Interview: Captain Fawcett

November 5, 2014 By THE GROOMING ARTIST in INTERVIEWS Tags: barber shop, barbers, captain fawcett, dapper, gentlemen, hair, hair care, hair products, male grooming, men, men's, mensgrooming, moustache wax, mustache wax, Royalshave, Shave, stache, trend, trending, wax Leave a comment

Known as “The Gentleman’s Stiffener” Captain Fawcett is the home to a range of Gentlemen’s grooming products. The products range from Beard oil, mustache wax, shaving soap, shaving brushes, safety razors and so on. This all started back in 1997 when an old trunk was purchased from a house clearance and taken home. Discovering that this belonged to Captain Peabody Fawcett R.N Ret’d, the Edwardian Explorer it was forced open and among the contents inside were oils and ointments and an old journal containing detailed lists of exotic ingredients. Taking on the responsibility of carrying out the legendary “keep a stiffer upper lip regardless” the formulae have been faithfully followed and are now available to Gentleman all over the world.

We have a privilege to interview the man behind the discovery of Captain Fawcett’s. Read more to see what he has to say.

Where are you located?

The dear Captain is based in Norfolk & Good Blighty.

When did you start this business?

Circa 1905

When did you realize you wanted to be a barber?

I am not currently a barber but a purveyor of First Class Gentlemen’s Grooming Requisites.

Describe a few steps you took to pursuit this.

As an Edwardian explorer of some repute I believe it is imperative to present stiff upper lip regardless of whatever the day may present.

How would you deal with a customer who didn’t know what they wanted?

Refer them to their commanding officer.

What are some of your accomplishments?

AS a manufacturer of the world’s best moustache wax I am proud to have aided in the ennobling of many an upper lip.

Who are some of your favorite barbers?

Sweeny Todd

What do you believe makes a quality hairstyle, cut and groom?

Whatever your chosen image, be it a Scumbag, Young Fogey, Rockabilly or Lounge Lizard be sure to cut a dash.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Plant hunters and Explorers of yesteryear.

What advice do you have for aspiring Mustache growers?

Let it grow, Let it grow, Let it grow!

Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

Captain Fawcett is hugely popular on; (these will all be Links)

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Buy here: http://bit.ly/1y4XV4W

Why use badger hair as a shaving brush material?

October 29, 2014 By THE GROOMING ARTIST in TIPS & FACTS Tags: badger hair, badger hair shaving brush, barber shop, barbers, barbershop, Close Shave, dapper, european product, gentlemen, hair, male grooming, men, men's, royal shave, Royalshave, Shave, Shaving, shavingbrush, STYLE Leave a comment

The reason to use a badger hair shaving brush is that it offers the ideal balance between water retention, softness and durability when compared to the other options, something that is not found in other materials. Badger hairs are hollow, which is why they hold more water than boar or synthetic hairs. The hair quality of a badger brush is superior because of the inherent characteristic of the hair. The badger hair comes in 4 grades that are based on where on the badger’s body the hair is taken from. The main difference between them is the softness of the hair and the amount of hair available on a given badger.

The badger hair absorbs lots of water and this is beneficial to a good shave because water creates a foamy lather and the lather is essential for a good shave. The badger hair used exfoliates the skin well. The natural hair of a badger hair shaving brush stays firm and warm when shaving. A normal brush does not. e.g. When placing the badger brush into a warm bowl of water it stays firm, the hairs don’t go limp, whereas a normal hair shaving brush when dipped in a warm bowl of water looks heavy and limp with water pouring out of it. This will not give you the foam you need to shave.

The availability or amount of hair a badger has in each grade effects the price

Why choose a badger hair shaving brush? You will get the quality worth paying for.

