Thread: Hello from the UK!

Welcome Ray!

Good to have another UK chappy around the place!

Many thanks for all your greetings!!

It is good to see there are a few UK members.

One question to you all you Brits, where do you get your straight razor supplies??

It seems that on line is the only way here in the UK. I live near Crewe in Cheshire and I have not found anywhere where shaving doesn't mean Mach 3 & Gillette canned foam!! I can get Palmolive Shave stick and cream, but that is about it!

Ray

Well, in London you'll find Truefitt & Hill, Geo F Trumpers, Taylor of Old Bond Street, as well as smaller establishments like Murdock.

They're all barbers with shop attached. They're interesting and great for window shopping, but ultimately they're very pricey (can you just imagine the overhead for shops in those prime West End London locations?). So on the whole I'll source everything online.

As it turns out, I think you get better quality and service from many of the members here who have businesses and sites themselves. Even if you get stung by VAT and import fees it still ends up cheaper and better.

And there are a few European sites worth checking, though they too aren't cheap, but at least you pay no duty.

That said, I can highly recommend the experience of going to one of the old-time upper class establishments. It's unforgettable. And if you engage the barber in straight razor talk you may even end up learning a thing or two!

Well for soaps, brushes, creams etc I use either TGS or Connaught (for Mitchells Wool Fat soap).

For razors I use Classicshaving or Shaving & Razor Shop, and for strops I use Tony Miller.

There are of course other places, but those are the one's I use most and would go back to again in future.

Hi Ray

Welcome to the mad house from me too.

The internet is a great place to source shaving gear, and there is just so many experienced heads on this site, all willing to offer advice and guidance on what is good and what to avoid

Originally Posted by Mondy

One question to you all you Brits, where do you get your straight razor supplies??

Ray I have not found anywhere in Scotland at all. Were it not for that blessed thing that is the internet I would still be butchering my face with a Mach 3 and canned shaving foam. The pressurized foam by the way always seemed to spray out so much. It always seemed so unnecessary.

I HAVE found and use the Wilkinson Sword shaving soap which comes in a paux blue plastic bowl. Smells great IMHO but there is no alternative. Is there anyone else who uses this? What is your opinion of it?

TBH what i'd REALLY love is to try some of Mama Bears soaps. I have messaged her(I presume female) with some questions but got no response from her. Anyone know whats happened?

Anyway count me in for any meeting up taking place in the UK

Hey Sidney

Yes I have used the Wilkinson Sword shave bowl soap and found it to be not bad. The smell is the classic Gillette shaving foam smell but it is quite nice and fresh. The lubrication in it is from added silicon which sounds a bit naff but it seems to work OK. I think this soap would be better for shaving with a DE though. I use the bowl however for other soaps as it is quite handy

I thoroughly recommend the Palmolive Shave stick that you sometimes find stocked alongside the Wilkinson Sword shave bowl (in Morrisons, Super Drug, Asda etc). This stuff is very good for straights, is dirt cheap and the smell is in a different class. I use one as it was meant, as a stick, and I have also “pressed” another in to the above shave bowl for general use. Do not try melting the stuff however as it will not melt under any circumstances and practically comes alive if you try it in a microwave!!

You occasionally also find the Palmolive cream in the same places and this is pretty good too but I prefer the shave stick on all accounts. I think I prefer soaps in general but I have not had the pleasure of trying many creams.

So yes, it is the internet and all its heady temptations that does most of the work for shaving goods for me. Our American friends here are quite spoilt when it comes to choice in this game and I am envious!!

Cheers
Ray

Originally Posted by Mondy

I thoroughly recommend the Palmolive Shave stick that you sometimes find stocked alongside the Wilkinson Sword shave bowl (in Morrisons, Super Drug, Asda etc).

I can't remember seeing the stick Ray... A stick you say? what would you do, rub it on your face to build up a lather? HHmmm... Think i'd prefer my brush. Even there without using the internet there is only ONE possible choice. I have yet to find anywhere that does alum in the UK and I had to ask in Boots for a styptic pencil. Even then the poor young lass tried to find me a 'septic pencil'

Originally Posted by Mondy

This stuff is very good for straights, is dirt cheap and the smell is in a different class. I use one as it was meant, as a stick, and I have also “pressed” another in to the above shave bowl for general use. Do not try melting the stuff however as it will not melt under any circumstances and practically comes alive if you try it in a microwave!!

I can just imagine the mess..... although it would be a good way to 'accidentally' justify getting some new soaps instead! Has this happened to you? Tell me about it if it has....

Originally Posted by Mondy

You occasionally also find the Palmolive cream in the same places and this is pretty good too but I prefer the shave stick on all accounts. I think I prefer soaps in general but I have not had the pleasure of trying many creams.

Think I have seen the cream.Usually you have to go to the Tescos which are the size of an airport. Even then there is an aisle of pressurized shaving foams and shaving gels followed by a few of the old twin blades replacable blades and then the Wilkinson bowl and the Palmolive cream if I am lucky. I'd say if I cant get contact from Mama Bear before I next need shaving soap i'll try the palmolive.

Keep in touch,

Sandy

Hi Sidney

I got the Palmolive stick, cream AND a styptic pencil from Morrissons. The stick costs around 70p if I remember right and lasts ages. I think they just stock this stuff depending on how many “old farts” they expect to be in the area and so you may not find it in all stores (Crewe must have a lot of “old farts”!!)

Most people use the shave sticks as they are intended which is to rub the stick around your wet face to load your beard with soap and then carry on lathering up on your face with the brush. I think the sticks may be formulated to aid this process. This is very handy for travel. I like to lather in a bowl and so I thought I could just melt it down in to a cup in the microwave… BIG mistake!! The stuff just sort goes nuts in the microwave spewing sort of bits and bubbles all over the interior of the oven. It made the kitchen smell like the bathroom for about a week. The wife thinks I’m nuts enough as it is with straight razors and so much pouring of soothing oils was necessary!! The stick is quite soft and so I got another and set to work pressing it in to the cup after squeezing it a lot in my hands to soften it. It made my thumbs ache a bit and gave the hands a good workout, but the results were good and after several uses it flattens off nicely and you would never know. Hands smelt lovely all day!! I love the stuff

Ray

I've just bought the Palmolive shaving cream and having used it twice, I'm happy with it. I found I needed a bit of moisture on the brush (one sharp shake to rid the excess water) and a blob of cream the size of my little fingernail gave a good lather.
The shaving cream is by far and away better than the Wilkinson Sword shaving soap. I am inexorably closing in upon the method by which I might create a good lather with the WS soap, but the cream is vastly easier. When I finish this cake of soap, I may well be ordering from TGQ.

Cheers for the information on the shave stick, Mondy. I did have a look at one in my local ASDA, but couldn't make head nor tail of it. I'll buy one to stash in my travel kit.