Dark Ages of Shaving

[dotKomo]

My vote is 90s to 00s when it was all about how more blades in a cart can give you the magical shave.

As eloquently stated previously in the thread, a good soap/cream with a brush, proper pre and post shave and technique will provide a good shave with any razor. And I don't disparage canned shaving cream, as I do use it on occasion.

 

[Wgg2017]

Just curious but what are the big brands pushing these days? Is it still 5 blade razors? I haven’t paid attention to commercials in years but I do occasionally see one for a Gillette razor with bright green accents. I only remember it because bright green is one of my favorite colors.

 

[Hugh]

My vote for the Dark Age of shaving is going to be quite different. I suggest the Dark Ages of shaving is the present. Yup, not for those of us here a B & B but for the vast majority of those still using cartridge razors and unaware that SE and DE shaving gear and techniques of the past are so much better.

We know better and can be SE and DE shaving evangelists delivering the message to those still in the dark. Come to the light and experience what our grandfathers experienced and even better with the modern blade technology gramps did not have.

 

[Frito Ray]

The Mach 3 was the last acceptable cart razor for me. I preferred the Sensor, but once the Mach 3 was introduced the blades eventually became harder and harder to find.

4-5 blade carts were no good for me because of the clogging. And as usual once these atrocities became the norm, the Mach 3 blades became harder to find and their price were eventually increased to match the Fusion prices.

 

[MrSpeedy]

My Dark Ages were from when I started shaving, roughly 1988/89, until I joined B&B in 2013.

If you asked my Dad, his Dark Ages were from when he started shaving and all he had access to was a DE razor until cartridge razors and canned goo became available. He hated lathering soap and using DE razors; to him cartridges and goo were the best things since sliced bread.

 

[Tomo]

I was in the wilds with a stubble beard from 2000 to 2020. Dark times. Living like a savage.

 

[Wgg2017]

My vote for the Dark Age of shaving is going to be quite different. I suggest the Dark Ages of shaving is the present. Yup, not for those of us here a B & B but for the vast majority of those still using cartridge razors and unaware that SE and DE shaving gear and techniques of the past are so much better.

We know better and can be SE and DE shaving evangelists delivering the message to those still in the dark. Come to the light and experience what our grandfathers experienced and even better with the modern blade technology gramps did not have.

Not to be a contrarian, but I almost feel like today is the golden age. We can choose from vintage products or new products and there are so many more options than when I started in the mid 2000s. All it takes to discover these things is a simple Google search.

 

[Hairy Callahan]

My personal dark days of shaving had to be when I got started, with the white handled single blade BiC disposables. Dealt with those skin scrapers for years until the Mach3 came out and I had my very first comfortable shave. Still have a soft spot in my heart for the Mach3. Never enjoyed shaving until that thing came along.

 

[Frito Ray]

If you asked my Dad…to him cartridges … were the best things since sliced bread.

Same with mine!

 

[blade08]

In my opinion, there are no "dark ages". Everyone has their preferences. And cartridges, foam/gel work well when used correctly. That folks like us on a shave forum prefer something else, is something entirely different.

My father for example has been using foam and gels in combination with Gillette cartridge razors for at least as long as I am his son and he's one happy shaver and always well groomed. He doesn't 'see' a problem.

 

[profusion]

I would say the 1980s-90s, at least in the developed world.

The DEs disappeared, and the cartridges became more more gimmicky and expensive with each year.

I started shaving in 1981, and my dad had abandoned DEs years before and wasn't about to reintroduce them to me. So, BiC disposables it was. As great a dad as he was in every other way, I think he spent about 10 minutes showing me how to shave. I was a feral shaving teen!

 

[tejolot3]

Everything before the internet.

* mic drop*

 

[Zanzibardragonlion]

The 90s were bad. Really bad. I had a pack of Schick twin blade disposables which I hated and vaguely felt guilty about throwing away and a Remington electric which I also hated. I actually tried wet shaving during this era but the only shaving soap I could find was Williams, and I had no idea how to lather it. i had the cheapest, worst shaving brush in the world (I think it was one of those old Nylon brushes). I tried using a safety razor but used it like a cartridge which of course resulted in cuts and misery. A pivoting head cartridge seemed like the best I could do, though I still hated shaving. It honestly seems incredible that I actually love shaving now.

 

[StlEd]

The Gillette Super Blue blade brought shaving out of the dark ages, when it was introduced in 1960. Previously, blades required more care in order to perform as well as current technology.
While I believe the multi-mega-blade cartridges are silly and expensive, I'm still somewhat a fan of the Atra/Contour, and might still be using one regularly if the price-per-shave hadn't gone up so dramatically. I still consider the Atra my go-to if I need to put up with TSA travel.

 

[ErkRusselReserve]

I was using my Gillette Sensor and my Sensor Excel back then. I tried the Mach 3 but didn't like it at all. I also tried a couple electric razors and I never got along with any of them.

Same. I think I started with a hand me down Trac II and then got the free Sensor (Excel?) in the mail from Gillette. Stuck with that platform into the 00s and around 2010 switched to these amazing 6 for $1 Wilkinson sword twin disposables for a few years. Then they were taken off the market and I used similar Schick razors that were not as good. Found DE a few years ago and it has been DE/AC/Injector since.

The good thing is that using a fixed disposable let me take to the Leaf Twig like a duck to water. I had issues with a Feather Popular (which is a bit of problem razor due to the plastic base).

The Mach 3 was just too large. Hated it. Once I used up the intro set, it was back to Sensor Excel.

 

[Alex Jr]

The Mach 3 years. Trying to shave under jawline against the grain with a blunt razor and no clue of what I was doing.

PAIN. That’s what I remember. Red bumps that looked like they had a life and a heart beat.

I remember fearing the next morning knowing I would HAVE TO shave due to work.

No wonder I grew a beard.

Ironically, I get great shaves now with a Mach 3 (not ATG) and I like the razor quite a bit.