As the seasons change, so do the needs of your skin and facial hair. Transitioning from the harsh winter cold to the pleasant warmth of summer, or vice versa, demands a shift in your grooming routine. At The Holy Black, we're all about blending tradition with modernity, and offer three remarkable products tailored to cater to your skin and facial hair year-round: The Holy Black's After-Shave Tonic, Snake Oil, and Moisturizing Lotion.
Every shave deserves a perfect ending, and The Holy Black's After-Shave Tonic is precisely that. Crafted to perfection, this alcohol-based aftershave tonic is, in no exaggeration, the best you'll ever put on your face. Its merits go beyond just a refreshing post-shave ritual; it's a crowd-pleaser, an experience that might just change your life.
Toning & Cleansing: An alcohol-based aftershave tonic acts as an astringent, toning your skin and cleansing it thoroughly. It's a gentle reminder that it's doing its job, giving you a subtle burn that vanishes quickly.
Long-Lasting Fragrance: The Holy Black's signature Gunpowder Spice fragrance lingers, neither overpowering nor too subtle. It leaves you smelling and feeling fresh throughout the day.
Fresh & Invigorating: Applying this tonic post-shave leaves you feeling revitalized, ready to conquer the day with confidence.
Snake Oil, as the name suggests, is a versatile elixir for your grooming needs. This 'dry' oil, contrary to common misconceptions, won't leave you greasy. Its uses are diverse, making it a grooming essential for the modern man.
Multi-Use Marvel: From a pre-shave treatment to a leave-in conditioner, this oil does it all. Use it as a shaving oil, beard oil, hair tonic, anti-dandruff solution, and more. It's a tool you'll keep reaching for.
Non-Greasy & Quick Absorption: The 'dry' oil formulation ensures it absorbs easily without leaving any residue or staining your clothes.
Anti-Frizz Technology: Borrowing from women's grooming products, this oil conquers frizz, leaving your beard and hair tamed and polished.
Moisturizing isn't reserved for a particular season or gender. The Holy Black's Moisturizing Lotion is a testament to that. Slightly fragranced and non-greasy, it's your year-round companion for well-nourished skin.
All-Year Hydration: Tailored for all seasons, this lotion ensures your skin stays healthy and glowing, adapting to the changing weather.
Versatile Usage: Use it as an aftershave balm or as an everyday moisturizer for your face, hands, elbows, and more. It's lightweight and versatile, fitting seamlessly into your grooming routine.
Soothing & Absorbent: Infused with Aloe Vera, it calms the skin while absorbing effortlessly, providing relief to dry or cracked areas.
The changing seasons don't have to be a challenge for your skin and facial hair. Embrace the transformative effects of The Holy Black's After-Shave Tonic, Snake Oil, and Moisturizing Lotion. Tailored for modern men seeking timeless grooming solutions, these products adapt to your needs, making every grooming ritual a pleasure. Trust us, your skin will thank you.
Explore The Holy Black's collection and embrace the changing seasons with confidence and style. Discover more at The Holy Black.
]]>Our only fragrance designed explicitly for women, Scarab is a polarizing scent. Red Egyptian musk, from the Ambrette plant and the only musk derived from a grain, is said to be the worlds most alluring aphrodisiac. Powerful yet feminine, this long lasting, fragrant musk is mixed with heartwoods and a touch of rose to tame the sometimes overwhelming musk notes. Perfectly balanced for every day wear, this perfume is a head turner. Originally formulated as a custom scent for our sister, friends who have gotten a chance to smell it have been asking us to produce it, so we bring it to you just in time for Valentines day in this 200 bottle limited batch. The perfect gift for the lady in your life,even if that lady is yourself. 78ml atomizer bottle in a eco-friendly paperboard tube with removable gold-tone charm.
]]>1. Original High Shine Pomade: This was our first pomade and it is still our number one seller. Water based and easily washable, this pomade gives a firm hold and a high shine while also able to be restyled with a wet comb. This is a great every day pomade and it comes lightly scented in our signature Gunpowder and Spice fragrance. Classic barbershop, you cant go wrong with this one.
2. Matte Clay Pomade: When you want that natural look, a matte clay is the way to go. Our Matte Clay is a hybrid, which means it has waxes in it for hold, but is water based and washes out easily; as a result this is a favorite product amongst our barbers. Whether you want that "I woke up like this" look or just don't want the shine, this is a super versatile product and also works great as a beard and mustache styler. Also scented in our Gunpowder and Spice fragrance.
