Gentleman Jon Safety Razor Shaving Kit | Vintage Wet Shave Grooming Set for Men

The kit came as described but actually better. I was worried the razor and bowl would be out and jostling around hitting each other during shipping. But, to my relief, they were boxed up in their own tight fitting cardboard boxes.The Bowl: Nothing to fancy about the bowl. It’s a little small. It has laser etched with the gentlemen Jon logo and was well done. Being stainless, at least I believe it’s stainless, it conducts heat in a fast efficient manner. But having those properties, it also loses heat quickly; so a warm sink of water will do wonders keeping your lather nice and warm. Keep in mind that there is no place to keep your shave soap after you open it. (You’re not supposed to build lather on top of the soap itself.) keeping that in mind, invest in a ceramic mug. It will take longer to warm up, but will retain heat for lather longer. Also, most ceramic mugs have handles that help to hold them solidly while whipping up a lather. Be warned that this bowl gets very slick when wet.The soap: I really liked the included soap puck. It smells nice, and the scent is not overpowering like some soaps can be. Leaves a nice slick base for smooth shaving of the face. I did have an issue on my second pass with against the grain shaving, but I have 600 grit sandpaper for a face, and attribute the roughness to that.The brush: Nothing to fancy here. Appears to be common pure badger hair, don’t be expecting a silvertip quality brush at this kits’ price. It gets the job done. I did have a couple of hairs fall out on first use, but most brushes I’ve used do that being new. Remember to use it with warm, not hot water, as the hot water will melt the glue holding the hairs in.The Razor: This razor feels very nice as far as weight goes. Good head weight but not as heavy as some other razors made today. Handle is longer than most, making this a great kit for the starting wet shaver switching from a cartridge setup. Remember to always let the razor do the work. More pressure you apply, more of a chance of life blood leaving your neck. The handle itself is one piece, and the head coming apart in two pieces. (see pics) the handle has the female threads, while the head has the male threads that screw into the handle. Knurled finish on the razor is top notch. No uneven ridges. The head of the razor itself has the brand laser etched as well and really shines against a vanity light. Looks slick.The Blades: The blade. The piece de resistance of a good shave in my opinion. The handle length and head weight of a razor can only do so much if the blade is lacking. I really rate these included Astra blades at a 2-3 sharpness level out of 5. (5 being the most aggressive, closet shave.) Again, think beginner level blades here. Sharp enough to get the job done, but not so sharp you’re leaving a trail of blood droplets to the first aid kit. I tend to use feather blades for my third, against the grain cuts, due to coarseness of neck hair, and use a less sharp blade with the grain. Best advise is to buy a variety pack and find your own preferences. Everyone’s skin is different. My skin isn’t very sensitive, so I tend to lean towards sharper, less forgiving blades like feather. The Astras included are great for the beginning shaver that are a little wary about their beginning journey to wet shaving awesomeness. It’s nice that they’re numbered too, if you like to keep track of what side of the razor blade you’re using for certain cuts. ie, first pass, second pass, etc.The Alum. Bloc: Second to last in your shave steps, but a first rate product is the potassium alum. block. Closes pores, stops weepers, and cools the face. Also lets you know what spot has been invisibly irritated from shaving. ie, burns a bit. Being potassium alum. Not ammonium alum., it doesn’t sting as bad and is actually naturally occurring. (Ammonium alum. is man made) my blocks’ container doesn’t securely close so it will pop open if jostled, but will stay closed while on the counter. The block I received wasn’t cut very square, but I’m kinda OCD about things.Overall: Great starter kit that will get the beginning wet shaver a start in the right direction without paying crazy prices and leaving room for upgrades later. If you’re considering going into the art of wet shaving, this kit should be towards the top of your list.