Shaving Gel vs. Foam

With all the different shaving lubricants available on the market, it may get confusing to determine what the difference truly is between all of them. To simplify it, all shaving variants are designed to fulfill the exact same purpose: to aid the shaving process and to produce a clean and close shave. Both shaving foam and gel help prevent stubble from drying up and make the beard stiff during shaving. They are basically the safety cushion between your razor and your skin. Shaving foam and gel are both considered shaving creams but the key difference lies in the composition; the former coming in a foam-like texture while the latter in gel form.

So which is the best for you? 

Truth be told, it is to its greatest extent a personal preference. The best shaving foam for men or the best shaving gel is often subjective and depending on what a man looks for the most while shaving. 

SHAVING FOAM vs. SHAVING GEL 

If you have not yet figured out which shaving lubricant suits your personal preference best, presented below is a detailed comparison between these two products. We’ll also weigh in on classic shaving creams.

1. Shaving foam is stored in an aerosol dispenser and comes out of the can in lather-like form and is ready to use right away. Shaving gel on the other hand needs to be lathered up first with one’s fingers before it can be applied on the skin. Also, gel does not provide a rich lather as compared to its foamy counterpart. If it is important to your shaving experience to have rich, thick lather then foam may be better for you. 
2. Shaving gel is more transparent as compared to foam. This enables you to see where and what exactly you are shaving. If you have a well-defined beard with lines, then this type of shaving product may be more convenient so you can better see what parts of your face you are shaving so as not to destroy the shape of your beard. If you just simply want a clean shave of your entire face, shaving foam will not pose a problem as you will not miss out any patches since you can still see the stubble clearly against the white foam. 
3. Men’s shaving gel is usually more expensive than shaving foam but the advantage is that you need less of the product during the shave. In fact, an area that requires a lot of foam to cover requires a much smaller amount of gel. Hence, a can of gel tends to last longer than a can of foam. 
4. Due to the texture of gel, it tends to clog the razor more which requires you to rinse your razor more often during the shaving process. Shaving foam for men on the other hand requires less rinsing. 
5. Men who are fans of shaving gel claim that the shaving process is more effective and faster. This is because the gel doesn’t dry up unlike foam, which you may have to reapply during shaving. 
6. Most men say that shaving gel works better for thick hair as compared to foam. 

The Classic Shaving Cream 

There are many men who don’t use shaving gel or foam from the aerosol bottle but prefer to use the kind of classic shaving cream that usually comes in a tube or tub which is then applied with a brush unto the face. Most men say that cream is much slicker and provides a significantly better shaving experience as compared to either foam or gel. It is also healthier for the skin and leaves it feeling fresh and clean. You must however learn how to properly lather up the cream and learn how to apply it on your face correctly with a brush. Many men who have used classic shaving cream find no reason to go back to foam or gel.

Choosing the Right Products 

As said earlier, whether you use shaving gel or foam is ultimately your personal choice. In choosing the best product, it is important to go for those with little or no alcohol as these tend to dry up the skin and cause irritation. The best shaving lubricants are those that contain ingredients that not only protect your skin but also soothe and repair it. They provide moisture to keep your face soft and vibrant.

Photo by Clearly Ambiguous. Used under Creative Commons license: Attribution 2.0 Generic

Talcum Powder: The Grandfather of Antiperspirants

Roberts Borotalco, gaining converts since 1874

Have you ever wondered how athletes used to keep their skin dry and fresh before the debut of modern personal hygiene products like the deodorant? In an environment where bodily secretions will naturally occur, these gentlemen needed a product that had the ability to keep their skin dry for a long time. Searching nature for an antidote to their freshness problem, an extremely soft mineral provided them with a dusty, light solution: talcum powder.

What is Talcum Powder? 

