Interview: Mr King’s

May 6, 2015 By THE GROOMING ARTIST in INTERVIEWS Tags: beard oil, mens grooming, moustache wax, Mr King's Marvellous Moustache Wax, Mr King's Wax, natural beard oil, UK men's grooming line, UK moustache care brand Leave a comment

Mr King’s Instagram posts are of the kind that adds a bit of cheer and whimsy to your feed. Some days, he’s at the Wessex Beardsmen competition sporting his signature Dali moustache; other days, he’s heading to a beer festival in a kitschy purple wig. And then there are the posts of his adorable little kids – the Mr King brood.

We’ve been carrying Mr King’s Royal Oil and Moustache Wax for a while now, and wanted to delve a little deeper behind the man and his Reading, UK-based line of men’s grooming products.

Read on for our interview with Johnny King (aka Mr King). We discuss the story behind the naming of his regal brand, his humble start on eBay, and his advice for entrepreneurs.

Where are you located?

Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom.

When and why did you start this business?

April 2012. I started making moustache wax as I couldn’t get on with the various different brands I had tried. Some of them were too hard to extract from the tin, others didn’t hold for long enough. I wanted a wax that would be easy to apply, hold all day long, and stay waterproof but wash out with ease. I also didn’t want anything with an overpowering scent under my nose. As time went on and the beard became very popular, I decided that it was time to develop a beard oil.

How did you come up with the name of your company?

That was easy. My surname is King and the word “marvelous” sounds nice with “moustache.” So I decided on Mr King’s Marvellous Moustache Wax. When naming my beard oil I wanted to keep with the royal theme. Since “royal” rhymes with “oil,” there it was…. Royal Oil. Mr King’s Royal Oil.

What inspires you?

Other brands that have been doing this longer then me. They drive me to try and make my brand bigger and better.

What are some of your accomplishments as a business?

Actually selling my products is an accomplishment. When I first made the wax, I never thought I would make a name for myself or even sell many tins, let alone have a website. When I started I only used eBay. Three years on, and I’m selling the wax and beard oil via my website and on a wholesale level.

What do you believe makes a quality product?

I believe that if you have put in enough time and effort to make your product it will have quality. I don’t think that my brand is very popular (compared to some), but I know that I have top-quality products. I use the best ingredients that are all natural and sourced from the UK. They are handmade with love and care by myself. I try and test every batch I make to ensure that they are the best products available.

What is one Mr King’s product every man should own and why?

I would have to say that every man with facial hair should own my Moustache Wax. You never know who you will bump into, so looking your best is a must.

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Don’t worry about what anyone else is doing – keep doing what you’re doing and stick with it.

What do you have coming from Mr King’s in the near future?

I don’t want to give too much away, but there will be some new products online soon.

Where can readers find out more about your company?

You can see the everyday goings-on of Mr King on:

Website: MrKingsWax.bigcartel.com

Facebook: MrKingsWax

Instagram: @mrkingswax

Twitter: @mrkingswax

You can shop for Mr King’s products at RoyalShave and our brother site, TheStache.

Interview: Dr K Soap Company

February 9, 2015 By THE GROOMING ARTIST in INTERVIEWS Tags: beard care, beard oil, Dr K Soap Company, european product, male grooming, men's skincare, mens grooming, natural men's skincare, Royalshave, vegan, vegan men's grooming products Leave a comment

Here at RoyalShave, we are constantly scouring the globe to bring you the best men’s grooming products. When we discovered Dr K Soap Company in Cork, Ireland, we knew we had stumbled upon a gem. Concepted and formulated by a biochemist and scientist with a penchant for natural ingredients, Dr K Products not only perform exceedingly well, but they’re also good for you (and cruelty free!).

Check out our interview with Dr. Rob Karreman, founder of Dr K Soap Company, to learn all the interesting details of how the company started, how the beautiful scenery of Ireland inspires his creation process, and what’s to come.

Where are you located?

Cork, Ireland.

When and why did you start this business?

I started the business in 2011 after funding ran out for my position as a researcher at a university in Cork, Ireland. The process of soapmaking had always appealed to the biochemist and scientist in me and so it was almost a natural transition. I also really liked the idea of experimentation in my own lab – it was and still is an exciting and fun process to manufacture the Dr K range of body care products.

