The Art of Shaving

The products at this company are top notch. I love them. I’m also a cosmetologist and have gotten great services at this company. They carry the delectable Penhaligon’s luxury fragrances, and their shaving ritual… it’s awesome to have a wonderful company with awesome men’s grooming products. I love the whole system! Great scents and even unscented products. The HANZ de Fuko hair care is great and awesome brushes. Fair prices for a tub of shaving cream so concentrated it’ll last you a year. You may balk at the price, but because they’re not drugstore products they will last longer due to not having to heavily apply everything. Seriously treat yourself.
This particular store is something different.
For some strange reason, according to John the «I’m the top tier manager in 3 states» manager… this isn’t a «return store». He also acts like he is doing you a favor by talking to and helping you. He’s that snobbish and rude (he works in a fucking mall, I’m sorry but bragging rights only go so far in life!). Doesn’t matter if you’ve bought something there and it’s unopened, he won’t return it. He will send you to another store. So in essence, he’s a liar I believe. I called customer service who seemed a bit perplexed in their network that there is such a thing as one of their stores not accepting returns. So, having worked in retail and management it is obvious that he has retained his «top tier» status because he chooses to go against a stated return policy not only on your receipt but also from what I was told by the other store I had to DRIVE OUT OF MY WAY TO DO MY RETURN to (downtown) and also the corporate customer service. Now the rest I am saying here is speculation and not fact but again, if you’ve worked in retail you would understand. He won’t do returns because of how it affects his projected sales, quotas, and the most likely bonuses he gets for his dishonesty. If he’s lying about his store and their return policies to customers why would he stop there? Obviously he alone I believe benefits from not accepting returns.
Second, I have wanted the perfect shave that they offer and to get it at his location. Because I have a residence in Bellevue and not far from his place of business. There isn’t a barber and forever as of this writing, that there is «one in training». It’s a shaving company, not NASA. Unless this barber «in training» is in his first week of cosmetology school, how hard is it to hire a barber? They’re EVERYWHERE and there is always one needing a job. I’ve made 2 appointments and never got a
call to confirm my appointment (last 2 months) and when I called both times I was told the barber still was in training but because of the «inconvenience» I’ve experienced, I was offered (and insulted) a service at the Pacific Place location. Why am I offended? I cut hair. That means another barber has to take the fall, possible loss of tips, and perform a service almost as a punishment for someone else’s problem. So it screws the barber and again, ANOTHER store gets screwed in income.
Bullshit. Absolute bullshit. Avoid this particular store at all costs.

Returned the overpriced brand new beeper/​pager-​like vibrating handle to be relentlessly shamed by the employee. Jeez, way to make an awkward situation more annoying and guarantee that no future gifts include the fart of shaving.

I got a haircut here from Michelle, and she was great, wonderful customer service and a great spa experience. Thanks so much I will be coming back again and again.

Always been a fan of their products. True, many other competitors out there, but these guys have their own retail store ;) So kudos to their marketing.
As well as to Tristan; he sure knows his stuff, and really does care to know your needs, and product knowledge. Showed some high-​end Gilette razor blades with vibrating, felt light, esp. in the wallet for $ 150 and up ;)
Located ground level @ Bellevue Square.

This was my very 1^st straight razor shave & I was very impressed. The Barber was exceptional & very knowledgeable. I paid for the «Royal Shave» & received a very «royal» treatment. For my first time, I’m certainly wanting to make this a regular thing. Too bad there isn’t one near my home in Spokane.

My husband and I were BEYOND impressed with how knowledgeable and helpful Tristan was! He was so great and my husband is really excited to try out his new products! We enjoyed the great history lesson we were given and the great information we were given. Tristan is the best!

Yes the shaving cream is pricey. The total package (pre-​shave oil, cream, and aftershave lotion) is about $ 50 – 60. However, the stuff lasts forever and you don’t need to use a ton of cream if you have a brush. It smells good and the products have helped me avoid ingrown hairs (a problem I have). However, this place isn’t for someone on a budget.

I received a men’s haircut & shave here and was less than pleased. The barber didn’t listen to my haircut requests and instead spent her time telling me she was classically trained. Maybe this is for some folks, not for me.

