Does anyone know of a good shop for real shaving supplies; good soaps, double edge blades, brushes, etc...?

I know I can order it online but supporting someone local would be nice.

Thanks.

Body shop has some good stuff, worth a look. Thats where I get my shaving stuff.

Charlottetown Mall
Charlottetown
(902) 569-8712

I bought a straight razor from a lady in Winsloe a few years ago. I don't remember her name though, she worked as a hairdresser or something in that field and was willing and able to order it for me through them. I'm sorry I don't remember her name, I'm sure you could find a local business that could find it for you.

I love that response 'well, there's a lady in winsloe - not sure her name. she ordered something from somewhere'.

It's the thought that counts. Thanks!

Hahaha I soooo saw that one coming... lol
I know my post was utterly useless and very nonspecific, but hey I tried! (And someone else might read it, know what I'm talking about and post something useful... )

There's a body shop in Ch'town now? Wow, didn't know that.

It's been there for a couple of years now.

I guess I should take a walk around that mall ... I usually stick to the Winners area. There was never much down the other end before so I haven't ventured in awhile.

LOL It's down across from the little store that sells lottery tickets, pop, etc.

on the topic of male hair removal.....where, if any, is the best place to go for men's hair removal(mostly the back)? are there any good products on the market that would be safe and effective?

*shudders* Just throw some hot wax on it and pull!

Seriously though - I'd talk to an esthetician to see what they recommend.

Yes, good advice...you can get that hair taken off permanently if you want; I think they use some sort of laser but give them a call to make sure.

FYI, I've found the body shop to not be a great place for shaving supplies. They have some okay creams, but no soaps, no razor bladess (double edge like derby's, feathers, etc..). no double edge razors (merkur's, gillette, etc...), good after shaves, amount various others.

I've found the PersonalEdge (found in some malls) has a very limited supply.

PEI is known for it's classic values - hoped there might be somewhere that still celebrates a good wet shave.

What is that - a good wet shave? Tell us about it.

That looks a bit sarcastic...it wasn't meant to be! I am just clueless when it comes to mens' shaving items and it'd be nice to know what guys like so I can buy the "right" gifts

Hey have you tried Rose's Barber Shop?(Downtown by the Guardian)

I get my specialty stuff (safety razor, badger hair brush, soaps, etc...) from Momentum Grooming online.

First, one place I order my stuff online is http://www.fendrihan.com/. I've found them quite reasonable - great prices too. Also, they are Canadian which helps - no local to the Island though.

Basically, a wet shave is how men (and women) used to shave in the early 1900's. A true 'wet shaver' uses a straight razor but I'm just not that crazy yet.

To start off, it's best to shave after a shower (not during). We'll assume it's my face in these scenarios but I've had women wet shave their legs (nice couple thing btw). Put a good shaving soap in a bowl, I put the bowl, along with my badger brush (silver tip) and razor which is merkur double edge (DE) progress with a feather or derby blade in a sink with warm/hot water. The progress is an adjustable razor - so I can change the angle depending on how sensative my skin is.

While my equipment soaks/warms up I use a soak a facecloth in as hot of water as I can, squeeze it out a little and place over my face. This warms up the skin causing the hair to rise while lubricating the skin to help with the blade.

Once that's done I remove the brush from the sink, give it two light shakes so it doesn't have too much water but has enough. I then use it to create a lather (40-60 seconds) which I then apply to my face (30 seconds) in circular motions. The badger hair applies the lather better than your hand can. Even if you use the horrible stuff in a can a brush - even a cheap one - can help. It doesn't pat down the air like your hands do, and it's also a massaging activity.

After that's done I use the razor, I pull it across my skin at a 30 degree angle with ZERO pressure. The weight of the head is enough. The feeling is amazing, there's no burn - the hair just pops off. The key is to go slow. I have zero razor burn as at most my skin might get two passes (maybe three if I'm being picky) by a blade of much better quality. The quattro titanium with 4 blades in 3-4 passes (gets clogged up, misses hairs, etc...) will put 12 - 16 blades across the skin. Nice razor burn.

After I'm done I wash the equipment and rise off with cool water. I bleed occassionally but it's different with a single blade. First, since you warmed up your face with warm water the blood is closer to the skin than normal - most often the cool water causes the skin to constrict which stops the bleeding. Other time I'll use a styptic pencil (you can use this even if you're a normal mach3 guy). I'll follow that with a nice aftershave and a a moisturizer.

Everyone has different skin, most often (mach3, sometimes even with an electric shaver) I'll nick myself. I still do with the DE razor it just doesn't hurt at all - I don't notice until the end of the shave and they'll be a dot or two that usually closes up with cool water.

Important things - time, it does take more time, if it doesn't, you're doing it wrong. Whereas a mach3 with canned shaving cream takes me 4 minutes a wet shave will take me 10-12 (after doing this for a year). When I do go into the office every day a DE shave is so close that I only need to shave once every two days (every guy will be different).

As for cost, the equipment can be "expensive" to start. I'm on my second razor just because I wanted a fancy one (it's hard not to spend money when it's not a chore but rather enjoyable). A decent weishi razor is $16, a brush $20-$30, some soap $17, a bowl $25, maybe a stand for the brush, $15, a hundred blades is about $20. That's $125, quite a bit more expensive than the $15 mach3. Each blade lasts 2-3 shaves (4 if you have light hair). The equipment last a very long time, some folks use the same razor for a few decades, a good badger brush, years, a 120 g soap lasts a year (depends of course). That $125 can easily last you 250 shaves. - That's $0.50/shave. The next hundred (just blades, maybe a new $50 brush and soap) can run you $0.30. 8 mach3 cartridges cost $24 - that's $3/blade and if you can get it two shaves (I barely can) that's $1.50 a shave for an uncomfortable shave.

A good article that explains it better than I do is found http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6886845/

There are youtube videos on different technique as well.

I hope I've answered the question.

Follow-up. You can still wet shave with modern shavers (mach3, venus, etc...). It'll very much improve the shave.

To improve a shave (try them in this order):
1) Wet shave
2) Get a brush
3) Get good shaving soap
4) Get a double edge razor
5) Get good blades

Great post! I never knew there was a real "technique" to it.