Shaving as a lifesaver

Photograph of a stick of Erasmic shaving soap with a German bullet embedded in it. It was carried by a private of the 2nd Middlesex Regiment who had his life saved by it! Date: 1915

A stick of Erasmic shaving soap with a German bullet embedded in it. Allegedly carried by a private of the 2nd Middlesex Regiment during World War One, who had his life saved by it.

Shave of the day 22nd July

Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Eucalyptus
Lather: Mike Natural Pine&Cedarwood soap
Brush: Semogue TSN 2012 LE mixed boar-badger
Razor: vintage Ever-Ready1914 SE with a GEM SE blade
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and Thayers Original Witch Hazel
Beard care: Big Red Beard Factory Oil and Big Red No7 Beard Comb

Advertsing razors for the war effort

Or at least for the marketing effort…

Shave of the evening 20th July

Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Lavender
Lather: Derby Lavender cream
Brush: Vie-Long #14033 mixed horse-badger
Razor: vintage Ever-Ready1914 SE with a GEM SE blade
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum
Beard care: Big Red Beard Factory Balm and Big Red No7 Beard Comb

Shave of the day 17th July

Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Peppermint
Lather: The last of my Arko Cool Mint shaving cream
Brush: Vie-Long #13051M unbleached pure horse
Razor: GEM 1912 SE with a GEM SE blade
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and Proraso Liquid Cream After Shave
Beard care: Big Red Beard Factory Balm and Big Red No7 Beard Comb

Brushes – on a budget!

To quote myself from a post I made over at my favourite shave forum:

If the brush whips up a good lather and it feels okay on your skin, then it’s a good enough brush in my book – a more expensive brush will feel better / last longer / look better, but it won’t shave better.

With that in mind, here is my current brush collection minus my travel brush* and shaving-at-work brush** (click the pictures to make them bigger). None of these are budget breakers, and all of them makes great lather and feels great-to-good on my face.

 As they sit on my shaving shelf – the tray is just to help organise them.
Spread out for  easy viewing

 Semogue “The Shave Nook 2012 Limited Edition” mixed boar-badger
 Vie-Long #12705B natural white pure horse
 Turkish No6 ‘horse hair’
 Omega #10048 boar bristle
 Turkish No7 ‘horse hair’
 Wilkinson Sword Badger
 Vie-Long #13051M unbleached pure horse
Vie-Long #14033 mixed horse-badger

*) A lovely Omega 50014 boar
**) An okayish Body Shop synthetic

Shave of the day 15th July

Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Peppermint
Lather: Mike’s Natural Pine & Cedarwood Soap
Brush: Wilkinson Sword Badger brush
Razor: GEM 1912 SE with a GEM SE blade
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and BodyShop Maca Root Face Protector
Beard care: Big Red Beard Factory Oil and Big Red No7 Beard Comb

Old Time Advice: Care of the face after shaving

Shaving made easy is a book from 1904 that I have mentioned before on my blog.. it’s an interesting read and it’s free (as in beer), so why not download it and give it a read? Even if it’s 111 years since the book was printed, the advice given is just as valid.

CARE OF THE FACE AFTER SHAVING.
Most men who shave themselves seem to think that when they have removed the beard, they have nothing further to do. This is a great mistake. They undervalue the importance of a proper treatment of the face. A quick and easy way of caring for the face after shaving, is to remove the lather by a thorough washing, then to apply either witch hazel, bay rum or some other good face lotion, and to follow this with a small quantity of talcum powder, evenly applied. This is probably about all that the average man will usually find time to do.
In order, however, to keep the skin in a healthful condition, a little more elaborate treatment should occasionally be given. We recommend the following: Wash the face thoroughly to free it from the lather, and then apply a steaming hot towel, as hot as can be borne. The heat and moisture draw the blood to the face, open the pores, and set up a healthful action of the skin. Next apply witch hazel, and finally give the face a thorough massage. There is no other treatment so beneficial to the skin. With many persons the flow of blood to the face and scalp is very sluggish, because of enfeebled or slow heart action; and in consequence, the many small arteries and capillaries become clogged. Massage stimulates the circulation, and brings the blood from the inner centers to the surface, filling the many minute capillaries just underneath the skin, thus producing a tonic effect, which gives the skin renewed vigor and health.

What to do for a Cut.
If a man cuts himself while shaving, it is usually due to certain causes that are easily avoidable. The principal causes are six in number:
First—Attempting to shave with a dull razor.
Second—Using a sharp pointed razor.
Third—Shaving with a razor that is too hollow ground, so that the edge springs and bends on the face.
Fourth—Holding the razor improperly.
Fifth—Shaving upward against the growth of the beard.
Sixth—Shaving in too great a hurry.
If you will avoid these mistakes and exercise proper care, you will seldom cut yourself. But when you do, it will be well to know how to treat the wound. If it be slight, the bleeding may sometimes be checked by using pressure. Covering the fingers with a towel, simply press the cut together. If this does not stop the flow, use an astringent. The styptis pencils, made especially for this purpose, are the best, and may be obtained at any store where barbers’ supplies are kept. In case you should not have the pencils, alum may be used. In any event do not be discouraged, for such accidents sometimes happen to the best barbers.

Shave of the day 13th July

Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Peppermint
Lather: Arko Cool Mint shaving cream
Brush: Turkish No7 ‘horse hair’ brush
Razor: GEM 1912 SE with a fresh GEM SE blade
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and Thayers Original Witch Hazel with aloe vera
Beard care: Big Red Beard Factory Balm and Big Red No7 Beard Comb

Shave of the day 10th July

Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Peppermint
Lather: Mike’s Mixed
Brush: Omega #10048 boar brush
Razor: Yuma razor with a Super-Max Stainless
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and Thayers Original Witch Hazel with aloe vera
Beard care: Big Red Beard Factory Oil and Big Red No7 Beard Comb