I stand corrected. Possibly it’s the “feel”.
my SLOK head is thinner then my Gillette Slim.
Major Changes in Shaving Since 1960? 1970?
- Thread starter Four for Luck
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my SLOK head is thinner then my Gillette Slim.
My Gillette TTO razors get the least use of all of my vintage razors, and I think it is because I prefer the thinner heads of the 3-piece New and Tech.
Of my modern DE razors, I use my Game Changers most often for the same reason.
I'd say the newest trend since the 70s is the resurgence of not shaving. I'm very often in the minority at restaurants, etc.
Trends come and go, but I wonder how much of the beard comeback is related to the ridiculous cost of shaving gear and the ignorance of alternatives.
Okay, maybe second newest trend. The first would be the outrageous corporate fleecing of the consumer.
Trends come and go, but I wonder how much of the beard comeback is related to the ridiculous cost of shaving gear and the ignorance of alternatives.
Okay, maybe second newest trend. The first would be the outrageous corporate fleecing of the consumer.
Product availability via internet shopping is probably the biggest change.
Personally I think Gillette peaked with the Atra cartridge. Everything after was just a better mouse trap. What the cartridge razor did accomplish was a fast, effective morning shave with generally good results. For many, myself included this was a welcome change. Gillette adjustable razrs were good and bad. The heads on those razors made shaving under the nose and upper lip difficult at best. Still shave with the Atra razor at times.
Nearing retirement and working from home the morning rush is no longer a factor. Switched to nighttime shaves years ago anyway when the work commute started at 5:30 in the morning. Now the DE shaves are more enjoyable. Better? No, not worse either.
There are many shave methods, many tools, and many faces. Anyone believing DE is the best for all is kidding themselves. Find what works for you and enjoy.
Personally I think Gillette peaked with the Atra cartridge. Everything after was just a better mouse trap. What the cartridge razor did accomplish was a fast, effective morning shave with generally good results. For many, myself included this was a welcome change. Gillette adjustable razrs were good and bad. The heads on those razors made shaving under the nose and upper lip difficult at best. Still shave with the Atra razor at times.
Nearing retirement and working from home the morning rush is no longer a factor. Switched to nighttime shaves years ago anyway when the work commute started at 5:30 in the morning. Now the DE shaves are more enjoyable. Better? No, not worse either.
There are many shave methods, many tools, and many faces. Anyone believing DE is the best for all is kidding themselves. Find what works for you and enjoy.
But going back to the original post, a DE razor is a basic tool. I can’t think of a major change, new ones are based on old ones to an extent though updated manufacturing. Soap is soap. Razor blades are better.
To me, a major change is akin to 60’s/70 cars going from carburetor to fuel injection. Unless you consider cartridge razors into the scope of shaving overall, but that was not the OP i tent.
To me, a major change is akin to 60’s/70 cars going from carburetor to fuel injection. Unless you consider cartridge razors into the scope of shaving overall, but that was not the OP i tent.
Hi,
I began shaving in 1976, so the carts and cans were already here. And the SE and DE razors and blades and soaps and creams and brushes were also around. So, my beginning was a pre-war Tech and sharing his Yardley soap and rubberset brush. He used either Gillette or Schick DE blades in the 15 count dispenser, whichever was cheaper at the moment of purchase. And the blades were in grocery as well as drug stores. The Yardley came from the Rexall drug store.
By 1980, the Yardley was gone along with the local Rexall drug store. But, it was OK as Old Spice had a good soap and that was everywhere.
By the late 1980s, Old Spice soap also disappeared. As did everything else. First from the grocery store and then the drug stores, one by one. I was then having to buy my blades from the surgical supply store, which meant Personna Med Preps. Soap had to be made. Fortunately, there are always artisan soaps, usually associated with farms.
So, that was a huge change. One had to embrace the Cart and the Can or go well out of one's way to stick with SE or DE shaving.
Then, the internet came along to the Average Joe. I was online beginning 1980, but back then there was no online buying of stuff like there was later on. So, I think the largest change was what we have today. Buy stuff from practically anywhere.
Stan
I began shaving in 1976, so the carts and cans were already here. And the SE and DE razors and blades and soaps and creams and brushes were also around. So, my beginning was a pre-war Tech and sharing his Yardley soap and rubberset brush. He used either Gillette or Schick DE blades in the 15 count dispenser, whichever was cheaper at the moment of purchase. And the blades were in grocery as well as drug stores. The Yardley came from the Rexall drug store.
By 1980, the Yardley was gone along with the local Rexall drug store. But, it was OK as Old Spice had a good soap and that was everywhere.
By the late 1980s, Old Spice soap also disappeared. As did everything else. First from the grocery store and then the drug stores, one by one. I was then having to buy my blades from the surgical supply store, which meant Personna Med Preps. Soap had to be made. Fortunately, there are always artisan soaps, usually associated with farms.
So, that was a huge change. One had to embrace the Cart and the Can or go well out of one's way to stick with SE or DE shaving.
Then, the internet came along to the Average Joe. I was online beginning 1980, but back then there was no online buying of stuff like there was later on. So, I think the largest change was what we have today. Buy stuff from practically anywhere.
Stan
Agreed.
There's been a revolution in convenience and ease of shaving since the 1960s. That comes at a high cost and produces a generally inferior result (at least it does for me).
For many men, spending five minutes shaving versus 20-30 minutes for a really good DE shave (including prep) is a no-brainer. That really good DE shave, however, gets me a result that I couldn't achieve with a cartridge or disposable under any circumstances.
I can't recall whether I got better results with the Atra or the Mach 3. I used the latter for many, many years, until I discovered DE shaving.
I started shaving in the late 60s. Aerosol foam was common.
