The Holy Black Matte Clay Hair Pomade is water-based, washes out clean, and gives you enough control to build almost any modern short-to-medium men's style. Here's how to actually use it.

What matte clay is (and why water-based matters)

Matte clay pomade is a styling product built around kaolin or bentonite clay. The clay grips onto hair strands, absorbs a small amount of oil at the scalp for a matte finish, and holds the hair in place. Traditional wax-based pomades coat the hair for shine and hold; clay does the opposite — it grips and mattifies.

Water-based means the pomade dissolves in warm water. Regular shampoo washes it out in one pass. Wax-based pomades need a stronger cleanser and often build up on the scalp over days. Skip that whole problem by picking a water-based clay from the start.

Who matte clay works for

• Straight, wavy, or slightly textured hair from one to four inches long
• Guys who want a modern textured style: messy top, side sweep, textured fringe, mid-length swept-back
• Guys who work with their hair a lot during the day and need to be able to reshape it
• Thin-to-medium hair that gets flat when you use pomade or gel

Skip matte clay if you want a slick, wet, classic look — grab High Shine Pomade for that. Skip if your hair is very thick and needs more grip than a clay can provide — try Fiber Forming Paste instead.

How to style with matte clay, step by step

Step 1: Start with damp, towel-dried hair. Matte clay works best on hair that is damp but not soaking wet. If you just got out of the shower, towel-dry aggressively first. If your hair is bone-dry, mist it lightly with water from a spray bottle.

Step 2: Scoop a pea-sized amount for short hair, up to almond-sized for medium. Matte clay is potent. Too much makes hair look flat and heavy. Less is better for the first pass.

Step 3: Warm it up between your palms for 10 seconds. Cold clay doesn't distribute. Warm it until it turns slick and translucent, then spread it evenly across both palms and fingers.

Step 4: Work it in from back to front. Start at the back and sides where hair is thickest, then move to the top. Use fingers, not a comb. Push and shape the hair in the direction you want it to sit as you go.

Step 5: Shape the style. Push up and back for a lifted, textured look. Push forward for a fringe. Twist small sections between fingers for extra separation. Matte clay locks whatever position you leave the hair in.

Step 6: Let it dry naturally, or blow-dry on cool. Heat blows out the mattifying effect. If you're in a hurry, blow-dry on cool with fingers to keep the shape.

Common mistakes

• Using too much. More clay does not equal more hold. It means flatter, heavier hair.
• Applying to dry hair. Clay grips best on damp hair; on dry hair it flakes or clumps.
• Combing it in. A comb pulls the clay out of the hair. Use fingers.
• Skipping the warm-up. Cold clay doesn't spread evenly. Ten seconds of palm-rubbing matters.

How to reshape mid-day

Wet fingers with water, run them through the hair, reshape. Matte clay reactivates with moisture. Done in ten seconds. No need to reapply.

How to wash it out

Regular shampoo takes it out in one pass. If your scalp feels coated after several days of daily use, run a Thickening Shampoo through it — it cleans deeper without stripping natural oils.

The full matte routine

The Matte Clay Routine bundle pairs the pomade with our thickening shampoo at a discount. That's the complete daily rotation: wash without stripping, style without shine, wash out at the end of the day.

Once you know how to use it, matte clay is the most forgiving styling product in a bathroom. Reworkable, natural-looking, and reaches for a small amount and does a lot.

Curl cream is different. It's built to hydrate the hair, coat each strand, and lock the curl pattern into a defined shape without weighing it down or drying it out. If your hair is Type 3 (curly), Type 4 (coily), or somewhere in between, curl cream is the styling product that actually works with how your hair grows instead of fighting it.

Here's how to pick one and how to use it.

What curl cream actually does

A good curl cream does three things:

1. Hydrates. Coily and curly hair loses moisture faster than straight hair because the natural scalp oils have a harder time traveling down the curved shaft. Curl cream deposits moisture back into the hair and holds it there.
2. Defines. It coats each strand so curls clump into a consistent, visible pattern instead of a fluffy halo.
3. Softens. It leaves the hair pliable and touchable, not stiff or crunchy the way a gel does.

A bad curl cream does the opposite. It sits on the surface, dries into flakes, weighs the hair down without adding real moisture, or has so much fragrance and preservative that it irritates the scalp.

What to look for on the label

Real curl creams have a water base as the first ingredient, then some combination of:

• Shea butter, mango butter, or cocoa butter — long-lasting moisture
• Glycerin — pulls moisture from the air into the hair
• Oils like jojoba, avocado, argan, or grapeseed — condition without heavy buildup
• A light hold agent — usually a natural gum or wax

Skip anything with sulfates, drying alcohols like SD alcohol or ethanol high on the list, or synthetic silicones as the primary conditioner. Silicones fake softness for a day and then coat the hair with buildup you have to strip out with harsh shampoo.

