Leisureguy's Guide to Gourmet Shaving: Shaving Made Enjoyable, Second Edition (Paperback)

by Michael Ham (Author)
Key Phrases: slant bar, potash alum, lathering bowl, Em's Place, Honeybee Spa, Mama Bear (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
I bought this as a gift for my fiancé, along with a wet-shaving starting kit and a safety razor. He DEVOURED this book, and finds himself reading it again and again. He finally enjoys shaving. This book has helped him figure out so many things about wet shaving, and has recommended it to all of his friends and family. Truly a great source of information for any man -- Reader Reviews, Lulu.com, http://www.lulu.com/content/769757

I've done my share of searching, and there is no printed reference for wetshaving which comes close to Mr. Ham's volume. This book covers every aspect of the shaving experience with insight, expertise and aplomb: he offers product reviews, theoretical background and detail-oriented tips for the wetshaver. Anyone who is interested in wetshaving should purchase this book ASAP. I have been wetshaving for five months, but the tips contained in this volume have greatly improved my shaving experience. I can't recommend this strongly enough! -- Reader Reviews, Lulu.com, http://www.lulu.com/content/769757

Since I work for Lulu.com, I don't normally post reviews of content. It's difficult for any of us here to do so without some sort of bias due to our love for this place and the amazing folks who publish their works through us. But, I wanted to post something here about this book since 1) I found it while searching the web for wetshaving information, not while browsing content on Lulu and 2) I have enjoyed it enough to believe my bias isn't the only reason I feel positively towards it. Make sense?

I am a recent convert to wetshaving and am slowly but surely coming to absolutely love its benefits as well as the ritual. Shaving has never been enjoyable for me (been shaving for 19 years or so) and up until now has usually been a painful, bloody mess that left me with unsightly razor burn and nicks. I had reduced my frequency to about once a week with the cartridge razors and standard shaving cream. Sometime last year I did start using a brush and occasionally some shave oil which did improve things somewhat, but it was the addition of the safety razor and the time spent learning how to build a later, etc that brought the most benefit to date.

So in that vein, Mr. Ham's book has been a great resource for me to continue my learning. It is a quick and easy read that is to the point and clear. I enjoy the fact that he is open-minded and just as much into learning as I am. He lays out a bunch of options and suggestions and sends readers off to try them all to find the exact combination that works for him.

Another great thing about this book is its Endnotes. Throughout the book, Mr. Ham references books, websites, shaving products, etc. and quite religiously annotates them with references to his Endnotes. While not as convenient as Footnotes, the Endnote format allows him to expound further as needed on each note without ruining the look, feel, and flow of his book. The first time through the book, I didn't reference the notes at all, sticking to the context of the book as a whole. Now that I use the book as a reference, I will just put my finger on the Endnotes page so I can flip to it quickly when necessary.

Through these Endnotes and other information in the back of the book, Mr. Ham provides readers with a formidable launchpad for further learning. As a matter of fact, that pretty much sums up the book as a whole: A great foundational intro to wetshaving along with a nice push to many other sources to continue your journey. -- Reader Reviews, by Christopher Anderson, Lulu.com, http://www.lulu.com/content/769757

Product Description
The second edition of the beginner's guide to traditional wetshaving---brush, shaving cream, safety razor with double-edged blade. Traditional shaving is enjoyable and thrifty: double-edged blades are as low as 9¢ each vs. as much as $3.50 for a single disposable multiblade cartridge.

The multiblade cartridge's tug-and-cut action often results in skin irritation, razor bumps, ingrowns, and razor burn---thus all the "protective" shaving preparations and "soothing and healing" aftershaves now offered. Most men with skin problems decide that they have "sensitive skin" and never realize that the problem is the multiblade cartridge.

This new edition includes a chapter on how to cure and prevent razor bumps and ingrowns.

The book is complete in itself, but it also includes links to a host of resources on the Web to complement the book. Sources are provided for all you need to get started.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 122 pages
• Publisher: Lulu.com; 2 edition (October 12, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 143032807X
• ISBN-13: 978-1430328070
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #172,584 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)