Let me dispel the myth of this store for those that are new to wet shaving.
I’m a wet shaver and use my Merkur Vision 2000 set every other day. I used to hate shaving with a cartridge and shaved once a week and hated the entire «experience».
So for those «hardcore» Wet Shavers who hang out on Badger & Blade forums. I would say you’re not missing much in this store. You can get it all online, unless you just want to go in and sample the scents etc.
For the «average» guy I first want to say learn the craft and shave with a safety razor. I’m not saying go out and buy a straight but do yourself a favor and put down the Mach 3. Before you get started go on YouTube and watch some DE razor shave techniques.
Things to know.
The Art of Shaving is a store and it carries specific products. They try to make it all sound fancy but let’s cut through the BS. For example, most of their safety razors are made by Merkur. You can find them online for much less. Their brushes used to made by Plisson but are now made by Muhle also found online for much less. Their shave soap (not cream) is made by Volabra which is a very good soap maker, though their product is much cheaper under the Volabra name. The actual safety razor blades are much cheaper online as well. Get yourself a sample pack from
or something.
Now here’s what they’re good for. Their soft product and scents. I love the Sandalwood scent line and use the Soap, Aftershave and the Eau De Toilette. I also use D.R. Harris products and this is just as good in terms of quality and I would say the soap is even a bit more slick so if you like that then this is something to look at.
So yes, their products are top tier and the soap bar will last you for a long time (6 months to a year easy). So don’t be put off by the initial price. By switching to DE blades you no longer have to pay $ 4/​cartridge. The blades cost about 25 cents each and last 4+ shaves. Although, they’re so cheap I toss them after 4.
The sales staff is a bit talkative and extravagant in their approach to selling the product, but they mean well. At the end of the day it’s just soap… Really-​good-​triple-​milled-​tallow-​based-​soap. So yes it lasts a long time and it smells good. But it’s soap. Is it worth it? I think so. For $ 22 bucks for a puck of soap you have other options and in that price range they are all damn good so it’s all about scent preference.
The sales staff is nice. We wanted a puck and bowl for my GF who liked the smell of the Lavender soap. They didn’t have a bowl so we bought the puck and the sales person gave us a tester bowl from the backroom free. (Thanks!). This is what keeps us coming back.
Also, if you’re looking for a straight razor shave to do with a buddy they only do one at a time so you can’t sit there side by side like in the old barbershops and get a straight shave while smoking cigars.

So, I made an appointment to go in on my wedding day.
To get a ‘professional’ shave, to deal with a few day’s fuzz. Having figured that the nice people at Art of Shaving could do a far better job than I could, with my disposable razor.
I was wrong.
A short while after my appointment began, I left the store. I had been successfully hot-​toweled, poorly shaven, and discovered that the styptic pen used could not in fact stop the bleeding from where the attendant had sliced my earlobe.
There was no apology given.
I was not given a refund.
I went home, re-​shaved myself with my disposable razor. Did a better job of it. Finally staunched the bleeding, and went on to salvage a very special day.
Do not give them your money.
Do not go to Art of Shaving.

Walking in here you’re almost intimidated with all the shaving stuff… but, if you look around you will see the amazing variety of stuff! We went in today to buy my honey some shaving stuff and were greeting with really helpful people!
I will definitely go back to buy presents here for my honey and I will buy myself something too because they carry a women’s line!
Definitely walk in and check this place out — -oh and they do private male shavings, like the old style barber way, SO COOL!

I am a fan, a fan of the products and a fan of a good old shave.
The first time I ever got a straight razor shave I walked out with this new found love for the service. A skilled hand and the right products make an excellent shave.
I started buying the products here and evenness considering investing in a handle to pop my Gillette carts into. Then I came across this article in Men’s Health talking about how a straight razor shave at home is the best home shave a man can get (suck in that Gillette!). I walked in one day, wholly forth intention to browse and learn a thing or two. The sales rep was very helpful and even showed me the techniques in how to use a straight edge razor, how to sharpen it, and how to manage the upkeep of it.
I have been watching YouTube videos and trying to learn as much as I can. What I do know is I will be back to buy my razor and I definitely will talk to the bloke who helped me.