The Holy Black formula

Instant Curl Cream is built for men with curly and coily hair who want defined curls without crunch, and softness without weighing the hair down. Water-based, hydrating, no sulfates, no drying alcohols. Adds enough hold to keep the shape all day, low enough to still let the hair move.

Made in New York in small batches, like everything else we produce. If you also deal with dry skin around the beard or on the face, our Moisturizing Lotion is formulated the same way — light, non-greasy, no filler.

How to use curl cream (the right way)

Wash day, from wet:

1. Wash and condition. Cream doesn't work well on dirty hair.
2. Squeeze excess water out. Don't rub with a towel — press the water out with a microfiber towel or an old cotton t-shirt.
3. Section hair while it's still soaking wet. Cream applies best on wet hair, not damp.
4. Take a nickel-sized amount for short hair, up to a quarter-sized for medium. Rub it between your palms to warm it up.
5. Rake it through each section with fingers, then scrunch upward toward the scalp to encourage the curl pattern.
6. Air dry or use a diffuser on low heat, low speed. Don't touch the hair while it's drying — that's what causes frizz.

Between wash days (day 2, day 3):

1. Spritz hair lightly with water from a spray bottle to wake up the curl pattern.
2. Rub a small amount of curl cream between your palms.
3. Scrunch it into the ends where the curl usually loses definition first.
4. Let air dry.

What to skip

• Don't layer curl cream over pomade or wax. They fight each other. Pick one or the other for the day.
• Don't brush curl cream in with a paddle brush. That breaks the curl pattern. Use fingers or a wide-tooth comb only when the hair is soaking wet.
• Don't apply on dry hair for full styling. Small amounts on dry hair work for refreshing; a full styling application needs wet hair to distribute properly.

The whole routine

The full curl-friendly routine for guys with coily or curly hair looks like this: Thickening Shampoo to clean without stripping, Instant Curl Cream on wet hair to define, and Sea Salt Spray on day two for volume if curls fall flat. Three products, one routine, works on almost every non-straight hair type.

Try the Curl Cream once. If it's the right fit, your bathroom shelf gets a lot shorter and your hair looks better.

The short answer: whichever fits how you shave. The longer answer is more useful.

What each one is

Shaving soap starts as a hard puck or a firm cake pressed into a tin. You load a wet brush against the surface, work up lather in a bowl or on your face, and paint it on. Traditional format, tallow- or vegetable-based, triple-milled if it's done right. The Holy Black Artisan Shaving Soap is our version, scented with bay rum, whisky, and lime.

Shaving cream is a soft, whipped emulsion that comes ready to lather. You scoop a small amount, work it into a brush, and lather from there. Faster to get going than a hard soap. The Holy Black Shaving Cream is built from scratch with the same protective glide as our soap, just in a different format.

Neither one is the aerosol foam you get from a can at the drugstore. Both use real ingredients that hydrate skin instead of coating it with silicone and drying it out.

The comparison

When to reach for shaving soap

• You already own a brush and a bowl and enjoy the routine
• You shave every day or every other day and want the puck to last
• You want the densest lather for the closest possible shave
• You travel and want something that won't leak
• Your skin gets easily irritated by softer formulas

When to reach for shaving cream

• You're new to wet shaving and want fewer steps to think about
• You shave a couple times a week and want to spend less time on setup
• You like a slightly softer, more cushioned lather feel
• You're introducing a family member or partner to wet shaving

How to actually use each

Soap:

1. Soak your brush in warm water for 30 seconds, then shake out the excess.
2. Swirl the wet brush directly onto the soap for 20 seconds. You'll see it build up.
3. Move the loaded brush to a bowl or straight to your face. Paint in small circles until the lather turns thick and doesn't drip.
4. Shave.

Cream:

1. Wet your brush and shake out the excess the same way.
2. Scoop about a nickel-sized amount into a bowl or onto the brush directly.
3. Whip in small circles for 10-15 seconds until it turns into a rich, cushiony lather.
4. Paint onto your face and shave.

Both formats work with the same brush. If you're just starting, a synthetic shave brush is more forgiving than badger while you figure out your rhythm.

What we actually recommend

If we had to pick one, we'd tell most guys to start with the cream and graduate to the soap if they end up loving the routine. The cream shortens the learning curve without sacrificing the shave. Once you know what a good lather feels like, the soap gives you more control and lasts twice as long.

Guys who already know they want the full ritual should skip straight to the soap. It's the format traditional barbers used for a reason.

Either way, finish the shave with our Aftershave Tonic to close pores and disinfect. That's the step that turns a good shave into a great one.

If you want to try both

The Shave Routine bundle pairs the Artisan Shaving Soap with the Aftershave Tonic and a synthetic brush at a discount. It's the fastest way to run the whole classic wet shave with one order, and it comes with enough soap to last most of a year.

