American Standard "Toilette"

After three days of God-knows-what kind of online S.N.A.F.U., our boys over at the monolith that is Google finally seem to have resolved the problems with the Blogger platform. My apologies for a brief but un-intended absence.

When it comes to the subject of gentleman's grooming, I am a die hard fuddy-duddy. I like to keep things classic and simple, and I've never been one for expensive soaps, lotions, or fragrances. True, I've dabbled in bathroom fanciness, but I always come home to the American basics.

Royal Crown Hair Dressing and Old Spice have been part of my kit, off and on, since I was first old enough to shave. Being a sucker for aesthetics, I will admit to be more than a little enamored of the quaintly outmoded packaging, and of course the fact that these things can be found cheaply at the local CVS is a plus.

Royal Crown is a goopy pomade that I used to use to make my hair into a tall, shiny, greasy pompadour in the rock'n'roll days. Back then, I would slather a big fat scoop of it up top every morning. These days, I find that a tiny fingertip of the stuff massaged into damp hair after the shower is just enough to add a little sheen and keep my thick waves in check. Basically, it's just soft Vaseline dressed up with olive oil and fragrance, but it works, and if used sparingly, washes out pretty easily with a normal shampoo, in my case Market Basket brand imitation Pert.

For the Well-Curated-Authentic-Heritage Brand-Americana fetishists, still proudly made by J.Strickland and Co. of Olive Branch, MS. When you look at all those black and white photos from the Life archives  of guys camping in Maine in Filson jackets, Pendleton shirts and Bean Boots from the 1940s, this is what they have in their hair. $2.50 at the local pharmacy, one can should last the better part of a year.

I hadn't used Old Spice, or any after shave or cologne for that matter, in years. Then, back in August, we had a surprise 60th birthday party for my Dad. Some of his friends put together an old guy gag gift basket, full of Grecian formula, Depends, Geritol, and Old Spice. The rest of the stuff was disposed of post haste, but I kept the Old Spice. Just a drop on the face after a good old wet shave is a nice feeling in the morning. Also made in USA by the good folks at Procter & Gamble, who also provide me with all the Ivory soap I need. $6.49 for a bottle that will last two years.

You may remember I use a safety razor, and I may have complained at the difficulty I sometimes have in procuring blades. A few weeks ago, I picked up two old packages of Gillette Blue Blades, 

and five packages of "the spoiler", each for a dollar. That's 90 razor blades for $7.00. Given that I change my blade weekly, these should last me nearly two years. Still on the card, and in metal dispensers.

From a long gone once upon a time when Gillette products were manufactured in Boston. True, the argument could be made that to use this would be a sin, but I am of the opinion that something like a razor blade is completely worthless as anything other than a shaving implement. I'll shave with them while wearing my un-used USA made Converse sneakers...or should I give these things to the Smithsonian?

And there you have it. These items, along with Aim or Aquafresh (whichever is on sale that week) constitute the American Standard "Toilette". Cheap, classic, and masculine. Who needs all that fancy stuff? Use the money you save to buy bow ties, suede shoes, collar pins and other assorted fopperies.

p.s. we also have an American Standard Toilet, in case you care to know.