Close shaves, no nicks, no hurry
Safety razors, straight razors, blades, brushes and soaps, chosen by people who shave with them every morning. Hold one at the counter or ask us by email.
The first-shave kit
Razor, brush, bowl, soap and ten blades: everything for step one to four.
Example price $86
Straight razor starter
A shave-ready 6/8 razor, a leather strop and a lesson at the counter.
Example price $165
Prep and finish pair
Pre-shave oil and an unscented balm for skin that reacts to the blade.
Example price $30
Blade sampler
Five blades each from five makers, so you find the one your beard likes.
Example price $12
On the counter this week
Four things we hand to people most often. The lime tag says which step of the shave each one is for.
Step 3, shave
Closed-comb safety razor
Brass handle, a mild head for the first months. Takes any double-edge blade.
$38
Step 2, lather
Synthetic shaving brush
Soft knot, dries in hours, builds lather from soap or cream.
$24
Step 2, lather
Sandalwood shaving soap
A hard soap in a glass jar that refills; about four months of shaves.
$16
Step 3, shave
Straight razor, 6/8 round point
Carbon steel, shave-ready from our bench, with a leather pouch.
$120
Example prices. No online checkout: ask and we put it aside.
2011
Behind the counter since (sample)
Who we are
A razor counter, not a warehouse
Hollis Shave Supply (sample) is a narrow shop with a long glass counter, a basin at the back and a bench where we hone straight razors. We only sell what we have shaved with ourselves.
Bring the razor you have, tell us what bothers you about your shave, and we will find the blade, the soap or the brush that fixes it.
40+
razors on the counter
60
soaps and creams
12
blade makers (sample)
More than a shelf of razors
Most of what we do happens at the counter. These are the things you can book or bring in.
First-shave lesson
Half an hour at our basin with your new razor: angle, pressure, the second pass.
Honing and stropping
We put a straight razor back on the stones and send it home shave-ready.
Razor restoration
Old safety razors cleaned, re-plated or fitted with a new handle.
Blade fitting
Not sure which blade? We load three and you try them at home.
Soap refills
Bring the jar back and we refill it from the block at a lower price.
Gift wrapping
Any kit packed in a black box with a card, ready the next day.
How to shave
Four steps to a close, calm shave
A wet shave is a routine, not a product. Soften the beard, build a lather, shave with the grain and finish cool. Every item in the shop is tagged with the step it belongs to.
Step 1, prep
Warm and soften
Wash with warm water or hold a hot towel to the face for a minute; a few drops of oil help a coarse beard.
Step 2, lather
Build a lather
Load a damp brush on the soap for twenty seconds, then work it in a bowl until it is thick and glossy.
Step 3, shave
Shave with the grain
Hold the razor at about thirty degrees, no pressure, short strokes. Lather again and go across if you want closer.
Step 4, finish
Rinse and finish
Cold water, then a balm or a splash. Rinse the razor, shake the brush and hang it to dry.
From the counter
What shavers tell us
I came in with a drawer full of cartridges and a rash on my neck. They let me try three blades, showed me the angle at the basin, and a month later I do not want to go back.
Sample customer
Switched to a safety razor last spring (sample)
Questions at the counter
What people ask before their first safety or straight razor. If yours is not here, write to us.
Is a safety razor hard to learn?
Not hard, just different: no pressure, a steady angle and short strokes. Most people are comfortable after a week; a lesson at our basin shortens that.
How often should I change the blade?
Every four to seven shaves for most beards. A coarse beard dulls blades faster; you will feel the tug when it is time.
Do you sell online?
Not yet. Send the request form or call, and we put the item aside for a week. You pay when you collect.
Can you sharpen my straight razor?
Yes. Honing takes two to three working days and comes back shave-ready (see the services page for example prices).
Which soap for sensitive skin?
An unscented soap or cream and a soft synthetic brush. Ask us for small samples to try at home.
Come in and hold a razor before you buy it.
Every razor on the counter can be picked up, weighed in the hand and fitted with a blade. Ask us to put something aside and collect it when it suits you.
Find us
Hollis Shave Supply (sample)
42 Hollis Street, Springfield
Call the shop
(555) 019-4200
Tue–Sat 10:00–18:00 (sample)
Write to us
[email protected]
We reply within one working day