Forgive me for this post as it is a bit of a rant/ramble.
So today I decided to call up L'Occitane which has a storefront downtown in my city and it turns out, they had a Plisson Brush, their last apparently so I purchased it over the phone and went to pick it up. It seems really nice and soft and just now, I lathered it up a few times, took some getting used to as I'm used to boars, but it seems like a great brush.
The real story came next door to L'Occitane in the Art of Shaving, which I've never visited before oddly enough. I liked the way the store was set up and immediately, I started smelling Shaving Creams as that was the ONLY thing there I was interested in today. The Lemon smelled really nice, Ocean Kelp was interesting too, but the Sandalwood reminded me a little too much of Proraso, which I find too earthy and woody. I understand this is the way sandalwood should smell but right now I prefer cologne type sandalwoods.
Anyway, after a few minutes this lady that works there comes up and I start explaining how I would like to try some of these creams, but sometimes I get allergic to some fragrances or ingredients and I haven't nailed it down yet. I had concerns about the creams and was curious if they had samples. Well, she begins insulting my routine and telling me how to shower, how to shave, etc. basically, insulting what I'm using to shave with (boar brushes), and basically starts giving me a lesson on all that because she's an "expert." It was interesting because I didn't recall telling her I needed to know how to shave I just was curious about the creams. This berating continued. So she and I start going back and forth. I tell her, I have several scented creams, scented soaps, safety razors, straight razors, and I'm aware of how to shave because this is a hobby of mine and....I do this every single solitary day. The only problem I have is with some fragrances so if I can, I like trying before I buy via samples and if the product doesn't irritate me, I typically purchase it. Unfortunately, this did not change her approach to me which was baffling. Then she tells me I shouldn't be using boars and they need to be disinfected, sent off to be dry cleaned and that is what is irritating me. Also, I needed to add in their pre shave oil which was like 25 or 30 bucks and I'd be doing great, and wouldn't receive any skin reaction from their products as they've been on the market for years. Wow. These people are poor listeners.
What are your experiences at these stores? I have to say, although I was interested in the Lemon and Ocean Kelp creams, I left, she made me not want to go back and I probably won't. She said she had no samples of the scented creams by the way.
A discussion about irritation caused this exchange
Her: Using boar brushes will irritate your face
Me: I don't test creams or soaps with a brush, I lather them on my hand, then I apply them to my face with my hand to take the brush out of the equation
Her: Well are you properly sanitizing your brushes? Sending them off to be dry cleaned? This is what is causing your irritation and the bacteria is causing you infections
Me: I don't get irritated when I use the brush and I don't get irritated with any cream or soap in my current rotation, just certain new ones in my process of trying new products
Other exchanges after I got irritated:
Me: Oh you have straight razors here?
Her: Yes have you ever seen them or shaved with them?
Me: Yep, I have a couple at home.
Her: We have many made in France and Germany.
Me: Yeah, too bad ya'll only have Thiers Issards with Art of Shaving written on the blade
I approach the safety razors and immediately recognize the Muhles
Me: Nice Muhles, I've been wanting to try one.
Her: Yep those are Muhles (She mispronounces it). Have you ever shaved with a safety razor?
Me: Yep just did before I got here.
Her: Well we at Art of Shaving try to carry other manufacturer's products
Me: I'm very glad for that.
So today I decided to call up L'Occitane which has a storefront downtown in my city and it turns out, they had a Plisson Brush, their last apparently so I purchased it over the phone and went to pick it up. It seems really nice and soft and just now, I lathered it up a few times, took some getting used to as I'm used to boars, but it seems like a great brush.
The real story came next door to L'Occitane in the Art of Shaving, which I've never visited before oddly enough. I liked the way the store was set up and immediately, I started smelling Shaving Creams as that was the ONLY thing there I was interested in today. The Lemon smelled really nice, Ocean Kelp was interesting too, but the Sandalwood reminded me a little too much of Proraso, which I find too earthy and woody. I understand this is the way sandalwood should smell but right now I prefer cologne type sandalwoods.
Anyway, after a few minutes this lady that works there comes up and I start explaining how I would like to try some of these creams, but sometimes I get allergic to some fragrances or ingredients and I haven't nailed it down yet. I had concerns about the creams and was curious if they had samples. Well, she begins insulting my routine and telling me how to shower, how to shave, etc. basically, insulting what I'm using to shave with (boar brushes), and basically starts giving me a lesson on all that because she's an "expert." It was interesting because I didn't recall telling her I needed to know how to shave I just was curious about the creams. This berating continued. So she and I start going back and forth. I tell her, I have several scented creams, scented soaps, safety razors, straight razors, and I'm aware of how to shave because this is a hobby of mine and....I do this every single solitary day. The only problem I have is with some fragrances so if I can, I like trying before I buy via samples and if the product doesn't irritate me, I typically purchase it. Unfortunately, this did not change her approach to me which was baffling. Then she tells me I shouldn't be using boars and they need to be disinfected, sent off to be dry cleaned and that is what is irritating me. Also, I needed to add in their pre shave oil which was like 25 or 30 bucks and I'd be doing great, and wouldn't receive any skin reaction from their products as they've been on the market for years. Wow. These people are poor listeners.
What are your experiences at these stores? I have to say, although I was interested in the Lemon and Ocean Kelp creams, I left, she made me not want to go back and I probably won't. She said she had no samples of the scented creams by the way.
A discussion about irritation caused this exchange
Her: Using boar brushes will irritate your face
Me: I don't test creams or soaps with a brush, I lather them on my hand, then I apply them to my face with my hand to take the brush out of the equation
Her: Well are you properly sanitizing your brushes? Sending them off to be dry cleaned? This is what is causing your irritation and the bacteria is causing you infections
Me: I don't get irritated when I use the brush and I don't get irritated with any cream or soap in my current rotation, just certain new ones in my process of trying new products
Other exchanges after I got irritated:
Me: Oh you have straight razors here?
Her: Yes have you ever seen them or shaved with them?
Me: Yep, I have a couple at home.
Her: We have many made in France and Germany.
Me: Yeah, too bad ya'll only have Thiers Issards with Art of Shaving written on the blade
I approach the safety razors and immediately recognize the Muhles
Me: Nice Muhles, I've been wanting to try one.
Her: Yep those are Muhles (She mispronounces it). Have you ever shaved with a safety razor?
Me: Yep just did before I got here.
Her: Well we at Art of Shaving try to carry other manufacturer's products
Me: I'm very glad for that.