Manolith Review – The Art of Shaving

By Chris Stout on February 3rd, 2010

art-of-shaving-brush-pure-badger-black Shaving isn’t fun, and if you got the sensitive skin, it’s really not that fun at all. Anytime you flip on the tube, you’ll hear about some new gadget, cream or razor that’s supposed to revolutionize how you clean up your stubble. How are you supposed to tell what’s really gonna work?

I’m one of those guys who doesn’t appreciate having that raw/irritated skin after a shave. I mean who does? Nobody, that’s who. And everyone wants the close shave, but the razor burn and skin irritation that comes with it isn’t as essential.

So when The Art of Shaving hooked Manolith up with a starter kit so we could try their shaving system, I was all for it. My technique needed some changing anyway. I don’t normally use pre-shave oil (or shaving cream for that matter), so I was curious how this whole multi-step shaving approach would work.

First, the pre-shave oil. The stuff that came in the kit wasn’t that greasy or overly scent-driven. I applied a small layer of oil on my face after a shower. You’re supposed to shave during or after a hot shower, because the hot water opens up your pores and generally makes for a better shaving experience. So the oil went on, and the hands wiped off clean.

Next, the shaving cream. I used the badger brush and some hot water to lather the cream up, and I gotta say, it was nice. Like how shaving used to be I imagine. You know, no electric-purple-mountain-crush extreme cream. Just good ole fashion hot shaving cream that moisturizes and doesn’t smell like a rainforest.

Shaving with all this stuff on was great. You got the layer of oil underneath the hot cream, so the razor glides easily on your face. You can put a little pressure on too, because you feel safe with those layers.

So with the work done, it was time to examine the results. My face felt as soft as a baby’s bottom, and there wasn’t any residual stubble in sight (even on the neck). It was time to apply the after-shave balm.

This stuff is the best. It doesn’t smell like a fob’s cologne. It doesn’t have any alcohol either, so it doesn’t burn your face. The balm has grape seed extract, shea butter and vitamin C in it. I don’t know the science behind it, but that stuff felt like a thin layer of sweet-healing oatmeal on my face.

No burn. No irritation. No synthetic fragrances. Just a close shave and a soft face.

Sure it was free, but it was awesome. Seriously, I highly recommend this shaving system. It sounds a bit more involved than it really is, so don’t let the multi-step process trip you out. Take the time to do it right. You owe it to your face anyway.

If this sounds like something you’d be into, check out this week’s Wednesday Giveaway for your chance to win a $100 kit – The 4 Elements of the Perfect Shave from the Art of Shaving.