3. SuperMax Pomade: Possibly the strongest water based pomade ever formulated, we spent a lot of time getting this one right. Differentiated by it's black contents and Bay Whiskey Lime fragrance, this one is a must for people who need that extra hold. It is also water based and washes out easily and can be restyled with a wet comb at any time.
Leave a comment and let us know which one is your favorite!
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The head shave, the most challenging part of changing from a cartridge razor to a Safety Razor, is a daunting but achievable feat. In this article, we will touch on the techniques, tips, tricks and skills needed to come out unscathed. The head shave breaks down to 3 major areas of focus and properly handling each area will result in a smooth shave every time. The 3 things this article will focus on are: Prep, Lather and Razor. We will go into the best procedures and tools for the job, and believe me your head is gonna to thank you.
The most important part of any shave is always the preparation. You can’t just take a blade to your face without a little wet work. For head shaving, prep is even more important. If you’ve been shaving your face with a safety razor, you know that the chin is the most difficult area to get right, and the head, is “all chin”, so take it slow and follow the steps here.
Use a hair or beard trimmer to bring it down to a manageable level. Safety razors can handle a bit more length than a cartridge razor and they get clogged up a lot less, but the shorter the hair, the better shave you are going to get. I usually set my clippers to the lowest setting [0]. Takes a couple extra seconds but it’s definitely worth it.
Truing to shave without thoroughly wetting the hair and skin is a sure-fire way to cut yourself and have an all-around uncomfortable shave. Hot water seems to work best, although some people swear by a cold shower and cold water shave. Personally, I prefer hot showers. You can try to use hot towels but a shower tends to take the same amount of time to get satisfactory results. Also, while in the shower use a high glycerin based soap to wash your head and face and it will help with prep by softening the hair and moisturizing the skin.
A little pre-shave oil goes a long way with keeping the skin soft and to keep the lather from further drying your skin. Two or three drops massaged into the scalp is plenty and you should feel the slickness immediately. A good pre-shave oil should be non-comedogenic which means it won’t clog your pores. Using a quality oil will also help with dandruff and dry scalp issues that can arise from constant head shaving. Our Snake Oil is also designed to be used as a hair tonic and a beard oil so you can get some other uses from it. It can also be used in a pinch to oil your electric clippers, but check with your manufacturer before trying this as all clippers are different.
Check out our article about how to lather shaving soap if you want to get a little further in depth, but we will cover the right way to make a protective slick lather from a shaving soap or shaving cream in this article as well. Canned foams, gels and brushless creams need not apply.
Brush choice is not critical to the end result here, but to make your life easier and your shave more enjoyable, I would recommend using a brush on the larger size, maybe a 28-30mm knot in your preference of badger, boar or synthetic. Synthetics have made significant strides in the last couple years and now are as highly regarded as some of the best badger brushes on the market. I like to get my synthetic brush just about dripping wet and load it up on the surface of the soap for about 100 swirls. This makes a bit of a mess but the soap will be well loaded in the brush for the next step. If you are using a cream, add an almond sized dollop to a bowl and use your wet brush to load it into the brush there.
Making lather is just like making whipped cream, we want to add as much air volume to the lather as it can hold. Small bubbles are a good sign that it is ready, and a healthy sheen should develop if it is well hydrated. Add water slowly, you can always add more but you can’t take it away. You can whip your lather up with your brush in a bowl or you can skip that step and work it right on your head and face. Which brings us to the next part.
Don’t be afraid to really work the brush on the skin, it will further enhance the lather, help the hair stand up, and exfoliate the skin. Get good coverage and save the lather on your brush for a second pass by standing it on it’s base or putting it in a bowl or scuttle. You are now ready to choose your weapon.
Your choice of razor and blade combo is tantamount to getting a nick free shave, especially on your head.
I’d recommend something with a head geometry that is on the milder side. We have a Slant razor that I definitely wouldn’t recommend for a beginner here; our SR-71 Guard Bar Razor would be a better candidate for someone starting out. You can check out our article on safety razor shaving here if you want a little more info. So stick with a mild razor, and choose a blade that agrees with your skin.
Choosing a razor with a shorter handle helps with the tight maneuvering and I personally like something with a little heft. Again, our SR-71 would fit the bill as well as some vintage razors. Heavy handles help to allow the razor to do the work
Some blades are known to be sharper or less smooth out of the box. Everyone’s skin is different, so try a few different ones on your face and on your head. I usually purchase sample packs online but many local stores are now carrying Double edge blades. I always toss the blade after a head shave, even though I can get 5-6 face-only shaves from a blade. Headshaving seems to wear blades out much more quickly.
