Buy Shaving Products Online, Give Yourself a 'Barbershop' Shave At Home

Nothing beats a hot lather shave at the barbershop. However, with just a few clicks you can get what you need to have that same experience at home and for a fraction of the cost.

Here are the things you'll need:

• Razor & Blades
  
• Shaving Soap
• Shaving Mug
• Shaving Brush
  
• After Shave Lotion

These can sometimes be bought as a 'kit' with several of the things you need such as soap, bowl and brush all packaged together at an economical price.

The first thing to consider is your razor. This can be the most expensive item in your kit but it doesn't have to be. The quality of the shave you receive has more to do with the quality of the blades you use than it does with how expensive the razor is that holds them. If you choose to go with a cartridge type razor, I recommend the Gillette Mach3. They can be a bit expensive but the shave they give is well worth it in my opinion. If you choose these, simply make your first purchase a package that includes a razor handle and you're good to go.

Another option is the more traditional approach - the safety razor. This is a razor that holds a traditional double-edged razor blade. Again, the blades you use are more important than the razor holding them. You can spend anywhere from a few dollars to over a hundred dollars for a safety razor. I recommend spending no more than $25 or $30 and then buying the best blades you can afford. Merkur from Germany makes some of the best. You won't go wrong with these.

The next thing to consider is shaving soap. Nothing that squirts out of a can into the palm of your hand will do here! We're talking the real thing, soap that must be worked with a brush to create a rich creamy lather. There are many options here and only experience will allow you to find the one you prefer. However, my hands down recommendation is Proraso from Italy. Not only is it an excellent, good lathering soap with a pleasant scent, but its very economical as well. One container will last for as much as six months.

Both Proraso and Omega come in a plastic container which makes a separate shaving cup unnecessary - another advantage to these two. However, if you choose a soap that comes simply in cake form, you will need to use a mug to hold it while you lather up your brush. A plain old coffee cup works for this purpose or you can buy a container designed just for shaving soap.

The final thing you'll need is a good shaving brush. Quality counts here. You don't have to spend a fortune (a top end brush can cost a great deal) but neither do you want to buy the cheapest brush on the market. First and foremost, make sure the brush is made of badger hair. The least expensive brushes are made from boar bristles - avoid these. Badger hair holds water just right for optimum lather and dries quickly and odor free. The last thing you need in the morning is a brush that smells like a wet dog.

Many brushes come with stands but if you purchase one that does not, consider getting one. Your brush will dry better and last much longer if hung bristles down after each use.

Now that you have all your products, how do you get that barbershop feel at home when you shave? First of all, always shave after your shower. Begin by wetting a small towel or wash cloth with some very hot water. Wring it out until its no longer dripping and hold it on your beard for 1 -2 minutes. Next dampen your brush under hot running water. Give it a slight tap on the edge of the sink to remove excess water, then, in a circular motion, run it around in your shaving soap container until a thick lather forms. If you're having trouble getting the lather to be rich and thick, you may have started with too much water still in the brush.

Apply the brush to your face in an upward motion at first to lift the whiskers away from your face. Then use a circular motion until your entire beard area is covered in a thick lather. Set the brush on the edge of the sink without rinsing it yet.

Next, using whatever order your comfortable with, begin to shave using downward strokes only. If your beard is especially thick, you may need to re-lather (the reason you didn't rinse your brush yet) and cover some areas twice. Avoid shaving against the grain if you can.

When you've finished, re-wet your towel with hot water and clean the remaining lather from your face. Finally apply a good face lotion containing SPF 15 sun protection. Nothing beats starting the day with a hot lather shave in my opinion. If you've not yet incorporated this inexpensive luxury into your grooming ritual, why not give it a try?  I think you'll soon wonder how you ever did without it!