Evening all,
A friend of mine is being posted to Delhi, India. And i'm planning on visiting her this year. I'll be taking a small supply of shaving gear with me but besides hoping to pick up some Ingrams / Alum Blocks / DE blades. What else should i keep an eye out for?
Best,
Ben
I'm not sure you get Ingrams out there, I thought Ingrams was for Egypt/Middle East.
I'd say take a razor and a synthetic brush. Items like shaving cream, blades should be pretty easy to get hold off. For shaving creams, I found Dettol, Yardley, Old Spice and Gillette quite easily, I bought a few of them and they are pretty good, but there are others as well. Aftershaves, I remember seeng a few things out there, but I bought a few of the Gillette ones, and one of the Old Spice aftershaves.
You'll be able to find the aftershaves and the shaving creams at the mall type supermarkets, I'm sure will be one in your local neighbourhood. There are also small grocer type sellers that stock a number of items, they might have shaving items like Gillette Guard and DE blades.
Everyone uses an alum block out there, aside from providing some disinfectant from the shave/water itself. I find my skin was incredibly greasy in the humid weather, the alum block does a good job at keeping your face dry for a few moments at least.
Paul mentioned street side barbers doing shaves, I'd be a bit cautious about some of them. Some of them can have terrible hygiene, but I'd pick a place which is busy, that's generally a sign they know what they are doing. I went to one when I last went India, he did a great job, no worries for hygiene but did a second pass ATG, and I load of ingrowns after that. If you are sensitive to shaving against the grain, I'd avoid such a barber for a shave, but they can be pretty decent for a haircut!
Anyway, I hope you enjoy your trip out there. India is a full on and hectic place, a lot of things which are difficult to deal with but some moments of beauty in the midst of almost never ending chaos.