Ok you are now ready to shave. Here’s a couple tips to help it go smoothly.
Get all the easy stuff out of the way. We will tackle the harder stuff afterwards. Seeing what you are doing gives you an idea of what the razor will be doing when you cant see it. This allows you to see how often you need to rinse and how efficient it is cutting.
Make sure you use your other hand. Use it to keep your skin tight and also use it tactilely to feel for areas you may have missed, or need to be touched up.
Shave with the grain for your first pass, relather and then attack it from a different angle. Working across the grain or, if needed, against the grain will be significantly easier if you’ve reduced the amount of hair there. Using your other hand will help you find problem areas.
You are now ready to go tackle the beast on your own! If you need anything mentioned in this article, I have put links to the products into the text and we also sell a starter kit here with everything you need to get started with wetshaving. Good luck and let us know how it goes in the comments!
]]>As we continue to experiment with different shaving soap formulas, we find that high tallow content makes excellent lather. With some free time in the lab, we took a day to render some tallow and get ready to make a new batch of hot process shaving soaps.
First stop is our local artisan butcher shop. The owner, Sal was nice enough to butcher about 5 lbs of beef tallow from his dry aged, grass fed, organic sides.
Once we got it back to the lab we froze it for a couple hours to make it easier to work with. When it was sufficiently frozen we chopped it as fine as we could with a knife and removed as much meat as possible.
Into the food processor it goes in small batches until we have a nice uniform consistency. The food processor really helps move this process along.
Now we get our crockpot nice and hot and slowly heat the suet(fat) until the fat completely renders into a liquid and the connective tissue and meat is left behind. This smells good at first, but eventually it doesn’t anymore. Trust me.
This process can take several hours. Don’t try to rush it or you will burn the batch and you might as well throw it out at that point.
Next we strain the whole mess through a few layers of cheesecloth into a large container with about 6 inches of water in the bottom, and place the whole thing in the fridge to cool.
http://theholyblack.com/collections/catalog/products/shaving-soap-bay-whisky-lime
Once cool, you can peel the whole disc of pure white tallow from the top of the water and pat dry.
Now our tallow is ready to be used for soap making, or even cooking with. From 5 pounds of beef suet we ended up with about 2.5 pounds of tallow. We probably could have gotten a bit more if we allowed it to render longer, but this amount is more than enough for our intended usage.
If you decide to try this yourself, be careful, don’t get burned, and try to work in a well ventilated area!
]]>2. Make use of social media. Putting your Holy Black affiliate link in your bio on InstagraM
]]>1. Share with friends and family, but don’t spam them. In fact, the one rule to follow is “don’t spam anyone.”
2. Make use of social media. Putting your Holy Black affiliate link in your bio on Instagram and then referencing it in your post is a great way to get clicks. Boosted posts on Facebook may be profitable too. Twitter is a great place to find conversations where our products or website might be relevant.
3. Bloggers can get very large audiences. If you can guest write for a blog and include your affiliate link, or if a blog has room for banner ads, sometimes if they have enough traffic or is specific enough in it’s niche it can be worth is to spend a couple bucks for the space. Even sometimes including your affiliate link in the comments on a relevant blog can get you some clicks.
4. Forums are an untapped resource. Getting out there and finding forums talking about topics related to The Holy Black may present opportunities to link people to our site.
5. Paid advertisement. Buying ad space with Google Adwords or Bing or Yahoo can be profitable if you do your research. This is a bit more advanced but the most professional approach.
Have fun, don’t spam, and make some cash. You’re already talking about The Holy Black, you might as well get paid for it.
]]>Believe it or not, Aftershave is not as straightforward as it would sound. What kind should you use? When should you use it? What does it do? I will answer these questions for you and maybe a little extra in this new blog post. Aftershave lotions, balms, tonics and toners are all slightly different but in the same family. We will demystify them for you here.
What kind of Aftershave is best for me?
The short answer is, it depends on your skin and your preference. If you have inherently dry skin, you may want to stay away from high alcohol content aftershaves and use something a little more moisturizing like a cream, lotion or balm. With our Whiskey based Aftershave tonic we have a low alcohol content so you can reap the benefits of the antibacterial properties of the alcohol without suffering too much of a burn. There are those people who enjoy the burn of an alcohol based aftershave. I always like to follow up an alcohol based tonic with a moisturizing lotion. A moisturizer is a great guard against dry skin whether you shave or not. Just a small dot in your hands and applied to the face and you are good to go, especially in the cold winter months when your skin is prone to wind burn and chapping. Choosing the best scent for you is also important, though an aftershave, as opposed to cologne, should dissipate rather quickly, although some may linger.
