How to: Shave and Travel

[mdunn]

Theres often discussion about what to do when you travel with this wee hobby of ours, and given ive been searching for the perfect travel kit, I thought I would share some of my thoughts.

For me, I split the travel kit down to its key parts. The razor, the Brush, the Product, the Aftershaves, the Scents, the Rest.

For me, the razor is the easy bit - theyre all about as big as each other, and while I wouldnt take a toggle, or a very fancy straight, theres no reason not to take one of your common favourites.

Brushes is a bit trickier, theyre expensive - but they make a huge difference to the lather and enjoyment of the shave. Reknotted brushes are fantastic value, so theyre a good choice. Turnbacks are a complete novelty, theyre not needed at all. I do, however, love them. The whole point of wetshaving is the luxury of it (apart from the better shaves, of course), and theres nothing more luxurious than having a brush you only use when youre traveling. A good turnback can always be used at home though, and ill definately get another one.

The products are easy - shave sticks. Personally ive more than I can count (easily more than 10), theyre so easy to take with you, and cheap too! Creams in tubes are good too, especially if you dont have much left in the tube so you can roll it on itself and it takes up less room.

Aftershaves are easy to decant into little bottles you can buy or scrounge. One of swmbos lip balm tubs, once washed out, can hold a fair bit of asb.

The scents - samples! I also have some small atomizers I decant my favourite scents into for travel. A word on samples generally - lets not abuse them. Getting samples for free is great, but if theyre abused then they may dry up completely. Luckily the bigger companies sell (at super reasonable prices) samples of their entire range that can be used.

The Rest... I always take a bottle opener, its great to have and very handy. A nice dopp kit is completely unnecessary, but good to have. I got mine at fossil and I love it. Cotton buds for the ear are always handy, as are sewing kits.

Option 1 - "The dont care".

The Razor
Cheap Cartridge
The Brush
None
The Product
None
The Aftershaves
None
The Scents
None


Just shave in the shower using free hotel soap - not great shaves, but its easy as you just put the razor in an empty pouch of your bag.

72709

Option 2 - "The gettin' it done"

The Razor
A razor you wont miss
The Brush
A cheapie you wont miss
The Product
Some samples
The Aftershaves
Something cheap decanted into a little bottle
The Scents
A couple of free samples


This would probably be the most common one, its small and easy to take. If you lose it no big deal. Problem is that with only a little more kit the shaves are so much better.

72710

Option 3 - "The efficient luxury"

The Razor
Any Razor from you den
The Brush
A brush in a toilet paper roll/pill box
The Product
Some samples, maybe some sticks
The Aftershaves
Some more samples
The Scents
Would you believe some samples?


This is a good one for the odd overnight. Some good stuff, pretty small, can fit inside a shoe!

72711

Option 4 - "The Oppulent Traveller"

The Razor
One of your favourites
The Brush
A turnback
The Product
A stick or three
The Aftershaves
A couple of samples or decants (you need choice)
The Scents
Free samples, and your favourites in little bottles


This is my favourite one - a couple of days of shaving bliss!

72712

Option 5 - "The Kitchen Sink"

The Razor
A small cross section of the den
The Brush
A turnback (or two), of course
The Product
A selection of shave sticks
Some creams if thats your thing
The Aftershaves
A few of your premier aftershaves in small or sample size
The Scents
Your favourite scents, decanted into atomizers
Perhaps some samples too


When only the best can do (perhaps this is what gillette talks about when they carry on about 'the best a man can get'). Seems silly? Laugh away, but ive used it and its great. A den fit for a king - feel superior knowing your den is bigger than many a newbies den.

72713

Cheers guys!


REMEMBER - NO DE BLADES OR STRAIGHTS ARE ALLOWED ON FLIGHTS. THE TSA WILL TAKE THEM.

[TSWebster]

2 turnbacks is overkill Marcus. :biggrin:

Otherwise fantastic breakdown. I think my travel den generally falls between getting it done and efficient luxury these days since I mostly travel by car I can bring as much or as little ads I like.

I've not needed to take a shave kit on a plane just yet but I will soon enough.

[mdunn]

Mate - ive got my eye on a new super major, too. Three turnbacks is probably justifiable

[TSWebster]

A Simpson Major is the exception.

I encourage the ownership of such a fine item.

[NoFair]

Great post:biggrin:


I tend to go with Option 3 - "The efficient luxury"

Travel brush in a tube, soap stick/cream, travel razor or one of the others, WH and AS balm.

[_JP_]

Nice post, but an edit is needed. The TSA won't allow straights or DE blades in carry on luggage. They are otherwise allowed on flights in checked luggage.