Talcum powder for men is a delicate natural product, purified after its extraction from the ground. It has the primary role of absorbing moisture, cooling the skin, and giving it a smooth sensation. The fresh smell and the fact that it reduced the risk of rashes were another two reasons for the "grandfather of antiperspirants" to become a success not only among athletes. Popular with prestigious lines of men toiletries, the fine grains were also fashioned into shave talc, neutral on the face, used to control shine and prevent razor bumps.

The comeback of a classic? 

Two of the finest names in men grooming count this staple as part of their lines. You can recognize the Clubman Pinaud Finest Talc Powder by its logo featuring the stylish gent. Besides the recognized functions, this particular formula is said to bring you the smell of "leisure Sundays". Featured on the Jay Leno Show in a Nike commercial, the Clubman product still gets some air time, one way or another.

Taylor of Old Bond Street Luxury Talcum Powder is another heavy name referred to as "the best men's talcum powder in the business". This one made an appearance opposite George Clooney in the football movie Leatherheads. Lightly scented, the vintage luxury is mostly appreciated in its sandalwood version.

Use the grandfather of antiperspirants as a natural, fresh solution with an old-school vibe. Choose from the best talcum powder brands available on the market today.

Soap on a Rope: an iconic grooming staple for men

Klar Seifen Soap on a Rope

With a name resembling a catchy nursery rhyme, retro soap on a rope has attracted a worldwide clientele appreciating its individualizing feature: a handy cotton loop the user can put around his wrist preventing the wet, slippery bar from falling. The unconventional attachment also helped the soap dry faster and last longer. From an item of novelty to a very popular gift on Father's Day during the 1980s, the creamy invention remains ideal for the man on the move who likes to spoil himself like an aristocrat.

Presumably created by the British company Design House of Dana, the secure, hygienic product was originally called “shower soap with cord". Even if created by a UK lather company, two other giants in the grooming world are among the famous promoters of this out-of-the-ordinary bar.

Portuguese brand Musgo Real initially conceived their recipe of soap on a rope for men and dedicated it to the fastidious European aristocrats. The hand-made, preservative-free formula combines an imperial lather with an inviting scent reminding of rich coconut, woody oak moss or spicy orange amber. 

Another expert offering this handmade luxurious item is the German manufacturer Klar. In the myriad of exclusive products made only from the best ingredients, the classy ivory rope is also present. Klar has also added to the mix the soothing properties of bergamot, grapefruit, lavender or rosemary.

It’s not just about keeping your soap bar at hand. Buy soap on a rope for a first-class bathing experience.

Montegrappa Refills: Timeless Calligraphy Meets Modern Convenience

Looking at old ink-scribbled documents, we find handwritten messages imbued in a romanticism lacking in modern times. The precious liquid covering the blank pages with meaning was once a rarity as was the gift of writing. With the invention of the fountain pen, writing with ink became easier, more flexible in terms of refilling options and more diverse in colors and properties.

Until the 1900s, when the two most famous options for ink pen refills were invented — ink converters and ink cartridges — scribes and writers were left with cumbersome methods for recharging their pens. Fountain pens were not initially coupled with specially designed ink as ballpoint pens or gel pens are. 

The modern plastic ink cartridge came to replace the self-filling system of the fountain pen in 1950. Designed to be easy to switch and portable, the small ink container was primarily issued in its so-called "international" size. The ink bottle was always seen as the more economical, eco-friendly option ever since the invention of the converter. Even with less portability, the bottle was preferred for the wider selection of ink colors and higher ink capacity it had.

 Montegrappa pen refills and ink bottles 

Spanning a variety of colors including black, blue, bordeaux and turquoise, the Montegrappa refills available both in bottle or cartridge option, maintain the history and romanticism of a high-quality Italian ink. The 8-sided bottles have the vintage appearance of their 1912 design, remembering the time when they were the means of communication for World War II soldiers writing their letters home. Born in the country of the most famous couple, Romeo and Juliet, the inspiring, rich colors of Montegrappa are also said to be a symbol of passion.

