Make no mistake about it, shaving is not fun. Almost every man would rather skip it today then deal with it. It’s time consuming and a nuisance. Moreover, for most men, it hurts. Nicks, cuts, razor burn, all right smack on your face. Why put yourself through it?
For years, I’ve used an electric razor. I was convinced that “lift-and-cut” was the way to go. The commercials showing the graphic of the hair being chopped off just after being grabbed by a sliding arm was totally convincing to me. How could shaving get better than that? I was dedicated to this method and for years never touched a razor or shaving cream. The problem was that I was still uncomfortable, especially under my chin and neck. I upgraded to the razor that squirted out the lotion hoping that was the solution. It was better at first, but after my face got used to it, the same discomfort developed. I always had red bumps that burned. No amount of “non-alcoholic soothing after shave” could help. However, I knew I was using the best stuff available, so I just accepted it and figured that’s the way it was.
About that time, I met the folks from The Grooming Lounge at a product show. They told me of their quest to provide the perfect shave. They have done literally years of research and thousands of shaves in their Washington, DC barbershop and have developed a line of products based on that research. Apparently I wasn’t alone as these products were designed to relieve all of the issues I had been having. So needless to say, I picked up a set to try out. This is my honest review of these products.
I got what they call their “Greatest Shave Ever” kit. It contains four of their signature items: face wash, shave oil, shave cream, and aftershave.
Your first step is the Pre-shave Face Wash. This is a fragrance free daily cleanser that was developed to prep your face for what’s to come. This is a great, lightweight soap that doesn’t dry out whatsoever. I find myself using it whether I plan to shave or not. Unlike other products that claim to be fragrance free, this one actually is. If “nothing” had a smell, this would be it. In fact, it’s almost weird when you use it. Your senses are looking for a scent, but don’t pick up any. An 8.7 fluid ounce bottle is included.
The Beard Master Shave Oil will be a change for most guys. I had never heard of shave oil and had to read the directions to figure out what to do with it. Turns out, you only use 3-4 drops at a time (good thing as you only get a 1.8 fluid ounce bottle). It’s loaded with ingredients like avocado and peppermint oil, and provides an amazing amount of razor glide to prevent burns and rashes. This stuff is so good in fact that you can shave with it alone. I only do that when I’ve just shaved the day before; not sure that would work too well with a full beard. Even though its “loaded with botanicals”, it does not smell like pink shampoo. It does have a light scent not unlike cloves. Sounds weird, but actually its amazing; never thought I’d look forward to the smell of cloves in the morning.
Thirdly in the pack is the Beard Destroyer Shave Cream. This is a low-foaming cream with a neutral scent. The 6.8 ounce portion provides a good amount of lubrication, but is unremarkable compared to the other products in the pack. Not that there is anything wrong with it. It’s just a good product while the others are exceptional. The real trick, and recommendation from the manufacturer, is to use the shave oil and shave cream together. A “cocktail” if you will. The first time I did this I kind of felt silly. Men are not used to using all kinds of products at once, usually we use what’s necessary and that’s it. It felt like overkill. However, let me make it clear that I was gravely mistaken. The first time I used both at once was the single best shaving experience I’ve ever had. It is shocking how smooth and cool a shave can be. It’s almost indescribable, and needs to be experienced.
In my opinion, the star of the show is the Happy Ending Soothing Aftershave (insert your own mildly crude joke about…oh, you did, good). I have been kind of anti-aftershave for quite some time. No matter what any of the bottles say, every one I’ve tried has either stung (creating more irritation) or seemed to do absolutely nothing. Well this is different. Happy Ending is thicker and creamier than other aftershaves. It’s more the consistency of the expensive face lotion that my wife buys. The directions say to use generously, but I find that only a dime sized drop is needed. No clichés or marketing hype, this stuff truly soothes and cools your skin. No burning, stinging, or added irritation. And no scent. I use it before putting on my cologne (alcohol based) and still no stinging. Although this is not intended to be a 2 in 1 product, I’ve heard of some guys using this both as an aftershave and a moisturizer. It’s that good.
It’s been awhile for some guys since having a real razor shave. In fact, I had to go and buy a razor when I got these products, because I no longer had one (the manufacturer recommends Mach 3). However, if you get him to try it again with these products, he may never go back. In the several months that I’ve had these, I’ve only used my electric one time because I thought I was in a hurry. And yes, I regretted it as the rash under my chin reminded me what I was used to.
You can go for the complete set as I did. Or the pieces are available individually. In this instance, I would certainly recommend the Happy Ending Soothing Aftershave first and the Beard Master Shave Oil second.
The best deal for the Greatest Shave Ever kit I’ve found is here.