I went in here in an attempt to buy some Christmas gifts for my best friend. This place is pretty froofroo, so needless to say, I was looking to spend some money or I wouldn’t have come in.
I was in there for about 20 minutes, looking confused as shit (how the f*ck often does a girl have to familiarize herself with men’s razors and the whole shaving cream and brush and whatever??), and not one single sales person even glanced at me. It makes me wonder what sort of clientele they think will purchase. During my 20 minutes, several men walked out, going «whoa, that’s too much».
I worked retail for several years and I worked at Bellevue Square. I’m going to make a generalization here that most people will agree with: Asians have money. Asians in Bellevue really have money. They drive BMWs, Lexus (es?), Mercedes-​Benz, and they wear name brand underwear for goodness’ sake. So if a well-​dressed Asian comes into your shop (especially a woman, who’s obviously not shopping for herself), you’re going to want to drop everything you’re doing that isn’t bringing immediate revenue in, and you’re going to want to offer your best services.
Art of Shaving, you guys may not have lost a real negligible amount of money by losing my business this Christmas and forever, but if your customer service continues to suck so f*cking badly, then I hope for your sake you get some new management in there, or there’s going to be a new space for lease in Bell Square.

Full disclosure:
«I’ve never been shaved by anyone before.»
Waitasec…that doesn’t sound right at all. Reverse, strike, let me rephrase:
«I’ve never been shaved before.»
Nope, that sounds kinda wrong too.
How about this:
«This was my first time getting a shave.» Argh — there’s just no way I can say this without hearing my own subconscious snickers…
I came here on the recommendation of my brother — he speaks very highly of his experiences here. And now I can see why. Stopped in here on a Monday and got the «Royal Shave» experience. Now, before you all start jumping to conclusions, let me assure you it’s 1) Facial hair only and 2) completely legit. Just like what you used to see in those old time movies. Reclined back in the old-​school barber chair, hot medicated steam towels on your face, shave oil, warm lathered shave cream and probably the closest shave I’ve ever had in my life. And all with a straight razor which is just straight-​up cool! And the whole experience was very relaxing. I almost fell asleep in the chair a couple of times. Kinda wish I could afford to do it more often!
These guys are kind helping to re-​start a niche movement. The idea that guys can take care of themselves, how they look, and their personal grooming habits in a way that is high class without being metro.
Like I said, this isn’t exactly something that I could afford to do on a regular basis, but for the occasional indulgence in my personal appearance (think: Men’s equivalent of a spa-​day) I’ll definitely be back. And ladies, this is definitely a cool gift you can give you guy. Not only will he like it, but you’ll like the feel of his baby-​butt smooth face when he gets home.
4 stars!

I am here to share my thoughts on the women’s line… aren’t you lucky?!
I couldn’t care less about their customer service. They are pushy on their upselling and it is very transparent. Therefore, I won’t go in to look at products, only to buy.
The women’s line is great. It smells nice, really makes for a close shave and is the only product I have used and NOT gotten razor burn. I used the preshave oil (a MUST in my opinion) and the shaving cream in a tub with the rockin awesome brush. I was smooth for a very long time. The product also lasts for a long time… therefore the price isn’t that scary!
Use it wherever you shave… you won’t be disappointed!

Another «If I could give it ZERO Stars, I would» reviews. I have been going to The Art of Shaving since shortly after they opened and in the beginning they had great service. The manager had worked for Nordstrom and liked the products so much she hired on when the store opened. I haven’t seen her in quite some time and their customer service has not been the same in the past couple of years so I have gone back to buying their products from Nordstrom.
I have always wanted to get a shave buying product there for a couple of years, I got a gift certificate for a «Royal Shave», I decided to add on the head shave since I have been shaving my head for about ten years I wanted to give it a try.
Never ever get a head shave!!! After ten years I know how to shave my head without getting razor burn, I assumed that a professional would too. Bad assumption on my part, worst case of razor burn I ever had on my head.
As for the Royal Shave, I should have saved some money and gotten a «Royal with Cheese». It was okay but not worth the $. If I ever get a shave again it is going to be from a real barber in a real barber shop. If I can find one of those…
Every morning when I shave I think that I should edit this review. I have a razor from the Art of Shaving that I have some issues with too. Seems to me that if I spend close to $ 100 for what is basically a handle for a Gillette Mach 3 that I shouldn’t have to tighten the connections every day. I have been meaning to put some Locktite on the connections but haven’t got around to it yet.
I also have a Silver Tip Badger hair brush that I will never shave without again.
To sum everything up:
The Art of Shaving Products and and Silver Tip Badger Hair Brush = 5 Stars.
The Art of Shaving store and services in Bellevue Square = ZERO Stars but I had to give them 1.

