Sadly sometimes in forums information gets passed around that is often inaccurate. I don't think this is intentional at all, but it happens all the time. The thing that is frightening about it is it gets adopted, accepted, and regurgitated as fact.
I am specifically referring to some confusion I recently observed regarding Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate.
You see Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a synthetically derived detergent that is synthesized using sulfuric acid. It can be a potential skin irritant and I would never use it in my soap.
Now Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate is a completely different animal. It is a very mild, skin friendly, foaming agent that is naturally derived from palm and coconut oil. It has virtually no irritant properties whatsoever in the concentration used and I use it in my soaps without hesitation.
Now it is easy to see where some serious misinformation could be perpetrated given the closeness of the names of the 2 substances and how people might assume based on that that they were the same thing. Nothing could be further from the truth. I would strongly encourage those that have any questions regarding ingredient or ingredient properties to go ahead and email me or contact me via twitter or pm me on the forums. I will be more than happy to accurately answer any questions you might have.
This actually ties in well as I have been considering doing a featured ingredient of the month write up here on the blog. This write up could be on Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate this month; The all natural , skin friendly, mild, irritation free lathering agent used in WSO Premium Shave Soap!
Enjoy Your Shaves!
Regards,
Jim@WetShaaveObsession
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Pre-Shave Oil Back & Mentholed Pre-Shave Oil Released!
Our Original Pre-Shave Oil is back in stock: WSO Ultimate Pre-Shave Oil
Our New Mentholated Pre-Shave Oil is now released: WSO Ultimate Skincare Mentholated Pre-Shave Oil
For those users of Pre-Shave Oil take your Pre-Shave Oil to the next level. For those that have tried Pre-Shave Oils and said they make no difference, try one that is designed to truly make a difference!
Thanks to everyone for their patronage and support. It is only due to that that new product offerings such as the Ultimate Skincare Mentholated Pre-Shave Oil are possible. For that I am truly grateful.
Enjoy Your Shaves!
Regards,
Jim@WetShaveObsession
Our New Mentholated Pre-Shave Oil is now released: WSO Ultimate Skincare Mentholated Pre-Shave Oil
For those users of Pre-Shave Oil take your Pre-Shave Oil to the next level. For those that have tried Pre-Shave Oils and said they make no difference, try one that is designed to truly make a difference!
Thanks to everyone for their patronage and support. It is only due to that that new product offerings such as the Ultimate Skincare Mentholated Pre-Shave Oil are possible. For that I am truly grateful.
Enjoy Your Shaves!
Regards,
Jim@WetShaveObsession
Saturday, April 26, 2014
WSO Saturday Straight Shave of the Day!
Saturday 4/26/2014
Wm Elliot & Co Straight Razor
Simpson Colonel X2L
WSO Mentholated Pre-Shave Oil
WSO White Lightning Soap
WSO White Lightning Blash
 |
| Nice Consistency Straight Razor Shave Lather for me. YMMV |
This was a very pleasant shave from start to finish. This is one of the few straight razors I have that I got pretty much already restored. Most of them need at the very least need a serious cleaning, blade and scale polishing, and serious honing. This razor came 100% shave ready and in beautiful condition. It is a Wm Elliot & Co 5/8"and it is a very nice shaving razor in my opinion.
Now I am no straight razor expert by any means and it is only recently I got back into shaving with a straight. I have to say it has rejuvenated my excitement for wetshaving, not that it needed it, but it has! I am enjoying both the shaving and in many cases the razor restoring and the razor preparation as well.
Prep for todays shave was a hot water face wash and WSO Mentholated Pre-Shave Oil. This is actually being released today as a new product. I will be posting a write up upon its release so I will not say too much here. I have been using this for some time, many of you if you follow my SOTD have seen me using it. I will say one this. I have heard many, many, times that Pre-Shave Oil does nothing for someone's shave, or, "I have tried it and it didnt make a difference". This Pre-Shave Oil is actually designed to do something. For me it makes a difference during the shave, it makes a difference in the end result.
The soap used is WSO White Lightning, a favorite choice of mine for straight razor shaves. It and the Lime seem to be my go to's when I use a straight for some unplanned, random, reason. Perhaps because I really enjoy the Blash after a straight shave and I have matching Blash in those 2 scents! The soap scent is not a conscious one, the Blash use post straight shave definitely is.
The shave went very well. I did one pass and several touch up passes id say. Not full passes but areas that needed going over. The side of my chin both right and left. One portion of my neck, and a couple other small places. I am happy to say it was a full straight razor shave that went very well. As I am feeling my face now it seems there is one small area where I could have done a tad better but overall I am pleased.
