HERE AT - West Coast Shaving

HERE AT
West Coast Shaving,
WE‘VE GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEED
FOR CLASSIC WET SHAVING,
whether you are completely new to the hobby,
you‘ve tried your hand for awhile
and are now ready to upgrade your equipment,
or you simply want the best of
what we have to offer.
Find the category
that fits you best or pick
and choose from all three!
Newbies
Ready to Upgrade
The Best of the Best
Newbies
We know it‘s overwhelming when you’re just starting out. There
are so many new terms that you need to learn (DE, strop, etc.) Even
figuring out the difference between a straight razor and a safety razor
can set your head spinning. Let us help get you started in wet shaving
with these great picks for the newcomer.
RAZORS
As a newbie a lot of men find a smaller razor to be less
cumbersome, but to still have good weight for a razor.
Good razors that we love to recommend that are not
overly expensive, but that many are happy with long
term would be:
• Merkur 34C - An iconic wet shaving product
and one of the first razors we carried. It‘s a
moderately aggressive razor, good for new users
or those that have been shaving for years.
• Edwin Jagger DE87 - DE89 - The DE series is
exceptionally popular due to quality and price.
And they just shave really well.
BLADES
All double edge blades are different and you will
need to try a number of them to find what works
well for you. We offer a variety of sample packs to
allow you to buy a small number of blades from our
most popular.
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They are surprisingly different and finding the right one is a process. Keep in
mind that for Newbies, improving your technique is important and you will
not be able to judge the blades until you‘re able to shave well consistently.
For this reason, we suggest putting the different blades on the side for a few
weeks.
BRUSHES
For the brush there are different grades of hair, such
as Pure, Best, Super and Silvertip. Depending on your
budget the suggestions vary.
Good options for a pure badger that are very modestly
priced are:
• Vulfix 1000A - An entry level brush that will
lather a soap or cream just fine, but won‘t be
the most luxurious. It‘s a medium-small sized
brush. The handle is injection molded which
keeps the costs down.
• Omega 63171- Hard to beat this brush when you consider the price
and the Omega charm it has in the handle design. You could use this
for a long time and not need to upgrade.
Good options for a best badger that we think are a great value and a step
up in quality:
• Simpson Berkeley - A long time best seller, this option gives you
traditional English quality from one of our favorite brands. Simpson
Best is an outstanding, and some say highest quality, medium grade
badger there is in the shaving world. Slightly on the smaller side, but
still usable as an every day brush.
• Simpson Colonel - Our all time best seller in this category. Medium
sized, wonderful knot paired with a nice sized and superbly
comfortable handle. One of the best bang-for-the-buck shaving
products you can buy.
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• Edwin Jagger Best - Often a first choice of new shaving brush users,
the EJ Best is a nice size, quality knot, and a comfortable handle. An
excellent brush overall.
CREAMS & SOAPS
Starting off with creams tends to be easier to make a lather. The soaps can
take a little more work to get a good lather and are sometimes a bit more
sensitive to water ratios, but they are rather convenient.
• Proraso Cream - We always start with the classic Menthol and
Eucalyptus because that was the original and most popular. But there
are also Sandalwood and Aloe and Vitamin E options. These creams
are made in the traditional barbershop style, and their performance
is top notch. Hard to beat for $10.
• Taylor of Old Bond Street Cream - Easily one of the most sought
after brands in classic shaving, they have been around for over 150
years and make a superb shaving cream. Competes with the best at
a bargain price.
• Haslinger Soap - This is a sleeper brand, not super well known in the
US, but one of our in-house favorites. The lather is so creamy and
protective, and it‘s very inexpensive.
• Ogallala Soap - An old timey American brand that is known for their
bay rum scents. Not a complex soap, but it works well and won‘t
break the bank.
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AFTERSHAVES
For aftershave there are splashes,
which are liquid and often contain
alcohol, and balms, which are thicker
and normally do not contain alcohol.
The splashes will have a nice sting
to them, while the balms tend to be
more moisturizing. Note that “lotion”
is an English term that is referring to
the splash type aftershaves.
• Proraso Aftershave - This is often one of the first splash type
aftershaves people try. It comes with a light sting at the beginning,
but then quickly moves to a refreshing, cooling sensation.
• Pre de Provence - So popular we often have a hard time keeping it
in stock. Incredibly thick, it will sooth and moisturize just about any
irritation. A nice sage scent.
