We’re actually giving away 3 tubs of Bluebeards Revenge in three separate mini-contests.  We’ll be randomly selecting one winner from the entrants of each mini-contest.  Enter one or all three, it’s up to you.  Contest open to all locations and ages.  One entry per mini-contest.  Here they are:

Mini-contest 1: Comment on this post.

Mini-contest 2: Follow us on Facebook.  Our Facebook page is www.facebook.com/AspiringGentleman.

Mini-contest 3: Retweet the tweet “New Post: Bluebeards Revenge Contest Giveaway http://goo.gl/fb/EjqfN”.  Our twitter id is @AspiringGent.

Good luck everyone!  Contest ends July 31.  Bluebeards Revenge is only available through The Shaving Shack, so if you’re not one of the lucky contest winners, head over there to grab yourself a tub.

From Wikipedia, an entry from the club’s log books suggests a typical evening at the gentleman’s club.  1737. St. Andrews Day. 24 met, 3 tested and enrolled. All frigged. The Dr. expatiated. Two nymphs [young girls], 18 and 19, exhibited as heretofore. Rules were submitted by Mr. Lumsdaine for future adoption. Fanny Hill was read. Tempest. Broke up at 3 o’clock a.m.  So, to clarify, we here at The Aspiring Gentleman are interesting in reviving (a subset of) forgotten manly rituals.  Anything involving young girls, collective masturbation, or lectures on sex and anatomy, let’s leave in the past.

Debunking five common wet shaving myths

When it comes to men’s shaving there are many myths and misconceptions out there about what you should or shouldn’t be doing. In this article we will take a look at five different areas that blokes can get hung up about when trying to find the best way to shave and offer a few tips on each point.

Do you need to use a lot of foam when shaving?

This question is asked a lot by men who think that by using more foam, they will benefit from a smoother shave. Well, the truth is, you don’t. All that using more foam does is to add more product to the skin and thus get in the way of the razor. The razor’s job is to perform through touching the skin and excess foam just hinders this. Also, by using products without alcohol or harsh ingredients, it will reduce the chances of you getting any nicks or cuts to the face.

Is it always necessary to shave downwards, or ‘go with the grain’?

Again, the answer to this is no. It is ok to go against the grain and the direction of growth. This may be easier for those with thicker beards and skin that isn’t as sensitive, but can still be achieved by anybody for the best possible shave.

Should I use the same brand for all my shaving products?

No, there is no rule about sticking to one particular brand. In fact, it is more interesting to create a cocktail of products through trying out different ones from each brand. As long as the product is quality, then you should have no problems mixing and matching.

Should I use soap on my face before shaving?

The problem with soap is that it dries the face and strips away the moisture content. It is still worth washing the facial area prior to shaving, although it is recommended you try using a cleanser instead.

Do you need to use hot or cold water when shaving?

It is always recommended that you have a shave immediately after taking a hot shower. This is because the steam and heat opens up the pores and softens the beard. When you have finished shaving you can then use cold or cooler water to close the pores again and shut everything back down, leaving you with a cool face.

These wet shaving tips were kindly provided by the Shaving Shack, a retailer on luxury men’s shaving accessories, including razors, brushes and shaving creams.

OK, so you want to win the Kent Shaving Brush?  Because we’re thinking of running this contest again in the future, all you have to do is go to the Shaving Shack Website, find a product you’d like to see us give away next month, and post it in the comments here at the bottom of this page.  The contest is open to all ages, locations, etc., and ends June 1.  One entry per person. June 1: Contest is now CLOSED.

Perhaps now is a good time to look at plausible reasons for the above questions. With sales of badger hair shaving brushes and classic shaving paraphernalia on the rise, maybe we have finally realized, that nothing quite beats the real thing when it comes to a good shave.

Let’s step back for a moment and examine what may have affected our decisions in the past few decades.

The most prominent and most obvious reason I believe we stopped using the brush, was of course, pure laziness. Faced with all these new gadgets and convenient shaving gels, foams and mousses we suddenly ‘forgot’ how to shave like men. Jump out of bed in the morning and quick splash and a squirt from our favorite product and we were ready to cut our faces off and face a new day. All very well if you don’t mind having skin that resembles the surface of the moon and having to spend half a week’s wages on toilet paper to stick to your pebble-dashed face. I know there are those of you out there that will totally disagree with this opinion, but let’s face it a splash of water and a squirt of foam does not a clean shave make. Now, throw a brush into the equation, then maybe I can be persuaded.

