About Shaving Parlour

I’m Tom Hartley, and I started Shaving Parlour after I swapped disposable cartridges for a safety razor and finally understood what a good shave could feel like.

For years I assumed the daily irritation and the ingrown hairs on my neck were just part of shaving. They were not. The problem was that nobody had ever shown me the basics: how to hold the razor, how to build a lather that protects the skin, how to map the grain of my beard, and how to slow down enough to stop nicking myself.

So I built the resource I wish I’d had.

What this site covers

I write about the craft of wet shaving, in plain language and from real experience:

• Wet shaving, explained, the kit and the method
• How to use a safety razor and build a lather
• Getting a close shave and preventing razor burn

I focus on technique and understanding the kit, not on selling you anything.

How we keep it accurate

I’m an enthusiast, not a barber, so every article is reviewed by a master barber, Marcus Webb, before it’s published. The lived experience is mine; the technique is checked by someone who shaves people for a living. For skin claims we lean on sources like the American Academy of Dermatology and the NHS.

Get in touch

I’d like to hear from other wet shavers, whatever stage you’re at. You can reach me via the Contact page. And please read our Disclaimer: this site is general guidance, and a painful or persistent skin problem is a job for a professional, not a shaving tweak.