Hot Deal: Up to 50% Off Select Art of Shaving Items

From now until April 15th, you can take advantage of some hot deals on select Art of Shaving items: Up to 50% off!

This Fine Badger Shaving Brush with a real wood handle is only $126, regularly $180 (that's 30% off). The same brush, but with a horn handle, is only $122.50, regularly $175. Grab one for yourself, or pick one up as a superb gift for your buddy's birthday. I just put one on my wish list.

"The Art of Shaving manufactures and handcrafts each Shaving Brush using only the finest badger hair available. All of our brush handles are designed for elegance and durability, as well as for their comfortable shape. The Art of Shaving Shaving Brushes generate a rich and warm lather, soften and lift the beard, open pores, bring sufficient water to the skin and gently exfoliate."

If you want some style for your shaving setup, the Classic Stand for Brush & Razor is 30% off, $140, down from $200.

The Art of Shaving Classic Shaving Soap, with a teak wood bowl, is regularly $45, but now it goes for only $22.50 - that's 50% off!

The After-Shave Gel is also 50% off, now only $17.50:

"The Art of Shaving After-Shave Gel soothes refreshes and regenerates the skin after shaving. The Gel is antiseptic oil and alcohol-free. The After-Shave Gel is recommended for normal to oily skin and for applying during humid summer months. Enriched with algae and herbal extracts it hydrates and tightens pores and maintains healthy skin."

Purchases over $50 get free shipping, so go check out the hot deals on the Art of Shaving items today!

Win a full size The Art Of Shaving Kit from Foreman

There's only one thing that can make The Art of Shaving even better, and that's when it's free. If you haven't shaved with this brand's products, you haven't elevated your shave to an art form.

So here's what I recommend. Click on over to Foreman's blog 4mind4body, and check out the contest they're running. All you have to do is sign up for their mailing list, tell them about your current shaving habits, and then promise to tell them how much you love The Art of Shaving once you win. And trust me, you won't have any difficulty doing that last part.

Contest ends Monday January 12th, so you bests get a-clickin'!

Follow Up to Shaving With The Art of Shaving's Shaving Cream

Got an email from someone at The Art of Shaving in response to our recent review of their Unscented Shaving Cream, specifically about my application technique. Or lack thereof. Here's the advice:

Next time you shave, wet the brush with warm water...take about a 1 finger amount of shaving cream and put it inside the center of the brush. Then lather up. No need to put it on your face first to mix-you don't need to use that much of any of our products.

Not surprisingly, that method works really well. And, if I were a little more observant, I would have seen that their website had similar instructions on the "more about shaving cream" link. Should have been doing that for a while. Could have saved a little bathroom mess.

The Art of Shaving's Unscented Shaving Cream is $22 for a 5.3 ounce jar.

Review of The Art of Shaving - Unscented After-Shave Balm

If you're just joining us, we've layer some pre-shave oil on our face, shaved with unscented shaving cream, and even rubbed a rock on our face. We're finally ready to apply after-shave.

Formulated with grapeseed extract, shea butter and vitamin C, it moisturizes, rejuvenates and revitalizes to promote healthy skin. After-Shave Balm is recommended for normal, sensitive and dry skin. Antiseptic and alcohol-free.

I loved The Art of Shaving's Unscented After-Shave Balm. Went on smooth and easily, and helped my skin recovery from the radiation fallout of my Gillette Fusion Power. Very little scent, although it vaguely reminded me of some vanilla soy milk I tried at Whole Foods.

I'm going to complain about one thing here, and it's a nit. As much as I love the thick glass bottle, it's not the greatest choice for dispensing the after-shave. A squeeze tube would be better. Instead you're left thwacking the bottle against your palm to get an unpredictable amount. I often end up with a little too much after-shave on my hands.

That said, The Art of Shaving's Unscented line receives a big thumbs up from us. They had a high bar to hit, and they cleared it. If you're interested in taking your shave to a new level, you will not be disappointed.

The Art of Shaving's Unscented After-Shave Balm is $38 for a 4 ounce bottle.

Review of The Art of Shaving - Alum Block

So we've thrown some pre-shave oil and shaving cream on our face, we've shaved, and now we're ready to soothe our skin with some after-shave balm. Slow down tiger! Don't you want to rub a rock across your face?