Here's how to actually use it.

What fiber paste is

Fiber paste is a stringy, matte styling product built around structural fibers that grab onto individual hairs and pull them into shape. When you rub it between your palms, you can see the strands stretch. That's what gets worked into the hair, and that's what holds the style up.

Compare that to a wax-based pomade, which coats hair for shine and hold, or a water-based clay, which grips at the root but doesn't add much length or lift. Fiber paste sits between them. It's why guys with thicker, coarser hair reach for it: enough hold to shape the style, enough texture to keep the look from going flat or slick.

The Holy Black Fiber Forming Paste is our take on the format. Medium hold, natural matte finish, small enough amount does a lot of work.

When to use fiber paste (and when not to)

Fiber paste is the right pick when:

• Your hair is thick, coarse, or curly and needs something that grips without weighing it down
• You want a lifted, textured style that still looks intentional
• You're styling shorter-to-medium length hair, roughly one to four inches
• You want a matte finish without going full clay

Skip it when:

• You want a slick, wet, classic slick-back — grab High Shine Pomade instead
• Your hair is very fine or thin — fiber paste can look stringy on hair that doesn't have body to start
• You want maximum hold that lasts through a workout — pull Supermax Pomade for that

How to use it, step by step

Step 1: Start dry. Fiber paste works best on hair that's dry or barely damp. If your hair is soaking wet, the fibers can't grab. Towel-dry first, or wait a couple minutes after showering.

Step 2: Scoop a small amount. Roughly the size of a chocolate chip for shorter hair, up to a pea for longer. Fiber paste is potent. Too much makes hair look overworked and flat.

Step 3: Warm it up in your palms. Rub it between your hands for ten seconds. This is the step most guys skip and it matters. Cold paste doesn't distribute; warm paste spreads through hair evenly. You'll see the fibers stretch — that's the signal it's ready.

Step 4: Work it in from the back to the front. Fingers work better than a comb here. Start at the back or the sides where hair is thickest, then move to the top. Push hair in the direction you want it to sit.

Step 5: Shape and lift. Push hair up and back for a lifted look. Push forward for a fringe. Twist small sections between fingers for texture and separation. Fiber paste holds whatever position you leave it in.

Step 6: Adjust with more or with a spritz of water. Add more paste if you need more hold. Add water if the hair is stiffening too fast and you need to reset the shape.

Common mistakes

• Using too much. More paste doesn't mean more hold. It means flatter, greasier-looking hair. Less is better.
• Applying to soaking wet hair. Fiber paste needs friction against hair to work. Water blocks that friction.
• Combing it in. A comb pulls the paste out of the hair. Use fingers.

How to wash it out

Fiber paste washes out with normal shampoo. It doesn't build up the way heavy wax-based pomades do. If your scalp feels coated after a few days, run a thickening shampoo through it once — that cuts any residue and gives you a clean base to start again.

Where to get it

The Holy Black Fiber Forming Paste is made in New York in small batches. It sits in the middle of our hair lineup between the Matte Clay Pomade and the High Shine Original. If you're not sure which one suits your hair, the Matte Clay Routine bundle pairs the paste with our thickening shampoo at a discount.

Try it once. Most guys who reach for it stop reaching for anything else.

Here's what a traditional barbershop shave looks like at The Holy Black Barbershop, at 168 N Wellwood Ave in Lindenhurst, New York.

Step one: hot towel

You lean back. The chair reclines the whole way. A steamed towel goes over your face for a couple of minutes. This isn't for show. Heat opens the pores, softens the beard, and gets the skin ready for a blade to move across it. Skip this step and you'll feel it.

Step two: pre-shave oil

A few drops of oil worked into the beard. The Holy Black Snake Oil for most of our chairs — it lifts the hairs off the skin so the blade catches them, and it puts a slick layer between the razor and the skin. This is what makes the shave close without cutting.

Step three: lather

Real lather from a soap and a brush. Not a can of foam. The Holy Black Artisan Shaving Soap is triple-milled and whips up thick, and the brush works it into the beard from every angle. This is the step canned foam skips, and it's the one that matters most for a comfortable shave.

Step four: the pass

Straight razor, moving with the grain first. The barber stretches the skin taut with the other hand and takes the beard off in short deliberate strokes. Depending on how close you want it, a second pass goes across the grain, and a third against. Each pass takes a fresh coat of lather.

Step five: cold towel + tonic

Cold towel to close the pores. Then Aftershave Tonic — alcohol-based, disinfects any tiny nicks, tightens the skin, leaves the Gunpowder Spice scent behind. Some guys finish with a light moisturizer. Most don't need it.

Step six: you look at yourself and stand up different

That's it. Maybe 25-30 minutes from lean-back to lean-forward.

