You don’t always have to spend big to get a barbershop finish on your head and face. In fact, you don’t even have to leave the house. Invest in the right products from a brand that barbers trust and, with a steady hand, you’ll look just as good. Enter the swashbuckling and pioneering The Bluebeards Revenge, which has put itself on the razor’s edge of men’s grooming with a range of barbershop-quality products – everything from creams, brushes, and oils to award-winning, precision-perfect razors – to make exemplary grooming something that’s easy to accomplish at home. Originally developed for men with rugged, sandpaper-grade stubble, the products have proved so popular that barbers have adopted the brand – many are now developed with input from barber ambassadors. In fact, The Bluebeards Revenge is one of the brands that turned the act of shaving from a bloke’s daily chore to one of the true luxurious art forms of modern masculinity. Here’s how to get the barbershop experience at home, with an exclusive 20 per cent off if you use our special promo code FB20 at the checkout (applies to online orders at bluebeards-revenge.co.uk).
The Shave
If you’re the sort of bloke who quickly drags a cheap razor across your face (there are too many of us, fellas), a barbershop finish is pretty much impossible. And that’s because you’re missing out a crucial part of the process.
The Pre-Shave Routine
“Having a shower before you start is of paramount importance,” says Liam Hamilton, barbershop owner and trainer at The Bluebeards Revenge. “The steam the hot water generates works to soften the skin and hairs, making them altogether easier to deal with. If you’re really pressed for time, hold a warm flannel on the target area.” Also important is a generous slathering of oil to moisturise the stubble and prevent nicks and cuts. The Bluebeards Revenge Pre-Shave Oil uses all-natural oils to help razor glide and like most of their products is vegan-friendly.
The Lather
To do things properly, use a shaving brush – once the symbol of the dapper gent’s shave and now making a comeback to prove that the old ways are indeed the best. “It allows you to create a rich, thick, and luscious lather from your shaving cream or soap,” says Hamilton. “A brush helps to soften and lift facial hair, to make it easier for your razor to get right underneath them and slice tough stubble.” The Bluebeards Revenge Synthetic Vanguard Brush retains water, which is also important – using warm water opens up the pores and lubricates your skin.
The Shave Itself
When it comes to the razor, The Bluebeards Revenge Scimitar Double Edged Razor is the kind of tool you need – a precision-engineered piece dedicated to the craft of shaving. Being able to replace the blade means you can maintain a samurai-sharp shave at a fraction of the price of most cartridge razors. The double-edge razor blade used also allows for a much better cutting angle than its multi-bladed counterpart. Shave with the grain of your hair – going against the grain can cause spots and ingrowing hairs. If you’re using a double-edged razor, hold the blade at approximately a 30-degree angle to cut the maximum length of hair without scraping the skin. “Another piece of technical advice is to keep your arm straight, locking your wrist, and use the movement of your whole arm to control the razor,” says Hamilton. “This will help you control angle, pressure, and prevent painful slips.”
The Cut-Throat Option
When it comes to shaving, sometimes the old ways are the best. The Bluebeards Revenge’s stylish, replaceable-blade Cut-Throat Straight Razor gives results that are just about impossible to surpass and this replaceable blade variation will equip the serious shaver with the ultimate weapon against tough stubble. This razor is a close relative to the straight razor with the difference being that the blades can be changed, just like a safety razor. This means you don’t have to worry about stropping and sharpening yet enjoy the closeness of a straight razor shave, and – again, with a steady hand – achieve unmatched closeness.
The Post-Shave Routine
Any barber worth his blade will tell you that what you do afterwards is just as important as the shave itself. It’s all about looking after the skin you’ve just exposed. The Bluebeards Revenge Post-Shave Balm will soothe and nourish the skin. It’s packed with witch hazel and aloe vera for a smooth finish that also combats razor burn and rash. “Follow up daily with our Cooling Moisturiser to further prevent irritation and reduce the oiliness that can lead to outbreaks,” says Hamilton.
Key Products
Hair Styling
Long hair and curls are springing back into fashion in 2019, and even if that’s not your style, there’s a lot you can take from a barber’s approach to those kinds of cuts. More care, attention, and preparation is needed, and always pays off.
The Wash
While you’ve been washing your hair all your life (we hope), there’s more to it than sticking your head under the shower. Each man’s hair washing requirements will be different, depending on how quick your hair produces sebum – the oil that coats your head and scalp to keep it healthy, but also makes your hair greasy if unwashed for too long. Avoid cheap products that use non-water soluble silicon and stick to the traditional routine of shampoo before conditioner. “A shampoo is a cleaning agent that opens up the hair cuticle before breaking down build-ups of oils and dirt,” says Vincent Quinn, ambassador for The Bluebeards Revenge and Scotland’s Best Barber 2017. “A conditioner closes the cuticle to make the hair shiny and replenishes natural oils.” The Bluebeards Revenge Shampoo uses keratin to seal the cuticle, which repairs damage and gives you shinier, healthier looking hair. And remember to always do two rinses with shampoo – first rinse to break down oils and dirt, second rinse to actively clean and nourish.
The Styling
When it comes to styling, barbers usually say the difference between your normal messy style and a barber-sculpted masterpiece is a hairdryer, brush, and a pre-styling product. After towel drying, add a pre-styling product. Try The Bluebeards Revenge Sea Salt Spray, an overlooked but effective pre-styling agent that adds volume, hold, and texture to flat hair. Blast your hair with a dryer using a nozzle and high speed and a high heat in the direction you want to style, using a vented brush. The Bluebeards Revenge Vent Brush has been specially designed to increase airflow, which adds volume and texture to your style.
The Finishing Touch
Lastly, add another pea-sized amount of a finishing product. Different products will each have different levels of hold and shine. The Bluebeards Revenge Matt Clay has a medium to high hold and a low shine; its Gel has a medium hold and high shine; and the Pomade has a high hold and high shine. “This final step is what separates flat hair from fame-worthy hair,” says Hamilton. “A little of your favourite product flicked through the tips of your hair will help to add the extra definition.” If you are following this year’s trend for longer hair, remember to get it cut regularly for balance, ask your barber to take the weight out of it, and look after it with the best quality shampoos and conditioners. This is also where a tonic could be most useful. One of the oldest barbering products out there, a good tonic – such as The Bluebeards Revenge Cuban Blend Hair Tonic – helps to add shine, hold, and heat protection, but also conditions and moisturises your scalp.
Key Products
Special Reader Offer
See more at www.bluebeards-revenge.co.uk and don’t forget FashionBeans readers’ exclusive barbershop bonus: 20 per cent off when you enter the promo code FB20 at the checkout. Offer expires at 11.59pm on 31/03/2019
