If safety razors conjure images of pre-war solidity and a time when men wore hats to work, then straight razors (aka "cut-throat" razors) conjure something else entirely: A time before automobiles and indoor plumbing, when modern medicine meant leeches and fashion meant having all your teeth. Straight razors today are not made for men who need to shave before work in the morning; rather they're for men who reject modern contrivances. But here's thing. Shaving with a straight razor is really scary, really difficult and time-consuming as hell. It's likely best left to the barbers who specialize in a proper hot lather shave. Which is a shame, as a straight razor is a severe yet beautiful thing—an all-business blade folding back out of its housing. But modern technology has trumped the chosen instrument of Bill the Butcher. Not so for Truefitt & Hill shave cream, an aromatic and rich substance that, with lathering from a real badger-hair shaving brush, will make a man feel like he's stepped back into a time of London drawing rooms and nobility. It's a fine addition to any daily shaving routine. Truefitt & Hill cream comes in a number of different scents (all with their matching aftershave balms), but the spicy, fragrant West Indian Limes variety is the hands-down best.
DOVO 6/8ths Classic Straight Razor, $106; Truefitt & Hill West Indian Limes Shaving Cream, $30
What should I pack for my first business trip?
- Matt, OH
With nearly every airline imposing a baggage fee nowadays, if you can get away with flying with just a carry-on, do it.
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