Over the years I have fooled around with many different shaving systems. From canned creams (oh no, the ozone!*) to shaving soaps, from electric razors to disposables. I even flirted with a straight razor for a while, but found the fight or flight jitters it produced to run counter to a nice clean shave. Eventually I had settled on good old Burma Shave in a coffee cup, an okay badger brush and a disposable blade razor. And I was happy. Or at least content. But then while visiting a friend, he let me try his favorite Italian shaving cream- Proraso, and everything changed. Suddenly I was looking at better shaving brushes, nicer razors… maybe give that old straight razor another go? It actually made me enjoy shaving again.
Containing eucalyptus (can’t believe I spelled that right!) and menthol, Proraso smells great, goes on smooth and allows for a great shave. The one I use comes in a metal tube covered with 1950’s style graphics so it also lends a slight air of old timey sophistication to your medicine cabinet. What else can I say? If you shave or know someone who does, give it a try.
Straordinario Sorprendente!
The Good:
- Smells Great
- Close shave
- Applies with a brush
- Makes you feel like a sophisto
The Bad:
- Metal tube can get crinkly toward the end of it’s life (squeeze from the bottom kids!)
- You’ll probably need to buy a brush
Proraso Shaving Cream, 150 ml – $12 at Amazon
Also available in shaving soap form for $11
*The More You Know: Consumer aerosol products, like hair spray and shaving cream, have not used ozone-depleting substances since the 1970s.