5 Best Old Fashioned Shaving Kits

A good shave takes a lot more than a simple razor. A good shave is a multi-step process with a variety of tools and several steps.

Don’t worry, it’s not as tedious as it sounds, and the results are more than worth it.

Even if you’ve already got the razor, be it a straight razor or a safety razor, you need more for a true old-fashioned shaving kit. Not only will we present some of the best complete old-fashioned shave kits on the market, with their pros and cons, we’ll also talk about what you need to build a custom old fashioned shave kit of your own.

Armed with this knowledge, we’re confident that you’ll be shaving, looking, and feeling better in no time. Even if it is a bit old-fashioned.

What Do You Need in Your Old-Fashioned Shaving Kit?

There are many things passing themselves off as old-fashioned shaving kits. But, there are a few things you need to look for to know that you’re getting the real thing.

Most kits won’t have all of these things, so you may find yourself picking up a few additional bits and bobs if you go with one of the pre-built shaving kits above. Or, you can pick the products that are most important to you and either build your own kit or pick from the list above based on what comes closest.

Shaving Soap

Shaving soap, also sometimes knows as shaving cream bars is one of the most basic items for shaving, and thus for old-fashioned shave kits.

A true old-fashioned kit will almost always have their shaving soap in bar form if they include a soap. While there are some good alternatives that used tubed shaving soap, similar to a tube of paint or toothpaste, aerosol cans aren’t a good option.

The convenience of aerosol cans can’t be denied. But, the quality of the product is significantly lower. That kind of shaving cream is usually thinner, less moisturizing, and less likely to prevent razor burn.

Soap bars, on the other hand, allow you to build a lather of the desired thickness, usually contain lots of moisturizing ingredients, and give you a lot more control. All that helps fight ingrown hairs and razor burn both.

Pre-Shave Oil

Pre-Shave oil is one of the rarer items to find in shaving kits. That doesn’t mean it’s not a good idea to have one on hand, though. Pre-shave oils are one of the most important ways to prevent razor burn. They can be more effective than shaving soaps and are a potent combination.

Pre-shave oils usually contain a mix of natural plant and nut oils, and many also contain essential oils. The essential oils can boost its effectiveness, and also provide scent.

Some people also just use a beard oil as their pre-shave oil, especially if they aren’t completely removing their facial hair.

Whatever kind of oil you use, it should have a thick texture but should also be quick to absorb. The oil does work to increase glide and reduce friction between your skin and the razor. But the biggest benefits are internal, boosting the natural protective barrier in your skin.

Shaving Brush

A good shaving brush is key to getting a good lather from your shave soap. Inferior brushes won’t produce the right texture or volume of lather. A poor shape will make it difficult to control where the lather goes.

Good shaving brushes are usually made from either badger bristles or synthetic fibers. Badger is chosen for its texture, moisture retention, and superior control. The finest badger fibers are rated Silvertip, which refers to the color that naturally occurs at the end of the fibers.

Silvertip can be faked, simply by bleaching the ends. While that doesn’t mean that it’s a bad brush, it’s worth carefully washing your brush before you use it the first time.

Synthetic fibers have come a long way in recent years. Once synthetics were noticeably lower quality than any grade of natural badger fibers.

Now, the biggest difference is that the natural fibers retain a little more moisture than their synthetic cousins. The texture is similar, and neither type of fiber is more likely to break or shed than the other.

Stand

Stands are less important than most of the other items on this list. Most of them are made of steel or aluminum, but some do have a wooden base or decorative acrylic.

The two things you should look for in a stand are aesthetics and durability. They work for cartridge razors and safety razors but aren’t suitable for straight razors.

Your stand helps keep your brush and razor clean and works to prevent falls and other sources of damage.

While this is one of the least important products, you should still pick with care if you have the option. Look for a stand that’s very stable and has a fair amount of weight to it. That way, you’ll have to worry less about what will happen if someone accidentally bumps it.

Scuttle

Your scuttle makes all the difference when it comes to a good wet shave. Metal and ceramic scuttles are standard, but there are some plastic and wooden versions out there. Wood works but won’t retain heat the way a metal or ceramic scuttle can.

Generally, we recommend avoiding plastic. That’s a matter of preference, though. There are textured plastic scuttles that work, they just don’t have the weight or aesthetic appeal we prefer.

If you opt for a plastic scuttle, look and see if it retains heat at all, is microwave safe, and whether the manufacturer has any cleaning recommendations.

Ceramic scuttles have the advantage of usually being microwave-safe, holding a significant amount of heat, and generally having good texture and depth for lathering your soap.

Metal scuttles are often the easiest to use, can be heated by resting them in warm water, are easy to clean, and almost always come textured for easy lathering.

Razor

There are three razor types that you can choose to go with your old-fashioned shave kit. We’re intentionally excluding electric razors since they are a completely different type of shaving.

The least expensive option, in the short term, will usually be a cartridge razor. While convenient and easy to use, cartridge razors are worse for your skin and are generally considered the worst of the manual shaver options. Suitable for beginners and men on a tight budget.

The middle ground, and the most popular option, is the safety razor. The safety razor uses disposable razor blades but is made of metal and produces much less waste than disposable cartridge razors. These offer a close shave, quite a bit of maneuverability.

Safety razors are generally suitable for most men, all hair types, and are more cost-effective and less wasteful.

The last option are the true old-fashioned razors. Straight razors are more expensive upfront, but they are also the most sanitary and most cost-effective option in the long term. These blades require a reasonable amount of upkeep and maintenance.

But, in exchange for a little additional care, straight razors will last for years. They offer an incredibly close shave and the real experience of an old-fashioned shave.

Shave Balm

The last item we’re going to highlight, and one that very much should be in your old-fashioned shave kit, is the aftershave balm.

These balms restore moisture, help heal and soothe irritated skin, and generally improve your complexion. They also work to help moisturize the new hair growing in, so you won’t go prickly between shaves.

Trust us, this may not mean much to you, but your partner will appreciate it!

Good shave balms are waxy in texture, include natural oils, absorb relatively quickly, and are either unscented or only have a mild scent.

You should avoid balms that have high alcohol content. We also generally recommend avoiding petroleum products in your shave balms. Petroleum products can irritate some people’s skin and lead to breakouts. Not to mention that they are less environmentally friendly than their natural alternatives.

Many shave balms also contain a blend of essential oils. These can boost the effectiveness of the oils, provide scent, and improve the texture and absorption of the oils.

Top 5 Old Fashioned Shaving Kits Comparison Table

5 Best Pre-Build Old Fashioned Shaving Kits: Detailed Reviews

Note: This is as close to a perfect score as we are likely to give. The kit itself isn’t perfect, but it’s a well-balanced set that closely fulfills a need.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, now that you’ve read this article, you not only know what some of the best old-fashioned shave kits are but also why they are the best.

We’re confident in the kit we’ve chosen, and while no one kit is perfect, each will improve your shave experience each and every time you use them.