The post shave inspection/Blash application went well. I definitely like the soothing of the blash after a shave, especially so after a straight razor shave. My skin feels very good right now.
Everything went very well with todays straight shave and again thanks to my beautiful wife for allowing me the time to enjoy it. Im off to take the kids for Water Ice, its a pretty nice day here in Southeast PA today, off to enjoy it a bit!
Enjoy Your Shaves!
Regards,
Jim@WetShaveObsession
Friday, April 25, 2014
WSO & Knockout Shave...Quite the 1-2 Punch !!
I am extremely humbled and honored to make this announcement. WetShaveObsession has partnered with Knockout Shave, or Knockout Shave has partnered with WetShaveObsession, however you choose to look at it. At any rate in the coming weeks Knockout Shave will be carrying WetShaveObsession Premium Shave Soap.
I have been approached by several retailers about the possibility of them selling WSO Premium Shave Soap. My response has always been the same, I barely am able to keep up with my direct orders and my margins are not set for a wholesale/retail scenario. Everyone politely replied that they understood and if the situation were to change to contact them.
Everyone that is, except Knockout Shave. He continued to talk to me, to develop a relationship with me, allow me to get to know him. We spoke in depth and he shared how he will not sell anything he does not personally try or use and believe in himself. We talked in depth about our shared passion of wetshaving. We established and developed a friendship based on our shared passion. We also spoke in depth about business and about my concerns of how it was getting harder to keep up with customer demand. The last thing in the world I want is a customer wanting to use my soap or aftershaves or pre-shave, and not being able to get it.
The conclusion we came to was that if I somehow could do a couple bulk batches of soap and wholesale them to a retailer that would agree to sell them at my fixed price point, it would offer my customers an alternate source for product should I run out of stock. We both agreed this would help. If I was going to do something like this it was becoming more and more clear who I would want to do it with.
The next issue we had to overcome was that of the profit margin of the soap. The pricing of WSO is by no means set up for a wholesale/retail scenario. The ingredients are the finest and in almost all cases 100% organic raw materials available. The soapmaking process used is so labor intensive, however that labor is a labor of love and a passion, so it has never been appropriately valued when it comes to a product pricing standpoint. It was at this point motives and objectives became perfectly clear. The goal here, with him and me, was not to be greedy and make a ton of money. It was exactly the same for both of us, to be able to provide the customers that wanted it, WSO Premium Shave Soap.
I would be able to provide an alternate source of stock for my customers. Customers that otherwise would have to either wait or choose not to purchase WSO Premium Shave Soap. He would be able to (and these are his words not mine) carry the best soap there is out there. We both were willing to take a significant cut in profit margins in order to accomplish this end.
To say I am excited about this relationship is an understatement. I have no doubts that it will work and work well as it is founded upon sound ethical principles, not greed. Its motives are good, thus its outcome shall be as well. Its an honor to be associated with a gentleman with the morals, ethics and character displayed by Knockout Shave. When you find a retailer whose ultimate goal is the same as yours, to provide people with the best possible shaving products possible, and not to try to make the most money possible, that is someone you better align yourself with as soon as possible. That is exactly what I did.
So keep your eye out in the next week or two and visit Knockout Shave. It will be an honor having WetShaveObsession Premium Shave Soap for sale by this fantastic retailer, wet shaving enthusiast, and one heck of a good human being!.
Enjoy Your Shaves!
Regards,
Jim@WetShaveObsession
I have been approached by several retailers about the possibility of them selling WSO Premium Shave Soap. My response has always been the same, I barely am able to keep up with my direct orders and my margins are not set for a wholesale/retail scenario. Everyone politely replied that they understood and if the situation were to change to contact them.
Everyone that is, except Knockout Shave. He continued to talk to me, to develop a relationship with me, allow me to get to know him. We spoke in depth and he shared how he will not sell anything he does not personally try or use and believe in himself. We talked in depth about our shared passion of wetshaving. We established and developed a friendship based on our shared passion. We also spoke in depth about business and about my concerns of how it was getting harder to keep up with customer demand. The last thing in the world I want is a customer wanting to use my soap or aftershaves or pre-shave, and not being able to get it.
The conclusion we came to was that if I somehow could do a couple bulk batches of soap and wholesale them to a retailer that would agree to sell them at my fixed price point, it would offer my customers an alternate source for product should I run out of stock. We both agreed this would help. If I was going to do something like this it was becoming more and more clear who I would want to do it with.
