Question about the electric razor from my youth.

[Blackbeard's Delight]

I was recently thinking back to my history of shaving, and I recall my first electric razor- a Remington Microscreen. It was a huge leap for me from disposable single-edge razors and I remember using it for years.

But I remember it came with this chalky thing that was like a wide chap-stick to apply before shaving. You'd rub it around the beard area and it left a powdery residue, then you shaved. Does anyone know what that was? I know I never saw it in stores and no other razor I got came with it. I remember using it up and shaving without it and getting basically the same shave results...

With my new found fascination for pre and post shave procedures, I am really wondering what that chalk stuff was. Does anyone remember that stuff?

 

[Mike H]

I got an electric razor for graduation, but I don't remember any powder stick.

Remington and Derma Bloc sells something similar ...

 

[djm2]

I believe that it was primarily talc, with something as a binding agent. Dried the beard up and helped it to stand up for easier cutting. I thought that it worked pretty well.

 

[Lion and the Fox]

That makes sense. I could never shave with electrics, as I always tended to get really bad irritation around the neck area. I know my dad used an electric his whole life, and still does, and uses talc before shaving.

 

[shavethegray]

I was recently thinking back to my history of shaving, and I recall my first electric razor- a Remington Microscreen. It was a huge leap for me from disposable single-edge razors and I remember using it for years.

But I remember it came with this chalky thing that was like a wide chap-stick to apply before shaving. You'd rub it around the beard area and it left a powdery residue, then you shaved. Does anyone know what that was? I know I never saw it in stores and no other razor I got came with it. I remember using it up and shaving without it and getting basically the same shave results...

With my new found fascination for pre and post shave procedures, I am really wondering what that chalk stuff was. Does anyone remember that stuff?

Actually, I still have a stick of that stuff in the original container. On the front it says:

Remington
LEKTRO
Pre Shave
POWDER
STICK
Absorbs moisture and facial oils
For a smoother more
comfortable electric shave
NET WT. 2 OZ

and on the back it says:

Directions
Rub lightly over face and spread
evenly with finger tips.

Ingredients:
Talcum, Paraffin, Ochre Red, Ochre Yellow

Distributed by
Remington Products inc.
80 Main Street, Bridgeport, CT. 06602

Made in Switzerland SP-5

 

[The Kiwi]

That makes sense. I could never shave with electrics, as I always tended to get really bad irritation around the neck area. I know my dad used an electric his whole life, and still does, and uses talc before shaving.

My old man claimed to have always used Electrics, but it didn't quite add up. He didn't use anything, before or after he shaved. He was born in 1907, putting his first shaves into the early 1920s, before usable shavers were available, unless his beard was late appearing. We never talked about much of anything -- very poor relationship.

I used Lectric Shave lotion some, when I tried Electics, and the far better Afta product, but two electric shaves in a row were enough for blotchy red skin irritation.

Regarding talcum, I had conflicting information. While it would absorb some skin oil, it would also add wear and tear to the heads, which already wore out way too fast.

 

[one cut]

I have two sticks of that, mine is called
BLOC MEN Electric shave skin stick.
I feel that it never helped all that much.

 

[ateace]

I used an electric in the 80s and I used my Dad's Lektro Shave stick from the 60s.

That was the coolest part of the experience and it did help the shave.

 

[JonM]

My first razor was a Remington Microscreen. I had completely forgotten about the "chalk stick" that came with it. I couldn't tell you where to find more of it though. I haven't touched that razor in probably twenty years.