Shaving Accessories – A Guide to Essentials for Men

After having written extensively about shaving creams, soaps, razors, and brushes it is time to take a closer look at secondary, but nonetheless, essential shaving accessories that help you achieve to the perfect shave. Shaving mirrors, mugs, and stands.

SHAVING MIRROR

For some men, a shaving mirror is the ultimate object of vanity; for others, it’s a tool to get the job done. In either case, a mirror is an absolute necessity to understand the different angles of the hair on your face, monitor your strokes while shaving, and last but not least to pay attention to detail.

There are 2 shaving mirror options: fogless and non-fogless (or standard) mirrors, each with varying degrees of quality and price. Since a lot of men prefer to shave in the shower, mirrors that won’t fog up are popular. They usually come with a suction-cup attachment that adheres to tile, though they are not always 100% reliable, which may cause the mirror to break – so choose wisely. Technically, fogless mirrors are not mirrors at all because unlike real mirrors, which are made from glass and metal, fogless ones are made from bent plastic, and so they tend to scratch more easily and the quality is inferior. Hence you may have to replace your fogless mirror on occasion.

1. Standard wall or medicine cabinet mounted

2. A separate stand or wall mounted mirror

Stand-up mirrors come with different magnification powers. A 3x magnification will show just enough detail without getting too small. If your mirror fogs up, the best way to get rid of it is to use a hot air dryer. Also, make sure that the humidity level in the bathroom is low and you should have no problems with your mirror fogging up. Some people even, lather up some bath soap in their hands and apply the lather to the face of the mirror. After about five seconds, they splash hot water on the glass to remove all the soap (do not use your hands or towel). The mirror will stay fogless for about ten minutes, which should be more than enough time for a shave. Always remember to secure your mirror and in a safe place to avoid the chance of its falling and shattering, because it’s a mess to clean up.

SHAVING MUGS

For the purpose of whipping up lather, you can take a mug or bowl from the kitchen, or you can buy one of the old-fashioned shaving mugs – they are a lot of fun. If you have some time on your hands, a good place to buy one is on Shuja Emire . Prices range from next to nothing for a plain functional bowl to a small fortune for the collectible ones that are hundreds of years old. If you prefer a new one my personal favorites are Shuja Empire & Deluxe Shave , and Vintage Barber  Shaving mugs.

Using a shaving mug is easy. First, you have to heat it up. The best way to do so is by filling it with hot water for a few minutes. Once the mug is warm enough for you, empty it and add an almond size amount of shaving cream and a few drops of hot water and start lathering with a shaving brush until you are satisfied with the consistency of the lather. For detailed instructions, visit the shaving cream and shaving brush guide. If you use soap you have to load the brush first with soap and then start the lathering process in the mug or bowl. Be cautious by adding water to the lather because you can always add more but not remove it once it’s added.

The old-fashioned type of shaving mug (like the one from Shuja Empire & Deluxe Shave) has a lower part where the hot water can be kept during the whole shaving procedure. The large open spout is for dipping your brush in. You put the cream or soap in the top part, which normally has a couple of holes in it to let the excess water drain off, then whip up the lather.

Sometimes, the size of the shaving soap does not fit the mug, but if you are set on the mug, you can always change the size of the soap by carefully melting it in a saucepan or microwave and introducing it in a different container. Personally, I would just get a mug that fits my soap but each to his own.

SHAVING STAND

In addition to the mirror, mug, alum block and styptic pencil you must not forget about the shaving stand. Most men ignore a stand in the beginning, especially if they are on a tight budget but a stand is really important.

You need a shaving stand to hold your brush and razor. If you have a brush that you want to keep dry and in a nice shape, this is an ideal way to do it. On top of that, these stands look nice and provide a sophisticated touch to most bathrooms. The stand is meant to hold the brush upside down on the handle, and thus it is not uncommon for men to buy a stand directly from their brush manufacturer. At the same time, if you find a stand that fits, all is good.

Our Best Shaving Content

Shaving is a ritual that involves products, tools, technique and knowledge to create a smooth, closely shaven face. Each man has different needs, and even though we love a deep dive into one part of shaving, we know that the Big Picture is just as important. To answer the many shaving questions and concerns that we receive from men every day, we put together the most comprehensive Shaving Guide out there.