The Golden Heart of Strike Gold Shave: An Interview with Frank Misa
- Teutonblade
- Oct 4, 2025
- 4 min read
Frank Misa is the founder and driving creative force behind Strike Gold Shave, an artisan men’s grooming house celebrated for meticulous craftsmanship, refined, highly wearable fragrance design, and distinctive, history-inspired narratives. A respected leader in the wet-shaving community, Frank draws on his service as a retired police officer and firefighter to mentor enthusiasts and foster a culture of camaraderie, collaboration, and mutual support. His brand is renowned for an uncompromising dedication to quality and an equally rigorous commitment to customer service. Guided by a deep love of history and a broad well of personal experience, he consistently delivers some of the most distinctive products in modern wet shaving. We were fortunate to catch up with Frank to explore his journey and philosophy. Here’s Frank…
Your wet-shaving journey seems to have started with straight razors. What draws you to them, and how would you contrast their character with double-edge or single-edge safety razors? Do you still reach for a safety razor on occasion—and if so, when?
My wet-shaving journey began with straight razors because I love their history, the required skill. They Offers infinite control over angle and pressure and although they demand skill, they give a highly personalized, close shave. I find them easier to use, safer, and more consistent due to a fixed blade angle and guard. I still use a safety razor occasionally—mostly when I'm in a rush or traveling.
You’ve become highly regarded for honing. What defines a quality straight razor in your view (steel, grind, geometry, heat treat), and what core principles guide your honing process? What common mistakes do you see, and what hard-won tips would you share?
A quality straight razor is defined by the quality of its parts. The most important elements are the heat treat (how the steel is hardened), which allows it to hold an edge, and the geometry (the grind), which allows for an efficient shave.
My core honing principles are:
Set the Bevel!!: The two sides of the edge must meet perfectly before moving to fine stones. This is 95% of the process.
Be Consistent: Use the same angle, pressure, and number of strokes on both sides.
Learning pressure: learning how to read stones and adjusting pressure to match the s tone
The most common mistake I see is moving to finer stones too soon. My best tip is to be patient and meticulous—focus on feedback, not just speed. MAKE SURE YOUR BEVEL IS 100% SET!!
On your site you note that, after honing professionally, you fell in love with fine fragrance. Was there a particular composition that sparked that shift, or did it emerge gradually as you explored the world of scent?
The shift from honing to fragrance was a gradual, not a single event. After years of smelling various shaving soaps, I became fascinated with the art of scent.
Are there fragrance families or accords you’re consistently drawn to? When developing a new soap and aftershave, how do you decide between an original composition and a reference-inspired design?
My consistent favorites are powder notes. I’ll draw inspiration from an existing fragrance when I want to share a high-quality, beloved scent with the wet-shaving world. For unique scents, I’ll create one to interpret a theme, like a unique and interesting event from history.
In your opinion, what qualities make a men’s fragrance truly wearable and memorable?
For a men's fragrance to be wearable and memorable, it needs balance, good silage (it projects well without being overwhelming), and a unique signature.
You’ve done several successful collaborations. What do you look for in a partner, and how does the creative workflow differ from working solo? Any moments from those projects that changed your approach to scent or product design?
I look for partners who offer creative and unique points of view. Collaboration involves constant feedback, unlike solo work. A key lesson was learning to be less rigid with my initial ideas.
Many Strike Gold Shave releases draw on U.S. history and presidential themes. What attracts you to those narratives, and how do you pair a historical theme with a specific olfactory direction and visual identity?
I'm attracted to U.S. history and presidential themes because they represent leadership. I pair the themes by researching a scent that symbolizes the person or era and then design the visual art to match the story.
You’re a retired police officer and firefighter. Do you see parallels between those brotherhoods and the wet-shaving community—culture, mentorship, standards?
There are indeed strong parallels between the public-service brotherhoods (police/fire) and the wet-shaving community which include a culture of mentorship and a demand for high standards in preparation and execution.
How has your public-service background influenced how you build the brand—your approach to quality control, ethics, risk management, and customer care?
My background influences the brand's focus on quality control, ethics (integrity and honest communication), and treating every customer interaction with respect and urgency.
What’s next for Strike Gold Shave? Are there new bases, formats (EDP/EDT), or distribution initiatives you can share with the community?
We are always refining our formulas. The biggest upcoming projects include more collaborations like we have done in the past with established fragrance companies and selectively expanding access while keeping our commitment to small-batch quality.
If you could leave the wet-shaving community with one message, what would it be?
Slow down and focus on the ritual. The true joy of this hobby is in the process and the skill, not just the finished PRODUCT.
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