Interested in a badger hair shaving brush? http://bit.ly/1vhdKCV

Geo F. Trumper Soft Shaving Cream

April 17, 2014 By THE GROOMING ARTIST in REVIEWS Tags: barber shop, barbers, barbershop, Close Shave, dapper, european product, gentlemen, Geo F. Trumper, male grooming, men, men's, mens wear, royal shave, Royalshave, Shave, Shaving, shaving cream, trend, trending, Trumper shaving cream Leave a comment

Geo F. Trumper is “The finest traditional gentlemen’s barber in London” Recently we have seen many of the Geo F, Trumper shaving creams leave the warehouse. It seems to be a trend this month. So, we spent a little time testing and trying the shaving creams out understanding which scent is best for your skin and what each shaving cream consists of. Take a read below to find out about the different shaving cream scents and see what our customers have to say about it.

Scents:

Lime (Normal to oily skin) – Hints of tangy sharpness of tropical limes and vibrant citrus flashes.

Sandalwood (Normal skin) – Exotic aroma with a woody, yet peppery scent.

Rose (Sensitive to normal skin) – Warm and uplifting rose scent with natural therapeutic properties.

Violet (Sensitive skin) – Subtle tones of violet for a crisp, clean, and fresh scent.

Almond (Dry or normal skin) – Refreshingly nutty aroma which is soothing and softening.

GFT ( All skin types) – Woody scent of cypress and tarragon with mandarin, bergamot, and lemon.

Coconut Oil (Sensitive to normal skin) – Contains natural moisturizing properties extracted from fresh coconut pulp.

Customer Reviews:

Jason ( Georgia, GA)

“I have been wet shaving for just a few months now, but being new to this, I have tried several shaving creams already. I come back to my Trumper Coconut Cream every time. This is my favorite shaving cream of all. And I have somewhat sensitive skin, but since I started using the coconut on a regular basis I have almost no irritation. Love it! Trying a couple of the other scents I got in a sampler pack, but coconut is still my favorite.”

Chris (Richmond, Virginia)

“I have tried many different creams, foams, gels and everything under the sun for my face, but this product has me sold. I use the Violet shave cream in conjunction with Trumper’s Sandalwood skin food for post shave and have seen nothing but great results. For someone has extremely sensitive skin like mine, I would highly recommend using this product. A little goes along way and the scent is fresh without being overpowering. I would be interested to try the coconut scent next.”

Michael (Naples, FL)

“I’ve been wet shaving for about 2 years now and have tried a wide variety of creams and have to say that Geo F. Trumper’s is one of the best. So far I’ve used Lime and Coconut, you don’t need to use a lot, great lather, and subtle smell. On the high end price-wise but worth every penny!”

James (Huber Heights, OH)

“I have to shave almost everyday because of my job and its rough on my face. I used this shaving cream and I won’t buy anything else. I have used the lime, lavender, and sandalwood, all smell great but not over powering.”

How to hold a Straight Razor

April 14, 2014 By THE GROOMING ARTIST in TIPS & FACTS Tags: barber shop, barbers, barbershop, Close Shave, gentlemen, male grooming, men, men's, mens wear, royal shave, Shave, Shaving, shaving facts, shaving tips, straight razors, STYLE, trend, trending 1 Comment

We know many of you are curious about the straight razor. It is an extremely intimidating shaving tool. When using this tool you have to know how to use it, especially the way you hold it. Knowing how to hold a straight razor is vital because you need to have grip when shaving with the straight razor so it does not slip and cut your face.

Hold the straight razor with your dominant hand. The positioning of the fingers can vary slightly with each person. Find what is most comfortable for you. Keep the wrist flexible and don’t let the grip get too strong. Let the grip be enough for the razor to remain steady between the fingers during shaving. Please do not rush this shaving process. Take time when using a straight razor. Go slow and steady especially over the lip area and jaw line. If the razor feels unsteady use the other hand to support the hand holding the straight razor. When switching to shave the different sides of the face, switch the hands. Do not try and shave with the opposite hand to the opposite side of the face. This will cause a lot of problems. The best results to a close shave would be to learn the different grips for the different parts of the face.

There are many ways to holding a straight razor but we decided to choose the top 6 most comfortable and easy to grip ways to hold a straight razor. Try these out and let us know which best suits you and why.