What are your New Year's resolutions?
Although lists of New Year's resolutions are a bit cliché, we have still made a summary of the 5 most popular resolutions. These good intentions for the new year don't just come out of nowhere. No, we hear this from our customers every day. Are these also your New Year's resolutions?
Switching to the safety razor
Actually, this is no longer a new good resolution. For several years now, we have seen that many men switch from the multi-blade cartridge razor to the safety razor. We regularly hear from customers that they find the expensive Gillette or Wilkinson blades ridiculously expensive. Then they search the internet for an alternative and come across the safety razor. On various shaving forums, you read many enthusiastic stories from users or watch the many videos of shaving gentlemen on YouTube. 2023 will be the year of the safety razor. Even more people will switch, buy it, and start shaving with it.
Many customers switch for the following reasons:
- Saves money
- Universal shaving system
- More sustainable and better for the environment
- Shaves just as smoothly and comfortably or even much better than the multi-blade shaving system
- The razor holders are more beautiful and elegant than the standard plastic and rubber handles of the well-known retail brands
Back to the basics: classic wet shaving
Life is becoming increasingly hectic and complicated. Many men try to simplify their daily lives and increasingly appreciate classic wet shaving. Away with those complicated electric shavers, plastic disposable products, and chemical spray cans. We must enjoy simplicity and beautiful things in life again. We regularly hear from customers that they want to shave again like their grandpa used to. Grandpa at least knew how to do it. He took his time and used a nicely scented shaving soap. He spent several minutes lathering shaving soap with a beautiful shaving brush made of pig bristle or badger hair. Of course, he shaved with a metal safety razor or a splendid open razor with a wooden handle. After shaving, an old-fashioned aftershave splash, and he smelled fresh again.
For many customers, shaving is a 'chore'. After a few weeks of classic wet shaving, we often hear that shaving is no longer a necessary morning routine. But people find shaving a wonderful zen moment. They enjoy the shaving ritual.
Less plastic in the bathroom
We all know those images of floating plastic in the oceans. When you look around the bathroom, you are shocked by how many care products are in plastic: everything is in a plastic jar or bottle. Many of our customers are concerned about the environment and try to reduce the use of plastic. Manufacturers respond to this by developing and producing shampoo and shower bars. Over the past year, we have further expanded the range with these solid soaps.
A shampoo bar is actually much more economical and convenient to use. It does exactly the same as a regular liquid shampoo or shower gel. By now, there is a bar for every skin or hair type. Most shampoo bars come in a cardboard box or a metal tin. When it's finished, you can use the tin for loose screws or nails in your hobby workshop.
Synthetic shaving brush instead of badger hair
5 to 10 years ago, the range of synthetic shaving brushes was still very limited. Everyone used or bought a badger hair shaving brush. Manufacturers like Edwin Jagger and Muhle started expanding the range of synthetic shaving brushes about 5 years ago. Different types of synthetic hairs came onto the market: Black fibre and Silvertip fibre. The Black fibre hairs are a bit stiffer than the Silvertip fibre hairs. These synthetic hairs feel just as soft and comfortable as the different types of badger hair.
More and more of our customers are also asking for a synthetic shaving brush because they do have ethical objections. The hairs of the badger all come from China. Well, we know that in China people are not very gentle with humans and animals. It has now come to the point that the big shaving brush manufacturers are investing more in synthetic hairs and are gradually phasing out the badger hair range.
More natural artisanal shaving products
Compared to 5 years ago, many artisanal shaving and beard brands have been introduced to the market. We have also purchased many new brands in recent years. These are shaving products produced on a small scale and manually. The sales of these brands have also increased significantly. These small brands experiment a lot with natural and pure plant-based or animal ingredients. They also use many exciting and exotic fragrance oils.
Many of our customers are tired of the standard mass brands and are looking for honest products without all kinds of vague synthetic ingredients. The big mass brands focus on mass sales and minimal costs. Because as many people as possible have to find it pleasant, you get the 'airplane food effect'. As a result, many of these care products smell the same.
Are you also tired of your cheap shaving soap or aerosol foam? Then switch and use a nice artisanal shaving soap or after shave balm with a pleasant scent.
