Review: The Personal Barber subscription box
Subscription boxes became a popular option in 2015 and I believe they will continue to be big this year. Although they started out being a feminine product with beauty boxes there are now a number of great monthly boxes for men including a box from The Personal Barber* which my husband was recently sent to review.
The Personal Barber subscription box is described as “The ultimate shaving subscription for men”, isn’t that a brave claim? The team behind the box want to provide men with a shaving routine into an experience to look forward to, rather than a daily chore doing this by offering deliveries of razors and new hand-picked shaving products on a regular basis with free UK delivery.
The first box includes a free traditional styled safety razor, blades, soap and shaving brush as step-by-step instructions for using the razor. After the first month the box contains more products including new soaps, blades (new brands every month) and pre/post shave items such as oils, balms, colognes, alums and more.
One big attraction for my husband was the single bladed safety razor; as a user of multi-blade razors this was certainly something new. It has a balanced weight and thin head for maximum control for keeping a consistent angle and pressure. Importantly the blade offers a locking system to ensure that the blades are always placed correctly, removing the potential for error and injury. It certainly takes a bit of practice to get used to using a single blade razor and after a few attempts my husband found it to offer a very close and precise shave.
Included in the first box is The Personal Barber synthetic hair shaving brush made from high quality nylon. It is great for producing a thick lather and applying soap to the face. Rinse after each use and flick dry to keep it in tip top shape. Different brushes are included in later boxes to offer a range of experiences.
Of course the soap is pivotal for a good shave. Each month the box includes a new shaving soap from around the world. With most people use canned foaming gel The Personal Barber are keen to showcase all sorts of shaving soap from subtle unscented bars, to mild manly woody aromas, to wild and unexpected fragrances. There are a number of benefits of using a soap or cream with a brush on your skin rather than a gel as it exfoliates and keeps it looking young!
As well as the razor, blades and brush the box my husband was sent contained Kent luxury shaving soap, Nato sensitive moisturiser for men and 2 aftershave samples ‘Moroccan Rhassoul’ and ‘Natural Bay Rum’ from Meissner-Tremonia. It was great to have a selection of new items to try as my husband had never tried these brands before. He does suffer from sensitive skin and shaving can sometimes result in a rash so the Nato product was a welcome one.
The Personal Barber subscription box offers men a great grooming experience. I really love that they include a range of different products from all around the world which means no month is ever the same, offering men the chance to discover something new. My husband has enjoyed experimenting with the single blades and overall we award the The Personal Barber subscription box 4 out of 5 stars.