This summer, my cousin told me of a recent penchant he had developed for shaving and shaving products. I thought to myself, «uhhh, ok…,» but kept an open mind. He told me about safety razors, an ‘improvement’ from the straight edged razor of the early 20^th/​late nineteenth century. He then sent me one and told me of a bunch of websites where I could request free shaving samples (creams, pre-​shave oils, aftershaves) and after cutting myself several times from the new razor, I began to like it and vowed never to go back to the 3,4,5 or 20 bladed monsters that tear away at one’s skin.
After using all the products, I determined that most were frivolous, but really liked the pre-​shave oil, a thick oil that conditions your whiskers/​face and makes the hairs stand up, so I today I headed on over to TAOS and picked up some new blades and some sandalwood pre-​shave oil.
The store was pretentious, but classy. They had what I wanted, and the sales associate even showed me how to apply the oil. I bought enough to last me a year or more, so I won’t be going back, unless I decide in the future to get some aftershave lotion. They are pricey, but if you go with a safety razor (they carry some and here’s a website that has a bunch)
the price per shave goes down, and you will make a whole lot less waste.

I received the «Royal Shave» offered here as a birthday gift. (I’ve always wanted to try a professional shave)
The experience was fantastic!
What I liked:
— Very professional. The master barber guides you through what he is doing and is more than willing to answer questions along the way.
— Great products. The oils and cremes felt great before and after the shave. I felt like it was the closest shave I’ve ever had.
— Shave was done using the straight razor. I’ve always wanted to try that.
— During one part of the shave they put a exfoliating mask on my face. Never had that done before either!
Not so good:
— I have sensitive skin on my neck and I had a little bit of razor burn that was itchy for a few days afterwards. (this is common for me)
— Expensive. This is the target customer so I decided not to ding them any stars.
Overall it turned out to be an awesome gift. I’d highly recommend for that guy who is tough to buy gifts for the guy who has everything. Might not be so good for the guy who has a beard though.

Ever since I’ve heard about this store and it’s products, and my new interest in better grooming myself… I’ve become very interested in this store. Anyway I got myself one of their travel beginner shaver kits. The one that comes with a small badger brush, some pre-​shave oil, shaving cream, and after-​shave balm. I was very impressed with the shave paired with my Gillette powered fusion shaver (bought from Costco =P).
I’m not sure if the shave was really worth the extra price, but it’s definitely one of the best shaves I’ve ever done myself. And it does make me curious what a $ 55 shave is like at the actual store (maybe before I go to Vegas). Considering I’m a hairless Asian who only needs to shave once a week (at a maximum) it wouldn’t cost me too much more to use their products for shaving.
I just went in today to pick up an awesome stand for my brush and my razor. Looks beautiful in my bathroom. I think I may eventually buy their stainless steel Gillette fusion razor as well as a bigger silver tip badger hair brush. But that’s a little out of my price range… for now. The lady working was very patient and helpful. So A+ on the service.
Anyway is the products in this store really worth the price? probably not. But if you got some extra money to spend on your grooming, or you want an excellent gift for your fiancé/husband/boyfriend…I highly recommend a stop in The Art of Shaving.
~G

I received a $ 55 gift card for this store last Christmas and I finally got around to checking it out. The $ 55 was intended to be for the «Royal Shave» but I decided I would get more for my money by buying some shaving supplies.
I entered the store and was immediately greeted by a young woman named Melissa. She asked me if I knew anything about their products and I told her I did not. She took me over to the sink and showed me their four main products: pre-​shave oil, shaving cream & brush, and the post-​shave oil. She did a good job explaining what all the products did and showing how they would be applied on the skin. Overall, she was very helpful, friendly, and genuinely interested in her job.
I ended up buying the pre-​shave oil and the post-​shave cream. For both items the total came to $ 65; not bad for my gift card purchase. The bottles for each are small (60ml) but considering that you only need a pea sized amount, the bottles will last me for several months. So while this may seem expensive, I think I will get my money’s worth in the long run.
I’ve used the two products for about a week and so far I’ve been satisfied with my shave. If you’re ever in the Bellevue Square Mall I’d say at least stop by and check the store out.