Coming in

We're at 168 N Wellwood Ave, Lindenhurst, NY 11757. Two blocks north of Sunrise Highway. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9am to 6pm. Book at Squire. Kevin, Tony, Saul, Anthony, Nick, Robby, and RJ all do the full menu — cut, shave, beard trim, or all three.

Not in Lindenhurst? Every product we use on the chair is on the site. Same routine at home, minus the reclining chair.

What Beard Oil Does

Beard oil is a moisturizer. It treats the skin underneath the beard and conditions the hair itself. When your beard itches, when your face feels dry and tight after washing, when your beard looks dull, that is a moisture problem. Beard oil fixes it.

It absorbs. You apply it, work it into the skin with your fingertips, and within minutes you can not tell it is there. No hold, no weight, just soft hair and hydrated skin.

A few drops goes a long way. Warm it between your palms and massage it in from the skin outward.

What Beard Balm Does

Beard balm is a styling product that also conditions. It has a wax or butter base that gives your beard light to medium hold. It tames flyaways, shapes the beard, and helps longer beards stay where you put them.

It conditions too, but not as deeply as oil. Think of balm as the second step, not the first.

Short Beard vs. Long Beard

Short beard: use oil. You don't need hold on a beard that's already close to your face. You need the skin underneath to stay healthy, especially in the patchy growth phase when it gets itchy. Oil is the move.

Long beard: use both. Oil first to condition the skin and hair. Balm on top to shape and control. The oil gives the balm something to work with and keeps the skin from drying out under all that wax.

Medium length: start with oil. Add balm if you find yourself fighting flyaways or reshaping throughout the day.

Can You Use Both at Once

Yes. Oil goes in first, into the skin and hair. Let it absorb for a minute. Then work a small amount of balm over the surface to style. You get the deep conditioning of oil and the control of balm without either product canceling the other out.

The THB Options

Snake Oil is the beard oil. Lightweight carrier oils, absorbs clean, no grease left behind. Works as a shave oil too if you want to run it double duty.

Beard Balm is the shaping product. Light hold, conditions while it styles, keeps longer beards from going feral by midday.

Pick one or use both. Just stop letting beard care be more complicated than it needs to be.

What Texture Powder Does

Texture powder coats the hair shaft with a light, grip-creating layer. It adds volume at the roots, separation through the length, and a matte finish that looks natural. No grease, no heaviness, no shine.

It is not a styling product by itself. Think of it as a base layer. It gives your other products something to grip. Or use it solo for a dry, effortless look with real volume.

One Rule: Dry Hair Only

This is where most guys go wrong. Texture powder does not work on wet or damp hair. It clumps. Wash, dry completely, then apply. If your hair is still warm from the dryer, give it a minute to cool down.

How to Apply It

Shake a small amount directly onto your roots. And when we say small, we mean small. Less than you think. Start with a fingertip-sized amount and build from there.

Flip your head forward if your hair is long enough. Massage the powder into the roots with your fingertips. You are working it into the scalp area, not just the surface of the hair.

Flip back up. Run your fingers through to distribute. Style from there, either with your hands or with a comb if you want more definition.

Common Mistakes

Too much product. This is the main one. Texture powder builds. Start light.

Applying mid-shaft instead of roots. The volume comes from lifting at the root. If you apply it to the ends, you just get stiff ends.

Not massaging it in. Powder sitting on top of the hair does nothing. Work it in with your fingertips.

Which Hair Types It Works Best On

Fine or thin hair gets the most dramatic result. The volume boost is real. If your hair lies flat no matter what you do, texture powder changes that.

Thick hair benefits from the grip it adds. Makes other products hold better and gives you more separation.

Not great for very curly hair. It can disrupt the curl pattern. Works better on wavy to straight.

Pairing It With Other Products

Texture powder first, then a small amount of matte clay on top for hold. That combination gives you volume, grip, and a clean matte finish without heaviness.

Or use it with sea salt spray. Spray damp hair, rough dry, then hit the roots with powder. You get that beach texture look with actual volume.

Here is the honest breakdown.

What Matte Finish Actually Does

Matte pomade kills shine. That is the point. Your hair looks natural, textured, like you ran your hands through it and it just landed that way. For most guys, this is the right call. Matte works for messy styles, textured cuts, anything where "effortless" is the goal.

Clay-based mattes also add grip. They grab the hair shaft and give you real hold without that hard, crunchy shell you get from old-school pomades. The Matte Clay is built around that principle. You can reshape it through the day. The hold stays, the shine doesn't.

Best for: textured cuts, short to medium length hair, natural-looking styles, thick hair that needs control without weight.

What High Shine Actually Does

High shine is the classic. Think slick backs, comb-overs, the kind of hair that looks like it was done on purpose. If matte says "I woke up like this," high shine says "I took my time and it shows."

