Tips for Wet Shaving While Traveling, Part 3: Strops, Mugs, and Razor Cases

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Welcome to Part 3 of Tips for Wet Shaving While Traveling! Today we will be looking at the best solutions for strops, mugs, and general toiletries when you’re on the go. Just because space is limited in your suitcase doesn’t mean you have to halt your grooming ritual. Get a fantastic shave away from home with the tips below.

Remember to check out Part 1: Razors and Blades, and Part 2: Brushes, Shave Soaps, and Aftershaves.

Strops

Traveling with a straight razor and want to bring along a strop? How you pack it will depend on its size. Long, hanging strops belong in your checked bag (lie them flat to prevent creasing).

Paddle strops are sturdier and smaller, so they can fit safely in your carry-on. We have used the Bison Paddle Strop Razor Case to great success. Measuring only 9 inches in length, this two-in-one strop and razor case maximizes space.

Mugs

No matter how well you pack a mug, there’s always the possibility that it’ll break during your travels. Plus, mugs are rather bulky to fit into your dopp kit. Instead, borrow a handy contraption from the camping world: a collapsible mug.

The Sea to Summit X-Mug Collapsible Mug is made of durable silicone and features an accordion design that folds flat for easy storage. Lather the same way you do with your regular mug, then let it float in a sink of hot water to keep the lather warm.

Razor cases and dopp kits

If you’re an infrequent traveler, you can get away with simply rolling your razor in a towel for storage. But if you’re always jetting from place to place for business trips, invest in a razor case that’ll keep your razor secure for the long haul. The RoyalShave Nappa Leather Safety Razor Case by Dovo holds your razor with an internal elastic band, and even includes a blade storage compartment.

Frequent travelers will also benefit from a dedicated travel case or dopp kit. Made of supple vegetable-tanned leather, the Muhle Small Handmade Leather Travel Bag features a rigid body for safe storage of all your toiletries. Plus, the leather will develop a unique patina over time, reflective of your life and travels. A dopp kit is another valid option – make sure to purchase one that can withstand sharp razor blades and possible spills, like the Piccadilly Gladstone Leather Washbag.

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Tips for Wet Shaving While Traveling, Part 2: Brushes, Shave Soaps, and Aftershaves

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Welcome to Part 2 of Tips for Wet Shaving While Traveling!

Today we’ll be covering the supporting players of your wet shave routine: brushes, soaps/creams, and aftershaves. Whether you plan to bring the current product you use or will be purchasing a special travel-friendly version, we have solutions that’ll see you through your trip seamlessly.

Check back for Part 3 soon, and don’t forget to read up on Part 1: Razors & Blades here.

Travel brushes

You have two options here:

Buy a travel brush/compact brush –

Many wet shaving brands offer travel-sized brushes. These tend to be small brushes, and often come in travel tubes with caps, like the da Vinci UOMO Voyage 295 Silvertip Badger Travel Brush. This design protects your brush while allowing air flow to prevent the growth of mold. You can also try a compact brush, like the well-loved Omega #11047 Mighty Midget Boar/Badger Shave Brush. Standing at just 73 mm tall, this Omega brush features a fan-shaped bristle loft for easy lathering and a sturdy handle.

Pop your current brush into a prescription bottle –

Don’t want to give up your favorite brush while you travel? We don’t blame you. A simple solution is to put your full-size shaving brush in a tall prescription bottle. This will protect your bristles throughout the trip. If you don’t have one on hand, you can purchase them cheaply at a local drugstore or pharmacy. Don’t forget to drill a small hole into the lid to facilitate drying.

Shave soaps and creams

Shaving soap

Unfortunately, you’ll have to ditch your fancy wooden soap bowl, as the lid won’t close securely during flights. Plus, the bulky size of these screw-top bowls makes them hard to fit into a small carry-on. Thankfully, there’s an easy solution. Slip your puck into a Ziploc container. You can also venture into the world of shaving sticks, which create foolproof lather right on your face. No mug is necessary with a shaving stick (saving you a little room in your bag). Since shaving sticks are solid and come in tubes, you don’t have to worry about anything popping open or leaking.

Shaving cream

Plastic hinged-lid containers (like these from The Container Store) transport shaving cream well, and are available in multiple sizes depending on how much shaving cream you’d like to bring. Since the lids don’t fall off, you won’t have to worry about leaks. Some companies also make shaving cream tube versions of their shaving creams. You can find Taylor of Old Bond Street’s popular fragrances, including Eton College and St. James, in a shaving cream tube.

