Shaving outside the US

[wlminter]

Thinking recently, I was wondering how DE shaving is perceived in countries outside the US. I'm assuming in Canada it's very similar to the US (Gillette having a near monopoly on cartridge razors, and DEs all but unknown), but how is it in Europe and other parts of the world? Is it more popular? Can you go into a local store and pick a new Merkur, or pack of Feathers?

Just to give you an example of how it is in the US, I was talking to a few of my friends (all in their early 20s) about some of my attempts at getting a DE razor on eBay (all failures by the way ), and they had no idea what a DE was. Even my dad (in his early 60s) uses cartridge razors now.

 

[AdrianR]

From what I've seen & read:

Canada/US/Western Europe/Australasia/Japan - cartridges rule.
Mexico - mainly disposables, very little DE, cartridges available but hideously expensive, given the income level of most men.

Eastern Europe - DE more widespread due to slower industrial development.

Indian Sub-continent & SE Asia - mainly DE.

In other words: the lower the country's GDP, the more likely disposables and DE's are in widespread use.

 

[mrscottishman]

In other words: the lower the country's GDP, the more likely disposables and DE's are in widespread use.

That explains me shaving with a DE, I have a low GDP, but my wife says it is cute.

mrscottishman

 

[Patriot45]

That explains me shaving with a DE, I have a low GDP, but my wife says it is cute.

mrscottishman

I have a lower GDP "because" of my wife!!! (just kiddin')

 

[natchez]

Thanks to AdrianR for the GDP observation and the insight of basic worldwide usage.

 

[oscarbowman]

In the uk, Home of the 3 Ts, it's only spe......t shops that carry any range. Here in N.Ireland the internet is the only way.

Making AD a nightmare!!!

Oscar.

 

[HIT]

Well in Greece the situation is horrible. In the whole area of Athens there are 2 small stores that sell exclusively shaving products (don't imagine a wide range).

Apart from these 2, there are several other stores selling in combination with other cosmetic products, shaving soaps, creams, AS products again in a limited number and variety in comparison with what I've read here. (Ive seen shaving creams like Proraso, CrabTree and Evelin, Wilkinson, Tabac). Also let me include the Body Shop stores.

In some supermarkets you can find very easily NIVEA sc's at 2-3 euro's (and 2 other brands like KOLYNOS and PROSAR which are not widely known because I think they are Greek made) , OMEGA brushes (in limited numbers) and Gillette-BIC Astor and Wilkinson blades.

The only solution is making a trip to London or buying from the Internet. Nothing more. Unfortunately cartridges rule us!!

 

[John Kreiner]

Thinking recently, I was wondering how DE shaving is perceived in countries outside the US. I'm assuming in Canada it's very similar to the US (Gillette having a near monopoly on cartridge razors, and DEs all but unknown), but how is it in Europe and other parts of the world? Is it more popular? Can you go into a local store and pick a new Merkur, or pack of Feathers?

Just to give you an example of how it is in the US, I was talking to a few of my friends (all in their early 20s) about some of my attempts at getting a DE razor on eBay (all failures by the way ), and they had no idea what a DE was. Even my dad (in his early 60s) uses cartridge razors now.

Last thing first. I'm 65 and used cartridges till a few month ago, when I turned (back) to DE. When your father and I started shaving 45-50 years ago, we did not have many choises, it was straight, DE (which never was mentioned as DE) or those very new and very expensive electric shavers.

Most of us shaved DE.

When the cartridges turned up, we found them very progessiv and modern og took it as a step forward. First lately we (I at least) figured out that the cartrides had a lot of negative sides as well.

You ask if we have wet-shaving or DE-shaving in Europe. Have you forgotten where GFT, TOBS, T&H, D.R. Harris and many more were born? More and more are wetshaving in Europe og more and more are going to DE-shaving.

 

[kolinpl]

Here in Poland as far as I can tell cartridges rule. Let's not forget that you can wet shave with a cartridge . . . I did it for years. You can find tube shaving cream (a few kinds) on the shelves here. Also there are shaving brushes (badger, boar and synthetic) available easily. L'Occitane here sells their CADE and a synthetic travel brush.

DE Blades are not as easy to find - there are a few shops that I have seen them in - mainly Wilkinson. I have not seen a DE razor in any shop, although I bet if I went digging I could find some.

 

[Verderer]

Yep, in Finland too it's either electric razor or cartridges for the masses. Only one spe......t shop that sells Merkur blades and razors, as far as I know. So it's fair to say DE is non-existent in here.

I depend on European webshops and the excellent private sales here on B&B!