Water-based high shine pomades like the High Shine Original Pomade give you that mirror finish without the mess of old petroleum-based products. They wash out clean. They restyle through the day. And they make thick, coarse hair manageable in a way clay-based products don't always handle.

Best for: slick styles, vintage-inspired looks, medium to long hair, fine hair that needs help looking full and polished.

Which One Fits Your Hair Type

Fine hair: go shine. High shine products add the appearance of thickness and volume. Matte on fine hair can look flat.

Thick or coarse hair: go matte. You don't need help looking full. You need help getting control. Clay grips coarse hair better than water-based products.

Medium hair: either works. Pick based on the style you're going for, not the hair type.

When to Use Each One

Matte is the everyday workhorse. Casual, clean, works for most situations from the job site to the bar. High shine is when you need to look deliberate. A night out, a function, an occasion where "put together" matters.

Some guys keep both. Different looks for different days. Nothing wrong with that.

The THB Take

The Matte Clay is built for guys who want control without looking like they tried too hard. Medium-strong hold, dead matte finish, reshapes through the day.

The High Shine Original Pomade is the classic. Water-based, strong hold, the kind of shine that actually looks good instead of greasy. Works on any hair type that can pull off a polished look.

Neither one is better. They just do different things. Pick the finish that matches what you're going for, and you'll stop second-guessing it.

The problem isn't aftershave. It's what most aftershave products actually are.

What Aftershave Actually Does

Your job post-shave is to calm the skin down and close it back up. Shaving removes the top layer of dead skin cells along with the stubble. That is a good thing, it keeps your skin looking fresh. But it also leaves the skin temporarily vulnerable. Redness, tightness, razor burn, ingrown hair risk. That all comes from skipping or bungling the post-shave step.

A real aftershave does three things. It closes the pores. It soothes irritation. It hydrates the skin barrier that the blade disrupted. Alcohol-based aftershaves do one of those at best, and badly at that. The burn feels like it's working. It is not.

Alcohol-Based vs. Tonic-Style

Alcohol closes pores fast by stripping moisture out of the skin. It is cheap to produce and gives an immediate sensation that reads as "clean" to most guys. The trade-off is dryness, irritation, and skin that feels tight by midday.

Tonic-style aftershaves use witch hazel, glycerin, and skin-calming ingredients to do the same job without the dehydration. They close the pores, reduce redness, and leave the skin hydrated instead of parched. The result is a better shave, less visible irritation, and skin that actually looks good instead of just smelling like a barbershop.

The Right Order of Application

Finish your shave. Rinse your face with cold water first. Cold water contracts the pores and takes down surface redness before you apply anything. Pat dry, don't rub.

Apply a small amount of aftershave tonic to your palms, rub them together, and press gently into the face and neck. Press, not slap. You are not in a movie. Then let it absorb. Give it 30 seconds before you do anything else to your face.

If you're using a moisturizer, it goes after the aftershave, once the tonic has absorbed.

What to Look For in an Aftershave

Witch hazel or similar astringent that closes pores without alcohol's dehydration. Glycerin or a humectant to hold moisture. No synthetic fragrances that sit on irritated skin. A light enough formula that it absorbs completely without leaving residue.

That is a short list. Most products on the shelf don't hit it.

The Last Thing

If your current post-shave routine involves burning and waiting it out, that is not how it should feel. A good aftershave leaves your skin feeling better than before you started. That is the standard. Anything short of it, and you are using the wrong product.

The THB Aftershave Tonic was built to close the shave clean. Bay, whiskey, and lime. Smells the part, does the work.

Here is how to actually do it.

Why Safety Razors Are Worth the Switch

One blade. Sharp, clean, and replaceable for pennies. No multi-blade drag that tugs and irritates. The safety razor rides on a single edge with weight doing most of the work. Less pressure, cleaner cut, less irritation.

The learning curve is real but short. Two or three shaves and it clicks. After that, it is faster than cartridge shaving and the results aren't even close.

What You Need to Get Started

A good razor. The SR-71 Guard Bar is the beginner-friendly option. Mild geometry, forgiving head design, lets you learn technique without getting beat up. If you're ready to go aggressive, the SR-71 Slant cuts at an angle for a closer shave on coarse stubble.

Quality blades. Most double-edge blades are cheap. Get a sampler pack and find what works with your skin and stubble density.

A real lather. Shaving cream from a can is pressurized foam and not much else. Shave soap or a proper shaving cream builds a real cushion that protects the skin and lets the blade glide instead of scrape.

Prep: The Step Most Guys Skip

Hot water softens stubble and opens the pores. Shower first, or at minimum soak your face with hot water for a minute before you shave. Stubble that hasn't been hydrated fights the blade. Hydrated stubble cuts clean.

