Van Der Hagen Shave Set- Brush, Stand, Soap, Bowl

Hey all. Just picked up this bad-boy at Target for $20 (actually like $17 with my discount). I was originally looking for just some soap so I could get started wet-shaving tomorrow but I was surprised to see a full-blown kit. Now I have 2 brushes, a real stand in addition to my home-made clothes hanger stand, I'll end up having two bowls, etc. before my first shave.

Anyway, the kit. I'm impressed. It looks nice. The soap has a great scent (I think it's their scented rather than unscented soap). The bowl is very solid looking. Probably my favourite part of the kit. The stand is great; fits the brush well and has a spot for my Merkur 38C. Also fits my Escali brush on there as well. Brush that came with the kit seems okay. The package didn't indicate exactly what kind of brush it was. Next to the package in Target was a Van Der Hagen Badger Brush, so I can only assume it's a badger as well. Like I said I have another brush so if it's trash it isn't a huge deal.

Here are some pictures:

Attachment 98527

The box


Attachment 98528

Soap in the bowl

Attachment 98529

Stand+ VDH brush + Merkur 38C (not included :P)


Has anyone used this kit? Or some VDH soap or their brush? I'll come back after a few shaves with both the Escali and the VDH to give my opinion on the brushes. I'll also have some Tabac soap to compare the VDH soap to.

I think this could make a great gift for someone who you think might want to get into wet shaving (even if they don't take up a DE or straight, probably could go a long ways with a cartridge).

wow surprised that target had that kind of stuff! looks pretty nice though

That's a much nicer set than the run of the mill VDH set's I see around here. As far as the brush goes, it looks like boar to me but I may be wrong.

Yeah I was surprised at well, I was just looking for some soap which I wasn't even sure that they'd have. Glad I found it though since I just found out the same kit is $29 on Amazon and I'd have to wait for it to ship. Good reviews on Amazon as well. I'm excited :)

Yeah, looking on Amazon it seems like VDH have two sets:

The "premium"- Amazon.com: Van Der Hagen Premium Shave Set (Soap, Bowl, Brush): Health & Personal Care

And the "luxury" (which is what I seemed to have picked up)- Amazon.com: Van Der Hagen Men's Luxury, Shave Set: Health & Personal Care

With regards to the brush, the package literally says "monogrammed shave brush". The Amazon listing says it's a badger brush and it seems to be the same kit, so unless Target got shipped some rip-off Boar-variety packages I can only assume it's the same.

I have the soap from the luxury set and it is a good soap nothing special but will definitely give a good shave. Also it is easy to lather. The brush from what I remember is suppose to be of the best badger grade. From what I remember hearing when they first came out with that set the brush got the job done but was not the best of brushes.

Yeah, I have some Tabac soap (which I've heard great things about) coming from Amazon but for some reason it's been sitting in New York for a few days. I'm getting impatient and I figured tomorrow might be a good day to try out this completely new kind of shaving because I don't have work and I might have some nicks and cuts to tend to :s

And yeah, I realize I have two "okay" "entry-level" brushes. I know that if I really like wet shaving and DE shaving a quality brush is definitely something I'll look into first.

Don' get me wrong I was not knocking entry level brush or equipment. I am actually a firm believer that the low end stuff is for the most part as good as the high end just have to look a little hard for the quality low end stuff. Two of my favorite brushes are entry level ones (vdh boar and Shea moisturizer best badger) I use them all the time in fact have been using my vdh boar for the last couple weeks and before that was using the shea with some co bigelow from bath and body works which is a very good cheap cream for you to try. As for soap vdh in all it's forms are good quality for good price. I just like the vdh deluxe a lot and didn't find the vdh luxury line that much better then the vdh deluxe for the difference in price but that was me.


You are defiantly on the right track for some really good shaves.

Sorry if my first post seemed like I was putting those products down. Wasn't my intent.

Oh haha just read that over again and the quotes made that seem overly hostile...didn't mean that at all. Your first post was fine :)

I have that same set, but the brush looks different than mine. Mine is a badge brush. Either way it is a nice set. I love the scent of the soap.

I started with that same kit via Amazon (prior to Target carrying it). I really like the mug and soap. The brush gets the job done, but it pretty floppy, so I don't use it that often. The brush/razor holder works pretty well for a DE razor but I wouldn't use it with a straight. My wife hates it, so I'm hoping for a nice chrome stand for Father's Day. :)