I intend to take a tour of local flea markets and antique shops to see if there's anything vintage available there. People had to shave in the olden times surely, and not just with puukkos or axes...

 

[rm71]

Sadly Australia falls into the same category as most countries. Cartridges rule. You can buy DE blades( which are way overpriced and horrible) easily at supermarkets.

 

[Yushiro]

Malaysia, while being in S.E.A and has at least 1 shop I know where you can get wetshaving stuff, is firmly in the grasp of the cartridge makers. Only the migrant workers from India, Burma, Nepal and Bangladesh buy the DE stuff..Oh..and me of course

 

[moshulu]

I travel all over the world for my work. As far as I can tell, the DE revival is essentially an American phenomenon. Elsewhere, electric shavers dominate, followed by multi-blade cartridges (which, by the way, are MASSIVELY counterfeited).

As others have pointed out, however, using cream/soap and a brush are common, hence the relative abundance of these products. But if you mention a Fatboy or Tech or Aristocrat in masculine company outside the US, you will get a blank stare. If you then explain what you are talking about, the stare changes to one of derision.

This state of affairs has many interesting consequences for collectors outside the US, but that is whole new subject...

 

[dannywonderful]

I travel all over the world for my work. As far as I can tell, the revival of DE shaving is essentially an American phenomenon. Elsewhere, electric shavers dominate, followed by multi-blade cartridges (which, by the way, are MASSIVELY counterfeited).

As others have pointed out, however, using cream/soap and a brush are common, hence the relative abundance of these products. But if you mention a Fatboy or Tech or Aristocrat in masculine company outside the US, you will get a blank stare. If you then explain what you are talking about, the stare changes to one of derision.

More and more British men are noticing the superior experience of traditional wetshaving, but cartridge razors are considered the norm by most. You can get Palmolive shave sticks and creams in most supermarkets and some pharmacies carry other products like Erasmic and Pashana, but for most shavers it's goop in a can applied by hand.

You're right about mentioning some of the old razors to people, they rarely have any idea what you're talking about and the response is usually along the lines of " What's the point? ". I recently ordered an Edwin Jagger DE89 for a guy at work and gave him a brush, bowl and some Real Shaving Company cream and balm and he said his dad almost fell over when he saw it all. He had no idea you could still get such products.

If I mention that I shave with straight razors people react as if I'm mad, or someone who is into it in a similar way to people who are into historical reenactment. It's very rare that anyone will accept you can get a smooth, irritation free shave with old style razors.

 

[HIT]

If I mention that I shave with straight razors people react as if I'm mad, or someone who is into it in a similar way to people who are into historical reenactment. It's very rare that anyone will accept you can get a smooth, irritation free shave with old style razors.

Don't you like been part of an elite? Let them have their horrible shaves while you enjoy endless joyable shaves

 

[Pumpkin]

As others have said, even here in the UK "traditional" wet shaving is still very much a niche market although it is getting more publicity. I have the luxury of living in a city with a branch of Crabtree & Evelyn and a Penhaligon's but cartridges are so pervasive it's cheaper and easier to source stuff online.

 

[HIT]

I was always wondering isn't there just a member and or guy who could see the potentiality of opening to the public the traditional shaving concept and go against the major players like Gillette and Wilkinson?

It is indeed a niche market not because people dislike traditional wet shaving, but because they are unfamiliar with the whole concept.....

 

[brg]

Here in Portugal, the situation is this:

The Ugly:

- I think that everyone started using disposables such as the BIC single blade or the Gillette Blue2 when they came out. The "new kids" started using whatever was on hand, the M3 and canned gel for me .

The Bad:

- No safety razors available, except the Wilkinson Sword Classic and a few Chinese razors (cheap and horrible quality...).
- No soaps, only a stick or two available at very limited locations.

The Good:

- Boar brushes can be found almost everywhere. Not the high-end stuff, but perfectly usable.
- TONS of shaving creams. I think the last time I counted it was something like more than 20 different brands/types (including supermarket own brands).
- DE blades are sold almost everywhere, and they disappear from the shelves, so there must be a few shavers out there...

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

In other words: the lower the country's GDP, the more likely DE's are in widespread use.

As with Scottish and Dutch accountants...

 

[njpaddy]

When your father and I started shaving 45-50 years ago, we did not have many choises, it was straight, DE (which never was mentioned as DE) or those very new and very expensive electric shavers.

I'm in the same age range. I started with an electric, but then went to injector razors in the mid-60's. I don't remember when I went from injector to cartridge, probably sometime in the '70's. I don't remember ever using a DE until recently.