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The Shave Kits That Will Keep You Looking Smooth
From traditional stands to modern statements
With the rise and rise of facial fuzz, the old school value of a proper wet shave has been somewhat forgotten. But what goes up must come down, and we're anticipating an imminent resurgence in cherubic Chalamet-level smoothness. Even if you aren’t still smugly reveling in your 20s, a sharply shaven face provides the perfect backdrop for a shoulder-grazing haircut – 'The Driver', if you will.
When it comes to shaving your face, there are no corners to cut: a decent shave depends on the quality of your kit. “There are a few different things you should look for in a razor, depending on the sensitivity of your skin and the thickness of your beard hair,” says Luke Davies, co-founder of barbershop Supply 91. "A safety razor would be my go-to (using a single blade) as using more than one blade or multi-blade cartridges can leave you with ingrown hairs and razor burns if the angle isn’t just right.”
Much has been made about the quality of German-engineered blades, and Davies believes there to be truth in the fandom – although really, the most important thing isn’t the origin of your blade, but how often you're changing it.
Prep is important too: “exfoliating the beard and skin beforehand helps massively,” adds Davies. You’re also going to want a good-quality shaving cream or gel, and the one you choose will largely depend on the type of results you’re after. “Creams are great for an initial shave as they’re fuller and have more consistency, allowing a smoother shave. A gel is better suited to a close shave, straight after you’ve used a cream or soap (ideally cream!). It’ll help get those hairs that may not be visible with the cream, and also aid in cleaning up outlines.”
If you’re after a traditional kit with a shaving brush, you’ll likely come across ‘synthetic’ and ‘non-synthetic’ options. According to Davies, it’s simply a choice of ethics – he prefers to eschew the animal products. “The badger shaving brush has been the go-to for many years, but synthetic shaving brushes are just as good, if not better when preparing the beard for shaving."
In the spirit of celebrating the return of the clean shave, we've hunted down all of the best shaving kits on the shelves. Go grand with a traditional sink-standing set, or opt for a portable option from one of the razor world's new players.
The Best Mens's Shaving Kits On The Shelves
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