Build your lather and work it into the beard with a shave brush. The brush lifts the hair off the face so the blade cuts at the base instead of pushing it down. This is how barbers have done it for a hundred years. It works.

The Technique

Short strokes. No pressure. Let the weight of the razor do the cutting.

Keep the handle at roughly 30 degrees from your face. That is the sweet spot for most safety razors. Not flat against your skin, not perpendicular. Find the angle where you hear and feel the razor cutting cleanly.

Go with the grain first. Once you are comfortable, a second pass across the grain gets you closer. Against the grain is for experienced shavers on their best skin days only.

Rinse the blade every two or three strokes. Clean blade cuts better than a clogged one.

Post-Shave Routine

Rinse with cold water to close the pores. Pat dry, don't scrub. Then aftershave tonic, not a stinging alcohol splash. You just dragged a blade across your face. Treat the skin accordingly.

The Aftershave Tonic calms irritation, hydrates, and closes the shave clean. It is what your post-shave should feel like.

The Full THB Setup

Razor: SR-71 Guard Bar to start, SR-71 Slant when you want to go closer. Lather: Artisan Line Shaving Soap. Finish: Aftershave Tonic. That is the whole system. It costs less per shave than any cartridge setup and the results are better from shave one.

When we walked into the building on N Wellwood Ave in Lindenhurst, something felt right. It was built in 1932. It had weight to it, history you could feel in the walls. It also had drop ceilings, brown wood paneling, and brown carpet. Decades of people covering up what was already there instead of letting it breathe.

We started pulling it back.

What Was Underneath

Ripped up a piece of carpet. Underneath, original white oak floors. Damn near a hundred years old and still beautiful. Popped a drop ceiling tile. Behind it, tin ceilings. The real ones. Pulled back a section of that ugly brown paneling and found the original sea foam green stucco walls sitting there, waiting.

This building had been hiding in plain sight. Not rotted out, not beyond saving. Just buried under decades of shortcuts.

Most people would have gutted the whole thing. Started fresh. Slapped up some drywall, threw in some Edison bulbs, and called it a barbershop. That is not how we do things. We don't cover stuff up. We uncover it. We brought the building back to its original bones and gave it a Holy Black soul.

Why a Barbershop

The Holy Black started as a product company. Stefan making pomade and shaving soap in small batches, selling online, building a following of guys who gave a damn about what they put in their hair. The brand grew from there into something bigger than any single product.

A barbershop was the natural extension. Not a side project. Not a vanity play. Barbershops are where the culture lives. Where guys sit down, take a minute, and walk out feeling like the best version of themselves. That is what we have always been about, with or without a physical space.

Matt runs the shop. He is the face of the brand, the one with the handshake everyone remembers. The team he built, Kevin, Tony, Saul, Anthony, Nick, Robby, and RJ, are all cut from the same cloth. Guys who are serious about the craft and don't take themselves too seriously.

The Philosophy Behind It

Whether it is a building from 1932 or a formula we have been dialing in for years, the work is the same. Find what is real. Strip back what is covering it up. Let it speak for itself.

We do not chase trends. We do not reformulate products to cut costs. We do not gut the character out of a space to make it look like every other barbershop in America. The original bones matter. The work you put in to preserve them matters more.

That is the philosophy behind every product with The Holy Black name on it. Small batches. Real ingredients. Nothing hidden.

Come See It

The shop is at 166 N Wellwood Ave in Lindenhurst. Tuesday through Saturday, 9 to 6. Walk in or book through Squire. If you are on Long Island and you have not been in, now is the time.

And if you can not make the trip, the products ship everywhere. Everything we make in the shop, we sell online. Same quality either way.

Learn more about the barbershop or shop the full collection.

A solid grooming routine isn’t just about looking good—it’s about doing things the right way. The details matter, and small mistakes can throw everything off. We see it all the time, and chances are, you might be making one of these mistakes yourself.

Here’s how to fix them.

Mistake #1: Using Too Much Hair Product

Pomade, matte clay, texture powder—these are meant to enhance your style, not drown it. Too much product weighs your hair down, making it stiff and unnatural.

Fix: Start with a dime-sized amount of Supermax Pomade or Matte Clay, and add more if needed. If your hair needs a lift without buildup, Texture Powder is your best friend.

[Shop Hair Styling Essentials]

Mistake #2: Skipping Beard Maintenance

Letting your beard grow wild is one thing, but a dry, scraggly beard is never a good look. Neglecting your beard makes it rough, itchy, and uneven.

Fix: Keep it soft and healthy with Snake Oil or Beard Balm—hydration and control in one.

[Explore Beard Care]

Mistake #3: Ignoring Pre- and Post-Shave Care

If you’re still shaving with just water and a cheap razor, you’re doing it wrong. Redness, irritation, and uneven results are the price you pay.

