Theories & Techniques

Jun15

Parker 98R Safety Razor

Mike Sandoval

Two years ago I tested the Parker 91R and gave it a less-than-favorable review. The obvious flaws in craftsmanship led me to steer clear of Parker razors for a while. Despite my negative comments, Parker has continued to gain in popularity among shavers, particularly those looking for affordable alternatives to German-made safety razors. I’m open-minded and I don’t carry a grudge; I’m giving Parker another chance.

Sep06

Tutorial: Creating Lather with the Load/Hydrate Technique

Shaving 101

Sometimes it is difficult to get a good, usable lather from a shaving soap or shaving cream, depending on the hardness of the water, floppiness of the brush, and properties of the product. Shaving 101 has published two articles that break down the building process step by step for two beloved, but challenging, products. Both Tabula Rasa and Mitchell's Wool Fat Shaving Soap are fantastic products that everyone should try at least once -- if not regularly. This article reiterates the "Load/Hydrate Technique" and offers instructions on building the perfect cushioning lather.

Sep01

The Bluebeards Revenge Luxury Shaving Cream

Mike Sandoval

My friends at The Shaving Shack have sent a few products for me to review over the past months. I knew they were asking people to try The Bluebeards Revenge Shaving Cream, and honestly I was dodging Nick's requests to try it. I prefer more traditional products and I was hesitant to try a cream that contains an ingredient that affects hair growth. One day a box arrived at my house with a tub of the new shaving cream, so I tried to pawn it off on Isaac to write this review, but he didn’t want to use it either. I didn’t want to look like a "bum fluff brigade member" to Nick, so I gave it a try. I was damn glad I did!

Sep05

Eucris Shaving Soap

Mike Sandoval

Geo. F. Trumper shaving soaps are familiar to virtually everyone who enjoys traditional wet shaving. Their shaving soaps have been produced in core fragrances, such as sandalwood, rose, and lime, until recently when they announced the introduction of Eucris to their line of shaving soaps. Because the Eucris Eau du Toilette is one of my favorite fragrances, I immediately called Lee at LeesRazors.com and asked him to send a bowl my way.

Aug01

Understanding Hair Grades of Badger Brushes

Mike Sandoval

When shopping for a shaving brush, one can quickly become confused with the different grades of shaving brushes on the market today. There are several types of brushes available, such as badger hair, boar bristle, and synthetics, but badger hair is by far the most ideal material for a shaving brush because of its natural water absorbing capability. Unfortunately for the newcomer to wet shaving, brush manufacturers do not have an industry standard in place that specifically defines grades of badger hair. The grade designations vary from one brand to the next, so it can be difficult to understand shaving brush quality and pricing. This article breaks down the basic classifications so that you can easily understand the different characteristics and benefits of various badger hair grades.

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