When should I apply aftershave?
After you shave, obviously! But you can also apply it whenever you need a refreshing feeling, or right after you wash your face, or if you prefer stronger scented aftershaves and don’t like to wear cologne, you can wear your aftershave out for a night on the town. Many cream and lotion aftershaves make great every day moisturizers as well.
Do I need to use aftershave?
Well, you don’t have to use it, but it helps to keep your skin evenly toned, helps to close your pores (although a splash of cold water will also help with that), is a powerful antiseptic in case of any bacteria on your razor, and it feels great and smells better.
Wow, that’s much simpler than I thought!
Everyone’s face is different, don’t be afraid to experiment with different products and use them in a way that works for you. And if you have any questions you can always shoot me an email at Stefan@theholyblack.com!
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I get a lot of emails asking how to shave with a safety razor, double edge razor, or single edge razor. There are a few different techniques and tips I will share with you, but it’s not as mysterious and dangerous as it sounds. It’s fairly easy to get started and in time you will probably find that you get a better, closer, more comfortable shave, all the while actually enjoying what used to be a daunting or trivial task.
For this article I am going to skip over all the talk of shaving soaps, shaving brushes, and all the other fun goodies that come along with wetshaving. I’m also not going to go into detail about the different types of razors and blades you could try. That is a whole other post, or could even be a book. Let’s focus on technique and the rest will come naturally.
Every razor is a little different when it comes to loading your blade. So the first step is figuring out how to get the blade into the razor. We will assume you are using a double edge razor like this one:
This is called a three piece razor because it comes apart in 3 pieces. The head, the baseplate and the handle. The razor gets sandwiched between the head and the baseplate(make sure you don’t install your baseplate upside down, a very common mistake) and then the whole thing gets screwed back together. Simple. There are also twist to open designs which are even simpler and there are also 2 piece razors where the baseplate is fixed in place.
So you have your razor blade installed, now what? Before it’s time to lather up and shave, take a moment to map the different directions your hair grows on your face. Everyone is different, and if you’ve ever shaved before you probably are pretty familiar with your face. Now, use your favorite method to lather, whether it is canned foam or a luxury shaving soap or cream, get it on your face.
They key to wetshaving with any safety razor is taut(tight) skin. Don’t be afraid to use your other hand to pull your skin tight in the areas you are shaving. A little PROTIP here, shaving lather is slippery, if you have an alum block or styptic pencil, rub it on the fingers of your off hand to gain more grip.
Now, with tight skin bring the razor to your face at the shallowest angle and slowly lower the handle until you can hear or feel the hairs cutting. This is the part that can take a little fiddling, and every razor has a different “sweet spot”. You should be shaving with the grain and we are going to call this “our first pass”. Some people can get a quality shave in one pass. For some people it can take 3 or 4. Your mileage may vary, especially when you’re first starting out.
Once you have removed all of the shaving cream with the grain. Relather your face and do your second pass across the grain if you need it. After that, I usually relather again and feel with my fingers for any areas that need a touch up, and then shave(with very tight skin) against the grain in those areas only. Depending how sensitive your skin is, you may want to stop after your first pass for the first few shaves, or only shave your cheeks and finish the shave with a cartridge razor if that’s what you’re used to.
Tips and tricks: Problem areas.
The CHIN, the neck, the upper lip, and for you bald guys, the HEAD. I always say the head is all chin. Work in small areas on these problem spots and make sure your skin is as tight as possible. Don’t overdo it or you WILL get razorburn. For the upper lip, go with the grain only until you’ve got some experience and even then be careful if your blade is less than optimally sharp.
Safety Razor Shaving is very rewarding, easy, and fun. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get it right the first few times. Everything in this life worth knowing needs a little work to be proficient with. Check out our safety razors here and Enjoy your shave.
]]>Beards are back! A well groomed beard can be seen as a sign of power and manliness, which is why many of the most influential men grow one. Unlucky for some, they are not able to grow beards as others get to enjoy.
]]>5 Secrets to Grow a Really Sexy Beard
By: Guest Blogger from www.topmenshavers.com
Beards are back! A well groomed beard can be seen as a sign of power and manliness, which is why many of the most influential men grow one. Unlucky for some, they are not able to grow beards as others get to enjoy.