Fix: Lather up with Shaving Soap or Shaving Cream for a smooth, irritation-free shave. Finish with Aftershave Tonic to refresh and protect your skin.

[Upgrade Your Shave]

Mistake #4: Forgetting to Moisturize

Dry skin makes you look older, rougher, and less put together. If your face feels tight after washing, you’re missing a key step.

Fix: Apply Moisturizing Lotion after shaving or cleansing. It absorbs quickly and keeps your skin looking fresh without feeling greasy.

[Keep Your Skin in Check]

Mistake #5: Sticking to the Same Routine All Year

What worked in winter won’t always work in spring. Warmer weather calls for lighter products, fresher scents, and an adjusted routine.

Fix: Swap heavier balms for lighter oils, use Texture Powder instead of dense pomades, and refresh your scent with a clean, classic aftershave.

[Shop Seasonal Grooming Essentials]

Dial It In

Grooming isn’t about following trends or doing what everyone else does. It’s about finding what works for you and doing it well. If you’ve been making any of these mistakes, now’s the time to fix them.

[Get the Right Tools for the Job]

Stay sharp,
The Holy Black Crew

Spring is about fresh starts—and that goes for your grooming routine too. We asked the team here at The Holy Black what products they’re reaching for as the weather warms up. Here are our top picks to keep you looking sharp and feeling fresh this season.

The Holy Black Spring Essentials

Matte Clay – Lightweight Hold, Effortless Style

"When I want to look like I put in effort—without actually spending all morning on my hair—the Matte Clay is my go-to. It holds up but never feels heavy." – Tristan , Barber

✅ Perfect for a natural finish
✅ Works great in warmer weather
✅ Easy to rework throughout the day

[Grab Your Matte Clay Now]

Snake Oil – The Beard’s Best Friend

"Snake Oil is a daily essential. It keeps my beard soft and smelling incredible—especially after a long day." – Matty, Founder

✅ Hydrates beard and skin
✅ Adds a subtle, fresh scent perfect for spring
✅ Doubles as a nourishing hair oil

[Shop Snake Oil]

Texture Powder – Volume Without the Fuss

"On those days when I skip a wash, Texture Powder is a lifesaver. It soaks up the oil and gives my hair that extra lift." – Michael, Barber

✅ Adds volume and texture instantly
✅ Keeps hair fresh between washes
✅ Ideal for quick morning routines

[Try Texture Powder Today]

Shaving Soap & Aftershave Tonic – Clean Shave, Fresh Finish

"There’s nothing like a proper shave with our Shaving Soap—it lathers like a dream. And the Aftershave Tonic wakes up my face and cools everything down." – Stefan, Founder

✅ Rich, creamy lather for a smoother shave
✅ Soothes skin and prevents irritation
✅ Light, invigorating scent for a fresh start

[Shop Shaving Essentials]

Moisturizing Lotion – Your Skin Will Thank You

"Coming out of winter, my skin was wrecked. This lotion absorbs fast, doesn’t feel greasy, and keeps me hydrated all day." – Tony, Barber

✅ Lightweight, non-greasy formula
✅ Perfect for daily use
✅ Restores moisture without the shine

[Stay Hydrated with Moisturizing Lotion]

Why These Picks?

We use what we make—because we believe in it. Our products are designed to perform, last, and make your daily routine easier. Spring is the time to freshen up, so why not start with the products we reach for ourselves?

[Explore All Staff Picks]

Get Ready to Look Your Best

Your grooming routine doesn’t have to be complicated. A few small upgrades can make a world of difference. We’ve got you covered—now it’s your turn to pick your favorites.

[Shop Now and Refresh Your Spring Routine]

See you out there,
The Holy Black Crew

If you’ve been around long enough, you already know that The Holy Black isn’t just about

grooming products. It’s about something bigger. A mindset. A way of carrying yourself. A belief that the details matter—whether it’s the way you style your hair, the way you shake a hand, or the way you take care of the people around you.

We don’t just sell pomade, beard oil, or aftershave. We build something deeper, a community.

What It Means to Be Part of The Holy Black

Respect for the Craft
Every product we create is made with the same attention to detail and dedication that goes into mastering a skill. The right tools make all the difference, and we take pride in giving you the best.

Tradition
There’s a reason we look to the past for inspiration. Classic style, traditional shaving, well-groomed beards—these things never go out of fashion. But tradition isn’t about staying still; it’s about taking what works and making it your own.

A Group of Like-Minded Individuals
The Holy Black isn’t just a brand, it’s a community. When you use our products, you’re part of something that values craftsmanship, individuality, and carrying yourself with confidence.

What’s in Your Daily Ritual?