The next issue we had to overcome was that of the profit margin of the soap. The pricing of WSO is by no means set up for a wholesale/retail scenario. The ingredients are the finest and in almost all cases 100% organic raw materials available. The soapmaking process used is so labor intensive, however that labor is a labor of love and a passion, so it has never been appropriately valued when it comes to a product pricing standpoint. It was at this point motives and objectives became perfectly clear. The goal here, with him and me, was not to be greedy and make a ton of money. It was exactly the same for both of us, to be able to provide the customers that wanted it, WSO Premium Shave Soap.
I would be able to provide an alternate source of stock for my customers. Customers that otherwise would have to either wait or choose not to purchase WSO Premium Shave Soap. He would be able to (and these are his words not mine) carry the best soap there is out there. We both were willing to take a significant cut in profit margins in order to accomplish this end.
To say I am excited about this relationship is an understatement. I have no doubts that it will work and work well as it is founded upon sound ethical principles, not greed. Its motives are good, thus its outcome shall be as well. Its an honor to be associated with a gentleman with the morals, ethics and character displayed by Knockout Shave. When you find a retailer whose ultimate goal is the same as yours, to provide people with the best possible shaving products possible, and not to try to make the most money possible, that is someone you better align yourself with as soon as possible. That is exactly what I did.
So keep your eye out in the next week or two and visit Knockout Shave. It will be an honor having WetShaveObsession Premium Shave Soap for sale by this fantastic retailer, wet shaving enthusiast, and one heck of a good human being!.
Enjoy Your Shaves!
Regards,
Jim@WetShaveObsession
Thursday, April 24, 2014
WSO Vie-Long Lord Randal Review
Vie-Long Lord Randal Brush Review
Specs:
Knot Diameter: 24mm
Knot Loft: 52mm
Overall Height: 113mm
Hair Type: Natural White Horsehair
Soap Used: WSO Lime
Initial Impression: The brush itself is beautiful. It has nice weight and balance to it, feels great in the hand, and the finish is beautiful. Sometimes turned handles like these have white lines you can see around area where there is a transition, like the 2 ridges near the center of this handle. This is especially true on darker brushes. No so here. Flawless finish. Overall initial impression, very attractive brush. Super appealing, good feel.
Feel: The brush has nice soft tips, not as soft as a good synthetic but up there with a good quality badger brush for sure. As far as backbone it has adequate backbone. For whatever reason the white horsehair feels a tad bit softer and has a tad less backbone than my brown horsehair brushes. This is not a bad thing. It is almost the perfect middle ground for everything; softness, scritch, and backbone. The feel of the horsehair knot for me is just about perfect. It seriously reminds me of my Simpsons Colonel X2L in Best. Thats saying quite a bit from a brush with a $42 price tag.
General Impressions: The brush look great, feels great in the hand, it lathers exceptionally well both face and bowl, has a nice mix of softness and scritch, with almost the perfect amount of backbone for me. This is one of those brushes that as soon as I used it I knew it would be a winner for me no matter how I chose to use it. I love the versatility this brush displays, I love the way it looks, I love the way it feels on my face.
When I take a step back and think I paid only $42 for this brush with its looks , feel and performance, all I can think of is what a fantastic value it is. I got a brush for $42 with a horsehair knot that performs up the with my Simpsons Best Badger Brush. Thats pretty darn impressive!
In Summation: I am highly impressed. If you have never used a horsehair brush, this is the one to get. It has it all. Look at it like this, if you dont like this brush, you wont like any horsehair brush as this is the finest example of a well designed, attractive, well thought out horsehair brush with excellent performance. In all honesty if someone told me I could only use this brush from here on out, I would not be that upset. For someone as obsessed as I am with literally 16 or so brushes in the rotation and a bunch more just around, that's saying quite a bit.
The brush itsself is available at http://www.bullgooseshaving.com
It is the Vie-Long Lord Randal. It is available in Brown Horse, White Horse, Horse/ Badger Mix , and Premium Silvertip.
BTW I have last years Vie-Long beehive in premium silvertip and it is the finest silvertip knot I have in any brush,bar none. Vie-Long in my mind is becoming synonymous with two things : Quality and Value.
So I hope you enjoyed the review, the brush is absolutely fantastic. I cannot recommend it enough.
Enjoy Your Shaves!
Regards,
Jim@WetShaveObsesssion
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
WSO Shave of the Day!
Wednesday 4/23/2014
Pax 42. 3/8" ; H. Eicher and Sons Straight Razor
Vie-Long Lord Randal White Horsehair
WSO Mentholated Pre-Shave
WSO Bill the Barber Premium Shave Soap
WSO Lime Premium Aftershave Blash
I am going to keep this brief as I am in the middle of several things at the moment. Soap is being made, orders are being packed, and shipping labels printed.