Personalize your documents, write your own history and never run out of words with the distinctive Montegrappa ink bottles or with the practical Montegrappa ink cartridges.

Choosing a Perfect Gift for Dad: 5+ Top Father’s Day Gifts

With Father’s Day just around the corner, you find yourself once again on the hunt for that perfect gift. Although there is no one-size-fits-all type of present, there are certain things that every dad could need or want. Listed below are seven gift categories every dad would love to receive something from.

1. Leather Products. Men love all things leather. It is a truly timeless material that never goes out of style. Whether going for a classic or modern look, leather simply has panache. You can surprise your dad with a high quality leather bag, be it a briefcase, travel bag, laptop bag or dopp kit. Leather wallets and belts are also a great idea.

   

   Sonnenleder Leather Toiletry Bag

2. Men’s Fragrances. Not all men may keep a stack of toiletries, fancy lotions and pampering products but gentlemen of all walks of life, whether tough or refined, have one thing in common: men love to wear good cologne. For many men, choosing the right scent is as much of a science as it is an art as they study all sorts of notes from bergamot, cypress and tarragon to cedar, moss, lime and mandarin. If you are not sure what scent your father loves the most, you can buy him a fragrance set like the Geo F. Trumper Cologne Gift Set which contains four different fragrances adored by men.

   

   Castle Forbes Gentlemen's Cologne

3. Shaving Essentials. Every man needs to shave and it is a grooming task that is repeated more often than any other. This means that men can always need shaving products from shaving oil, shaving cream and aftershave to proper shaving accessories, brushes and razors. You can surprise your dad with an entire set of shaving essentials from the prep to the post.

   

   Muhle Stylo 3-Piece Shaving Set

4. Writing Instruments. This is not the most common Father’s Day gift that people would think about. However, a high-end, quality pen can always come in handy and it symbolizes various desirable qualities. If your dad is a working man or a writer, these can be especially useful. Fine writing instruments such as from Montegrappa and Aurora for instance are fountain pens valuable enough to stand as status symbols. Sheaffer ballpoint pens are also some of the best pens in the world.

   

   Sheaffer Ferrari Fountain Pen

5. Toys for Big Boys. These don’t necessarily have to be sports cars and helicopters. Think about equipment that your dad may need to make things easier for him. Think about efficiency. This includes to name a few, a Leatherman Rebar tool which contains needlenose pliers, wire cutters, screw drivers, bottle openers and a dozen other tools, all in one. Depending on his hobby and activity, your dad may also need, perhaps a chainsaw, a complete tool kit, a more efficient lawn mower, a new drill, a barbeque grill or some rare KIYA kitchen knives. Since Father’s Day in Canada is usually celebrated by get-togethers, why not bring some kebbs, sausages or steak and try out the grill on that very day!

   

   KIYA Umeji Kitchen Knife

Still need more ideas? Try these extra two:

• Jewelry, Timepieces and Accessories. Most men don’t accessorize much. They usually wear a limited amount of jewelry pieces at any point in time. The most prized accessory of any man is his timepiece. Having a few designer watches is always a great thing to have as a man, and they don’t necessarily have to be the most luxurious and expensive. Other kinds of jewelry that men occasionally wear are necklaces and sometimes bracelets. Accessories may include cufflinks, fedoras and other hats, sunglasses, reading glasses and more.

• Gift Certificates. If you are out of time and absolutely clueless of what to give your father, you can always give him a gift certificate. In that way, he can buy himself whatever he wants. Fendrihan gift certificates for instance come in different values where your dad can shop for high-end male essentials, leather products and more. If you are celebrating Father’s Day in Canada, Fendrihan offers free shipping within Canada for all orders over $50. Also check out some Father’s Day cards to give along with the gift certificate to make it more personal.

No matter what gift you give your dad this Father’s Day, you cannot go wrong by choosing one from the categories above. If you have already given your dad one too many neckties or cognac bottles, it is definitely time for something new.