PRE-SHAVES
Pre-shave is going to help soften the hair and provide
some glide for the razor. Good options include:
• Pacific Shaving Company Shaving Oil - Our best
rated pre-shave oil and consistently a market
leader in this area. There is a smaller size if you
want to try it out before buying the large bottle.
• Proraso pre and post cream - An unusual, but
incredibly useful product to have on hand. It‘s
very thick, so you only need a tiny amount. It is
useful both to soften the beard before shaving
or soothe your skin after.
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OTHER ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS
FOR THE NEWBIE
The only extra thing to get as a newbie would be a styptic pencil, in case you
nick yourself. It stings like crazy but will stop that newbie nick from making
a mess. Our store favorite is the Pacific Shaving Nick Stick. Sorry, we don’t
sell Band-aids!
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Ready to Upgrade
So you’ve been experimenting with your entry level shaving brush
and razor, but you’re ready to step it up a little. There are so many
great products out there. We’ve hand-picked some of our favorites
for those of you who already know the basics of wet shaving, but are
ready to upgrade your trusty starter kit.
RAZORS
If you‘re looking for something a little nicer or that
maybe offers a more specific feature, these razors
are good starting points. Of course, they often
have many variations, including color and handle
materials, so take some time to research all the
options we carry.
• Muhle R89 - They make a stunning razor
and are a great choice if you‘re looking for
something just a bit nicer. There is a version
with a larger “Grande” handle for those of
you with bigger hands.
• Merkur Progress - Our least expensive
adjustable for those of you wanting a little
more flexibility in your razor. You can go
from very mild all the way to very aggressive
with just a twist of the lower knob.
• Merkur 39C Barber Pole - One of our most popular large handled
razors, this Merkur uses the same wonderful fixed head. For those
of you really wanting to push it to the aggressive side, try the slant
version.
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BRUSHES
One of the most common upgrades is to your
shaving brush. This is most often the case only due
to preferring something more luxurious or for other
ergonomic reasons. Often times it‘s wanting to step
up the quality of hair to be softer or to a more specific
knot shape to whip up a lather a little bit easier. Good
suggestions would be:
• Simpson Duke Brush - This could be the last
brush you buy, it‘s so good. One of our best
sellers and a continual favorite from the
Simpson line. The Simpson Best hair is known
to be one of the best, if not the best, mid-grade
hair. The handle is ergonomic, and it works
great on soap or cream.
• Vulfix Super Badger - If you‘re primarily a cream user and want
something softer on the face, this is a good option. The handle is
very comfortable, and the knot feels great on your skin. It‘s not a
very dense knot, so if you‘re looking for a lot of scrub, this is not your
brush.
• Shavemac Finest - This is one of the best all-purpose options we carry.
It‘s got a great handle with a great knot, where the Finest is almost
as good as their Silvertip, at a fraction of the cost. We continually
recommend this brush for people in this price range and receive a lot
of positive feedback on the performance and aesthetics.
CREAMS & SOAPS
Looking for a new scent to spice up your shaving routine, but still want a
good lather? Check out these wonderful cream and soaps.
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• D.R. Harris Cream and Soap - From one of the most prestigious English
toiletry companies for hundreds of years, these soaps and creams are
some of the best. The Arlington shaving cream is our most popular
citrus based scents and Windsor, their newest fragrance, brings in
notes of black pepper and patchouli. Performance is top-notch, and
the packaging is fit for a gentleman.
• New York Shaving Company Cream and Soap - This is definitely one
of the most underrated products around. We‘re consistently blown
away by the performance, especially of their soaps. They have an
unscented option for those with sensitive skin or noses.
• Tabac Soap - We couldn‘t have a buyers guide without mentioning this
barbershop classic. The tobacco based scent is an all-time favorite,
and the performance is often considered as good as it gets. Be sure
to get it with the ceramic bowl. No collection is complete without it.
AFTERSHAVES
For a good smelling and soothing aftershave check out these aftershaves.
• Captain´s Choice - The Captain has made a name quickly in the
industry for an outstanding splash with top notch fragrances. We
happen to be quite fond of North and the juniper based scent, since
we happen to have helped create it! And it‘s not just a great smelling
option - it tones the skin and refreshes, as well.
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• D.R. Harris Aftershaves - While they make a great
splash, we find the milks to be the products to
try first. They are usually classified as a balm, but
their consistency is much thinner, so they absorb
quicker and don‘t leave a sticky residue like some
other aftershaves.