Nonetheless, at the end of the day, it is all about patience and the right set of tools. Here are 5 secrets on what you can do to grow a sexy beard:
Choose a Good Beard Shape for your Face
Be Patient when Growing your Beard
Patience is a virtue, even when it comes to growing beards. Your beard will not miraculously grow in tip-top shape just overnight. Keep in mind that the rate of its growth will depend on various factors, such as genetics and your level of testosterone. You should also keep in mind that the measurement of beard is not on the basis of length, but on months you had it grown.
Trim it Like a Pro
Once you have grown your beard, make sure to find time to have it trimmed or go to the barber shop for professional help, at least in the beginning. After you get the hang of it you can do it yourself at home with the right type of beard trimmer. While you have no direct control over where and how the beard grows, you can have control on how to have it styled through trimming.
Groom with the Use of the Right Products
There are many products that will make the beard look sexier. For instance, you can use a beard conditioner or beard balm or oil to avoid dryness or roughness. More so, you can also use grooming products that will allow the beard to grow thicker, giving you the flexibility to have it trimmed and style as you desire.
Match your Beard Style with a Sexy Celebrity
Have you ever been envious with how girls go gaga over guys they see on TV because of the beards that make them hotter? Use their beards as the inspiration for growing your own. Once you have already grown beard with the right thickness, have it trimmed following the style of the celebrity with a beard that you like. For best results, seek for help from a barber to help you achieve the look]]>
We wanted to make a pair of gentleman's knuckle dusters, and while brass is usually the metal of choice, we wanted something a little classier. Silver in color, lead-free pewter is one of my favorite alloys to work in.
The first step of the process was pouring a solid slab of black urethane resin. Once cured I cut the general shape out with a scroll saw and worked it with files and sandpaper until I got the final shape I wanted.
A couple brass inlays, since I still haven't learned to engrave for shit.
Sand Casting mold packed and powdered. Steel Cope and Drag courtesy of Mike Daniels at Jalopy Garage.
Flashing still intact, sprue removed.
Filed and sanded down to 400 grit.
Comparison shot.
On the desk.
Test fit, a little tight for me, but they're for my brother and should fit well.
You need a little space to absorb impact.
Approaching final polish.
Final Polish
For Glory!
Identifying your soap and choose the best brush: You want to see if you've got a hard or soft soap here. Harder soaps tend to work better with stiffer brushes. I prefer a boar or horse hair brush for harder soaps. Some soaps won't dent easily with a fingernail, and some you can leave a thumbprint in. There are also many creams on the market, for those the Boar bristles will work just fine, but for a luxurious upgrade you can switch to a synthetic or silvertip badger brush. The softer bristles will hold more lather and make painting the lather onto your face a dream.
Loading Soap onto your brush: The next step is to get your brush loaded well with the soap. With boar brushes, you must soak them before use, but for synthetics and badger brushes, just wet your brush thoroughly and then shake it dry until it is damp but not dripping. Now swirl the damp brush to pack the bristles with soap. Your brush should be dry enough that you are not forming a lather yet, just caking soap into your brush.
Just add water: Here is where the magic happens! Whether you want to build lather in a bowl, directly on your face, or in the palm of your hand, slowly add water a few drops at a time until you get smooth, thick lather, look for micro bubbles and a silky shine. Lather should hold up and not dissipate over time.
Remember, every soap and cream is different: If at first you don't succeed, don't be afraid to adjust the ratios of soap to water. Hard water can also cause issues with making lather, may times more water is the answer, some people will soften their water with citric acid, or use bottled water to make lather.
Wet Shaving is an art form, and it takes time and patience and also your own personal style to become proficient. Good Luck!
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I decided to start with horse hair, as it seemed the easiest to work with and the most readily available. I got a haft of mane hair in black, and probably have enough left over to make two more brushes.
After being cut to length it goes into a custom hair stacker to get the tips lined up, and then into another homemade stacker with a concave bottom to get the bulb/fan profile. (This step is not so necessary with horse hair because it can be clipped to shape, but will be essential for synthetic and badger hair) The knot is tied here with regular cotton butchers twine in a slip knot. Get it as tight as you possibly can or it will unravel in the next step.
A sharp knife is of the utmost importance for this next step, cutting the hairs down to an even footing.
Now our knot is ready to be glued, before it can be glued into the plug, I use a CA type of glue that is very thin and, wearing gloves, work the CA glue in between all the individual hairs in the knot. I have found this step is the most important to make sure your knot doesn't shed in the future.
Here is the knot with a polyester resin plug that I poured into a 24mm silicone mold that I made for this particular project.
The finished knot, ready to be epoxied into a handle.
