Shaving the old fasioned way

With Father's Day coming right up, it's a good time to offer my best gift suggestion for Dad. This is something I discovered while living in London and absolutely fell in love with. Shaving the old fashioned way with hard soap and a badger brush.

I'd always shaved with foam or gel -- something that comes out of a can. I'm not even sure what compelled me to give old fashioned shaving a try. I think I was in a store, like Evelyn & Crabtree, one day and started asking questions. One thing led to another and I gave it a try. Shortly after that I bought a kit for my son-in-law and he, too, loved it.

You basically need two things -- shaving soap and a good shaving brush. Not only do I get a much closer, smoother and enjoyable shave using the soap and brush method, but the soap lasts forever. I'm still on the original soap and mug I bought in September 2007 and I use it every day except when traveling! I expect it'll last several more months. So, from a pure cost standpoint, it's a great deal.

I use the hard soap that often comes in a mug, but you can buy the soap and mug separately. Soap refills are relatively inexpensive and can be ordered online. I've not used Amazing Shaving, but plan to give it a try. I recommend the hard soap because it'll last much longer. But, you can also get a soft soap that is more like a lotion. I like creating the lather from really hot water. I just use a normal Gillette razor.

Here's what Amazing Shaving says about shaving soap:

Shaving soaps provide a longer lasting lather, warm the face and are hygienic; they improve skin circulation; they’re 100 percent biodegradable; and most important, they just smell so darn good.

Shaving soap cakes are generally easier to use and provide consistently good results. They also typically cost less than shaving creams.

A good quality shaving soap will have the ingredients necessary to produce a rich moist lather to soften the beard, moisturize the skin and lubricate the face to make it easier to slide the razor across your skin.

The brush is the key piece and the most expensive. You can pay hundreds of dollars for a really good or fancy one. The best ones are made from badger hair. I paid about $50 for mine and bought it at Portland Cutlery on SW Broadway near Pioneer Place. It seems to work well, but there are probably better ones. You'll also need a stand for the brush since it should hang to dry properly. They come in all sizes, shapes and materials.

So, before you get Dad one of those electric shavers, consider stepping back in time when men where men and they used real soap and straight razors. I can almost guarantee you he'll be delighted with his gift.