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A close shave 04 August 2008

Posted in Life, My 100 best things.

The mighty Gillette M3 Powerglide

Funnily enough, returning from a dive expedition is always a real joy for me. When you are away, the water is never quite hot enough, the foam not quite foamy enough and the blades not quite sharp enough... So, I get in and go upstairs to have a great shave.

I know that this experience is not exclusive for the chaps: I have been fortunate enough to witness a number of women that rival Chris Bonnington himself with magnificent displays of wiry, facial hair. Not to mention other parts of the female anatomy, whose rampant, follicular activity, requires regular, razor attention. But still for me, the experience really remains firmly in the in the male domain. It's such a testosterone charged experience to scythe through the stubble.

What are the best tools for the job? (Ed note: OK ladies, I know the best tools for the job are the blokes holding the razors :-0

Hardware

I have tried cut-throats (more of that below), single blades, multiple blades - with and without 'lubrication' technology - and even soulless, electric razors that make you feel dirty after you have used them.

My current weapon of choice is the mighty Gillette M3 Power with 'PowerGlide®'. The device is battery powered, causing it to vibrate in a spectacular fashion. This action, along with the three blades, veritably glides its way through my sea tempered beard with ease.

Software

Is it foam, cream or traditional lather? Well after considerable experimentation, I have settled on the Original Source Tea Tree & Mint Shave Gel. Over the past 35 years, I have used traditional shaving soap (L'Occitane being the best here) with a high quality bushy Badger hair brush, L'Occitane & Clinique creams, Moulton Brown foams and even AlphaGel's 'King of Shaves'. But for me, the refreshing Tea Tree & Mint is all I need.

Shareware

Having said all of this, there is one hair removal experience that transcends even the finest self service situation. The great barber who shaves you is the ultimate experience for any bloke; sadly, a dying art in the UK I am afraid...

I have three very memorable experiences in this department. And I can tell you, you have to REALLY trust anyone who is holding a razor to your throat.

  • The Italian barber on Green Street, Manhattan who whipped up oceans of foamy soapy stuff, applied it with a incomprehensibly big brush, then styled, removed and trimmed with continental aplomb. Of course while he was purveying his art, I was visualising all the 'Don's' who had been in the seat before me.
  • The Turkish back street barber in Bolu who used a tower of steam infused, red-hot towels, to soften, then a cut-throat razor to shave. The highlight of this experience was when he removed extraneous ear and eyebrow hair by ripping it - rather enthusiastically - out using twisted lengths of cotton...
  • Finally. The Spaniard who anaesthetised me by his breath, terrified me with his conversation, but left me wonderfully smooth. I left calm and satisfied that all was well with the world...

6 comments

jonneau on 06 Aug 2008 at 8:30

Electric razors for me any time, Anything that runs on batteries has to beat using your hand. In addition you don’t need water and so are vastly more eco-dolphin-friendly.

Most important is that you can shave while driving and sipping coffee sp saving valuable time and the new sound-dampening hands-free sets make phone conversation possible at the same time.

Lastly, I think the black magic man and Roger Moore used electric razors. You can’t beat that.

Simon on 09 Aug 2008 at 6:49

Jono: I cant believe you are still ploughing that electric furrow. When the oil runs out, I will be able to maintain my ritual using and open fire and soap made from animal fat…

matt on 31 Aug 2008 at 5:38

electric razors do truely suck arse, but the KING oF SHAVES sucks it more

Pauline on 22 Oct 2008 at 9:10

Remembering the days when you used to use Clinique; I wondered if it was ‘such a testosterone charged experience to scythe through the stubble’ when you shaved a certain groom’s male anatomy the day before his wedding!

Simonski on 22 Oct 2008 at 9:15

I remember it well… ;-)

Chris W on 29 Oct 2008 at 12:40

Having tried many forms of shave lubrication myself I can thoroughly recommend Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel, not the Dermalogica shave product but Special Cleansing Gel, tried and tested, lighlty foaming and very slippery!

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