Jagger Classic DE, a middle-priced razor that comes in different models (86, 89 and 89L). The main difference between the models is the way the handles are designed; all of these models basically have the same great features that users love and trust.

One of the first things you will notice about the EdwinJagger Classic models is the awesome chrome finish. As soon as you hold it and try shaving with it, you will see that the great packaging is not everything it has to offer – the balance is good; the shaving aggressiveness even better. Changing the blades is very easy with all models, making it a good razor for both wet-shaving beginners and enthusiasts alike.

The Edwin Jagger Classic razors are not adjustable – a drawback for those who want to have more flexibility in this department. There are also some instances when the handles tend to be a little on the slippery side – you have to thank the shiny chrome finish for that. The grooves and indentations on the handle that other razors have to provide a better grip are missing on most EJ classic razors (except for the lined chromed model).

Another quality product under the Merkur brand name is the Merkur Progress. This double-edged safety razor is built to last, with a few more tricks under its belt included.

The Merkur Progress features an adjustable head which can be moved according to the owner’s preference. Adjusting the blade gap depth can result to a great shave with fewer burns and irritations. This is a must-have for those who are just starting to try their hand at wet-shaving.

Users of the Merkur Progress have an issue with its handle, specifically with the grip – it tends to get slippery when wet. Changing the blades can also be challenging, the number settings will become misaligned if the head is not screwed back properly as per Merkur's instructions. In addition, the Progress does not sport a classy look, unlike other double-edge safety razors available in the market.

Moving on, the Merkur Futur is considered by some to have the sleekest look among Merkur’s double-edge safety razor line. Aesthetics aside, this razor can hold its own among its contemporaries. Its stability allows you to use the slightest pressure when shaving; you can let the razor's weight do most of the work. This adjustable razor lets you move the head according to your preference, and this proves handy when you need to reach a specific area on your face.

As sleek as it is, the Futur’s handle lacks the steady grip associated with those that have indentations; it is very easy for a hand to slip on the sleek, shiny handle. The head may be a bit too big and bulky for some users, which makes for a challenging shaving maneuver. When adjusting the razor, the finger also comes perilously close to the blades, exposing the user to a higher risk of injuring himself.

The reviews here are made with the purpose of guiding you towards the best double-edge safety razors in the market today. There is still no better way to judge a product than actually giving it a try, to see for yourself how you respond to you (and vice-versa). You cannot truly say that you have found the “best” razor if you haven’t tried the others yet, right?

Classic Wet-Shaving Razors

Shave Digitally

2009-07-08T22:00:00.000-04:00

I doubt the digi-shave would work on this one. The Beards by spookyamd

Some folks at the Robotics Institute of Carnegie Mellon University have come up with a virtual way to shave called image-based shaving.

These academics have basically been able to decompose an image of a man's face into layers, where the permanent facial features would be one structure and the beard or facial hair another. Then this top layer could be extracted, for a quick and accurate digi-shave, or transferred from a source face, for a pixel-based insta-beard.

I definitely see applications in the areas of photo retouching, fashion, and cosmetology.

Of mad men and body hair

2009-07-07T23:36:00.000-04:00

A worthwhile article over at canada.com on men gone mad. It revolves around the Gillette video series, which explains how to shave different body parts, such as your chest, back and shoulders and, (how is it that they put it?) your underbrush.

It's all part of a manscaping trend that started (as far as I'm concerned) with the underarm area and has unmercifully gained terrain since.

Of course, you can't blame Gillette for it; they're doing a beautiful job of selling their product line, including their new grooming concoctions courtesy of P&G.

But some of their suggestions alarm me. Like part of the script on the "Shaving your groin" video. Why the hell do I need five blades slicing so close to my tender tissues and, of all the razors they sell, why do they have to recommend the Fusion Power. Isn't that a vibrating one? What exactly are we getting to here? Of course they remind you to have some common sense as well, so that should cancel out all the nonsense that preceded that sentence.

As Bruce Ward so masterfully put it:

Sigmund Freud once asked, "What do women want?" The only thing I have learned over the years is that women want men to stop doing dumb things like trying to shave their groin.

Update: NY Times also has an article about this new trend.

Fendrihan - Traditional Shaving

Knowing and Caring for Your Hair Type

2009-07-02T01:26:00.000-04:00

Lately, as I have been scouring and browsing through the hair care aisles of department stores and cosmetic shops, I noticed that one very significant product line was missing, men’s hair brushes. It was surprising to find that stores rarely, if at all, carry a line of hair brushes for men. Does this mean that men are supposed to use the same hair brushes as women? As far as I know men and women have different hair care needs, so they need different hair brushes.