So let’s look at what the cost of products has done to sway us away from the trusty badger hair brush. When all these fancy shaving gels and foams came on the market we saw a way to save ourselves a few bucks. Loading up on disposable razors and tubes and canisters of Walmart’s finest shaving products we were set for a year’s shaving at a fraction of the cost. But what was the true cost? The labour intensive manufacture of Badger Hair Brushes could only rise, as demand fell and those of us who were true to the shaving brush took the brunt of the fall. Now all is not lost, those of us that stayed with our brushes through thick and thin have reaped the benefits. To my mind, my brush is an investment, an investment in my face and in my future. With the demand for shaving brushes on the rise again, now others can also be rewarded with the benefits that come with investing in a truly classical piece of equipment. Spend your money wisely men, for when the time comes there won’t be a price you can put on young-looking skin and a face that turns the ladies’ heads (for all the right reasons).

Swings and roundabouts as they say, maybe the shaving brush just went out of fashion for a bit, left with the shoulder pads perhaps or the pink ties that went so well with my giant cell phone? History has proven more than once that there are cycles to life, cycles to fashion and most certainly cycles to habits. I for one, believe that we are at the beginning of a new age, an age that will once again allow me to grow my hair in the most ridiculous fashion, wear trousers that are way too tight and relish in a daily shaving routine that involves me and my trusty brush. Roll on the comeback kings, this after all is the decade of the comeback if fashion and music are anything to go by.

Another thought that struck me is that when I think of a man shaving using a brush, I automatically think of an English gentleman, you know the type. The classic looking gent who looks like he has never had stubble in his life. Hugh Grant anybody? Could this be because they have been using a shaving brush? I think it’s something I’d like to investigate further. Anyway I’ve gone off on a bit of a tangent there, please do excuse me. What I started off by saying was that I associate the shaving brush with an English man, and perhaps on the flip side I associate shaving gels and mousses with our American selves. Could the fall of the shaving brush and classic shaving techniques be put down to the fall of the British Empire? I’m assuming the British soldiers and colonialists took their trusty shaving paraphernalia everywhere with them, thus spreading the technique throughout the empire. When the British Empire started to fall, did the use of the brush also start to decline? Did we rebel against our former masters? It’s definitely a very plausible explanation, but as we are all grown ups now can I request that we let the past lie and bring back the trusty brush please?

Alfred M. writes about all things shaving in his blog Perfect Shave Dispatch and dispenses grooming supplies and advice at the Fendrihan Shaving Shop. He also administrates Fendrihan’s page on Facebook.

• We were to try harder than anyone else.  We might not be the best, and none of us were, but we were to make the effort to be the best.  After you have done the best you can, to hell with it.  -RFK, 1965
• Sometimes people think that because you have money and position you are immune from the human experience.  But I can feel as lonesome and lost as the next man when I turn the key in the door and go into an empty house that is usually full of kids and dogs.  -RFK, late sixties
• There is always inequity in life.  Some men are killed in war, some are wounded, and some never leave the country.  Some men are stationed in the Antarctic and some are stationed in San Francisco.  It’s very hard, in military or in personal life, to ensure complete equality.  Life is unfair.  -JFK, March 1962
• It was easy–they sank my boat.  -JFK, to a high school student who asked him how he had become a war hero, 1962
• The advice of those who were brought in on the executive branch was unanimous, and the advice was wrong.  And I was responsible.  -JFK, after the Bay of Pigs invasion
• If we solve the Berlin problem without war, Cuba will look pretty small.  And if there is a war, Cuba won’t matter much, either.  -JFK, 1962

My friends and I have some of our own traditions – we always watch the 1993 movie Tombstone before the game and eat unethical amounts of meat during it. This year’s theme is chicken wings; we’re making 8 different flavours. Previous themes have been pulled pork, lobster boiled over an open fire, and full racks of beef ribs, among others. A personal favourite was when we make 4 gallons of chili. Here’s a basic Chili recipe to get you started.