That's right. A rock. The Art of Shaving's Alum Block is a quartz-like block of alum whose "antiseptic properties calm razor burn and soothe irritations, and help stop bleeding in the event of a nick or cut." And guess what. It kind of works. Well, at least it definitely stops the bleeding of a minor nick or cut. I don't usually get razor burn, so I couldn't easily verify that, but there's no question that rubbing this rock over your freshly shaven skin will seal up any little cut you might have gotten. And it doesn't sting.

After shaving, moisten stone with cold water and rub it gently on abrasion or cut. For minor cuts, moisten stone with cold water and hold it over cut for a few seconds until bleeding stops.

This got me thinking - would any rock due? Now I took science in high school. Four years of science. I think one of those years was earth science. Heck I'm practically a scientist. So I went out back, dug in the earth, found a nice looking flat rock, and rubbed it on my face. Guess what. Hurt like a mo@*&!!%*#er.

So the real questions to me are - who in their right mind was the first person to think that rubbing a rock on your face might be helpful, and who was the first person to realize that it actually was? I'm guessing it was probably one of the Rockefellers. Those guys are smart.

Anyway, if you get a bunch of nicks and cuts from shaving, switch to The Art of Shaving products, and stop trying to get 30 shaves out of your disposable razor. If you can't do that, get an Alum Block and rub it over your face.

The Art of Shaving's Alum Block is $15 for a 4.4 ounce block.

Review of The Art of Shaving's Unscented Shaving Cream

OK, so yesterday we applied some pre-shave oil from The Art of Shaving to our faces. Today we're going to shave. Gentlemen, lather up!

I mentioned yesterday that the "lather" step is a little tricky. Here's why - somehow you've got to mix The Art of Shaving's Unscented Shaving Cream with a little water. My technique, which is far from perfect, is to apply a little warm water to my face with a wash cloth. The thing is - oil and water - they don't mix. Just ask your salad dressing. So I do my best to get some water on my face, then throw a little shaving cream on top, and start mixing. You could definitely try some different techniques, like combining a little water with the shaving cream in your hands (a little messy) or a shaving mug (one more thing to clean). For me, the wash cloth technique worked the best.

Once the shaving cream is on your face, I found it lathered up best with a brush. Fingers worked fine, but the brush gave a more even lather and stood my whiskers up for a closer shave. Getting the tip of the shaving brush wet with warm water will also help you mix up a nice rich lather. You definitely don't need to use a brush with The Art of Shaving products; I just found a slightly better shave with one.

The shave is great. Nice and close, little to no nicks or cuts, and no irritation. The Art of Shaving is one of the few companies which recommends the up-shave. Actually the "cross-shave". They recommend you shave first with the grain, then a second time across the grain. I usually did a quick re-apply of water and lather before the second shave. This is easy to do if you're using a shaving brush because the brush will contain enough shaving cream that you don't need to use any more from the jar. You'll get a very close shave this way.

My only complaint is that the shaving cream lathers up to a rich white foam, which isn't see-through. This is fine for people who aren't trying to maintain some facial hair, or for people who are trying to avoid a blemish, but tough for others. Not a huge deal, but something to consider if you're having trouble coloring within the lines.

In the end, The Art of Shaving's Unscented Shaving Cream stood up to its reputation. Again, I would recommend buying the pre-shave oil, as I think these guys have developed an excellent shaving system that should be followed as intended. Definitely try their products if you're on the quest for the ultimate shave.

The Art of Shaving's Unscented Shaving Cream is $22 for a 5.3 ounce jar.

Review of The Art of Shaving's Unscented Pre-Shave Oil

The Art of Shaving is one of the most prestigious and preeminent brands in the shaving world. Born out of a modest kitchen, and grown into a prominent brand with several boutique stores and a presence in many upscale department stores, The Art of Shaving has put luxury shaving products on the map. I've been looking forward to trying their products out for a long time now.

Even before you start shaving with The Art of Shaving products, you'll notice their packaging. Sturdy, thick, glass jars where appropriate. Minimalist labels. Classy design. They look great on your bathroom counter.

As we've mentioned before, there are shaving oils and pre-shave oils. With a shaving oil, you shave with just the oil; nothing else. With a pre-shave oil, you typically add a layer of shaving cream on top and then shave. It's basically the first layer of protection on your face before you start slicing.

The Art of Shaving's Unscented Pre-Shave Oil falls into the latter category, and really should be followed by their shaving cream. In fact, if you're interested in trying these products, I'd definitely recommend getting the pre-shave oil. They've developed a system. Pre-shave oil is part of it. Don't skimp.

