I just picked up a natural Mediterranean Wool Sponge to add to my SR shaving kit. The natural sponge was a replacement for a neon green dish sponge that I’ve been using to wipe the blade between passes. Once again the natural material is light years ahead of the synthetic in terms of performance and feel. If you don’t yet have this item in your SR shaving kit, do yourself a favour and pick one up immediately.
A natural sponge is an incredibly versatile piece of equipment. It’s excellent for wiping the blade clean between passes. Much softer than a synthetic. Under 10x magnification the structure of the sponge reveals itself as an open lattice of very fines hairs. The material is easily compressible with amazing bounce back and elasticity. It easily conforms to the shape of the blade to wipe it clean.
Where natural sponges really shine is the post shave rinse. Gone are the days of splashing like a mad man and getting water everywhere. Gone are the days of making due with a rough cotton wash cloth on freshly shaved skin. The sponge elevates the rinse to a highlight of the shaving experience. Luxuriously soft it feels incredible as you wipe the last of the suds away. The sponge holds huge amounts of water and conforms to every nook and cranny of your face. Getting that last bit out from behind your ears or the back of your neck is no issue at all.
There many species of sponge available. I settled on the Wool Sponge which is known for its softness and dense structure. It is recommended for cleaning delicate finishes without scratching and seems well suited to straight razors. If you get a large piece you can easily cut it down to your desired size with a sharp knife or scissors.
I couldn’t be more happy with the performance. Finally the neon green, synthetic, monstrosity is gone and I have a natural item that works better, looks better, and better compliments the rest of my den.
A natural sponge is an incredibly versatile piece of equipment. It’s excellent for wiping the blade clean between passes. Much softer than a synthetic. Under 10x magnification the structure of the sponge reveals itself as an open lattice of very fines hairs. The material is easily compressible with amazing bounce back and elasticity. It easily conforms to the shape of the blade to wipe it clean.
Where natural sponges really shine is the post shave rinse. Gone are the days of splashing like a mad man and getting water everywhere. Gone are the days of making due with a rough cotton wash cloth on freshly shaved skin. The sponge elevates the rinse to a highlight of the shaving experience. Luxuriously soft it feels incredible as you wipe the last of the suds away. The sponge holds huge amounts of water and conforms to every nook and cranny of your face. Getting that last bit out from behind your ears or the back of your neck is no issue at all.
There many species of sponge available. I settled on the Wool Sponge which is known for its softness and dense structure. It is recommended for cleaning delicate finishes without scratching and seems well suited to straight razors. If you get a large piece you can easily cut it down to your desired size with a sharp knife or scissors.
I couldn’t be more happy with the performance. Finally the neon green, synthetic, monstrosity is gone and I have a natural item that works better, looks better, and better compliments the rest of my den.