Why your man should shave like James Bond

Harking back to the days of more “esteemed gentlemen”, it’s no wonder a cut throat features in James Bond’s grooming kit. After that scene in Skyfall, cut throat sales increased by 405% – who knew it could be so sexy?

A few weeks back a brand called Men Rock asked me if I’d like to check out one of their cut throat starter kits. You would not believe how excited Matt was when he heard I was being sent one. “Who for?” he said. Thankfully I I can’t grow a beard, so it was his to try out.

He opened the parcel to an envelope labelled “just in case”. In good humour, the guys at Men Rock had included a pack of plasters for my first timer. I liked that.

The entire set was really nicely boxed and included, the cut throat, 10 double blades (20 refills), shave cream, a wooden handled brush and a stand. I was straight in to the shave cream to see what it smelled like. It’s a very subtle Sandalwood that gets two very big thumbs up from me. Matt was obviously keen to check out the cut throat it’s self and proceeded to shave a little bit of his arm hair off with it – as you do. “It’s sharp” he said.

So this Monday (bank holiday) he took himself off to the bathroom to try it out for the first time. I admit, I was a little nervous, the words “cut throat” don’t sit particularly comfortably with me. Just scaremongering?

I hoped for Matt that the ritual of shaving with a cut throat would give him “a bit of quality man time” and the pleasure of using something with a real luxurious feel that you just don’t get from a ‘normal’ razor.

Whilst we’re on that subject, ‘normal’ razor blade prices are so extortionate I’m left wondering if they’ve been honed by unicorns. Most well known brand blades are easily £2 each with Gillette Fusions going for £3+ per blade. Luckily for Matt, he suits the stubbly look so hasn’t been throwing his bank balance at these every day.

How do cut throat blades square up? Well these aren’t the cheapest blades but Amazon reviewers say they’re the best: 100 Derby single edge blades for £4.25 or just over 4 pence each. That’s a phenomenal difference and that’s why your man should shave like James Bond.  Anyway, back to it…

As he shaved I peeked around the bathroom door, a little worried: “are you holding it at 30 degrees?”. Matt responded “Sorry, do you have a protractor?” I didn’t, and I decided to take my backseat driving else where whilst he finished up.

This particular starter kit is stocked by Mankind for £32.50 and makes an ideal gift for a well-groomed gent. Perhaps something for Father’s Day (16th June)?