How did you come up with the name of your company?

The company is named after me – Dr (Rob) K(arreman).

What inspires you?

My inspiration is intrinsic to my personality – I am inquisitive and a perfectionist so product formulation and development ticks all of the right boxes. I also love nature. Living in Ireland, I am fortunate to be surrounded by lush, unspoiled beauty which inspires the use of all-natural ingredients and earthy, natural colours in my packaging and branding.

What are some of your accomplishments as a business?

Dr K Soap Company started out as a cottage industry in my kitchen and has since blossomed into an internationally recognized brand in men’s grooming.

What do you believe makes a quality product?

Meticulous research and attention to detail. There are many products out there that rely on hype, but I strive to research each ingredient to ensure that the end product is the best that it can be. While branding and packaging are important and certainly help with retail presence, I feel that the product itself speaks volumes at the end of the day in terms of customer satisfaction. Many of my sales are from repeat customers, a clear indicator of the quality and contribution of the product to men’s lifestyles.

What is one Dr K Soap Company product every man should own and why?

If you own a beard, Dr K’s Beard Tonic is a must-have, especially for the drier winter months. If you are clean shaven, Dr K’s Shaving Soap is a top-quality soap that provides a smooth shave with excellent after-shave moisturisation. It is also one of the very few vegan-friendly shaving soaps on the market today.

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

I would say “go with your dream”. I started my company from scratch with a dream of providing people with a top-quality product that would be better for them than the mass-produced, chemical-laden products on our supermarket shelves. I am delighted that others share this vision as well – by purchasing my products and contributing to the growth of the Dr K brand, they have shown the grooming industry an immense demand for natural products.

What do you have coming from Dr K Soap Company in the near future?

While the company is currently focused on few flagship products – simply due to the overwhelming demand for them (!) – I plan to bring out some new products as time permits. In the pipeline are variations of scents for our Beard Soap & Beard Tonic and new products such as a Beard Balm and Moustache Wax for styling applications.

Where can readers find out more about your company?

I have a website at www.drksoap.com and several social media channels, including:

Facebook: DrKSoapCompany

Instagram: @DrKSoapCompany

Twitter: @DrKSoapCompany

Shop for Dr K Soap Company products at RoyalShave.

What is Beard Oil and How Do I Use It?

December 29, 2014 By THE GROOMING ARTIST in Beard Care, TIPS & FACTS Tags: beard, beard care, beard grooming, beard oil, mens grooming 3 Comments

Beards are certainly a marker of style and sophistication nowadays, showing a man’s attention to grooming and good looks. The rise of the popularity of beards has spurred a number of boutique items to pop up, including beard oil.

Even if you’re a bearded lad who’s already armed with a tortoiseshell comb and stainless steel moustache trimming scissors, beard oil will round out your routine with vital moisture and shine.

Read on as we demystify the elusive beard oil.

What is beard oil?

Beard oil is a blend of extracts and essential oils that moisturizes your beard and the skin underneath. Typically you’ll find all-natural ingredients like jojoba oil and argan oil, both of which have been used for centuries for their excellent emollient properties. Top that emollience with fragrant essential oils like cedar and lavender and you’ve got a conditioner that doubles as a cologne or an aftershave.

Skin Benefits:

When you sport a beard, the skin underneath often gets red, dry, and flaky. That’s because beards wick moisture away from the skin. Beard oil hydrates skin to prevent beardruff (beard dandruff), which most gents would like to avoid.

Beard Benefits:

Beard oil penetrates the hair follicle with moisture, keeping hair healthy as it grows. It also acts as a styling product, taming flyaways and keeping your beard soft, tangle-free, and smooth.

How do I use beard oil?

Put a few drops into your palm and massage into skin and beard. It’s best to apply beard oil right after you wash your face since your pores are open and can more readily absorb the oil.

Using beard oil is especially important in the winter, when it’s cold and dry.

Not just for beards?

That’s right – you can use beard oil even if you don’t have a beard. Gents who prefer sporting a few days’ stubble benefit just as much from a beard oil’s moisture and shine.

A few of our beard oil picks: