In The Barber's Chair

Pall Mall Barbers Shaving System - Review

noreply@blogger.com (Charles Male Grooming) — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 11:39:00 +0000

"The foam doesn't foam, the gel doesn't cool and the balm, just simply doesn't balm!!!"

Have you ever purchased or been given as a present a new shaving gift pack for a birthday or special occasion? Been so excited to use it that you are actually willing those follicles on your face and neck to produce some truly majestic bristles just so that you can try this new pack?

Well, most of you if you are honest will at one time in your life remember the time you stood in front of the basin, half naked and poised to try out this tremendous new product that is going to revolutionise your daily shaving routine - only to be gravely disappointed from the very beginning!

As you dipped the brush into the cream for the first time and suddenly, while being perfectly synchronized with the sinking sensation of your heart's expectations waning, you realise that the consistency just isn't right and that this is never going to give you the shave you long desired! From that point on, but you are too far on to go back, you know in your heart of hearts that this is going to be a major disaster, however you proceed to shave with a substandard product. I'm sure we can all recall a day like that guys, and if you have (or haven't) I'm sure you're going to like what I have to say here! Read on...

...thankfully, not one of these statements can be said about the fantastic newly developed shaving system from Pall Mall Barbers!

Right guys, so just who am I to review such a product range I hear you ask? Well let me tell you a little about myself!

I am a barber of 27 years experience and one who has been not only conducting the traditional shave for over 20 of those years but an educator who reinvented the traditional shave based on the techniques used by the masters of old!

I am director of the Original Belfast Barbering Co. and principal of the Charles Clarke Male Grooming & Barbering Academy and am also a member of the City & Guilds Barbering Industry Board. So, I think I have enough credentials to say when I see a good product or not! :)

Ok, so let's get to the review!

In the Pall Mall Shaving system that I have been using of late there are 6 products and a classic wobble shaving brush. The products are as follows;

Pre-Shave Scrub 100ml
Shave Oil 100ml
Shave Cream 100ml
Post-Shave Balm 100ml
Cooling Gel 100ml
Cologne 50ml

The best way for me to review these products is to give you an insight into how they feel and apply, while also giving you a brief detail of the special ingredients that make them so special.

Pre-Shave Scrub

The Pre-Shave Scrub didn't disappoint! As someone who has extremely sensitive skin I was slightly apprehensive to use this product as scrubs can sometimes feel quite uncomfortable, however when applying this to the skin I found the abrasiveness to be quite minimal yet still giving a great exfoliation to the stratum corneum. Instantly I was taken aback by the subtlety yet obvious fragrance of the Sandalwood and Clove which is uniform throughout the range. The scrub felt quite fresh on my skin too and after removing with the towel my face felt really vibrant. Packed with Guarana, Prickly Pear and Cocoa Butter this product is a great way to encourage fresh new skin growth while removing the stratum corneum and allowing the epidermis to breathe free and easy.

* Out of 5: *****

Shave Oil

With it's almond oil base and generous helpings of Jojoba and Prickly Pear oils this makes for a very smooth but resilient barrier to the skin against the frictions of shaving.

Applying shave oil just before the lathering stage gives the skin the extra resilience it needs to protect against the razor burn of friction shaving. The dispenser ensures that just enough comes out with one squeeze of the pump to lubricate the skin without saturating it and making the entire experience messy and slippy. Again, the scent of sandalwood and clove is very prominent in the experience causing you almost to relax and enjoy the ritual. This product does exactly what it is meant to and can also be used instead of cream or foam when outlining beards.

* Out of 5: ****

Shave Cream

A good shaving cream is hard to find, one that lathers well, holds it's consistency, requires only a small amount and doesn't dry out too quickly. In fact, until now I have not found a single cream that does all of the above!

Again, brushing aside the instant but pleasant aroma of sandalwood and clove, I was pleasantly surprised that the lather felt instantly refreshing on my skin, light and fluffy on the brush (almost like a good meringue) and with a very small amount too. I must admit that I did require two pumps of this cream from the dispenser to retain enough of the lather for my second shave, but still a very small amount and with absolutely astounding results.

My skin felt really fresh with this product, and I found the razor glided through the bristle with no drag of the razor at all. Overall I found this an amazing addition to the shave ritual and am extremely impressed! Prickly Pear and Jojoba - we love you!

* Out of 5: *****

Cooling Gel

This is my absolute personal favourite product for shaving, ever!!! Never in the history of close shaving have I had what I could term a completely hassle free shave. My skin is so sensitive that even when using clippers I get red welt marks on my skin when pressing hard. After shaving my neck always feels on fire, especially when I get the shirt and tie on, however when using this Cooling Gel it all goes in an instant!

Is it the Aloe Vera, the Bisabolol or is it the Witch Hazel that does the trick? I don't know, but what I do know that as soon as I put this gel onto my skin, even when it is inflamed from the collar later in the day, the soothing sensation is unbelieveable! Instantly I have relief from the itchy and sore redness that has taken over my skin. It also clears up all of the blotches and small friction spots that occur from the irritation and leaves my skin looking respectable and feeling normal. I cannot praise or recommend this product enough.

* Out of 5: ***** (I would give 10 for this!)

Post-Shave Balm

This product really and truly benefits from the specially designed pump bottle. A big problem I find with Balms and Moisturisers is that due to the consistency they tend to squeeze out too quickly and leave you flicking some into the sink. Not with this one though, the pump distributes just enough product to cover the face and neck without leaving the skin greasy.

Another aspect of the Pall Mall Barbers Shave Balm is that as a result of the entire process, the skin can truly absorb the goodness from the balm and all of the nutrients get deep down into the epidermis. This process in turn leaves the skin feeling tacky to the touch and not slippery and wet.

It is paraben free, does not contain Camomile like most, and is completely hypo allergenic. I really believe this product is a must for anyone's shaving cabinet.

* Out of 5: *****

Cologne

Crisp. Fresh. Masculine. Enduring. All fantastic qualities for a modern day fragrance, giving you the confidence that you need to go about your busy day.

This fragrance hides subtle hues of Spiky Rose and Cardamoms, giving you an almost musky scent of Sandalwood and Cloves. Consistent with the theme and experiences of the entire shaving process, and strong enough to take you to the streets.

* Out of 5: ****

Overall a fantastic system that promotes the natural functions of the skin and hair. I would personally recommend this system to any gent who wants to up his shaving game and also to any professional who wishes to incorporate this into his commercial shaving routine. These will have excellent retail opportunities for any stockist / salon.

It has been a pleasure to use and review the Pall Mall Shaving System.

Appointments V's The Queue...

noreply@blogger.com (Charles Male Grooming) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:44:00 +0000

For years now barbers from all over the world have ran their businesses on a first come first serve basis; "no appointment necessary" and "please form an orderly queue" were the order of the day. So it is only natural that when we try to change things, we meet some resistance. In this blog we are going to address the problems facing modern barber shops and put it to the test with the older conventional system.

The Queue:

As we have already stated, and which I doubt will be much of a surprise to you, the reader, Barber Shops since the days of old have operated on a walk-in, first come first served basis with little or no regard to the customer, his needs or how long he had available to wait.
Since starting out in the barbering profession all those many years ago, I have consistently and repeatedly heard the complaint from customers and potential customers that they would visit more often, if the queues weren't so long! I have also heard from customers that they have had very small periods of time, or slots, with which they could use for the purposes of their grooming needs! Albeit, this continually fell upon deaf ears as I had neither the capability or the desire to incorporate an appointment or booking service to my business, and as far as I was concerned, there was nothing I could or would do about it!

Barbers have had a sense of elitism when it came to dealing with their customers, myself included (if not entirely directed at me!), and had the attitude that "if you want me to cut your hair - then you will just have to wait until I am ready!". Now, that doesn't sound too good, nor does it win you an award for customer service regardless of how good your haircutting ability is! However, if I am to be truly honest, this is the way it has been, this is the attitude that most barbers have had regarding the facilitation of appointments and towards any one or thing that would dare to try and change tradition.

So, just what can we do to alleviate the pressure from both the over burdened barber and the customer who has no time to wait in a queue?

The Appointment System:

As a barber who has worked in the profession for decades, I am all too aware that the system of appointments will not favour in everyone's opinion, however, we need to ask ourselves the question; "Is there a happy medium?" and just what can we do about it to make sure it works for everyone concerned - the barber, the customer in favour of appointments and the customer who isn't?
Folks, the answer is not simple, nor can it be introduced and changed over night. It is a process of education and repetition, that will need the barber to commit and the customer/client to comprehend and comply.

We, at Charles Clarke Gent's Hairdressing have developed a system that we believe will work best for every one concerned - albeit it will take some time getting used to, however, it will manage and utilise our time during the working day best. All this means a better service, happier staff and pleased and appreciated customers, which in my book is a massive plus!
We are introducing a fully computerised sytem that will manage our appointments, integrate a better and more approachable customer service charter and deliver what is best for everyone. We provide a system that will allow you to book online, via eMail or telephone by ringing our salon on +353 (0)49 952 4647. Our customers can also avail of the service of booking their appointment with their favourite barber, by scheduling specifically for their selection of choice. Furthermore, repeated customers, the loyals can also apply for a loyalty tag that will offer them bonuses for every euro they spend in store!

