When I started shaving in 1956 there was only a handful of DE and SE razors and not much in the way of blade selection. You were bound to what your local store carried. I was fortunate to live in the NYC area so I had a better selection than many folks. However, as best as I can recall my local stores carried only one brand of DE blades, Gillette Blues, and not much in the way of razors. There were only a few varieties of soaps and creams and as brushes were usually no-name brushes.
Actually, things got worse with the introduction of canned shaving cream and cartridges. The razor companies advertised only cartridge razors and canned shaving creams and gradually it became more difficult to find DE blades, real soap and cream, as well as DE and SE razors. I recall that one pharmacy in NYC where I worked carried two brands of shaving cream (Noxema and Kings) and one Williams and a perhaps another brand of soap.
However, everything changed with the introduction of the Internet. For the first time, I could order high-quality soaps and creams. I recall placing an order with T&H in the U.K. and waiting patiently for my order to arrive. Eventually, online stores in the U.S. popped up and things improved. Now you have numerous blades to choose from as well as many new and classic products. Just in the past 12 years, I have seen so many more new companies on the scene. Just think about all the new razors on the scene as well as numerous artisans producing soaps and creams.
When Gillette introduced cartridges and stopped producing new razors I never thought I would see a new DE razor produced.
To me, this is truly a golden age for traditional shaving. Many products to choose from at reasonable prices.
Actually, things got worse with the introduction of canned shaving cream and cartridges. The razor companies advertised only cartridge razors and canned shaving creams and gradually it became more difficult to find DE blades, real soap and cream, as well as DE and SE razors. I recall that one pharmacy in NYC where I worked carried two brands of shaving cream (Noxema and Kings) and one Williams and a perhaps another brand of soap.
However, everything changed with the introduction of the Internet. For the first time, I could order high-quality soaps and creams. I recall placing an order with T&H in the U.K. and waiting patiently for my order to arrive. Eventually, online stores in the U.S. popped up and things improved. Now you have numerous blades to choose from as well as many new and classic products. Just in the past 12 years, I have seen so many more new companies on the scene. Just think about all the new razors on the scene as well as numerous artisans producing soaps and creams.
When Gillette introduced cartridges and stopped producing new razors I never thought I would see a new DE razor produced.
To me, this is truly a golden age for traditional shaving. Many products to choose from at reasonable prices.