Van Der Hagen Premium Shave Set (Soap, Bowl, Brush)
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List Price: Our Price: $11.45 You Save: $1.31 (10%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy 3rd Party: from $9.85 (click here) Category: Health Care See more product details |
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Product Reviews of Van Der Hagen Premium Shave Set (Soap, Bowl, Brush)
Product Review: Great product...
Summary: 5 Stars
I love it. It's the perfect introduction into wet-shaving. The bowl is great and fits in your hand nicely. It's ceramic so you don't have any problems with water (why wooden bowls?). The soap smells very good and lathers well. The brush is perfectly good - I'm not a shaving snob, so this brush does the trick fine. I'd highly suggest this combo and may get another one myself.Product Review: Great start into wet shaving
Summary: 5 Stars
This was my first set for wet shaving. I plunked down my $7.58 at Walmart for the set and was surprised at how much better the shave was. The shave got better as I went on since, I learned better brush technique. It may take you some time to get the right technique for rich lather. I live near San Antonio, TX which has the hardest water in the country (harder to make lather). So, don't blame the products you just need to learn the best combination of water and hard to lighter pressure.
Go on try the High end soaps $8.00 to $30.00 then learn every once in while you can get some great stuff with out all the hype. That's what I did since, I just thought the VDH set was just to get in to wet shaving. On the boar brush I re lather for each side of my face, not a big deal for the price. I now have a silvertip badger brush and yes, it holds the lather on through out three shaves but it cost 15 times more. As for the soaps I still find the VDH is the best. When I get an expensive nice smelling soap the doesn't match up I just melt the soap and add a VDH glycerin to it to get a nice smelling great shave.
My wife agrees and she has a better test she has two legs one soap per leg. She doesn't get that plucked chicken feel after like she did with those 3 blade ladies razors
We both use Merkur barber pole razors and have come back to the Persona blades for myself and Sword blades for her(just like soaps we have tried most of the other brands)we both hate Gillete 7o'clock dull.
Product Review: Great start to brush shaving
Summary: 3 Stars
First, brush shaving may not be for everyone, I can't see how though.
If you want to introduce a friend to brush shaving, this is the way to go. If they don't like it, no loss, if they do, this will carry them through until they get a better set.
As far as brushes go, if you're buying boar, you aren't going to waste your money on a metal or wooden handle brush! You're going inexpensive (not cheap).
The soap in this kit is actually quite nice. I'm currently using a EJ Sea-Buckthorn soap, but the VDH soap must've been loaded with aloe, because it always makes my skin smooth, it doesn't have a strong scent though.
The bowl in this kit (not a mug ~ a bowl) is very deep, which I actually really like. I place my brush in the bowl and fill it to the brim with STEAMY HOT water and let it soak for 15 or 30 seconds. It softens the soap for getting on the brush quickly and gets the brush nice and warm to the core.
At this price, pick up a few and pass them around to guys who are still in the dark about brush shaving, you'll make some converts.
I like to leave my Edwin Jagger set at home, I have this VDH set packed in my travel kit.
For the money, it should have more stars, but compared to other shave brushes, it could have less. Factor the cost and the product and it gets 3 stars. Don't mind spending $25 or more? Go with badger.
Product Review: Great starter kit
Summary: 4 Stars
I got this starter kit when I bought my first safety razor to begin on my trip through wet shaving. I have had it for at least three months, and I can say that this has been a great starter kit.
Pros: Has everything that you need besides the safety razor and replacement blades. Comes with it's own bowl, shave soap, and brush. The soap is nice and mild, and reminds me of a barber shop. The bowl is perfectly sized to fit in my hand. The brush, despite having a plastic handle, still has plenty stiff bristles, which is the way I like my brushes.
Cons: The bowl, despite the finish, can still be slippery in a wet hand. Would have liked for the finish to be a bit tackier or have a handle. The brush still sheds, despite months of use, and the plastic handle feels flimsy and cheap.
Final thoughts: So far I believe that the kit has been a great introduction to wet shaving. However, I would recommend that when you receive the kit, before you use the brush, that you soak it a bit in hot water to soften it up a little bit. Then, you should probably melt the soap into the bowl, since otherwise it will slip and slide around when trying to use it with the brush. Just keep an eye on it when you do, since it will bubble. When the time comes for me to buy new soap, I will be buying a new brush as well. Not because it is necessary, but because I am tired of the shedding. Also, I recommend that first time wet shavers you go to youtube and look up the user mantic59. He has an excellent series on the basics of wet shaving and how to get started.
Product Review: Great starter kit for the price
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this as a gift for my husband. This is a great starter kit for the price. If you know anyone that wants to try this method of shaving, this is a good way to do it without making a large investment. The bowl in our kit was ceramic (it seems some people had plastic), which is very nicely weighted and a great size for the soap.
The brush is not a long lasting one, but will work fine for a few months if you are just looking to try this out. The one thing to take notice of is that although the brush has a base for sitting it on the counter with the bristles up, that is not the right way to dry it if you want to keep it in good shape. It is best hung upside down, so if you purchase this kit, I would also recommend a small stand to hang the brush with the bristles down.
After purchasing this kit, I also bought him a straight razor for a real old fashioned shave, but we haven't tried that razor with this soap yet, so I can't say how well it works with a straight razor vs a traditional razor. His face does seem to be nice and smooth and less irritated since switching from the shave gels and creams to this.
Another bonus of shaving with soap is that shave creams and gels in particular tend to clog up the drains in our house, and I hate having to pour chemicals to clear them or remove them to clean all the build up out. Shaving with soap makes drain maintenance much easier.