There seems to be a trend with men who become interested in boutique beauty products: they come to appreciate the quality and dignity of hand-made products, and eventually figure out:
Hey—I can do this myself!
In my field of barbering, I often see men become interested in traditional wet shaving, buy some excellent handmade products such as shaving soaps, and then experiment with making their own.
So, to help you along on your journey, here is a super-simple recipe to make a smooth and natural shaving cream that has no harmful or unnatural chemicals. They make a great addition to your morning routine, and–if you’ve got a significant other in your life–an thoughtful and intimate gift.
What You’ll Need
- Shea nut oil or Shea butter (2/3 cup)
- Coconut oil (2/3 cup)
- Olive oil or grapeseed oil (1/4 cup)
- Your favorite essential oil, such as juniper, lavender, jasmine, mint, and so on (15 or 16 drops)
- Baking soda (2 tablespoons)
What To Do
You ready for this? These will literally be the simplest instructions you will ever encounter.
Heat the the coconut oil and the Shea nut oil in a pot until it melts into a semi-solid mixture, and then add olive oil. Mix liquid, and then add 15 or 16 drops of your chosen essential oil.
Pour the cream from the pot into a container, give it another mixing, and then leave it in the refrigerator to firm up. Once the mass has hardened, remove from the fridge to cool.
Add your two tablespoons of baking soda to the mixture, and pour the cream into to a standing electric mixer and mix until the mass is fluffy. When it starts to look like cake icing, you’re in good shape.
There you go!
Buy some jars, make some personalized stickers, and hand them out to people who you think would appreciate the gift. Just be sure to tell them it’s a natural product, without chemicals—so be sure to use it within three or four weeks!
This guest post was written by our friend Matthew Morris. He’s a career coach and barber instructor in California.