Thread: Stopped by my local Art of Shaving store for the first time

i have a bunch of traveling to do this year and they have some nice little travel kits that seem pretty reasonable priced. maybe i will give it a go. The employee's at the AOS I went too were nice and helpful and were eager to answer my questions which was nice to see.

I went in for the first time last week. On the negative side, both employees had some odd ideas about buying vintage straights: like, that you're typically paying for the scales & can throw the blade away (I know that _can_ happen, but I more often see y'all buying a restorable-looking blade that could benefit from rescaling). On the other hand, the barber offers a SR shave, and his talk showed him to be an avid SR self-shaver. I'd trust him. This is at Old Orchard mall in Skokie Illinois, btw.

Bought two pucks of soap I'm struggling with (I suck at soap), and an aftershave balm that works excellently. Only cost me my eldest son and minor stock in my immortal soul.

Originally Posted by deepweeds

I went in for the first time last week. On the negative side, both employees had some odd ideas about buying vintage straights: like, that you're typically paying for the scales & can throw the blade away (I know that _can_ happen, but I more often see y'all buying a restorable-looking blade that could benefit from rescaling). On the other hand, the barber offers a SR shave, and his talk showed him to be an avid SR self-shaver. I'd trust him. This is at Old Orchard mall in Skokie Illinois, btw.

Bought two pucks of soap I'm struggling with (I suck at soap), and an aftershave balm that works excellently. Only cost me my eldest son and minor stock in my immortal soul.

If you want a decent brick and mortar store to go to, check out either Merz Apothecary or Truefitt and Hill. Merz has two locations. One is in the north side do Chicago and the other in the loop. Truefitt is in the Bloomingdales building on Michigan ave. I haven't been to Truefitt but I understand that they sell much more than their own brand.

The AOS Sandlewood cream is one of my favorites. At 25 bucks a tub it is pricy but a tub will last you a year if you use a Snurdler. With a drop of glycerin it lathers like a Saint Bernard.

Maca Root is another favorite, also a good lather with glycerin.

If you have deep pockets,go to AOS,enough said. there prices are off the wall stupid.

Originally Posted by deepweeds

I went in for the first time last week. On the negative side, both employees had some odd ideas about buying vintage straights: like, that you're typically paying for the scales & can throw the blade away (I know that _can_ happen, but I more often see y'all buying a restorable-looking blade that could benefit from rescaling). On the other hand, the barber offers a SR shave, and his talk showed him to be an avid SR self-shaver. I'd trust him. This is at Old Orchard mall in Skokie Illinois, btw.

Bought two pucks of soap I'm struggling with (I suck at soap), and an aftershave balm that works excellently. Only cost me my eldest son and minor stock in my immortal soul.

Originally Posted by deepweeds

I went in for the first time last week. On the negative side, both employees had some odd ideas about buying vintage straights: like, that you're typically paying for the scales & can throw the blade away (I know that _can_ happen, but I more often see y'all buying a restorable-looking blade that could benefit from rescaling). On the other hand, the barber offers a SR shave, and his talk showed him to be an avid SR self-shaver. I'd trust him. This is at Old Orchard mall in Skokie Illinois, btw.

Bought two pucks of soap I'm struggling with (I suck at soap), and an aftershave balm that works excellently. Only cost me my eldest son and minor stock in my immortal soul.

I also have yet to master whipping up a good lather. I am slowly finding my mixture is usually to dry. I have found that omega eucalyptus cream is pretty much a no brainer. About five whips of the brush and you have enough lather to do about five shaves. You may give it a try. Omega eucalyptus is a similar proraso eucalyptus just a bit milder.

I like Omega as well it is a good economical soap. Try a couple drops of Glycerin, I bought some recently at CVS for 5 bucks for 4 oz., that will last years. 2-3 drop will make good thick lather.

Adding water is key, try pumping your brush to release the water stored in the bristles. When I add water, run the water from a dribbling faucet on to the handle not the brush, this will prevent washing away any soap or lather off the brush tip. Then pump as needed to drive the water down to the tips.

It is surprising how much water a brush can hold.

When cleaning your brush try it on a towel, just pump the brush on the towel. It is also a good way to remove water from your brush for drying.

Originally Posted by deepweeds

Only cost me my eldest son and minor stock in my immortal soul.

This seriously made me laugh out loud!

Originally Posted by Euclid440

It is surprising how much water a brush can hold.

Tell me about it... I'm reminded of that fact every time I start working up some Arko and my brush dribbles all over the place like Hooch (As in Tom Hanks' co-star).

Speaking of Arko, here's another link for an alum block and a stick of Arko for ~$10 shipped: Amazon.com: Arko Shaving Soap Stick & Alum Block After Shave: Health & Personal Care

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

At any large Asian store,you can buy a Lb of Alum for $1.29.

Sorry to thread hi jack but nice benchmade auto pixelfixed I have have the mini Stryker auto for about 13 years.and I paid $20 for the aos alum block in n.j.forgot to get one with my last online order.