2 pounds ground beef

1 large onion, chopped

1 large green pepper, chopped

2- 15 ounce cans of kidney beans

15 ounce can of diced or whole tomatoes

1 small can of tomato sauce

2 tablespoons chili powder

Salt and pepper and hot sauce, to taste

Cook the ground beef in a deep sauté pan until beef is lightly browned. Drain and add the chopped onions and peppers and cook until peppers are soft and the onions are translucent. Add the kidney beans, diced tomatoes, can of tomato sauce and chili powder and heat until boiling. Turn the heat down to low and let the mixture simmer for several hours. You can add salt and pepper and more chili powder to taste.

Of course the cap to a great meal like this is a casual cigar. I might smoke my Smokin Toad petit corona, a criollo wrapped Nicaraguan. Cigar Aficionado has some interviews with Hall of Famers Joe Greene and Terry Bradshaw that may inspire you.

Sláinte

Enjoying a Cigar & Scotch

Men love a party where they can enjoy a good glass of scotch and a fine cigar. Something about this combination exclaims manliness and men happily partake of them in the company of other men. Parties unfortunately don’t last forever, but the worst part of them can: a smelly or stained suit. What happens in the event that some precious liquid falls onto your fine suit? What about getting that cigar smell out of your clothes (sure you love it, but your wife and coworkers don’t)? This guide will help you keep the great memories of the party without living with a scotch stain or a suit that smells like cigar smoke.

The Importance of Dry Cleaning

Regardless of whether your suit smells of cigars or has a scotch stain, taking the garment to a good dry cleaner as soon as possible is the first and most important step. The dry cleaning process is supposed to remove stains and smells, after all. When you drop off the clothes, point out any stains in need of removal and tell the cleaner what the stain is. Tell them also if the clothes reek of smoke and that you need them deodorized.

Getting Cigar Odor out of a Suit

Assuming you’re going to get your suit to a dry cleaner as soon as possible, there are some things you can do to keep the cigar smoke smell from residing permanently in your suit.

• Air out the suit. Don’t hang it right back up in your closet. If you do, the suit won’t lose the smoke smell and you might smell up more clothes. Hang the suit pieces up on separate hangers someplace outside your closet where they will get good air circulation.

• Spray on an odor eliminator. Febreeze is designed to remove all manner of odors from soft surfaces like carpet and upholstery, and will work well on a suit. The bottle’s label states that it can be used on clothing, but always test on an inconspicuous area first. Another great odor eliminator, according to the Mythbusters, is vodka. In their experiment, a garment sprayed with 1:3 vodka-to-water ratio before laundering rendered it less smelly than a garment without.[1] So, a little vodka on the suit while it airs out will mean the difference between a fresh suit and an odious one (naturally, spray first on a test area that won’t be seen). In the author’s test, neither Febreeze nor vodka left a stain on a pair of wool pants once dry, so use either of these to evict at least some cigar smoke odor.

• Use an odor absorber. An odor absorbing bag, like this one, is the best choice for removing suit odors before getting to the dry cleaner. When you take off the cigar smoke-infested suit, put it on the hanger like usual, put the suit in a garment bag, and place the odor absorbing bag in the bottom. The odor absorber will draw the cigar smell out of your clothes as it sits in the garment bag. If this totally removes the smell, great! You don’t have to take the suit to the cleaner. If it only removes some of the smell, great! Take the suit to the cleaner, ask them to deodorize, and when you pick it up, your suit shouldn’t smell at all.

Treating a Scotch Stain on a Suit

Spilling scotch on a suit doesn’t mean the end. Here are the steps to treating a scotch stain whether at home or away:

1. Make a wet spotter, and keep one at home and in your car. A wet spotter is a combination of water and lubricant that you apply to a wool suit to prevent stains from setting and to break them up. The wet spotter recipe is this[2]:
   • 1 part glycerine
   • 1 part liquid dishwashing detergent
   • 8 parts water

   Mix these in a small bottle. The measurements the author used were tablespoon glycerine, tablespoon liquid dishwashing detergent, and four tablespoons water. Glycerine can be found at drugstores or pharmacies in the first aid section. Use clear dishwashing detergent – you don’t want any of those dyes interfering with your suit cleaning.

