What should I add to my Shave Den?

[dkrymskiy]

Hey everyone. Like a lot of people on here, I have all sorts of shaving utilities acquisition disorder; but it is so worth it. I'm trying to figure out what I should get as my next purchase.

1. TOBS Rose. I recently bought TOBS Avocado and love it. In my shaving den I have Tabac, Proraso White soap, Proraso Green Tube, and Mama Bear Mandarin Ice.

2. Proraso Aftershave, and balm or splash. My current aftershave is the Nivea for Sensitive Skin (white cap), but I've also used the dark blue cap (dry skin) and light blue cap (cooling). Never really used any other kind of aftershave.

3. Slant razor. I currently use a Slim, Futur, and Tech in the rotation (although I have 3 other GEMs: 1912, G-Bar, and faux ivory plastic handle laying around). I've heard mixed reviews on the slant.

4. Shaving stand. Just recently acquired (disorder!) a Shavemac 220. I've heard different opinions on shaving stands, but is it better to keep that thing upside down?

List isn't all inclusive, any other suggestions would be appreciated (Trumpers, for example).

Thanks!

[Rutgers Football]

open comb DE razor

[kingfisher]

Go with Trumper's Coconut Shaving Cream (or Extract of Limes).

[40boy]

1. I'd pick something other than TOBS since you already have one of those. Maybe another high end English cream like GFT or Harris.

2. You've only used balms. IMHO you need to try alcohol-based aftershaves. Old Spice or Aqua Velva are a good place to start. They don't stay with you too long, and they are both nice scents that leave your skin feeling very refreshed. If you want, you can add one of your balms on top of them, after they have air dried.

An alternative would be Witch Hazel. It's good stuff.

3. The Slant seems like as good as any choice to add in the Razor dept. It will probably be my next one.

4. I think a stand is a good thing.
Again, IMHO the brush should be hung upside down to dry. Once it's dry, I don't think it need to be stored upside down though. There is a wide variation in available pricing for stands. I have a basic plastic one that works just fine that was like $5, but you could spend a bunch of money on one too.

[cfriend]

2. You've only used balms. IMHO you need to try alcohol-based aftershaves. Old Spice or Aqua Velva are a good place to start. They don't stay with you too long, and they are both nice scents that leave your skin feeling very refreshed. If you want, you can add one of your balms on top of them, after they have air dried.

The key to my shave happiness. I like balms, they smell great and are really soothing when my skin is dry, but I always find myself reaching for an alcohol splash after a shave. Preferably mentholated these days

[dkrymskiy]

I actually have Witch Hazel, but it is Kroger brand is also 14% alcohol. I think it may have irritated my skin after a few BBS shaves I did.

I would love to get a cheap plastic shaving brush stand, but my Shavemac is a 28mm knot, so it wouldn't fit. I would get a custom stand that one of the guys on this forum makes.

[cfriend]

I actually have Witch Hazel, but it is Kroger brand is also 14% alcohol. I think it may have irritated my skin after a few BBS shaves I did.

I would love to get a cheap plastic shaving brush stand, but my Shavemac is a 28mm knot, so it wouldn't fit. I would get a custom stand that one of the guys on this forum makes.

Well, technically Witch Hazel is 14% alcohol by definition, unless you get Thayer's alcohol-free version which some will dispute is not a Witch Hazel at all. I use it, I like it, YMMV. Definitely look into an alcohol based splash though, there should be some available at just about any drug store near you.

[ari95]

I think a brush/razor stand is a great idea. I was given one as a gift and it is nice to use to display, and have your tools at the ready.

[mretzloff]

5. All of the above




Seriously though, I'd get the TOBS sampler from ShavingEssentials.net.

[Sharpj74]

I think a brush/razor stand is a great idea. I was given one as a gift and it is nice to use to display, and have your tools at the ready.

Yeah, go with the stand. It just adds such a cool nostalgia & masculine touch to bath. that way if you ever uprgade the Razor or the Brush it will always be favorably stored & displayed.

[dkrymskiy]

5. All of the above

You are a bad influence.

[mretzloff]

You are a bad influence.

I'm just an enabler doing his job.

[thunderball]

Give some of the Portuguese creams a go: Musgo Real, Veleiro, and O Melhor are simply amazing. Musgo can be had from many of the popular online vendors and Veleiro and O Melhor can be found at vintagescent.com.

I would also recommend the Proraso Pre/Post cream - great stuff.

Ah, almost forget Speick...gotta get yourself some of that too. Have fun!

[BarryR]

Agree with above suggestions to try a new brand of cream (or soap). There are many many choices. TOBS are excellent and reasonably priced, but there are lots of other choices. Castle Forbes make superb creams. There very dense and the jar is big, so they're not as expensive as they first seem.

Also, consider one of the sources of SC, AS or cologne samples. Then you could get a little bit of many things and find out what you like.

Regarding a brush stand, many shavers recommend them but others (like me) think they're totally unnecessary (though fine if you like them aesthetically).

[Masterofsparks]

I agree with a previous post buy all of the above items!

[Stubblefield]

GFT Coconut or Limes

Cyril Salter Lime

SMN Shave Cream

Penhaligon's (any)

DR Harris Arlington

I could go on . . .

[buddydog]

Art of shaving,sandlewood....cream...my favorite,followed with a splash of Royall Lyme.

[von Trotta]

a good AS splash (that is with alcohol). Nothing like it to feel clean and fresh after a shave.

Proraso AS (the green liquid) is a good place to start. Or for a better scent, maybe one of the Taylor offerings, like Mr Taylor or Victorian Limes.

[Leche]

A straight and a strop!

[ambrose]

open comb DE razor

A straight and a strop!

I agree with both more so the straight and strop. If you must stay DE go with an open comb.

I do think you really need to add some D.R. Harris soaps.