As far as todays shave honestly I feel fantastic about it. Everything in this shave was top notch and much of it has some form of meaning to me. The razor is a vintage straight that I restored myself. It is a 3/8"which is a bit unusual and not very glamorous. So often people are caught up in and impressed with the large 7/8"blades etc and I will admit they are very nice and very desirable. A 3/8 razor is often thought of as a trim up razor or a cheap razor. In all honesty I think 3/8 and 4/8 straights are the absolute best straights someone can start with. They are so easy to use and so maneuverable it is an absolute pleasure to shave with one. Especially one you restored and honed yourself.
The brush today is the new Vie-Long Lord Randal from Bullgoose Shaving. What can I say- Phil nailed this one. The brush looks gorgeous, performs amazingly, and is a fantastic value at only $42 for the Natural White Horsehair knot. Fantastic brush destined to end up alongside my 2013 Vie-Long Beehive Badger-Horse mix and my Simpsons Colonel X2L as one of my top brushes.
Even the bowl today was a personal favorite. It is a turned teakwood polynesian bowl. It is far more beautiful than the picture does it justice. It is also the perfect size and I absolutely love it.
The software for the shave all performed well. I personally view Pre-Shave a necessity when I use a straight in particular.
The Bill the Barber soap worked extremely well. I add more water to my soap when I shave with a straight, The lather is a bit of a different consistency and one of the things I was looking for when formulating a soap was one that would do the job equally as well whether lathering for a de Safety Razor or for a straight and I honestly fee that the WSO Shave soaps do.
The Aftershave Blash choice was a last minute one I had every intention of matching my soap selection by using a Bill the Barber scented blash but when I was reaching for it the Lime caught my eye and as you may have noticed in my SOTD it is a perennial favorite of mine. There is something about that crisp citrusy finish to the shave I really like. At any rate the Lime Blash did its job well, first tightening then soothing and cooling the skin. It still feels fantastic right now.
All in all a very rewarding shave with an excellent end result. Thanks for joining me today!
Enjoy Your Shaves!
Regards,
Jim@WetShaveObsesssion
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
WSO Stock Update 4/22/2014
WSO Stock Update:
Ultimate Pre-Shave Oil is currently out of Stock. It is on schedule to be restocked by Tuesday around 8pm Eastern Standard Time.This includes a new Ultimate Skincare Mentholated Pre-Shave as well.
Premium Shave Soap-
In Stock -
Baywood
Bay Rum
White Lightning (2 Pucks)
Green Irish Tweed (3 pucks)
Vanillawood (1 puck)
Out of Stock-
Bill the Barber
Lime
Zaro
Signature
Louie's Coconut Lime
The Naud
LD Spice
Cucumber Melon
Aftershave Balm & Blash-
Full Stock
There has been a change in the order the soap stock will be refilled. This is directly due to and based on customer demand:
Bill there Barber
Zaro
Signature
Coconut Lime
The Naud
LD Spice
Cucumber Melon
I want to thank everyone for their patience and I assure you I am working as hard as possible to restock soaps as quickly as I can. The only thing more important to me than getting the soaps restocked is maintaining the integrity of the product and not cutting any corners that would compromise product quality. I appreciate your patience and understanding and thank all of you for your patronage and support. It is sincerely appreciated
Enjoy Your Shaves!.
Regards,
Jim@WetShaveObsession
Ultimate Pre-Shave Oil is currently out of Stock. It is on schedule to be restocked by Tuesday around 8pm Eastern Standard Time.This includes a new Ultimate Skincare Mentholated Pre-Shave as well.
Premium Shave Soap-
In Stock -
Baywood
Bay Rum
White Lightning (2 Pucks)
Green Irish Tweed (3 pucks)
Vanillawood (1 puck)
Out of Stock-
Bill the Barber
Lime
Zaro
Signature
Louie's Coconut Lime
The Naud
LD Spice
Cucumber Melon
Aftershave Balm & Blash-
Full Stock
There has been a change in the order the soap stock will be refilled. This is directly due to and based on customer demand:
Bill there Barber
Zaro
Signature
Coconut Lime
The Naud
LD Spice
Cucumber Melon
I want to thank everyone for their patience and I assure you I am working as hard as possible to restock soaps as quickly as I can. The only thing more important to me than getting the soaps restocked is maintaining the integrity of the product and not cutting any corners that would compromise product quality. I appreciate your patience and understanding and thank all of you for your patronage and support. It is sincerely appreciated
Enjoy Your Shaves!.
Regards,
Jim@WetShaveObsession
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