Aftershaves

When you travel, you’re going to be a lot more active than usual, which means you can easily get dehydrated. To keep yourself and your skin in good shape, remember to drink lots of water and to bring a rich aftershave balm. Truefitt & Hill has a luxurious travel-sized version of their Ultimate Comfort Aftershave Balm. If you want to kill two birds with one stone, the company’s Authentic No. 10 Post-Shave Cologne Balm works as both an aftershave balm for sensitive skin and lightweight woodsy cologne.

If you prefer not to buy a separate aftershave for travel, transfer some of your normal aftershave into a flip-top bottle. The Nalgene Flip-Top Leakproof Travel Bottle is compact and worry-free.

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Grooming Artist News Roundup: March 2017

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This month marks the official start of spring. If you’re planning on spring cleaning, don’t forget to spring clean your grooming habits as well. In the past, we’ve stressed the importance of taking care of your skin so it stays supple yet resilient against the trauma of shaving. Sharpologist teaches how exfoliating your skin builds upon the razors, shaving creams, and aftershaves you use. By removing dead skin cells and debris, exfoliators allow creams and lotions to penetrate better.

Then there’s the rest of your body. You probably have an exquisite method of cleaning up your beard, but what about the hair elsewhere? A matter of presentation as much as pride, manscaping keeps your body in good form, so we’ve included grooming tips from Ask Men.

Beyond shaving, we offer wardrobe inspiration in the form of a history lesson on 1940s style. From bombers to wide-legged slacks, many of the pieces we wear today have their origin in this time period.

Finally, we’ve included ideas for life-changing solo trips, and a type of story we love reading here at RoyalShave: a writer at The Atlantic discovers DE razors and never goes back.

Enjoy!

If you’re not exfoliating, you’re not getting the most out of your shave. Sharpologist recommends five excellent exfoliators. (Sharpologist)

Vacation weather has arrived. Make the most of it – while challenging your boundaries – by jetting off on one of these eight solo trips. (MR PORTER)

Excellent tips for wet shaving while traveling. (Grooming Artist)

Ask Men‘s comprehensive guide to manscaping. (Ask Men)

One man’s journey from what he thought was a permanent rash of razor bumps to irritation-free skin, thanks to switching over to safety razors. (The Atlantic)

A lesson in style: we look at the influence of 1940s Wartime fashion on today’s trends. (Grooming Artist)

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The Grooming Artist News Roundup: April 2016

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Traveling is one of life’s greatest pleasures. And if you’re like most folks, you’ve got your eye on getting away somewhere far, warm, and sandy. But if you’ve ever tried to bring your wet shaving razor (and blades) along for the flight, you know it can be difficult to continue your daily shaving routine. Thankfully, The Sharpologist offers a simple way to travel with a DE razor and other shaving essentials – all in a carry-on.

Should you decide to stay closer to home for your spring holiday, we’ve got Travel + Leisure’s list of America’s Best Spring Drives for inspiration.

Keep your mind engrossed during your journey with our round-up of all the latest in wet shaving and men’s grooming and style news, including our blog on how to find the best DE razor for you, and six new Seiko timepieces well worth the investment.

Enjoy!

A quality timepiece will last you a lifetime. Here, six luxury watches by Seiko that are deserving of your consideration, including the traveler-friendly Seiko Astron GPS Solar, which automatically syncs its displayed time to the time zone you’re in. (Esquire)

80% of the comfort of your shave comes from your razor blade. We show you how to find the best DE razor blade for you in our step-by-step method. (The Grooming Artist)

How to optimize your shaving routine to finish smoothly and with minimal skin irritation. (Huffington Post Canada)

Famously bearded model Ricki Hall is having his beard shaved off for the Mesothelioma Cancer Charity, in honor of his late father, who passed away last October from the cancer. (Express and Star)

Traveling with a DE razor can be difficult, and it’s not always desirable to bring a checked bag. Mantic 59 shows you how to bring everything you need for a satisfying wet shave – all in your carry-on. (The Sharpologist)

Thinking about places to vacation? You don’t have to look far. Travel + Leisure offers a list of America’s most breathtaking spring drives. (Travel + Leisure)

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