[ateace]

Don't forget brushless creams.

My travel setup consists of a Sensor and a travel tube filled with KMF.

Occasionally, you can also find small tubes of Alba that are great for travel.

[Tzar]

Nice post, but an edit is needed. The TSA won't allow straights or DE blades in carry on luggage. They are otherwise allowed on flights in checked luggage.

Good point. Can you bring a disposable razor (like a one-blade Bic) in your carry-on luggage "just in case" your checked luggage gets lost ?

[JonDC]

Good point. Can you bring a disposable razor (like a one-blade Bic) in your carry-on luggage "just in case" your checked luggage gets lost ?

According to the TSA (http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm), cartridge razor blades in your carry-on are ok.

[Spivey]

Excellent job, Marcus.

As an alternative to the toilet paper roll, I wrap the brush in a dry paper towel and place into an unsealed sandwich bag.

[DeaconKC]

Yup, thanks to the TSA, you can carry a cartridge razor in your carry on, so that's what goes in mine. The main part of my shave gear now goes in my checked luggage, a favorite Tech with Derby blades in an old beat up ABC case, my Omega Badger in an oversized prescription bottle, an Avon ASB in tube and VDH soap in a screw top plastic jar. Works pretty good so far. Oh the Swiss army knife is in the checked kit too.

[jsrdrnr]

Thanks for the post. Much appreciated. I never thought about the whole not being able to tke the blades on a flight.

[azmark]

I check my gun when I travel and I travel 10-15 days a month. A DE in checked bags is OK.:cool:

[withoutink]

nice stuff...

[duotone]

Very Nice!

"A stick or three" - I love it :001_smile

Thanks for the toilet roll cardboard tube advice! Will come in very useful in future.

[wheelman]

A am still putting my kit together, I have the Merkur travel DE - it travels very small, and I like the case of the Wilkinson Sward soap - the lid doubles as a lather bowl.

I am still trying to figure out travelling with DE blades... I won't travel them in my razor, do you reuse them if you travel to several different cities?
Also how do you deal with blade disposal - I have the plastic derby case, but am nervous about the blades slipping out during travel.

[thermographer]

Also how do you deal with blade disposal -

West coast shaving sells a blade bank for $1. It's listed under "other shaving products" Large enough to carry a LOT of blades, but small enough for traveling.
http://westcoastshaving.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=10&zenid=835bc89b4460c69200d903a70c34a28a

I do a bit of traveling myself, and I'm nervous about packing after shave in my bags. I'll look into a small travel size bottle as suggested

[wakefieldma]

This is a fantastic post! I travel all the time internationally and spend a disproportionate amount of time strategizing my shaving kit, even for a short trip. For a while I was bringing an empty HD and hoping I could find DE blades in a local drug store after I arrived, but I have given up on this (not always reliable) and now just bring an old Gilette Sensor with extra cartridges. But everything else (brush, cream, aftershave, cologne) needs to be top quality-No matter how jet-lagged or tired I am there is nothing like a great shave to help me operate at (something close to) 100%!

[gurana]

holy crap! Some of those last sets were amazing... couldn't imagine traveling with that much stuff.

I had to go on my first trip since I've been shaving with a DE. For shaving, I had the following:


VDH boar's hair brush (I only have one badger, and didn't want to risk losing it)
Parker 96R (since destroyed)
small spray bottle of dickinson's witch hazel
proraso in a tube (big tube... while I was out there I got a couple of the smaller c.o. bigelow tubes)
small tube of burt's bees ASB (had never tried it before... it was alright, I guess)
styptic pencil (you know... just in case :wink: )

[Hreafn]

Number 3

[cfriend]

Nice guide! I tend to travel with option 2.5:

3/1 Super (favorite brush)
Travel Tech (wouldn't cry if I lost it, acceptable performance)
Tabac stick (favorite soap)
AV Ice Sport (small bottle, acceptable performance)
Tommy Bahama by Tommy Bahama edt (favorite scent, and travel sized)

so, three favorites and two acceptables. Option 2.5 :tongue:

[jkenton]

I have taken DE blades onto many an airplane in my carry-on luggae, and NEVER had a problem. They are usually stored within the little dopp bag I keep, and wrapped in their little wax paper containers. I've never even been asked to empty or show my shave bag.

The site says: "Razor-Type Blades - such as box cutters, utility knives, razor blades not in a cartridge, but excluding safety razors." (emphasis mine) are prohibited from carry-ons.

I believe the TSA webpage has a specific LIMIT on the number of blades you can take on the plane in carry-on luggabge, but as I said, I have never been stopped for the singelton or two blades I usually keep in my kit.

[mdunn]

Other members have reported differently - that the TSA have confiscated blades.

The TSA also confirmed when asked that by safety razors they mean modern cartridge ones, and not DEs, and that DE blades are specifically not allowed.

[Tzar]

Other members have reported differently - that the TSA have confiscated blades.

The TSA also confirmed when asked that by safety razors they mean modern cartridge ones, and not DEs, and that DE blades are specifically not allowed.

Indeed. It all depends on the airport, and on the security guy that happens to be the one inspecting your carry-on.

Personally, I won't take any chance and pack my DE razor and my DE blades in my checked luggage. In my carry-on, I'll keep one or 2 single blade disposable Bic with the rest of my shaving stuff and that's it. If my checked luggage ever gets lost, at least I'll have the disposables to shave with in my carry-on.

[jkenton]

I agree in light of this that I may have been very lucky. I try my hardest to only bring a carry-on when I fly. I will take out my DE razor now and pack a few crappy BICs to satisfy the security folks. I guess.

I have a bad taste in my mouth now.

[mankini]

I have taken DE blades onto many an airplane in my carry-on luggae, and NEVER had a problem. They are usually stored within the little dopp bag I keep, and wrapped in their little wax paper containers. I've never even been asked to empty or show my shave bag.

The site says: "Razor-Type Blades - such as box cutters, utility knives, razor blades not in a cartridge, but excluding safety razors." (emphasis mine) are prohibited from carry-ons.

I believe the TSA webpage has a specific LIMIT on the number of blades you can take on the plane in carry-on luggabge, but as I said, I have never been stopped for the singelton or two blades I usually keep in my kit.

I made an honest mistake once, forgot I had some blades stuffed in my brush holder. That was the last mistake like that I ever made. I don't know where you travel but that won't 'fly' in the major hubs I frequent.

Check those blades

[soapbox]

While it doesn't answer all of your questions, here's the obligatory B&B Air Travel Wiki (http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/Air_Travel) reference. (Also available in my sig).

[john parker]

Mdunn, what is the brush in option 3? Lovely!! Thanks, John

[rickw]

Options 4 & 5 have a corkscrew. Do you also pack the wine or get it on location?

[mdunn]

Mdunn, what is the brush in option 3? Lovely!! Thanks, John

that, my friend, is a reknotted brush, 'Pivory'. Im actually thinking of selling it. Pm me if you want, or keep your eyes on the BST


Options 4 & 5 have a corkscrew. Do you also pack the wine or get it on location?

both :001_tt2:

[klstclair]

Thanks for all the great tips from the field! It is sad to say that using a cartridge razor is the best option for those of us who only carry on for those short trips.

Kevin

[markb]

The "small" kit.. Normally for overnight to weekend stays.

http://www.nehp.net/~markbeem/Shaving/IMG_0558.JPG

The "large" kit.. Away for more than three days

http://www.nehp.net/~markbeem/Shaving/2009%20shaves/IMG_0386.JPG

http://www.nehp.net/~markbeem/Shaving/IMG_0239.jpg

[Dubbya]

What's with the wine opener?:blink:

I travel with a Tech in a soap holder, an Omega boar in a big pill bottle, a few Palmolive sticks, store brand Old Spice, and some witch hazel decanted into a small bottle.

[icon]

Good guide, thank you Mdunn.
I'm preparing a travel kit for spring holidays in north Africa and I'm waiting for a Feather Portale razor.
I noticed that Vulfix offers nice travel brushes :
http://www.vulfixoldoriginal.com/ProductPhotos/2-2190%20IVORYPURE-travel.jpghttp://www.vulfixoldoriginal.com/ProductPhotos/Website%20photographs%20159.jpg (nickel plated :tongue_sm)
I plan to go with only brush and razor to have an excuse to buy local cream and after shave :wink:

[herbnerd]

I take my favourite shaving cream and aftershave, blades (in the suitcase), along with Gillette I can afford to lose (a Super Speed or Gillette Tech) and my second best brush (I only have two!)

Along with anything else I feel like taking. I would so love a shaving bag such as in the lower pix.

[thunderball]

Awesome post! I'm on a jet next month so I might try one of your kit suggestions. :thumbup1:

[KingCole]

Nice post, but where do you lather? All facelathering?

I carry a small mug or use these cups/glas supplied by the hotel to help you brushing your teeth ....

Then, in case you use creams, just finish a tube up by two/third, "roll it up" and keep the low volume cream tube for traveling, it wont take away as much space as a full tube (of course, doesnt workt for plastic, like AOS)

Then, I have a small tupperware, round one, that fits right into the travel mug. This way I am able to store these small glass cologne samples safely inside of the Tupperware without wasting space.

