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My girlfriend told me to go to Sephora for some mens grooming stuff. They have a line called Zirh that seems interesting. Here is a link...
http://www.sephora.com/browse/produc...ategoryId=5342
http://www.sephora.com/browse/produc...ategoryId=5342
They seem a bit expensive, but if anyone has used these I would love to hear about it.
I picked up a sample of Zirh at a local store, probably enough for 4-5 shaves. I tried it once, threw it out. Personally, it just did not work for me. I did not like the "smell", and it did not have a good consistancy. YMMV!
Randy
I am trying a ZIHR sample tomorrow!
In addition, in Saphora they also have Anthony's shaving cream. It stinks also.:nono:
No likey Zirh! No likey LabSeries.
I suspect that one thing most people will not like about some of these newer laboratory engineered "shaving sytems" is that they are not foamy. I have been trying some of these newer products lately and think they are adequate but not extraordinary. I also believe that many of these products are not really designed with straight razor users in mind. Most of us are not looking for "breakthrough" shaving technologies, but rather a return to the traditional and exotic ways of our forefathers.
I prefer my shaving products to be made from witchcraft rather than science.
Then again "There is a bar to all knowledge, a device that can never fail to keep us in everlasting ignorance. That device is: Contempt prior to investigation."
What an awesome quote!Quote:
"There is a bar to all knowledge, a device that can never fail to keep us in everlasting ignorance. That device is: Contempt prior to investigation."
Well upon further investigation I would like to strongly encourage you to try the store samples of ZIRH shave cream before you spend one penny on the product.
I tried the ZIRH aloe vera shave cream
I tried it with a brush=Extremely poor consistency, no foam to mention and completely unshaveable
I tried it with hand application= very poor consistency, very poor foam and completely unshaveable
I tried it with a mix of my other shave cream and the two products refused to mix together.
I could not test the actual shave with this product because I refused to test my razor on such a poorly prepared canvas.
I've tried zihr & lab series and both were very disappointing. No consistency and poor performers. Luckily they were samples. I think it's all marketing in a nice package. Just my opinion.
On the other hand I have used a lab series spf moisturizer and was very impressived. Perhaps their skin care products are good, but shaving products are inferior.
JR
My god daughter got the Zihr package for me for Christmas. I will again confirm it sucks.... There is nothing good about it. No lather no good scent, no good feel. CRAP with a capital C ..
Hey,
I can very strongly reccomend the Zihr products, but you would have to use a Mach 3. The shave cream is intended to be used with the mach 3, and is not intended to lather. You should use a very thin layer of it (see through), and not expect it to act like a traditional shave soap/cream. Through my search for a better way to shave the Zirh system has been the second best system I have used. Second only to using a single blade with traditional products.
This system is designed for the multi blade razors, and should be used with one. The cream is very thin so that it does not clog the razor, the preshave oil they sell is very thin, but it is also very slippery (much more so than others I have tried). The theory they have with the preshave oil is similar to what I have heard about method shavers have with water: somthing to lubricate the blades as they cross over the skin therefore avoiding razor burn.
Like I said this is the best stuff I have found other than the traditional method of shaving.
I can also reccomend the anthony products. Anthony is one of those companies that are all about simplicity, they use a very small amount of ingredients and try to keep things "natural" (whatever that means). They also donate a large portion of their profits to prostate cancer research (not relevant for the products but nice to hear anyways).
I am using the left over zirh stuff I have for travel products (because I can't carry on my good razors).
If you are just using a sample give it a shot (i mean actually try to shave with it), I'm gunna give it a go with my straight tommarow.
Damn, it's been a long time since I posted! I hope to be on here a little more.
Anyway, I have used a bunch of these high tech creams and don't really care for them. Einstein did an experiment where he used only water to shave with and he said the results were exactly the same as shaving with cream or soap. I like the smell and texture of the soaps and creams that I use. Most of the high tech stuff just doesn't smell that good to me and I like a big ol' pile of foam on my face.
If you want a really great smelling shave cream, buy a tube of Evelyn and Crabtree's Nomad Calming Shave Cream. It's my favorite. If you want an "Old School" cream that is slippery as goose shiat, use Cremo Creme. They won't send a sample, but you get a huge tube that will last you the better part of a year, at least. It doesn't cost much either.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr_Phong
I agree totally and in addition the Cremo cream smells like a PIna Colada and thats not a bad thing...:w
I used to shave with water in my infantry helmet and a signal mirror and the results were exactly the same as when I tried to give my cat a bath and he chose an escape route over my face.Quote:
Einstein did an experiment where he used only water to shave with and he said the results were exactly the same as shaving with cream or soap.
I can confirm what's already been said.
I was always complaining about shaving, and the joke about the ever increasing number of blades in razors. Three years ago for Christmas my mom had gotten me some Zirh face wash which I was almost done with (yes it took me almost a three whole years to use it up - mostly because I wasn't breaking out as much anymore). My girlfriend asked me if I liked using the Zirh stuff (it came in a nice aluminum can), I said I liked the smell (which I did), so for last Christmas she went out and bought for me an entire SET of Zirh products. We're talking Correct, Clean, Protect, Scrub plus Shave Cream and After Shave Balm in the large tube sizes, plus tons of travel size samples and the Zirh Corduroy cologne. MY GOD! I didn't know what to say. I felt so bad she went all the way to Bloomingdales to shop for this stuff, and probably dropped a bunch of money on it because I said I liked it. Just before christmas she emailed me a web page about 'wet shaving'. I continued research and soon after Christmas decided to switch to Straight Razor shaving. Soon after that the Zirh products disappeared from my bathroom.