Every man has his own routine. Some keep it simple, others take their time. Whether you’re starting the day with a clean shave or taming the beast of a beard, it’s about taking a moment for yourself and doing it right.

Here’s what we reach for every morning:

• Supermax Pomade – For a sharp, clean style that holds up all day.
• Shaving Soap & Aftershave Tonic – For a classic, smooth shave that leaves you refreshed.
• Snake Oil – To keep the beard healthy and soft, without feeling greasy.
• Moisturizing Lotion – Because dry, rough skin has never been a good look.

If you’ve never tried them, now’s the time.

[Explore the Essentials]

More Than Just a Product

The Holy Black is about knowing that how you carry yourself says more than words ever could. It’s about being part of something bigger than yourself—whether that’s a craft, a community, or a mindset.

If you get it, you’re already one of us.

[Shop Now]

See you out there,
The Holy Black Crew

The Holy Black | Early Spring Refresh

Winter is finally behind us. The cold, dry air and months of hibernation have taken their toll, but now it’s time to shake it off and step into spring looking your best. As the days get longer and the weather warms up, your grooming routine should evolve too.

Spring is about fresh starts—this is your chance to clean up, refresh, and make sure you’re ready for the season ahead.

How to Refresh Your Grooming Routine for Spring

1. Tame Your Hair with Lightweight Hold

Ditch the heavy products you relied on during colder months. For a lighter, natural finish, reach for our Matte Clay or Texture Powder—perfect for creating effortless styles that hold up without feeling weighed down. Need something with extra hold? The Supermax Pomade has you covered without the greasy finish.

2. Revive Your Skin

Winter air dries out your skin, leaving it dull. Start fresh by using our Moisturizing Lotion—light enough for daily use but rich enough to replenish hydration. Don’t forget to exfoliate before moisturizing to get the full effect.

3. Refresh Your Shave

If you let the beard grow over the winter, now’s the time to clean it up. Our Shaving Cream and Shaving Soap deliver a smooth, protective shave, while the Aftershave Tonic soothes and invigorates the skin—no sting, just refreshment. Prefer to keep the beard? Keep it looking sharp with Snake Oil for hydration and shine, or the Beard Balm for shape and control.

4. Lighten Up Your Scents

Spring calls for brighter, cleaner scents. Our grooming products, including Aftershave Tonic and Snake Oil, carry fresh, invigorating notes that are perfect for warmer weather. Smell as good as you look.

Your Spring Essentials Are Waiting

We’ve curated everything you need to refresh your grooming routine and step into the new season with confidence. Whether you’re cleaning up the beard, restyling your hair, or reviving your skin, we’ve got the tools to get you there.

Why Wait? Spring Doesn’t Last Forever

You’ve spent months bundled up—now it’s time to shed the layers and show up looking your best. Your face, hair, and skin will thank you.

Clean up. Refresh. Look like you’re ready for spring.

See you on the other side of winter,
The Holy Black Crew

Grooming Essentials: Embrace the Changing Seasons with The Holy Black

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.

1. After-Shave Tonic: The Essential Finish

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.

Benefits:

• 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.

2. Snake Oil: A Multifaceted Grooming Elixir

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.

Benefits:

• 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.

3. Moisturizing Lotion: The Unseen Necessity

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.

Benefits:

• 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.

1. Elevate Your Volume with Matte Texture Powder

2. Hair Pomade: Choose Your Finish

3. Tame Your Beard with Beard Balm

4. A Complete Shaving Experience

5. Multi-Purpose Elixir: Snake Oil

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!

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.

 Preparation

                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.

                Step 1: Cut it down to size

                                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.

                Step 2: Shower first!

                                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.

                     Step 3: Oil up, Trust me.

                                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.

  The Perfect Lather

                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.

                Step 1: Load it up

                                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.

                Step 2: Whip it!

                                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.

                Step 3: Paint it on.

                                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.

 Choose your weapon!

                Your choice of razor and blade combo is tantamount to getting a nick free shave, especially on your head.

                                The Razor 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.

                                The Razor Handle

                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

                                The Blade

                                                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.

  The Shave!

Ok you are now ready to shave. Here’s a couple tips to help it go smoothly.

                Tip 1: Start with the stuff you can see.

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.

                 Tip 2: Use your other hand.

                                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.

                Tip 3:  Reduce the stubble slowly.

                                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!

      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.

You can sign up for our Ambassador program here.

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!

 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.

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

1. The shape of your face is highly indicative of the best beard shape that will make you look sexy. Your beard can be effectively used to show off your best features and disguise features that are not so appealing.
2. For a squared face, keep a beard full on the chin and short on the sides.
3. For the round face, the beard should be long on the bottom and short on the sides.
4. For rectangular faces, having a short and trimmed beard is perfect.
5. Meanwhile, if you have an oval face, you are fortunate since you can work with almost all styles of beards.

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