2. You must react as quickly as possible to prevent a stain from setting, so first, get all the excess liquid out of the cloth by blotting, not rubbing. Use your pocket handkerchief, since this will be the closest thing to you.
3. Now moisten a washcloth with cold water and apply it to the stained area. This is called flushing, it dilutes the stain and absorbs it. Keep the stain moist from now on.
4. Take out your wet spotter and squeeze a little (5 drops or so) onto the stain and gently press it in with the wet washcloth. Now let the stain be absorbed up into the washcloth, keeping it moist.
5. Once the stain has lifted, blot the area with a dry cloth and dry as well as you are able without rubbing. Take a look at the area after it has dried. If it still looks discolored, take the garment to the cleaner and point out the stain, telling them that it’s scotch and what you did to treat it. Make sure the stain is out before you leave the cleaner when you pick up the suit, or you might have to pay for another cleaning.

When the Scotch and Cigar Party is at Home or Away

Don’t ever again be afraid to indulge in the gentleman’s pleasure of a scotch and cigar. Bookmark this article and read it over before you head out to that party, and make sure you have a wet spotter in the glove box. While you’re at it, buy a small spray bottle and fill it with Febreeze (can’t do this with vodka because it would violate open container laws – do not keep alcohol in your car! Also, don’t drink and drive!), and put it in a plastic bag with the wet spotter, and you’ll be ready for it all. Give yourself a quick spray with Febreeze before you drive off and you’ll save everyone from smelling cigars on you when you get home.

If a spill happens at your place, you’ll know exactly what to do whether it’s on you or someone else, so lend a hand if it happens.

Unafraid of what might happen, go on out there and have a night with a cigar, scotch, and some great company. You’ll know how to take care of your suit no matter what.

References

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBusters_(2006_season)#Vodka_Myths_II
2. http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-make-wet-and-dry-spotters.htm

Author Bios

Antonio Centeno is President of A Tailored Suit, an online American boutique fine-clothing merchant specializing in bespoke men’s suits, shirts, jackets, and overcoats. The company’s mission is to help men create the clothing that best enhances their individual style. Antonio studied men’s clothing design in London, Hong Kong, and Bangkok; he is a former US Marine with an MBA from UT Austin and a BA from Cornell College.

Timothy Broderick is currently studying men’s style and fashion under Antonio Centeno at A Tailored Suit. He hopes to further his knowledge on these subjects and to attain a position with A Tailored Suit helping men find clothing that best suits their personal style and personality.

There’s a wide selection of shaving paraphernalia out there; but how to make sense of it all? Well, there’s a purpose behind every step of the shaving process. Once you get to understand each of those steps, the product and equipment selection will follow naturally.

Let’s get down to it.

The Objective: To Prepare The Terrain

To start on the right foot, we need a clean surface. Dirt, pollution, and oil set into your skin and contribute to blackheads, acne and other skin problems. Remember that when you shave, your skin becomes vulnerable to these polluting agents, so at least use some soap and water to wash away the impurities. You can improve on this by using an exfoliating scrub. Want to take it a step further? Follow with a hot towel to open the pores and soften the beard.

Then comes the conditioning. This is a must if your beard is particularly tough. What we are trying to do here is to soften the hair for an easier, closer shave, and to coat the skin in order to protect it from the blade. A pre-shave lotion or oil should do the trick.

The Tools:

• Face Cleansing: Baxter of California E-D-A Cleansing Bars, Musgo Real Glyce Lime Oil Pre-shave Soap.
• Exfoliation: Baxter of California Facial Scrub, Clubman Exfoliating Face Scrub.
• Conditioning: eShave Professional Shaving Towel , Alt-Innsbruck Pre-shave Emulsion, The Gentlemens Refinery Pre-shave Oil.

The Objective: To Cut Down The Stubble

If you are a man in search of shaving nirvana, you might want to leave the foam can and plastic cutlery aside and try a traditional wet-shave. The trinity at the core of wet-shaving is composed of a shaving brush (natural or synthetic), a shaving cream or soap, and a razor (double-edge or straight).

The nature of these instruments will depend on your skin and beard type, skill level (wet-shaving does involve a learning curve) and personal preferences. If you haven’t tried wet-shaving before, you can always incorporate these elements one at a time, in the order listed above, and get used to them gradually.

Shaving brush and shaving soap or cream should work together seamlessly to produce a nourishing lather, so they should be chosen to compliment each other.  Using the brush with circular motions to apply the shaving cream/soap to your face will lift the hair and provide the perfect medium for the blade to glide effortlessly.

Now, moving in for the cut.

