Vacation for the wet shaver: packing your toiletry bag smartly

Rule 1: get yourself a separate toiletry bag

Trust us, this is not excessive. Even if your partner suggests putting all your shaving gear into one big shared toiletry bag, it will be inconvenient: you’ll be constantly looking through a huge bag for spare blades, cream samples, and confusing your razor with theirs. Two smaller toiletry bags are better-one for you and one for them. That way no one will have questions about lost or forgotten but important little items.

We recommend having two sizes of toiletry bags: one tiny one for trips of a couple of days and one roomy one for trips longer than a week.

Rule 2: pack your toiletry bag yourself

Don’t trust this to anyone. Even if you’ve lived with your partner for nearly 40 years, they might forget one of your jars or replacement blades-and it will happen at the worst possible moment. Pack your own toiletry bag and check it every time you change hotels so you don’t leave anything in the room’s bathroom.

People who travel frequently for work use a lifehack: keep a packing checklist in your phone notes. Include the minimum you need for any trip there: from the number of pairs of socks by day to your shaving essentials.

Rule 3: use mini sizes

There’s never enough space in a suitcase. It’s especially frustrating when you want to bring home a bottle of local liqueur (for yourself) and souvenirs (for family or colleagues), but your suitcase is full of clothes and full-size cosmetic jars. Whatever it is, try to use the smallest packaging possible-manufacturers make travel-sized versions of their main products exactly for situations like this.

Rule 4: calculate ahead

This very simple step will noticeably lighten your suitcase: calculate in advance how much of each product you’ll need based on the number of days. There’s a special pleasure in throwing away an emptied tube on the last day and replacing it with something you bought on the trip.

For example, if you plan to shave, count how many shaves you’ll have and take exactly the amount of product you’ll need. If you’ll only shave once or twice on the trip, it’s easiest to take samples-they’re sold from 5 ml.

Here’s an approximate amount used per single use:

• Shaving cream / shaving soap — 3—5 ml
• Aftershave lotion — 2—3 ml
• Aftershave balm — 3—5 ml
• Facial moisturizer — 1—3 ml
• Shampoo — 8—15 ml

If your favorite soap isn’t available in a mini format, there’s nothing wrong with transferring the needed amount into a separate container.

Rule 5: solid and versatile

Anything that can be solid should be solid. First, if you fly with carry-on only, solid soaps and deodorants won’t count toward the 1 l liquid restriction. Second, liquids can leak during flights due to pressure changes and soil everything in your bag. Try taking solid alternatives instead of liquid shower gels, hair shampoos, and shaving soaps-you’ll be surprised how much more convenient they are. You also don’t have to take a whole bar of soap-cut off exactly what you need.

If you can’t replace a liquid with a solid, try to choose multifunctional products. 2-in-1 body-and-hair shampoos are especially useful on trips.

Rule 6: simplify

Size matters-you feel it on your shoulders when you travel. And this is not just about cosmetics but about your razor and shaving brush. Even if at home you’re used to shaving with the company of Халка, for a trip it’s worth taking a small one from Simpsons. Don’t forget a travel case so it won’t be damaged or crushed in your bag.

Whatever shaving brush you choose for travel, it’s better if it’s made of high-quality synthetic fibers: when your trip involves changing overnight places, quick drying of the knot becomes a priority.

Replace your full-size safety razor with a travel variant: Parker and Merkur make such models. These have removable handles that can be swapped for solid ones-so you can even use them as a full home razor.

It’s worth rethinking the shaving and skin-care routine when you travel. You can do without a shaving bowl, towel, and even pre-shave (oil/cream)-they can be replaced by a shaving product that’s lathered directly on the face. Steam the skin well after a shower and shave, for example, with D. R. Harris cream-it can be lathered on the face, and a 15 ml tube is enough for 4—5 uses.

If you fly without checked luggage, you won’t be allowed on board with carry-on that contains replacement double-edge blades. You have two options: buy blades at your destination or take, instead of a DE safety razor, a regular cartridge razor. It’s an open secret in wet shaving: many people keep a spare Fusion or Mach-3 in reserve, but nobody talks about it. Take a small Taylor or Parker with you-they’re compact and already come in a case. We won’t tell anyone.

Rule 7: share with companions

If you’re flying with family, share! Shampoo, soap, face or hand cream, sunscreen-you can share these even with a friend, and with a family member all the more. You can even share a razor with your wife-just don’t forget replacement blades. All this will lighten your suitcase.

Rule 8: do it your way

Vacation is no reason to betray your style… or to change it. Be yourself and take the most pleasant parts of your routine!