Category: Grooming

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Grooming

What is the best electric shaver to buy?

It’s been ages since I last had an electric shaver. I think I was in my early twenties. I bought a Phillips one and found it pretty good. Then, I can’t recall specifically what happened, but I stopped using it and swapped to shaving with a razor blade and doing wet shaves every morning. I do quite enjoy it. But sometimes I feel like I don’t have time.

Sometimes I’d like the option to quickly zip around my face before/during/after the shower and get on with my day.

I was in Boots the other day looking and I was overcome with choice. In a Tesco Extra I really couldn’t pick out the difference between the £39 model and the £180 model beyond some basics (e.g. one needs to be plugged in constantly, the other has a fairly hefty battery).

I’m not sure what brand to use.

I’m not sure what price point is sensible either.

This is where Amazon is absolutely useless.

I searched for Electric Shavers and got hundreds of results. I was about to buy one Phillips model when I read a review, possibly written by an arse (there’s no way of telling) who likened his £160 purchase to be almost exactly the same as the £45 model he’d already bought. That made me pause.

Gahhh.

So I’d very much welcome your feedback. What do you recommend? Which brands? Braun? Remington? Phillips?

What features?

I think I need:

  • Cordless
  • Battery that doesn’t need charging every time
  • Good blade?
  • Zero maintenance or thereabouts

I could seriously justify buying a £25, £50, or £200 model given that it’s something that I’d probably be using regularly.

Thoughts?

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Categories
Grooming

7 days later: The Bluebeard’s Revenge shaving cream is working brilliantly!

So I’ve been shaving with The Bluebeard’s Revenge shaving kit for about a week now. The team there very helpfully sent me over both the ‘luxury shaving cream’ and the ‘post shaving balm’. (Read my original post on this subject).

The kit also included a funky shaving brush which I’ve been using to apply the cream.

Apart from being a luxurious experience, the major concept behind The Bluebeard’s Revenge product range is helping you seriously reduce the ‘desperate-dan’ look by 5pm. Here’s the science bit:

Designed by a real life Blue Beard who was bored to death with being a Desperate Dan look-alike, the flagship product in The Bluebeards Revenge™ range is a paraben free, premium quality shaving cream with added ingredients to specifically combat tough stubble. It has been formulated to our unique specification in one of the UK’s premier male cosmetics laboratories who are renowned experts in the field of shaving cream.

Decelerine™ contains a mixture of active ingredients that delay hair growth, reducing the frequency of shaving and depilation and at the same time providing a recovering effect on the skin.

I have to report that one week on, I’m feeling good. My skin is surprisingly soft after the shave and for most of the day — but what’s more interesting and a touch exciting, I have to say, is that my ‘beard’ (i.e. growth by say 7pm) appears to be a lot softer than I would have otherwise expected. I think the Decelerine is working! At least, it feels this way.

By way of balance I should point out that my shaving regime is slightly different than two weeks ago. Previously, I was simply using Gillette’s latest and greatest foam (PowerProExcelPlus Mach 9++ or something) along with an equally expensive Gillette blade. I’m still using the Gillette blade but I’m now applying The Bluebeard’s Revenge shaving cream with the brush and then using the post shave balm. I have not yet plucked up the courage to consider trying The Bluebeard’s Revenge Scimitar shaver.

I recognise that it’s all very much subjective however I reckon my shaving experience has improved 100% over the old regime. I do genuinely feel better in the morning and throughout the day as a result. As for the expense, well, The Bluebeard’s Revenge shaving cream and post shave balm each retail at £9.99 vs the old Gillette Shaving Foam at £4.09 (current price from Boots). So you could certainly argue that the cost for this experience is significantly higher. I’d estimate that the cream and the balm will last a lot more than the Gillette stuff, if only because I don’t feel I need to use so much of The Bluebeard’s Revenge product.

You can order direct from The Bluebeard’s Revenge website or pick their products up from Amazon. If you’re an Amazon Prime customer, delivery is free:

Thank you to the team at The Bluebeard’s Revenge for the opportunity to trial their products!

Categories
Grooming

Postbag: The Bluebeards Revenge has arrived

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Thanks to the team over at The Bluebeards Revenge who sent through some of their revolutionary shaving cream, balm and a special funky shaving brush. Thanks also to PR Manager, Justin for his handwritten note on the compliments slip, “Time to give Gillette the old one-two!”

Love it. I’m with you Justin. I’m looking forward to trying it all out!

Do read my overview post of Bluebeards Revenge.

[ Via Posterous, email ]

Categories
Grooming

The Bluebeard’s Revenge: The ultimate shaving experience for real men

Now then I am rather sorry to admit that, yes, when it comes to shaving cream I’m rather pedestrian.

Indeed, it’s highly embarrassing now that I’m forced to think about it: My whole shaving routine is … well, routine. Boring. It’s been the same for years. Now and again someone will give me something for Christmas that I’ll take a brief look at.

For the most part, I’ve stuck with Gillette‘s razors and shaving foam. I know. I know. I should look further afield. I think I owe it to myself to have a look around.

Which brings me to The Bluebeard’s Revenge. The stand out product from their range is reportedly their shaving cream. It’s paraben free (paraben is typically bad news), premium quality, with ingredients including Decelerine that specifically combats tough stubble and the array of frequent shaving problems (i.e. razor rash, burn and bumps).

There’s a science bit too: Decelerine actually helps reduce the “Desperate Dan” look. Have a read of the detail here. Suffice to say that after 60 days use, you should notice a substantial reduction in hair length and density.

There is no excuse nowadays to turn up at work looking like someone’s taken a carving knife to your chin. And I have to say, dressed in a pinstripe but looking like a Desperate Dan arse is quite annoying. Often I get to 5pm and despite having a wet shave that morning, I’ll look as if I could certainly use another one.

The Bluebeard’s Revenge (“the ultimate shaving experience for real men”) looks rather good. I have to say, after a few minutes perusing the company’s website, I really do like their attitude. Witness, for example, the “Warning, this is not for the bumfluff brigade” page. Love it.

The company offers a whole range of shaving equipment, creams and balms. I have to say I’m not sure if I’m brave enough to try out the Scimitar yet though. You can also buy online directly from their site.

I’m going to see if I can check some out and I’ll let you know how I get on.