thought I'd post about this shaving cream.
I got this stuff at the crabtreeandevelyn outlet store in San Marcos back in November. It was marked down to $5 so I picked some up(thinking hey that will travel better than cans of foam, I'll try it), and I have to say it's f-ing awesome and I think the two tubes I bought are going to last almost all the time I'm here ( I have a beard going now, which helps.... ha) Anyway, so I'm not a fan of shaving stuff lotions like I've tried the lubricating shave cream by Jack black? something, and then Crew for men has some sort of herb oil shave thing. but none of those were ever comfortable really for shaving and i've always been an Edge Gel man.
So anyway, this stuff is slick! rub it in, you only need a little bit, and shave ---and I'm surprised how close a shave I get and how great it feels afterwards for not being a fluffy foam shave.
All right so now I've posted on my latest favorite thing, my shave cream "Nomad" from C&E. You may think its pretty gay going into the store, but I'm telling you the stuff is NICE.... ha
3 comments:
I'm going to order me some on the internet. My skin is so dry and sensitive that it hurts to shave. Having a thick beard doesn't help either. I have tried gels, lotions, foam, and nothing ever really does the trick.
Hey Dan,
Looks like you have discovered “real” shaving cream. I doubt you will ever go back to that goo in a can that you can buy at any drug store. It is pure garbage, as you have figured out! Guess what so is that razor you got there, more about that later.
C&E Nomad is a great shave cream, I would also like to recommend the Sweet Almond scent of the same brand, it smells like cherry vanilla. The Sandalwood is nice as well.
Also, that shave cream is really meant for use with a shaving brush. You can whip it up into a rich lather (see Mantic’s advice videos below to see how it is done) that is amazing, and completely different feeling than using it straight from the tube. By the way, Crabtree & Evelyn sells a badger hair brush in the “best” grade that costs about $35, which is a good entry level brush. You can enter the coupon code “Luxury,” on their website and get an additional $10 off for a limited time. However, my favorite brush for the money is a $75 Rooney Style 3 Small “Super“, seen here: Rooney Brush. If you can afford it definitely go for the “Finest” grade for $210. Get one with the faux horn handle, they are simply beautiful. Here is a link to a Youtube video of Richard from www.shavemyface.com using a Rooney’s Finest: Richard using Rooney (btw his razor is a Feather Artist Club, don’t even think about one of those until you have mastered a double edge safety razor, seriously). A Rooney brush will last you 20-30 years of daily use, so they are not so expensive when you consider that. Another good forum to read about shaving technique and supplies is www.badgerandblade.com
If your interested in traditional wet shaving watch all these Youtube videos, they are quite good:
Mantic's advice
Razor: Get a Merkur HD Classic Double Edge Saftey Razor for about $35. If you want something a little higher end then check out www.theenglishshavingcompany.com. I have their Chatsworth safety razor in chrome, I just ordered a matching gold one which is on the way.
Blades: Get a sampler pack from www.westcoastshaving.com to figure out what kind of blade your face prefers. I like the Gillette blades made in Sweden, blue package (ordered from www.theenglishshavingcompany.com). Don’t mess with the Gillette blades sold in the US (red package), they are made in Russia and are junk. Japanese Feather blades are also good, but extra extra sharp. Derby is another good brand.
Other Shave Creams: Nancy Boy (one of the best creams out there, company owned and operated by two gay guys, www.nancyboy.com). Also, the 3 traditional English made creams, referred on the forums as the 3T’s: Taylor of Bond Street, Truefitt & Hill, and Trumper’s (Trumper’s Coconut Oil shave cream is awesome). Speick of Germany is nice, Musgo Real from Portugal is good, and Prorasso from Italy is also good. Perhaps the best for the money and most widely available is the Kiss My Face brand found at most organic grocery stores like Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and some pharmacies. My favorite high end shaving cream is by Floris of London in the Santal and JF scents, their shaving soap is also excellent. I have never used a better after shave balm than Floris, but it is a bit pricey. If you get into shaving soaps Tabac of Germany is a must have, you can order it off of Amazon.
As you may have figured out I use a different set of shave products everyday (brush, razor, cream\soap, after shave), but you can certainly have a traditional shave on a budget. You just need a good razor and brush to go with your cream.
Some other good brushes: Shavemac of Germany, Simpson, Plisson, and Kent.
Hey Dan,
Here are some more videos. The first one is a barbershop shave in Tunisa. It is very similar to the shave I had at a barbershop in Turkey. It was the closest shave I had ever had at that point of my life, and that lead me to seek a better way to shave when I returned to the US. I used to think that irritation was just part of shaving. I am not suggesting that you or anyone start shaving with a straight razor, but just wanted to show them for entertainment value. These barbers have the fine motor skills of a neurosurgeon, no kidding. I started using a straight razor about a year ago on the days of the week when I have time, and I am just now getting top notch results, the learning curve is very steep (and bloody, Ha). If you get a chance to check out an old school barbershop shave during your travels I highly recommend it. The main thing is to ask if the blades being used are disposable. The Tunisian video below uses disposable blades, and so does the Chinese video at the indoor barbershop, the Chinese guys outside are not using disposable blades (yikes). I realize that it is likely not safe to go out into Kabul, but if you go to Turkey, Italy, Dubai, France, or the UK, you can find such barbers. The last video is just a Swedish friend, he is shaving with a Merkur HD safety razor that I recommended to you in my previous comment. He is also using Trumper’s shave cream with a Shavemac brush. Hope you like.
Straight Razor Shave in Tunisa
Straight Razor Shave in China
Shaving Swede
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