Now, to pick a hair brush you first have to figure out what your hair type is.

Men’s hair types are just as varied as women’s. Caring for the different types of hair requires knowing what particular type of hair you have and having the right kind of tools to meet the needs of your hair. Styling and caring for your hair will be very difficult, if not impossible, if you use the wrong products. Each type of hair calls for a different kind of brush and a different kind of routine.

Read on for care tips for each hair type and brush recommendations. I've recommended Kent brushes as they come in a variety of styles to suit different kinds of hair. They are all are hand-made or hand finished in England with traditional methods.

Kent MS23D hair brush

Men with Fine Hair

For men with fine hair, the main concern is that no matter what you do to try and style your hair, it always seems to look the same. Unless you use styling products with the strongest hold, your hair will always fall the same way. The upside of having fine hair is that it is often sleek and shiny. Men with fine hair should look to maintaining the sleekness and shine of their hair. The key to caring for fine hair is to use a brush with soft or medium strength bristles. This will allow your hair to maintain that sleek and shiny look. For an excellent brush for fine hair, try the Kent MS23D hair brush.

Men with Medium Hair

Men with medium hair are lucky. Medium hair is the most ideal type of hair. It is shiny and easy to manage. It also does not dry easily which means it can be managed without much fuss. Men with medium hair can use just about any brush. However, it is advisable to use a brush with medium to stiff bristles. Of course, it is very important to make brushing a part of your daily routine to maintain healthy hair. Also, brushing the hair cannot simply be a few strokes here and there. There is a proper way to do it. For medium hair, it is best to begin brushing from the nape to the front of the head while it is tipped slightly forward and down. After this, you can begin to style your hair any way you want to. This method of brushing is also ideal because it mimics the head massages that you usually get from your barber or from the spa. For the best brush for medium hair, try Kent's MS11.

Kent OG2 and MN11 hair brushes

Men with Thick Hair

If you are not quite as lucky as men with medium hair and you end up having thick hair, do not lose hope. Thick hair can be as difficult to style as fine hair. But this does not mean that it is unmanageable. It may not be the get-up-and-go type of hair but there is still is a way to style it and manage it. The key to managing and caring for thick hair is using a brush with very stiff bristles. Brushes with very stiff bristles allow you to reach beyond your thick hair and unto your scalp to give it the care it needs as well. The Kent Men’s Hair Brush OG2 and the Kent MN11 are brushes that come highly recommended for men with thick hair. In fact, these brushes were developed specifically for men with such type of hair. Using these brushes makes it easier to manage thick hair and style it the way you want to.

Men with Thinning or Receding Hair

Thinning or receding hair is probably the most common type of hair that men worry about. There comes a time when you might start noticing that the hair on top of your head is thinning out. You may think that just because thinning hair is a natural phenomenon there is no way to properly care for it. Actually there is. Receding hair is caused by a multitude of reasons including aging, genes, and the hormonal changes that men undergo as they age. Although proper care alone will not add more hair to your head, it is best to care for what hair you have left. For thinning or receding hair, a soft-bristle brush is the most effective. Brushes with softer cut of bristles should be used on this type of hair because they are more soothing to the scalp. Using a brush with bristles that are too stiff may cause you to lose more hair due to breakage. The Kent MS23 was specifically made for thinning hair and is properly marked with “Soft” on the package to distinguish it from the company’s other hair brushes.

Before buying a brush, it is important to know what type of hair you have. Your type of hair will determine the kind of brush you need. More importantly, your type of hair will determine how is must be cared for and managed. Do not think that only women should worry about the kind of hair they have. Men have different types of hair too! Each type of hair requires a different set of hair care products most especially brushes. Know your hair! That is the first step towards proper hair care.

Kent Hair Brushes

Stropping, a Forgotten Ritual

2009-06-29T23:05:00.000-04:00

Who said stropping is a skill reserved only for professional barbers? Who said ordinary men cannot learn the art of stropping? Although stropping is a learned skill that is developed over time, having the right set of tools will make the job much easier for you. Reliable and high quality strops will make stropping simpler and far less complicated.

Stropping is a tradition. It is a testament to the way gentlemen of the olden days used to live (way before the electric shaver or the disposable razor). They went to their good old barbers to enjoy the pleasant experience of wet shaving. Of course, during those days men did not have to strop their own razors; their barbers did the work. They weren’t really into the do-it-yourself lifestyle. Today, everything is DIY; including stropping and honing.

