It’s time for American men to kick the can.

We’re talking about the shaving cream can -- which most of us grab every morning of our lives, half-awake, fizzing and squirting a stream of cold glop into our hand.

Instead, why not work up a beautiful lather with real soap and a soft brush made on the Isle of Man from choice badger hair? Lather up like Cary Grant and remove the stubble with an heirloom-quality razor instead of a cheap piece of plastic.

That’s how Joe Posch sees it. As the owner of Hugh – Detroit’s hip men’s store – Posch is in a position to help you turn his words into deeds.

The Skinny:

Fun Fact: The badger shaving brushes sold at Hugh are made on the Isle of Man.
Hugh
4240 Cass Ave.
Detroit, MI 48201
hugh@thankhugh.com
313.831.4844

“There are certain things we have to do all the time, and one of them is grooming. You buy something nice so that when you use it, the experience is better,” Posch said.

The Progress Vulfix Super Badger shave brush is made by one of the oldest and most-respected shaving brush manufacturers in the United Kingdom.

“Exploring the classic shaving regimens has become a very popular thing," Posch said. "Especially guys in their 20s and 30s, they’ve really embraced classic shaving.”

Hugh sells classic badger shave brushes by Progress Vulfix in basic and super grades for $30 and $50. If you want a top-of-the-line Silvertip brush (around $120), Hugh can order it for you.

“There aren’t a lot of treats in the male grooming regimen, but there’s this ideal shaving regimen we all have in our heads,” Posch said. “Frankly, it’s a little more romantic.”

Straight razors go for $150 to $200. Double-sided safety razors run $15 to $80, and blades are 50 cents to a buck apiece.

“When you use a shave brush and a double-sided safety razor, it gives you a great shave and it really doesn’t take much longer,” Posch said. “It’s ecologically friendly, it doesn’t produce as much waste and it’s actually more cost-effective in the long run.”

Another essential item Posch recommends for the well-groomed man is a good manicure set. Hugh sells Japanese-made Kiya clippers and five-piece Pfeilring manicure sets from Germany.

“Ritual and ceremony are things that have evolved over time,” he said. “They may seem superfluous. But when you use the right tool for the job, it makes a big difference in the experience.”

“These are the little upgrades we can make in our lives that just make us a little bit happier.”