The dawn of shaving is shrouded in mystery: no one quite knows its exact beginning, and its cultural meaning ebbs and flows with time and location. We do know, however, that the shaving ritual is long-standing, appearing in the far reaches of human history. In prehistoric cave paintings, men are depicted with shorn facial hair, using seashells to tweeze away beards one cuticle at a time, and shearing with shark teeth or roughhewn flint knives. While it’s easy to imagine…
Are Straight Razor Shaves Legal in North America?
Many modern men have a perennial attraction to the old-fashioned barbershop experience, and one of the touchstones of barbershop quality has always been the straight razor shave. Though extravagant in today’s shaving world, it is part and parcel with the old men’s tradition, and many still go in search of it. Barbers who provide straight shaves are less commonplace today, but the tradition is still very much alive. Only licensed barbers are permitted to give customers straight shaves, and every…
Speick Grooming Products: A Force of Nature
Every year during the autumn months, high up in the Austrian Alps, you’ll see local farmers. They are gathering delicate, yet discreet little plants in an annual harvest known as the Speick Sting. These mountain farmers are workers from Speick Natural Cosmetics Company, gathering the Alpine valerian plant in the Nock Mountain region of Carinthia, Austria. This is the only place in the world where the Speick plant grows, and Speick is the only company that has the rights to…
Walking in the Winter: A Canadian Reflection
After a long few months of autumn and Indian summer, blowing over into the territory of usual Canadian winter, the perennial hope that the cold would never come this year was roused, leaving people more disillusioned than ever when it eventually did arrive, slick at their doorsteps. Dimly lit living rooms had all eyes on the television set, their faces downcast as the news augured a snow squall setting in upon the area. City maintenance trucks warmed their engines, and…
Fitting a Square Soap into a Round Bowl: How to Fit Your Shaving Soap into Your Shaving Bowl
In a traditional wet shaving routine, you have a razor, a brush, a soap, and a bowl—all pretty simple. But what happens when the soap doesn’t fit the bowl? This can derail your morning shave in one of two ways: Either your soap is too big for the bowl, or your soap is too small for the bowl. Let’s go over the solution to both potential problems. In any situation, the first step is to take preventative measures: Invest in…
Fendrihan’s 2015 Top Ten Gifts for Men
It’s 2015 and we’re all shopping this holiday season. Here are our Top Ten suggestions for what to buy that man in your life. Or go ahead, pamper yourself. You deserve it! 1. Cervo Vittorio Leather Messenger Bag, Cognac This handsome Italian designer bag is the ideal gift for the office working man. Even with all of its old world charm, it fits seamlessly into a modern context. Witness the communion of luxury and practicality by owning this charming…
The Straight Razor Story: Dramatic Shaving Scenes in Cinema
Shaving scenes in cinema have borne a special, dramatic weight since the very beginnings of the Silver Screen. Who would have guessed that the quotidian affair of simple grooming would find itself spread so broadly across cinema? Brisk coming-of-age scenes, solitary moments of despair, and even characters embroiled in heated moments of crime. The razor itself can act as a Chekhov’s Gun, hinting at mistrust between lovers, or as a symbol of consummated love. It’s often in those moments…
“We Had To Build Our Name”: A Look Inside Village Cigar Company & Barbershop
A place where men gathered for open debate, town news, and sports talk—all while getting a haircut and specialty wet shave—was once a mainstay in the early 20th century community of gentlemen. Self-starters, Ryan Baker and Jerry Filice adopted this old idea and combined it with their love for cigars, to make Village Cigar Company & Barbershop downtown Burlington and Oakville. We spotted this charming venue while wandering a scenic stretch of downtown Oakville. With its old wooden sign and…
What A Girl Wants (In a Man): A Lady’s Perspective On Gentlemen
What are those elusive qualities that women seek in men? Listening around, you’re sure to hear opposite opinions from lady to lady. How we wish that the confusion would end there: preferred fashions go in and out of style in the blink of an eye, interests waver, and interpersonal dynamics complicate everything. Sometimes, she simply needs some good old warm-up time to come to appreciate your unique allure. But what are the timeless fundamentals that women look for in men?…