And follow the directions:

Before shaving, rub a small amount of The Art of Shaving Pre-Shave Oil in the palm of your hands and massage into beard. Lather Shaving Cream or Shaving Soap over oil and shave.

Pretty simple. Actually, the only tricky part is the "lather..." step, but we'll talk about that tomorrow.

The Art of Shaving's Unscented Pre-Shave Oil has a mild, pleasant scent. Reminds me vaguely of chartreuse. It's simple to dispense and smoothes easily onto your face. Again, if you're interested in these products, and I think you should be, get the pre-shave oil.

The Art of Shaving's Unscented Pre-Shave Oil is $22 for a 2 ounce / 60mL bottle. Tomorrow we shave!

The Shaving Stuff 2007 Holiday Gift Guide

The holiday season is fast approaching and you've got a list with a bunch of question marks on it. What to get for that special man in your life? Well look no further than the 2007 ShavingStuff Holiday Gift Guide. We've got all he'll need, from creams to razors, books, toys, and more. And even a little something for the ladies.

Shaving Cream
Sure, we all start shaving with foamy supermarket shaving cream. But eventually we aspire to the finer things in life. The brands below offer a superior shave which is close, comfortable, and sublime. A gift set is the perfect way to sample new products, as well as introduce someone to the world of better shaving.
Gentlemen's Refinery - $199
Billy Jealousy - $50
The Art of Shaving - $38
ZIRH - $59
MenScience - $55
Baxter of California - $60
Still not seeing it? Surf on over to the Details for Men gift kit page and see what strikes your fancy.

Cartridge Razors
Once again power reigns supreme. If you're not shaving with an electrified version of a multi-blade razor, it's time to step into the new millennium. Power makes all the difference.
Gillette Fusion Power - $10.99
Schick Quattro Power - $11.99
Gillette M3Power - $15
The Art of Shaving's Chrome Gillette Fusion Power with Spotlight - $150

Electric Razors
There were a couple of new products released this year from the leaders in electric razor technology. If you want the top of the line traditional electric razor, go for the Pulsonic. If you're interested in a wet/dry electric shave, go for the Moisture Shaving System.
Braun Pulsonic - $215
Philips Norelco Moisture Shaving System - $149

Pubic Shaving
Don't even think about shaving downstairs without the proper equipment. Give yourself an extra optical inch with the BodyGroom, or go completely bare with the Cleancut, still the #1 choice in the porn industry.
Philips Norelco Bodygroom - $34.99
no!no! - $250
Seiko Cleancut - $75

Head Shaving
Just like you wouldn't shave downstairs without the proper equipment, you don't want to shave the roof without the proper tools. Get the gear designed for your noggin.
Headblade - $10.99
Sharps Mission: Control Bald Head Balm SPF 15 - $24

Back Shaving
Yeah, I don't want to talk about it either. If you know a guy who needs one of these, just do him a favor and buy it for him. And give it to him while no one else is in the room.
MANGROOMER - $39.95

Books
Want to learn proper shaving technique but afraid to ask? Finally, a couple of books which teach you how to shave.
Leisure Guy's Guide to Gourmet Shaving: Shaving Made Enjoyable - $11.95
Sharp Practice: The Real Man's Guide to Shaving by Anders Larsen - £6.50

Toys
Nothing beats a little fun in the tub or a soft foam book. Teach your little squirt how to shave like his papa.
Shaving in the Tub from Alex Toys - $6.79
My Shaving Kit foam book from Innovative Kids - $3.32.

Looking for more amazing gift ideas? Check out our extensive set of holiday shopping guides on electronics, fashion, cooking, and more.

The Art of Shaving's Chrome Gillette Fusion Power, with Spotlight!

OK, I don't even know where to begin here. A lot of companies like to put their logo on things, and men's grooming lines are no different. We've seen a bunch of branded razor handles which fit Gillette cartridges. La dee da.

Here's one that takes this to the next level - The Fusion Chrome Collection Power Razor from Gillette and The Art of Shaving. And yes, that is a tiny flashlight built into the Fusion.

The built-in spotlight, the first of its kind, reveals details normally in shadow - such as under the chin and jaw line - to help you avoid missed spots and make every stroke count. The sleek, contemporary handle is an ideal combination of ergonomics and innovative design, handcrafted in polished chrome and wrapped in a matte black, thermo-resin grip.

OK, so it's an Art of Shaving branded Gillette Fusion Power, decked out in chrome and thermo-resin, with a tiny flashlight near the head. Wow. I'm seriously impressed. As the writer/editor of ShavingStuff, I just may have come across my perfect Christmas present.