I bored the hole in this custom handle down to 28mm to give this knot some much needed backbone and leaving us with about a 65mm loft. Overall I'm very happy with the performance, and was surprised how much lather the horse hair held.
These are not currently for sale but I do make them in synthetic and in silvertip badger hair at my store.
Thanks for looking!
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Here is the original whale tooth that I borrowed to make the mold.
This is a picture of the tooth ready to have a mold poured in silicone, I cut off the bottom of the solo cup and added a clay base to stand the tooth up in.
This is the first resin cast coming out of the completed mold.
Raw resin vs real tooth.
38mm Knot Vs 22mm
Just trying some stuff out.
Mocking up the base and decorative trim
Embedded in the two part mold box.
Registration marks made, and a coat of crystal clear.
Mold for Harpoon brush stand, ready for High Temp Silicone.
Mold cured and waiting for hot Pewter.
One of the original etched brass designs
And the finished product.
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Safety razors have been around since the early 1900’s and they haven't changed much from the original designs Gillette introduced. The fact of the matter is, they work great just the way they are. One blade, reusable, replaceable, and ultimately disposable. Vintage safety razors are abundant and modern models are everywhere, so why are you still using a cartridge based razor? Let’s talk about the reasons switching to a Double Edge(Safety Razor) is leaps and bounds better than what you’re using now.
Price: Plain and simple economics. Double edge safety razors(DE’s from here on out) can be found just about anywhere, from antique shops to ebay for vintage ones, and from sites like ours for new models. They can be had from anywhere from $10 for a good 3 piece starter razor, on up to hundreds for sought after collectors items. That’s pretty much the only investment that may be more than a cartridge type MachX razor handle, as they sometimes give the handle away for free when you buy cartridges. But that is where the savings end. A pack of four cartridges can run you as much as $20 and they don’t afford you any more good shaves than that 10 cent Double edge blade. You can literally buy a pack of 5 double edge blades for $.50. At that price you can afford to shave with a brand new blade every single day! The problem with those cartridges as that they are just so expensive that you always find yourself trying to get “just one more” shave out of them, and you’re practically scraping the hair off your face by the time you change it out. Admit it, you have switched out your dull cartridge for another used, dull one that you thought was used up weeks before. Welcome to the world of economic, excellent shaves.
So what are you waiting for? Pick up a starter kit and get on the road to a better shave right now!
So, as of late I have been reformulating my soaps and taking direction from all of the reviews and emails we get about the products. Some people have trouble lathering soaps with very high glycerin content. My soaps being of the meltable variety, they have a VERY high glycerin content
]]>First, a few things to clear up. I do not buy my melt and pour soap base. I originally experimented with the type of M&P base that you could get at any craft store like Michaels and Hobby Lobby and it was.. ok but not great. The lather was more sudsy and dry. Then a I met a guy in Rhode Island who was a soap maker and he showed me how to make my own melt and pour base. I bought some from him at first which worked awesome , and eventually started making my own.
My current M&P base is made with mostly coconut oil as I find it adds hardness to high glycerin content soaps and also produces the densest lather compared to other oils I have tried. I also use palm oil as a secondary oil because of it's high palmitic acid content(which makes a great replacement for tallow as post saponification they act very much alike because of the high palmitic and stearic acid content). Originally I thought that keeping it vegetable based would help for vegetarian and vegans buying my soaps.
To make soap meltable, to put it simply, is pretty much making a batch of hot process soap, as almost any artisan maker here does, and then adding a specific amount(which can vary) of vegetable glycerin and heat it through again until it is incorporated. I do not add fragrance or essential oils at this point because I feel that they stay truer if I add them right before I pour the soaps instead of subjecting them to the prolonged heating process involved in hot-process soap. This is one of the main reasons I prefer meltable soaps. The other major reason is that I find that the extra moisturizing properties of having a high glycerin content outweighs the difficulties in lathering commonly associated with commercially available melt and pour soaps.
So.. to counteract the lathering issues, I created a new base which is still mostly coconut, but also includes (beef)tallow and palm oil. I may add lanolin to the next batch, but I have to see if the benefits are worth it. I am very happy with the new batch, although I don't usually have issues with lathering my current soap unless I am somewhere with very hard water, and even then I can usually get excellent lather with a little extra water. (or I use bottled water if I am not at home). Anyway, this is not an ad or anything as these soaps are not available yet, but I will be sending out some samples for tests before I release them. If you are interested in testing, leave a comment here and when I am ready I will consult this thread.