• Floid - Hard to find and harder to keep in stock,
these classic European lotions and balms smell
superb and are uniquely old world.
PRE-SHAVES
If you‘re looking for a new pre-shave with a little more slickness, check out
the following pre-shaves:
• Taylor of Old Bond Street Pre-Shave
Gel - This comes from the fairly new
(for Taylors) Jermyn Street line, which
is aimed at those with sensitive skin.
It will help reduce drag when shaving,
especially if your lather is on the thin
side.
• Floid Pre-Shave Oil - We actually
weren‘t sure if this was going to sell
well in the US because it wasn‘t well
known. Well, we quickly figured out
it would be a hit! Extra protection,
nice smell, and it doesn‘t stick to your
brush. It‘s a small tube, but a little
goes a long way.
• Village Barber - This blend of oils is 100% natural and paraben free.
Created by a master barber with 30 years of experience, so you know
it performs.
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OTHER ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS
Now that you are getting a few better products, you might want to invest in
protecting those products, and also in pampering yourself a little. Here is a
list of items to consider:
• WCS Leather razor case - Custom designed in-house and made
exclusively for us, this razor case is often considered the best on the
market and at a fraction of the cost of others. Protect your razor with
supple leather while making your dopp bag classier.
• WCS Razor and Brush Stand - If you‘re going
to invest in a quality shaving set, it only makes
sense you‘ll want to display it on your counter
with a nice stand.
• Alpha One Niner Recon Eight Dopp Kit - We
are big fans of utility. A product always has
to perform first and foremost, no matter how
good it looks. This is our current favorite. It‘s
compact, but still has a place for everything
and is built to last.
• The Shave Well Company Fog Free Mirror This is our best selling mirror, and it stays fog free in the shower.
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The Best of the Best
Sometimes you just want luxury. You’re looking for the cream of the
crop to elevate your morning shave from routine to indulgent. Why
not spoil yourself with some of our favorite top-of-the-line brands
and products?
RAZORS
To step up your game to the big boys, the following are as good as it gets.
• Feather AS-D2 Stainless Razor - Machined from 100% stainless steel,
this premium razor has design and quality that is rarely matched. The
beautiful knurled grip is perfectly balanced and the head has a unique
blade alignment system to ensure it sits in the proper position every
time. Even the handsome presentation box fits a razor of this quality.
• Edwin Jagger Lined Chatsworth Razor - Elegant design, impeccable
quality, and typically excellent performance make this one of the best
razors we carry. The lined handle gives extra grip when wet. It has the
best hard chrome finish on any razor we carry.
• Merkur Futur - Simply put, the best adjustable razor on the market. It
gives you the ability to expose more or less of the blade, depending
on your preferences. And if you change your mind, just adjust it again.
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BRUSHES
If stepping up your brush, you would want to go with a silvertip. This will be
the best quality badger hair and also the softest.
• Simpson Chubby 2 - Yes, there are bigger and higher grade options,
but the size 2 in Best is one of the best brushes you could ever buy.
It‘s routinely thought of as the best soap brush you can buy. The hair
is amazing and the knot is as dense as they come. An all-time great.
• Kent BLK12 Silver Tip Badger - This
luxurious monster contains some of
the softest tips you can find. The hair
is thin and silky smooth, and it feels
wonderful. It is most often used with
creams. The iconic Kent handle is
unique and very comfortable to hold
and use.
• Da Vinci UOMO 290 - If you‘re looking
for something more unique, this Da
Vinci is a good option. The knot is top
of the line silvertip and nicely packed.
But the handle is what stands out
the most. This globular design sits
firmly in your palm while lathering
and stands out while sitting on your
counter.
CREAMS & SOAPS
For a very unique and luxurious experience try these creams and soaps:
• Geo F. Trumper - Trumper is one of the famous “Three Ts” and has
served gentlemen for over 125 years. These creams and soaps
are sophisticated in their scents and provide incredible lather. Fan
favorites include the Eucris and Sandalwood.
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• Penhaligon‘s Cream - Penhaligon‘s is ubiquitous
with premium men‘s fragrances. They bring their
mastery of scents to shaving with a very rich and
slick cream. These are scented with some of their
best sellers.
• Castle Forbes Essential Shave Creams - Castle
Forbes is run by a world renowned fragrance
master, and the scents in these creams are like
no other. Made from only the finest fragrance
oils and ingredients. They are ultra dense and
provide a top-shelf lather that is both protective
and lubricating.
