The Wet Shavers’ Paradox: Expensive Gear and Lather, Cheap After Shave

One thing about the wet shaving community that I find amusing is its collective love of drugstore sold, inexpensive classic after shaves.

Guys who don’t mind spending $400 for a top-grade silvertip badger brush sing the praises of Aqua Velva. Others will defend Old Spice to the last gasp; still others extol the virtues of Skin Bracer or Clubman Pinaud.

Now, I’m not a snob.

Alright, I am.

After going to the trouble to prepare my beard, decide what soap or cream will be lathered today, using my ‘finest’ grade brush to whip it up and carefully executing a three-pass shave, I want something a little more high-toned.

My personal preference is Thayers Original Toner Witch Hazel as a splash; then some cologne for scent. I’m not into the sting of alcohol on my freshly-shaved puss. My skin doesn’t seem the worse for lack of it.

I feel the draw of Aqua Velva. My Dad was an Old Spice man and I looked forward to the day I could truly shave (as opposed to playing with foam and an empty razor) and splash some on. It didn’t smell right on me and I went to Aqua Velva; later Jovan Musk to better slay the high school girls.

Favorite of Champions

But when I stand in front of that ice-blue bottle at Wal Mart…. I just can’t do it. I don’t want that scent interfering with my Terre d’ Hermes or Bvlgari Black.

I admire lots of wet shavers who love it, though. It has glycerin which is good for the skin. If you’re hard up for a buzz, you can drink the stuff. Troops in World War II did.

One of these days I’m going to have to break down and go for the Ice. Maybe over ice.

Bay Lime Shaving Cream