I am still experimenting, and I am going to try also adding a small amount of citric acid to the next batch(post saponification) to see if this helps with hard water users. The new batch will possibly be in a new scent, as I may be dropping some of the current lineup, or offering them in limited batches. Everything is going to be in small batches and only a couple or one scent will be available at all times.
If anyone has any other suggestions on making the best meltable high glycerin content soap, I am, as always, all ears. Thank you all for your continued support.
]]>It seems everywhere I look lately, there’s another company popping up making beard oil. It’s usually the only product they make and they all seem to have the same ingredients and smell like everything under the sun. Unfortunately not every oil or oil blend is going to be beneficial for your hair, and you may just end up a greasy mess. There are a few oils that I recommend..
]]>I have been mixing and remixing the formulas for our Snake oil for the last three years, and it has been exhaustively tested by members of The Long Island Beard and Mustache Society, The Gotham City Beard Alliance, and countless others who claim it to be game changing for their beard. Try some yourself and let us know how you like it!
]]>Here are our top five tips to help you get a better shave and stop getting irritation. Enjoy shaving again, or for the first time!
Canned shaving cream is for the birds. It is packed with chemicals that are at their best, useless for a good shave and at their worst
]]>Here are our top five tips to help you get a better shave and stop getting irritation. Enjoy shaving again, or for the first time!
Canned shaving cream is for the birds. It is packed with chemicals that are at their best, useless for a good shave and at their worst, bad for your skin. A canned foam or gel will never be as slick, hydrating or effective as a high quality shaving soap or cream. This also goes for all of you that are shaving with regular bar soap, just water, your wife’s shampoo etc.. Shaving soaps are formulated specifically to make dense, cushioning lather that provides slickness and slip while the added glycerin helps to moisturize your skin instead of drying it out like most soaps. Do yourself and your face a favor and make that the first thing you upgrade when you decide to elevate your shave to the next level.
Speaking of shaving soaps, it’s kind of hard to make luxurious hot lather without a proper shaving brush. Our second most important tip for an excellent shave is to get yourself a shaving brush. You don’t need to spend an arm and a leg. Whether you choose an entry level boar bristle brush, or a High Mountain White Silvertip Badger brush, the ability to make a useable lather makes all the difference in the world. The use of a brush also helps to exfoliate the skin while it opens the doors to many different options in soaps and creams heretofore previously inaccessible. The best part is the hot lather that comes along with it, luxury at it’s best.
Ahh, the ubiquitous double edge safety razor(DE) Our fathers and grandfathers used them and somewhere along the line we were told that one blade just wasn’t enough. We had to have 2, then 3, then 4 and now you can find razors with 5 and 6 blades. Let’s just clear the air here and say that these are fads, scams and most importantly, a huge waste of your hard earned cash. DE blades can be had for as little as 15 cents a blade. At those prices you can drop a fresh blade in every time you shave and still come out way ahead at the end of the year. Besides the obvious financial reasons, shaving with a DE also solves the issue of irritation quite nicely. Every time you pass a 5-bladed razor over your face, it is akin to 5 passes with a single bladed razor. So if you have a spot that you need to touch up, or that you didn’t get a clean shave on, and you have to go back and shave it again, right there you’ve got ten passes with a razor sharp blade. With a proper double edge technique you get most everything on your first pass, and if you need to go back and hit a few spots across or against the grain, you should be able to get baby’s butt smooth in 3 passes or less. It may take a little practice to adjust to the new technique, but your face will thank you.
Pre-shave, not too many people talk about it, but it’s kind of a big deal. You have to prep the hair on your face and your skin before you take a razor to it. I recommend shaving immediately after a shower as the hot water and steam really get the face ready while softening the hairs. Washing your face with a glycerin soap is great for preshave because of the hydrating effects. The next step in a preshave regimen is to apply a pre shave oil and work it into the hairs and skin. This helps with razor glide and also aids in softening the hairs as well. Just the act of massaging it in also helps to raise the hairs to get them ready to be mowed down with extreme prejudice.
Aftershave. Splash or balm? Alcohol or non-alcohol? Lilacs or sandalwood? Aftershave is everyone’s favorite part of shaving. Alcohol based splashes can be 99% alcohol and can be very drying for your skin. We use a whiskey based aftershave here at The Holy Black which yields about 30% alcohol. That seems to be the magic number to reap the antiseptic benefits of the alcohol and to still “feel the burn”, so to speak while also allowing the remaining ingredients to moisturize your skin. After your splash, a moisturizing lotion or balm really helps your skin especially in cold or dry places.