AFTERSHAVES
To keep your face nice and smooth for those nights on the town, check out
these top tier aftershaves:
• Geo F. Trumper Skin Food - This is one of those products that may not
seem like you need it until you try it. Time after time, someone would
tell us they held off on buying because it seemed expensive for just a
glycerine based aftershave. And then they try it and end up buying
the big bottle! No sting, just a lot of love for your face.
• Truefitt & Hill - We‘ve talked about the
other two “Three Ts”, so it‘s about time
we mention the third. T&H aftershaves
offer high-end performance and incredible scents. Their classic bottle is
instantly recognizable and looks great
on your sink.
• Czech & Speake Aftershave - While
most people know of C&S for their
colognes, their aftershaves are darn
good, as well. If you place a unique fragrance at the top of the priority
list for your selection, give one of these lotions a try.
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PRE-SHAVES
Some of the best pre-shaves come with a nice price, but your face will thank
you. Here are some great suggestions:
• Castle Forbes Unscented Pre Shave Many pre-shaves claim to help soften
your beard, but we‘ve found most to
be more talk than action. This one
actually does what it claims, softening
your beard while adding extra
protection to your shave. Unscented
as well, so it doesn‘t clash with any of
your products.
• Alt-Innsbruck Pre and After Shave
Emulsion - Only the finest ingredients
are used in the creation of this
fantastic product. It gives a nice
cooling effect, while providing additional prep to your beard and
skin. It‘s non-oily and easily absorbs into your skin with additional
moisturizing properties. Most people are shocked at how much they
like this.
• Crown Shaving Co. Supreme Glide Pre Shave Formula - This is a lesser
known brand, but they are growing quickly because their products
are so good. This pre-shave has become one of our best sellers. It
adds lubricity to your shave without feeling oily or gumming up your
brush. It‘s a large 8oz bottle that goes a long way, so even though it‘s
on the higher end of price, it‘s a great value.
OTHER ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS
For the person who only wants the best experience, and if you‘ve spoiled
yourself or someone you love, you might want to also consider a bit of icing
on the cake. We carry exceptional colognes that are not like anything you
will every find at a department store. We also carry hair brushes and combs
that will give you a new standard for these everyday tools.
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• Castle Forbes Cologne - It‘s like a fine wine. This brand does not skimp
on using the finest of essential oils that have been expertly mixed for
you in Scotland.
• Penhaligon’s Cologne - Using only pure ingredients, this line is
outstanding. It is hard to express how amazing a fragrance can be in
words and to someone who is shopping online, but this is a line that
stops our walk-in customers and leaves them pondering. While it is
an investment, a little bit goes a long way and leaves an impression
worth investing in.
• Imaginary Authors - Truly interesting and complex. We find that these
scents literally change on you throughout the day. Unusual is an
understatement, and there is a reason our in-store testers are never
full. Small batches are made by a talented perfumer who we love to
support.
• Kent Brushes and Combs - You must use a Kent brush or comb to
understand why these are different than your mega store products.
It‘s a slight investment that really does make a difference on how it
feels on your scalp in particular. As long as you don‘t lose it, it‘s well
worth it the price.
• Acca Kappa Brush - Massaging the scalp as you keep those hairs
perfectly in place earns this line of brushes the appreciation they
deserve. It‘s a well loved line, for sure!
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• Chicago Comb - Made right here in the USA in the great city of Chicago,
these laser cut, hand-finished chrome and matte finished combs are
made to last pretty much forever. It will certainly stand out from any
“boring” comb out there!
HAIR POMADES
If you‘ve already invested in the best of the best, you are not going to want
to leave the house without making sure you‘ve got every hair in place. We
have one of the widest selections around of pomades. We are sure to have
you covered, whether you seek a matte look, shine, light, or strong hold.
• Suavecito - This is a hot brand that we sell
like crazy. It costs a little and works great.
This is an old school American barbershop
product that keeps your hair in place while
smelling manly and clean. Do you really
need anything more?
• Baxter of California Pomades - These are
seriously good products for those of you
demanding the best. They hold well, and
this is a favorite among West Coast Shaving staff. The containers are
unique and have some heft to them, so they even look nice on your
counter.
• Imperial Barber Pomades - Designed by barbers for barbers, and
they‘ve done a superb job. There is a version for every hair type and
style. There are some very unique products in this line that will amaze you.
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