A straight razor is the ultimate wet-shaving tool. It is also the one shaving instrument that demands the most expertise and maintenance of all. I recommend some straights below, but I will not delve here into the maintenance gear associated to it, as that would be a lengthy article in itself.

For wet-shaving beginners I recommend a double-edge razor. These are gentler on your skin than multi-blade, disposable razors and produce fewer ingrown hairs as they do not pull and cut the hair under the skin surface, like the multi-bladers do. When giving a double-edge razor a try, remember not to push it against your skin like you would a plastic razor. Classic razors use their own weight to assist the shaving process and don’t need the extra push.

The Tools:

Great shaving brush and soap or cream combinations:

• For the richest shaving experience, combine a high-quality shaving cream with a badger-hair shaving brush. Try Cyril R Salter Sublime Citrus Shaving Cream, Taylor of Old Bond Street Avocado Shaving Cream. Vulfix 660 Super Badger Shaving Brush, Edwin Jagger Best Badger Shaving Brush.
• For a more invigorating shave, with a bit of exfoliation built into it, try a shaving soap paired with a boar-hair shaving brush. My picks are Geo F Trumper Rose Shaving Soap, Kent/Mitchell’s Wool Fat Shaving Soap. Semogue 1305 Superior Boar Bristle Shaving Brush, Vulfix No. 28 Natural Boar Bristle Shaving Brush.
• If you prefer a vegan option: Omega Soft-As-Badger Synthetic Shaving Brush, Omega Syntex Shaving Brush.

My straight razor picks:

• Best quality in a commercially produced straight: Dovo Prima Klang Extra Hollow Ground Singing Razor.
• Best deal: Timor Blue Steel Straight Razor.
• For a high-end, traditionally manufactured straight, look into the German-made collection by Wacker.

Great start-up double-edge razors: Merkur HD (34C), Merkur 38C, Edwin Jagger Classic Razor.

The Objective: To Seal and Repair

Now that the shave is completed it is important to repair the skin and moisturize it. If you have cuts or nicks, seal them with a styptic pencil or alum block. Then move on to the aftershave. Some men prefer the old-style, alcohol-based aftershaves that double as a cologne. You can follow this with a moisturizer to prevent dryness and minimize oil production. Alternatively you can use an aftershave cream or lotion. These are usually alcohol-free and have moisturizing properties.

The Tools:

• For nicks and cuts: Laboratories Osma Alum Block, Clubman Pinaud Styptic Pencil.
• Old-style aftershave/colognes: Alt-Innsbruck Eau de Cologne/Aftershave, D.R. Harris Sandalwood Aftershave.
• Face moisturizers: Geo F Trumper Fragrance-Free Moisturizing Lotion, eShave Lavender Aftershave Soother.
• Aftershave creams/lotions: The Gentlemens Refinery Aftershave Balm, eShave Cucumber Aftershave Cream.

I hope this serves as a starting point to help you find a more pleasurable shave. As I mentioned before, you can always incorporate one element at a time. As you notice the improvement, you will gain the confidence to complete the switch. A good shave to you!

Alfred M. writes about all things shaving in his blog Perfect Shave Dispatch and dispenses grooming supplies and advice at the Fendrihan Shaving Shop. He also administrates Fendrihan’s page on Facebook.

Put up your hand if this sounds familiar:  The night starts with a casual beer, usually over some upbeat conversation. As the beer buzz starts to take hold, an energy drink based cocktail or shot is doled out, signalling that the evenings socializing is no longer just casual. We’re partying. The next hour is a blur of beer and cocktails, characterized by up-tempo, confidence laden chatter between yourself and your peers. At some point, you find yourself moving with a crowd – towards the outdoor area where your buzz is given CPR by nicotine – the cigarette. Rinse and repeat. The next day, you will swear you will never do it again.

Perhaps this social hedonism is not discernible from the sensual delights of cigar smoke and well aged spirits. After all, isn’t the afterglow a remnant of pleasure in both cases? The beer bonger in the picture would tell me that I’m chasing the same buzz she is. The difference, for me, is that I revel in the first phase – that social beer in the example above.  A night spent slowly savoring scotch and hand-rolled tobacco has more meaning to me; it stretches out the most important part of the evening. I realized during my staff party that the real bonding between my co-workers happened during that first beer. The rest of the night was simply not my favorite kind of indulgence.