If you follow these 5 tips, you will see a vast improvement in your shave, and your face. Good luck and welcome to wetshaving!
]]>When it comes to finding that perfect beardstyle, or just style in general, nowadays Instagram has it on lock. There's thousands of communities out there showcasing all the hot styles, trends, and gear. In the men's grooming world there are many categories, it can get a little confusing. When it comes to beards though, these are the guys you NEED to be following.
]]>This guy is prolific, everywhere I go, there he is. One of the cleanest and most well designed feeds in this list, it's coherent and his theme is clear. He makes his own beard memes and features guys with killer beards.
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These guys are killing it, featuring people on the site whose beards are epic and uniting the world in beardsmanship. Cant say enough good things about these guys and they are super active engaging with their followers. Definitely check out their T-shirts too, they are awesome.
These guys have their own product line of beard combs, waxes and other accoutrements. They also Sell E-liquid for you vapers out there. Definitely worth checking these guys out. They also, obviously feature guys with beards.
These guys are doing things a little differently, they have a slick website where you can upload your photos(for a small fee) to get a feature on their site. Seamless integration. Great resource and really great looking feed.
These guys got the beard meme held down. Always good for beard comics, memes and fun beard related content. This is a must have for your beard fix every day. Also check out their shop.
These guys are up and coming and they deliver as promised, their page is made up of beards, babes and tattoos. They also hold weekly contests and features. Add them to your feed for sure.
Beardcollective is a brand that makes beanies, woden beard plaques for your wall and even Christmas ornaments shaped like beards. For something a little different definitely check out their shop.
So you went through all the pain and suffering to get some sweet art permanently tattooed on your body, you gotta take care of that ink! The Holy Black Ink Balm's got you covered, literally. Made with beeswax and natural oils instead of petroleum based products
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Like all the tools in your wetshaving arsenal, the brush(or brushes- if you've got the fever) is a highly personal and customizable part of getting a smooth, comfortable shave. Most wetshavers use a badger hair brush, but there are also synthetic, boar bristle, and horse hair brushes to consider. In this post, I'm really just going to focus on the different grades of badger brushes and the attributes that set them apart from one another.
The place most new wetshavers start, is with the Pure Badger brush. The pure badger hair comes from a few different areas on the badger itself, and this grade is the least expensive. Our black badger brush is Pure Badger with the darkest hairs selected for the brush, giving it its signature look, and makes it a scrubbier, stiffer brush. The ends of the hairs are generally cut to shape on this type of brush, making the tips thicker and stiffer than the higher priced grades of badger. Some people upgrade from pure badger to a higher grade and never look back; personally, my black badger brush is my favorite brush to use with hard soaps and when lathering in a bowl. It does not hold as much water as my other brushes but the stiffness builds lather quickly and accumulates soap on the brush very easily. The scratchy texture of these brushes adds good exfoliating ability to the list of pros for such an inexpensive brush.
The next grade to consider is Best Badger, these brushes are have a more distinct color change from knot to tip and they are considerably softer than Pure badger while still retaining some scrubbiness which makes them a great choice for soaps. The hair for these brushes is harvested mostly from the belly of the beast and they are a great choice for their price.
Super Badger comes from the hair on the back of the badger and has a very soft feel because of how fine the tips are. You can judge the quality of the super badger knots by how distinct the banding of colors is and how white the top of the loft is. These brushes are more useful for creams and soft soaps, as they are very dense and hold a lot of water.
Silvertip Badger brushes are the softest, densest brushes available before you get into specialty grades reserved for custom brushes . The difference between a silvertip and a black badger brush are night and day. The hair comes from the neck of the badger and is very fine. There is no scrubbiness to speak of, and applying hot lather to your face with a silvertip is one of the most luxurious experiences you can have in this world.
Choosing the right brush for the job is part of the fun and variation of wetshaving, most people can't stop at just one brush as the experience with each type can be strikingly different. Also, as you use your brush, it will break in, bloom and become softer. Every brush is different and has it's own character. Next time, we will talk more about boar bristle, synthetic, and horse hair( and maybe camel hair) brushes. Enjoy your shave!
]]>A lot of people have been asking us to produce a shave or pre-shave oil, After quite a few formulations we are happy to introduce Snake Oil . Some people like to use shave oil as a pre-shave treatment to soften the hairs of the beard and help with razor glide. Others prefer to shave with oil only instead of shaving cream or soap. This formula can be used for either, and the castor oil content actually promotes denser lather when lathering soap directly on the face over Snake Oil.
How do you like to use shaving oil?
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