Razor: Aylsworth Razors Apex-AL
Blade: Feather Hi Stainless
Brush: Ritual Shaving G5C Synthetic
Soap: Aylsworth Razors Signature
Aftershave: Aylsworth Razors Signature Splash
This weekend marked the launch of the Never Alone 4 project at The Razor Company. For those who don’t know, the Never Alone project was the brainchild of my friends Justin, The Red Island Shaver, and Ken, Vintage Head Shaver, as a way to promote and support men’s mental health. Funds from this project go toward supporting three different mental health and suicide-related charities. If you haven’t had the chance, please check out the website and consider picking up something to support the cause. I grabbed a set, and once it arrives, I’ll do a more in-depth post on the subject. I noticed that many of my friends travelled to Michigan for the launch weekend to share some kinship and support the project. It really highlighted what I love about this hobby and inspired today’s shave. Earlier this year, I also travelled to Michigan and spent time with this large group of shaving friends from across North America, whom I only know because of this amazing hobby. Today’s shave speaks to just a few of them.
First, the razor. This is the Apex razor from Kaleb at Aylsworth Razors out of Ontario. This razor is very special to me for a couple of reasons. First, Kaleb is one of the folks I travelled with during my last couple of meetups. He knows how to design. This razor is stunning in its looks and is a fantastic shaver. I love Kaleb’s design style and his commitment to clean, crisp lines. This is the second Aylsworth razor I own, and I consider them both to be among my favourite-looking razors. Second, this razor is particularly special because it was a gift from my friend Matt, @foxymatt77. Matt is one of the kindest-hearted gents you will ever meet. He won this during an Instagram live event and PIFed it to me, knowing I wanted to pick one up. I will forever cherish this razor because it will always remind me of my friend Matt.
Second, let’s talk about this brush. This work of art was crafted by Ritual Shaving, another artisan out of Ontario. Mark is another stand-up gent I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time during our 2024 Michigan trip this spring. He’s a stellar guy that I really enjoyed hanging out with, and I was lucky enough to reconnect with him again this summer during my trip to Toronto. Mark brought some of the brushes he had been working on during our trip, which he hadn’t started selling yet. I hounded him until he finally let me purchase this beauty. I might even be the first person to own one of his brushes. His design style is exactly what I love in a brush handle—natural wood, turned and textured to bring out the absolute beauty of the material. Trust me, the pictures don’t do it justice. If you don’t own one of his brushes, you owe it to yourself to pick one up.
Third, let’s talk about the software. This soap and splash combo is from Kaleb’s new signature line, released to be a staple in his offerings. The scent is based on the classic aromatic fougère, Yardley English Blazer. This classic scent is described as aromatic, fresh, fougère, woody, with spicy notes. It’s a masculine, gentlemanly scent with a throwback barbershop vibe. Think of it as a more refined and elevated Drakkar Noir. It will definitely appeal to a more mature audience; it’s not bubble gum youthful, but it doesn’t feel dated either. It exudes an air of put-togetherness and really hits the mark for a barbershop-style fragrance. The scent is robust but not overwhelming, and with just the soap and splash, you’ll carry this scent trail with you for hours. I’m very glad I picked this one up.
A great shave today and a wonderful reminder of all the friends I’ve met along the way. I can’t wait until we get a chance to meet up in person again.
Until then, that’s all for now.
—J