To cultivate the art of stropping you need to start with the right tools. What better way to learn and practice than to use the very same tools that barbers have used for generations. Strops manufactured by Thiers Issard, Premier Strop Co., Heirloom or Dovo are simple, easy to use, and give today’s wet-shaving enthusiasts a piece of tradition and history.

Wet-Shaving Supplies: Strops, Razors and much more...

Style in Portland, Oregon (and elsewhere)

2009-06-13T10:02:00.000-04:00

There's certainly a return to quality and tradition happening out there. And style might be back as well.

As we weather a tough economy, I've found a sort of trend that looks back to the iconic Great Depression and tries to borrow something from it in the way of behaviors, coping mechanisms and even visual clues. I know nobody wants to hear about recession anymore, but hear me out, I won't go on a gloomy rant. Instead of the initial panic, now we can look at the possibilities, look at these times with more of an upbeat spirit and a little humor too.

Canadian artist Royal Wood putting vintage-style rules to practice

This past winter, I took my wife to a local artist's concert, where the band was all clad in suits "in honor of the recession". I thought it funny, but I thought it wise too.

Nowadays I don't think that I shouldn't necessarily spend my money. But I know that I should spend it wisely. In the clothes arena, I've found myself purchasing less crap and spending my money instead on a few good quality pieces that will keep me for longer and not go out of style.

With that in mind, here are a couple of stores in Portland, OR, at the forefront of the re-birth of the stylish male.

Duchess specializes in custom-made suits. Check out their site for inspiration; they have a great suit style guide here. Winn Perry specializes in shirts, but carries men's grooming products such as Baxter of California, Taylor of Old Bond Street, Edwin Jagger, shaving brushes, razors, strops, you name it. Their website won't give you an idea of what's inside the shop's walls, but go to this article on Design*Sponge for (almost) a virtual tour.

These two stores are just down the hall from one another, so if you're in the area, don't forget to visit them for a treat.

Close to perfection

2009-06-11T22:26:00.000-04:00

Times have changed for sure. Most of the things we do and the way we carry them out nowadays resemble little or not at all how they were done in the past. It is difficult for your car, your toaster, or the clothes you wear to trigger a remembrance; to take you back in time to better days. There's just not that sense of keeping things around and keeping alive old habits.

Trumpers by Wolfiewolf

Granted that today most of us shave by ourselves, when in the olden times we would go to a barber (and make more of an occasion of it). Still I take some comfort in recreating a ritual that my grandfather carried out in the same way before me. I just started shaving with Geo F Trumper's shaving cream and this just added a new dimension to the whole wet-shaving idea.

Geo F. Trumper Violet Shaving Cream by joebeone

I can't shake the thought of the amount of tradition that Trumper carries. That a guy (OK, a gentleman) in the late 1800s was getting the same shave (only exponentially better because he actually got it at Curzon Street) as I get today is a rare treat if you really think about it.

Of course, it is only natural that we should crave these things; more meaningful rituals, grounded in the past, going back to our roots. We have become too focused on progress, too cynical, too impersonal.

I have had the pleasure of eating fresh fruit, straight from the land, of drinking raw milk. Shaving with an old-style double-edge and a shaving cream with a formula that might be older than me feels close to that; taken from another era, close to perfection (because, hey, I'm still not on Curzon Street).

Geo F Trumper Shaving Creams, Shave Soaps, Aftershaves, Colognes & Skin Food at Fendrihan

DYI Shaving Cream and More Green Stuff

2009-06-01T22:37:00.000-04:00

not there yet... by scottfeldstein

Surfing the web for things shaving, I happened across this article at Feelgood Style. It is a three-part series on green shaving. Part one here has tips on how to get the best out of your shaving soap and even a DIY shaving cream (you'll find a recipe right there and a link to this other one on care2). Part two here is all about razors; straight, double-edge and even recycled plastic ones! (with a well-placed Crocodile Dundee reference). There should be a part three coming out sometime and dealing with aftershaves. Nice introductory series.

Kent Brushes

2009-05-28T00:15:00.000-04:00

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

2009-05-18T18:20:00.000-04:00

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

2009-05-06T18:11:00.001-04:00

"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

2009-05-04T23:58:00.000-04:00

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!

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.
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.
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:

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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

2009-05-04T23:31:00.000-04:00

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!