The big changes since then:
Disposables
Multi-blades
Pivoting heads becoming common
Lubrication strips
Gels for lubrication
Disposable plastics / plastic waste
Top end razors and accessories lost their place as gifts and status markers (until the recent revival).
Oh yeah, stubble became fashionable.
Getting a fast, socially acceptable shave has been possible since the invention of disposable blade safety razors. No change there. The pivoting head, mild razors of today have moved the expertise from the bathroom to the product development and manufacturing processes.
The big changes since then:
Disposables
Multi-blades
Pivoting heads becoming common
Lubrication strips
Gels for lubrication
Disposable plastics / plastic waste
Top end razors and accessories lost their place as gifts and status markers (until the recent revival).
Oh yeah, stubble became fashionable.
Getting a fast, socially acceptable shave has been possible since the invention of disposable blade safety razors. No change there. The pivoting head, mild razors of today have moved the expertise from the bathroom to the product development and manufacturing processes.
Hi,
I have used cart razors for travelling for a long time. Trac-II, Mach-3, Atra and Fusion. I settled out on the Mach-3 and tossed the others once I got done with the last cart for each. The Mach-3 handle plastic got all funky so I removed it, leaving just the metal frame. Which, looks pretty cool.
Stan
I have used cart razors for travelling for a long time. Trac-II, Mach-3, Atra and Fusion. I settled out on the Mach-3 and tossed the others once I got done with the last cart for each. The Mach-3 handle plastic got all funky so I removed it, leaving just the metal frame. Which, looks pretty cool.
Stan
I am so ready for this trend to be over. Two-thirds of the male world looks like it just rolled out of bed and put on some clothes.
A nicely trimmed beard/goatee is great. The rest just looks slovenly.
You are right on target with your summary. Would also add that we tend to see a lot of really minor incremental improvements in our shaving tools, and consumer products in general, that are used to justify significant increases in price via the "clever marketing " you called out.
How much better is a shave with 5 blades versus 3 blades versus two or one? Not enough to really justify the price differentials. Look at electric razors where with the latest generation Norelco has doubled or tripled the typical price by putting the same three shaving heads on a better swivel that with the main benefit being the ability to shave the chin area a few seconds faster.
@Fordfather and @Coler touched on elements of this. The biggest change is the impact of the internet and eCommerce that allows us each to adopt our own preferred customized approach to shaving instead of being forced to choose from the more limited local choices offered by major manufacturers and retailers. At the core of this is our ability to select shaving tools only marketed in other parts of the world with the most important component being the DE blades so many of us prefer.
Without eCommerce our choices, in the U.S. at least, would be limited to the available cartridge systems and electrics. Plus, as Coler noted, we wouldn't be able to order shaving soap from half way around the globe.
P.S. Edit, Just saw @ctr 's comment on this above.
Without eCommerce our choices, in the U.S. at least, would be limited to the available cartridge systems and electrics. Plus, as Coler noted, we wouldn't be able to order shaving soap from half way around the globe.
P.S. Edit, Just saw @ctr 's comment on this above.
The "rotation"
Hi,
My wife prefers me to shave every third day. At the least, every other day. I still maintain the thinking that a daily shave is key to my continued survival. Firefighting air masks require a daily shave.
Stan
2/3rds of the world did.
Those especially who work construction, farming, mining, etc where being clean shaven has no bearing on work. Especially when work starts at 6 or 7 am.
Only time it matters is as noted above, life safety requirements for respirator or mask.
Back then you would be taught by a father or grandfather and there was no way of knowing if that person really knew what they were doing and what might work better and more comfortably
I think corporate fleecing existed long before the 60s or 70s
Ohhh I never talk to that guy. He almost always gives me bad advice that costs me too much money.
From my P.O.V. the biggest changes from the 60s/70s in our hobby/obsession, is that fact that wet shaving is now considered a hobby rather than just something that must be done.
The advent of the internet has made sharing information much easier. Rather than being handed down from father to son we now get to chat with anyone about shaving.
The rise of new brushless creams such as Cremo, Kiss My Face, etc... replacing canned foams and gels that were mostly air is another that comes to mind.
I started shaving in the early to mid 70s. My journey included DEs, injectors, Trac 2s, Atras, and electrics.
The biggest improvement for me is knowledge. Nobody taught me how to shave other than watching my father (nobody taught him). The biggest takeaway was to remove the small scraps of toilet paper that stopped the nicks from bleeding. Shaving was one pass and done usually with canned foam.
Today we have forums, you tube videos, and a wealth of knowledge (after weeding through the chaff). My oldest razor today is from prior to 1920 and razors from each decade since through the 1960s, with a host of razors from this millennium. Each of my razors with three passes and improved technique gives a shave superior to my shaves in the 70s.
My favorite razor is a titanium Blackbird. Interestingly, the titanium changes the weight to approximate the weight of the stamped brass razors of the past.
The Blackbird to me is an improvement, but my knowledge accounts for the most improvement.
The biggest improvement for me is knowledge. Nobody taught me how to shave other than watching my father (nobody taught him). The biggest takeaway was to remove the small scraps of toilet paper that stopped the nicks from bleeding. Shaving was one pass and done usually with canned foam.
Today we have forums, you tube videos, and a wealth of knowledge (after weeding through the chaff). My oldest razor today is from prior to 1920 and razors from each decade since through the 1960s, with a host of razors from this millennium. Each of my razors with three passes and improved technique gives a shave superior to my shaves in the 70s.
My favorite razor is a titanium Blackbird. Interestingly, the titanium changes the weight to approximate the weight of the stamped brass razors of the past.
The Blackbird to me is an improvement, but my knowledge accounts for the most improvement.
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