Then, when covering your brush in toilett paper roll, just put one / two small rubber band around it.

Alex

[mdunn]

Nice post, but where do you lather? All facelathering?

I carry a small mug or use these cups/glas supplied by the hotel to help you brushing your teeth ....

Then, in case you use creams, just finish a tube up by two/third, "roll it up" and keep the low volume cream tube for traveling, it wont take away as much space as a full tube (of course, doesnt workt for plastic, like AOS)

Then, I have a small tupperware, round one, that fits right into the travel mug. This way I am able to store these small glass cologne samples safely inside of the Tupperware without wasting space.

Then, when covering your brush in toilett paper roll, just put one / two small rubber band around it.

Alex

Yup, im a facelatherer. I never used to be, but then I did it while traveling (and broke my lather bowl soon after) and never looked back


What's with the wine opener?:blink:

I use it to open my wine :001_rolle

[kingfisher]

Nice post, but where do you lather? All facelathering?
Alex

If you don't like facelathering every day, you could always palm lather. People don't talk about it much but it works just fine. If you're right handed, you build the lather in your left hand, holding the brush with your right. Essentially, your left hand becomes the "bowl." Also provides some tactile feedback as to the consistency of your lather.

This is what I do when I travel.

[wilsondude]

Nice post, but an edit is needed. The TSA won't allow straights or DE blades in carry on luggage. They are otherwise allowed on flights in checked luggage.

Thanks for the clarification; much appreciated!

[djh]

I have only been at this DE shaving caper for a week, but I had a couple of days in Geneva (travelled down there by train) on pleasure and really enjoyed having time in the morning to have a proper shave. Normally my work-a-day morning routine is quite rushed and until I get the shaving down pat, I will try to shave in the evenings.
My problem is that when I travel around Europe on business, I normally only have hand luggage with me which counts out the idea of taking razor blades. Will I be reduced to the dreaded multi-bladed nightmare again? :blush:

[Hreafn]

From what i have heard you should be able to find the blades where ever you are in Europe.

[moontroll]

Don't want to start a new thread about this ... but hopefully I'll get some advice here....

I live in Asia, but visit the US every year or two. Considering the often sorry state of the postal system where I live, I opted to have my new Feather Solid Stainless razor shipped to my parent's house in the US. But now my next anxiety is getting it back here safely in my luggage. I realize I can't carry it on loaded with a blade, but I've read posts here from people who have had their unloaded razor confiscated just for the fact that it's a metal object designed to carry sharp instruments. On the other hand, I've had a couple of incidents over the years of theft from (or loss of) checked luggage. Considering this is an expensive/important instrument, I wouldn't want to risk either. Anyone have a vote to the best option, or am I just being paranoid? (It's a gorgeous razor - don't want to lose it before i get it home!)

[Ceri]

Heading back to Wales for the weekend this afternoon, and have this travel set packed...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3327/4582132238_837976062b_o.jpg

one of the cylinders holds a Wee Scot
the other cylinder has a Wilkinson Sword shavestick
the leather razor wallet holds a British made NEW & 2 Super Platinum blades
the cologne bottle's filled with Pinaud Bay Rum

where the brush is in the picture there's room for

another cylinder holding a 30ml pot of AOS shave oil
an Osma Block
a styptic pencil in bakelite hoder

[Go West Young Man]

Don't want to start a new thread about this ... but hopefully I'll get some advice here....

I live in Asia, but visit the US every year or two. Considering the often sorry state of the postal system where I live, I opted to have my new Feather Solid Stainless razor shipped to my parent's house in the US. But now my next anxiety is getting it back here safely in my luggage. I realize I can't carry it on loaded with a blade, but I've read posts here from people who have had their unloaded razor confiscated just for the fact that it's a metal object designed to carry sharp instruments. On the other hand, I've had a couple of incidents over the years of theft from (or loss of) checked luggage. Considering this is an expensive/important instrument, I wouldn't want to risk either. Anyone have a vote to the best option, or am I just being paranoid? (It's a gorgeous razor - don't want to lose it before i get it home!)


I'd vote paranoid :tongue_sm Your odds of getting your checked luggage riffled through is pretty low (at least in the US, not sure what the situation in Vietnam is like.) I've never heard of anyone getting in trouble for having an obviously unloaded razor in their bags, but I generally open mine up to show there's no blade and put it in the bin with my coins and keys going through security. Never had a problem.

[flabajaba2213]

For protecting your DE while traveling, I've found a hard glasses case to be the perfect size. Padded on the inside so your razor is comfy, and hard on the outside to prevent crushing.