Well, the products did work pretty well - better than the 'goo in a can' I had been using. But it's true, they're meant to work with a Mach3 or such razor. They do alright - there is no great lather like whip cream from the shave cream. It goes on mostly as a thin layer. It doesn't lubricate as well as the glycerin soaps for straight razors. The rest of the face washes and such see minimal action these days. I suppose I will make them into my 'travel' supplies since I can't overnight a straight on a plane.
To be honest, and I'm sure it's been said before, if you're using a mach3, there isn't much difference when pre-soaking your beard in hot water between using shaving cream and just using water. So the 'step up' from goo-in-a-can to Zirh wasn't really that great. The step up came when switching my shaving system to a straight with nice glycerin soap.
PS - if you wanna buy the ZIRH stuff from me, I'll sell it you REAL cheap.
Why try to fix what aint broken? I'll stick with the "old-school" style products. Thank you. :)
Jordan
I picked up a tub of Zihr Shave Cream today. It wasn't THAT bad of a shave overall. Granted, it doesn't foam as well as other creams, but it did provide a great glide for my straight razor.
Kids and their newfangled "shaving methods".
I say, if rubbing a pumice stone over your face was good enough for the ancient Greeks, it should be good enough for US....
j/k
Zirh not for me when I tried it but that was a number of years ago.
John P.
Read the label some are intended for a brushQuote:
Originally Posted by ryan_a
some are not. +1 on a previous poster
that commented that the product is designed
for a mach-3 or something...
For goodness sake get some samples and
give it a three day shave test. I ended up
using my Zirh bit by bit with Williams...
Why... because I was too cheep to toss it and
paid too much.
Gentlemen:
I have tried several modern and designer shave creams, balms and aftershaves, including Zirh, all gifts, and shrugged them off after a shave. The shave creams have produced anemic results, and the balm something similar. The designer aftershaves, all of which have smelled alike to me, have given me headaches. I have this constant fear that I will receive another Zirh or some other useless product for a special occasion. Oh, mercy.
Regards,
Obie
I just picked up a tub of Lab Series Maximum Comfort Shave Cream and I did search for it in the forum and I read quite a few negatives about it. Fortunately I have not tried so since it's not opened, I can return it. The negatives outweigh the positives, I am returning it tomorrow. All I lost was a little time and I am not stuck with a partially used product.Quote:
Originally Posted by Obie
Hello, pmburk:Quote:
Originally Posted by pmburk
I am not sure whether you use a brush or not. If not, you should, because that brush will work wonders for preparing the face for a good shave. I don't recall using the Lab Series shave creams, so I can't comment on its quality. If I may suggest, however, the world of traditional shaving offers a wealth of great shave soaps and creams.
For starters, get a tube of Dr. Bigelow shave cream at Bath and Body works. Bigelow is the same as Proraso of Italy. It's a good shave cream. Many soaps shops in malls may also carry the creams Pre de Province and Musgo Real. L'Occitane also has a good cream — some malls do have the L'Occitane store. These are for starters, but there's a lot more delightful stuff out there which you will discover as time goes. You're more than welcome to drop me a personal message and we can cover in detail any specific questions you might have.
Regards,
Obie
My experience with Zirh is the same as reported in the previous posts. When I used a Mach 3 I found Zirh shave cream to be a good buy--just like some other modern "designer" shaving creams. It reduced the friction and helped me get a decent shave. Just decent, mind you.
However, imho neither Zirh, King of Shaves or Jack Black deliver a shave that can compare with the more traditional, tried and true shaving soaps and creams.
Hi Obie,Quote:
Originally Posted by Obie
I use a Simpson Beaufort 4 Pure Badger and the SRD Essential Oil shave soap. I'm going to take that Lab stuff back, I'll get a full refund since I didn't use it. I'll stop by Bath and Body and look for the Dr. Bigelow. Can you use Dr. B with a brush and scuttle?
Thank you again,
Patrick
Yes you can. I just used some in fact. An almond sized dallop of cream will give you multiple passes. Easily.
It's nice and mild with just a little kick of menthol. It's available in just about every mall, so its easy to get.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pmburk
Hello, Patrick:Quote:
Originally Posted by pmburk
Dr. Bigelow has the lather version, yes, and it works well with brush in a scuttle. That's only the start. There's so much more out there and some of it really fabulous.
Regards,
Obie
Hi Obie,Quote:
Originally Posted by Obie
The Bigelow has been my "go to" shave cream. It has made my shaves so much easier as well as giving me a great shave. It complements my DOVO Best Quality 6/8. It's easy to whip up a nice lubricating lather and I do get three passes worth using just a bit more than an 1 inch bead.
Thank you again for your recommendation and assistance!
Patrick