We recently had the chance to "ooo" and "ahh" at the display of our local The Art of Shaving store, and here are some semi-decent pictures taken with a cell-phone camera:

How much does it cost? $150. Pretty steep for a device that doesn't sync with iTunes, but hey - The Art of Shaving is a luxury brand catering to a certain class of clientele. I'll bet they sell a bunch this holiday season.

And one more thing? Imagine shaving in the dark with this baby? It might be the most dangerous shaving idea we've ever had.

This Just In - The Art of Shaving

We're very excited to have received shaving products from The Art of Shaving courtesy of our friends over at Details for Men. The Art of Shaving has long been held as the acme of shaving, and it's about time we at ShavingStuff chimed in with our own opinion. In particular, I'm especially interested to see how The Art of Shaving stacks up against the Gentlemen's Refinery. Astute readers will remember that master barber Perry Gastis left The Art of Shaving to found Gentlemen's Refinery, which is without a doubt the best line of products we've tried this year.

So what did we get?

• The Art of Shaving Unscented Pre-Shave Oil ($22)
• The Art of Shaving Unscented Shaving Cream Tube ($14)
• The Art of Shaving Unscented After-Shave Balm ($38)
• The Art of Shaving Alum Block ($15)

Aside from the regular shaving products I'm totally psyched to try to alum block. Never used one before. Will it sting? I'm guessing yes. Will it fix a nick or cut? I hope so. Will I get an nicks or cuts with the Art of Shaving products? You'll just have to tune in once the review is in.

The Art of Shaving - Now in Book Form

Books, books, and more books. I'm in to books lately. Here's another book worth checking out from our friends at The Art of Shaving, called, conveniently, The Art of Shaving. It's about the art of shaving.

The average man will shave approximately 20,000 times over the course of his life, spending the equivalent of 139 full days doing it. He will shave off 27 feet of hair, from a total of 30,000 whiskers on his face. And he will probably be doing something wrong. So he’ll suffer nicks and cuts, ingrown hairs, and rashes; his five-o’clock shadow will arrive before lunch, his neck will be irritated and red, and he’ll get razor burn. Instead of reaping the benefits of a daily grooming regimen, he’ll only suffer. Needlessly.

Imagine 112 pages of that, plus pictures, and now you're talking. The Art of Shaving book is available in hardcover at Amazon for $11.56. Don't forget you can "search inside this book" to see what it's really like. Kind of like previewing songs on iTunes, only not as passive.

High-End Handles from The Art of Shaving

Looking for something opulent this Christmas? There's nothing more bling than a finely crafted razor handle made of sterling silver, engraved nickel, or gold. Just ask David Beckham. The Art of Shaving offers you a choice of 12 different handles, each for $130:

The Art of Shaving expertly designs, manufactures and handcrafts eash Razor handle to ensure optimal comfort and balance during the shaving process. Made from the finest materials, The Art of Shaving's handles are elegant, durable and can be used with Mach 3® blades by Gillette®

As you can see from my choice of picture I like the engraved nickel. If you've got an extra $130 feel free to send one my way. Or you could pay my cable bill for a month.

Fathers' Day Suggestion from the Art of Shaving

You're a few days away from Fathers' Day, and if you're not prepared, here's your go to gift - The Art of Shaving's Starter Kit. $38 gets your dad the pre-shave oil, shaving cream, the badger-fur shaving brush, and the after-shave balm. I've been reviewing their products now for the past week and have been genuinely impressed. The oil and shaving cream make your shave so smooth you can even shave against the grain.

Since it's a little late for shipments, I recommend picking up a box set at an old fashion brick and morter. Check out their store locator for the nearest location.

The Art of Shaving

Want to drop some serious coin on some serious shaving products? You need to know about The Art of Shaving

In October 1996 husband and wife team Eric Malka and Myriam Zaoui sold their car and opened The Art of Shaving shop on New York’s Upper East Side. The Art of Shaving was the first shop dedicated to the finest selection of men’s shaving and grooming products. Within the first year, sales far exceeded expectations, leading the company to open a second location, on Manhattan’s Madison Avenue, which contained an in-store Barber Spa. A third Manhattan location quickly followed.

Nordstrom's is carrying The Art of Shaving Blue Box Gift Set for $100 which includes "everything you need for a close, clean shave [...] Shaving Cream, Pre-Shave Oil, After-Shave Balm, Pure Badger Brush plus The Art of Shaving Book." Deal? Um, yeah.