Right, so how does this system work? We are glad you asked! Whichever way you choose is best for you to book your appointment, (our very own iPhone and Android app will be available this year!) you will secure your allocated time with your chosen barber. He/She will have this automatically uploaded into their weekly agenda and will be ready for you whenever you come to visit - making you be in the salon for no longer than the required time it takes to complete your chosen service! No waiting! Great!
All walk-ins will be catered for by either of the available barbers, however, those with appointments booked will be given preference! For example; you always go to the same barber, and prefer the way that they cut your hair, you haven't booked an appointment in advance and have just walked in. On greeting you, you will be informed if there are any appointments before you, and should you wish to reschedule yourself, then you can make an appointment for whatever time is best suited. Alternatively, you can wait for whichever barber is attending to walk-in customers that day and they will provide your service when they are available. There is also the chance that you are extremely lucky and the barber of your choice is free to attend to you!

Whenever you book an appointment in advance, you will receive notification of confirmation via both email and text message. You will also receive a further text message the day before your appointment to either remind you or prompt you to reschedule for another time - we all know that life can throw things at us that require immediate attention! So we are pretty flexible to suit you, and with the added end result that you are not spending all of your valuable time off stuck in a busy barber shop!
Small deposits will be required for some services such as Wedding Parties etc and the remaining balance can be paid on receipt. If you book with us and have two no-shows without rescheduling in advance, then we will be forced to secure future apointments with a small deposit. We reserve the right in such cases to secure the total amount of the service if appointments are not cancelled within 24 hours of appointment. (Deposits can be paid for with any Credit/Debit/Mastercard)

So folks, we hope this has alleviated any of your questions and you can be sure that this is designed to provide you with the very finest service your money can buy!

Alum Block (75g) Potassium Alum After-Shave Block

noreply@blogger.com (Charles Male Grooming) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 18:47:00 +0000

Alum Block, or Potassium Alum is one of the world's best kept secrets.
Alum has been used for centuries, dating back as far as the ancient Egyptians and the Chinese Dynasties, this 100% natural product has been assisting males in the art of shaving.
What is so special about this little block we hear you ask? Well, it's quite simple...
Potassium Alum, as we have already stated is completely natural. Yes, it's 100% pure and conatins absolutely no additives.
Used to assist shaving, both pre and post routine it has natural qualities that treat all affected areas of the face and neck.
Let's get down to business here guys, and see how this product is designed to revolutionise your shaving ritual for the rest of your life, because, when you use it once we guarantee that you will never conduct a shave without one of these little beauties handy.
How often do you shave and have a real clean good shave with NO friction, razor burn around the neck, nicks, cuts or other discomforts? That's right lads, I would guess that you would be answering really honestly if you said it was very seldom. How often have you had to tear off tiny bits of toilet paper to stick over the nick or cut, stemming the flow of blood from getting on to the new shirt? Again folks, I would say that it was a common practice for most of us.

Well, if you use Alum, or Potassium Alum (whichever you prefer to call it) we personally guarantee that this will reduce and clear all cases of friction, redness, soreness, razor burn and, wait for it... even stops the flow of blood from nicks and cuts!

Right, it's the usual sales pitch you're thinking? Well wrong, as we believe that Alum will sell itself from first use. So much so that we have incorporated this procedure into our very own Hot-Towel Shaves, and would not conduct a shave without one.
Razor Burn; by simply wetting the block in warm - not hot - water, you can apply to the skin directly. After shaving rub the wetted block in small circular motions on the affected and freshly shaved area. You will feel a fresh tingle or sting when you apply for the first few seconds, quickly followed by a fresh cool and calming sensation.
Nicks or Cuts; again, simply wet the block in warm water and gently hold on the abrasion for a few seconds. You can start to move this in tiny circular motions after around 4 - 5 seconds on the cut, and continue to do so until the bleeding has completely stopped. (Usually around 7 - 8 seconds)
This not only stops the blood, but treats the cut with it's natural antiseptic qualities, making sure that infection does not enter the blood.
Alum also is a natural astringent, and tautens the skin for that second closer shave. It also provides grip for the razor which stops the blade from sliding and causing further nicks. All round, this is a perfect shaving companion for every man. After the second shave this can be used again for that all over clean and crisp all day feeling.

RRP Price: €12.50