Let’s face it. Shaving isn’t something you look forward to every morning. It’s more or less a chore. You have to get over with before you start your day.
Now imagine how frustrating it would be to find that you are out of shaving supplies at the very last minute. You’d have to run to the nearest store to get a new razor, or perhaps a fresh bottle of shaving gel. Either that or shave with a dull razor.
The Art of Shaving intends to change that. If the idea of never running out of fresh high-end shaving supplies and getting the finest and smoothest shave sounds fascinating to you, read on.
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How does The Art of Shaving work?
With just as few clicks, you can purchase one of the Art of Shaving’s shaving kits and have it delivered to you in the mail.
It’s a great option for those who shave every day but often find themselves pressed for time in the morning. Or are forgetful (like me) and miss shaving supplies when going shopping for groceries.
It’s not just convenience where this shaving bundle excels, either, it’s the hand-crafted premium look, feel, and performance of the shaving products. Although it’s a much pricier option, this kit can help anyone get a near-perfect and comfortable shave every time.
Here’s how you can get started. You order a starter kit from one of the many, many replenishment bundles. There’s a bundle for just about everybody, but I won’t be going into detail about every kit since there are so many.
If you’d like to learn further details about any of the bundles, you can head on over to Art of Shaving’s website.
Once you’ve purchased a starter kit, you can replenish it when you’ve run out. You can navigate to your starter kit, and order supplies for that particular bundle with just one click.
You get eight cartridges for the razor handle of your choice, along with a fresh supply of pre-shave oil, aftershave, and shaving foam. Even if you shave every day or every other day, a single cartridge should last you up to a week.
Types of products available?
Their Sandalwood replenishment bundle is one of the more popular the Art of Shaving kits. The starter kit comes with a Gillette Fusion Proshield handle, eight cartridges, pre-shave oil, aftershave balm, and shaving cream.
As the name might have given away, the products come with a sweet fragrance of sandalwood. The scent isn’t overpowering, so you can wear it all day.
Now let’s talk about the unboxing experience.
Right off the bat, you’ll notice that this kit stands out. Not only is each product in its own packaging, but each pack has a gorgeous and premium aesthetic. The first article I unwrapped was the pre-shave oil.
Now, most gentleman might not have pre-shave oil as part of their shaving ritual, but if you have sensitive skin, or you struggle with razor bumps, burns, or ingrown hair, the pre-shave oil will not only prevent them but also soothe your skin. It softens your hair and prepares your follicles for the impending doom.
Although you do have to use it sparingly because if you order the small bottle, you’ll only get 2.2 oz of it, only a dime-sized amount should be used before every shave.
The shaving brush is made from the highest quality badger hair. Badger-hair brushes are easily the most expensive and most premium kind, followed closely by boar hair, which is a cheaper alternative.
The natural hair brushes, albeit a bit stiffer than synthetic ones, produce a richer lather. This brush soaks up water well and generates a good volume of foam.
The shaving cream produces ample warm lather, which helps the razor glide over your skin, and prevents skin irritation. The aftershave balm has a great scent to it and helps moisturize your skin. The sandalwood smell isn’t overwhelming but somewhat understated.
The Gillette Fusion ProShield has five blades. Two lubricating strips surround the head to save your skin from inflammation.
The pivoting head not only moves up and down but also side to side, thanks to the flex-ball technology. Why is that important? Your razor would shift to your facial contours to help you get a closer shave.
The blades themselves are extremely fine and thin, so you won’t be tugging on your hair, which causes you discomfort.
I found that the razor works in tandem with the shaving cream – which is a bit thicker. If you’re planning on using a different razor, I’d recommend that you go with a double-edge safety razor, or even a straight-edge razor if you have enough experience.
Since almost every bundle of this premium service is going to cost you a pretty penny, I’d also recommend that you use it once a week. When you need an impressive shave (before a hot date), or when you feel like treating yourself.
Pricing
The Art of Shaving is arguably one of the most expensive high-end grooming kits available today, but if you can swallow the high price tag, this combo has a great deal value to offer.
The Sandalwood starter kit will cost you $25, but a refill is just shy of $100. It also comes in a travel variant, which includes a jet-black Morris Park razor and a TSA approved travel bag. Every $100 or above order gets you free shipping, which is a nice touch.
Company history
The company has been in operation for well over two decades. Started in 1996 as a store in Manhattan, they developed their very own line of high-end shaving products.
Today, the company runs 140 stores worldwide. Some of these stores are partially owned by Gillette – one of their business partners. The Art of Shaving is currently a subsidiary of P&G, which bought it in 2009.
Alternatives
If you’re not convinced, I’d recommend checking out a few other shaving subscription services to compare:
- Billie is a shaving club for women.
- Dollar Shave Club offers affordable razor subscriptions.
- Dorco USA sells a variety of razors and kits at steep discounts.
Pros
- High-end shaving products
- A lot of bundle options to choose from
- The sandalwood fragrance is simply regal
- You don’t have to worry about nicks, bumps, burns, and irritations
Cons
- Will cost you a small fortune
