Wetshaving comeback

[valrohr]

It seems like for the past several years the traditional wetshaving community has grown quite significantly. I got hooked just shy of two years ago but still noticed a lot of new members join this and other forums, YouTube channels and other platforms, new artisans pop up almost every month and so on. Hence the fact even the giants like Gillette are testing this nieche market with their King C. Gillette line-up. So it got me thinking what actually caused this sort of resurgence of traditional wetshaving? Any thoughts, gents?

 

[EclipseRedRing]

Perhaps the children of the last generation to have regularly used DE razors have now reached an age where they have the disposable income to try to relive those memories, and shave like their Dad. If so then sadly traditional shaving will likely become even more of a niche activity over the next few years as those same people pass away. This is similar to toys from the 60s, 70s, and 80s increasing in value as children from those years purchase them again. Toys from earlier years have peaked and fallen away in value as the original users have died. Or, perhaps it is the advent of the Internet and online purchasing. Or perhaps I am talking nonsense - that seems the most likely option.

 

[rbscebu]

I think that there is no single or major cause for this "resurgence". It probably has something to do with men (and some women) starting to think that there must be something better to shave with than the carts and canned goo that they have been using for years. Don't forget that many who are now discovering traditional wet shaving probably started out on carts/disposables/electric and have known nothing different all there life.

For me, being an older a more mature gentleman, my first few years of shaving were with a Gillette Slim adjustable. Then it was decades of carts but still using a brush and soap. For the past few decades with the carts, I was shaving three times a week because I did not enjoy shaving.

In late 2019, before CoVid, I was thinking that I wanted to give straight razors a go to see what they were like. That, and then later B&B, lead me to and down the traditional wet shaving rabbit hole(s).

I have since personally introduced three friends to traditional wet shaving by lending/giving then some gear. After a week or so they were all thanking me for that introduction. They have remained happily with it ever since.

 

[PintoPlain]

I think there is also an increasing awareness of plastic waste especially amongst the younger generation. Most carts are almost all plastic and people are slowly looking for alternatives.

 

[BobbyB]

I stopped by a newly opened Indian grocery store yesterday, looking for shave cream(s). The owner asked why I had stopped in. i told him that India produces some great shaving cream products. He advise he would look into ordering some, as I was not the first person to stop by asking about this item. Also, a newly opened grocery catering to our area's growing Muslim community had the same response.

 

[valrohr]

Perhaps the children of the last generation to have regularly used DE razors have now reached an age where they have the disposable income to try to relive those memories, and shave like their Dad. If so then sadly traditional shaving will likely become even more of a niche activity over the next few years as those same people pass away. This is similar to toys from the 60s, 70s, and 80s increasing in value as children from those years purchase them again. Toys from earlier years have peaked and fallen away in value as the original users have died. Or, perhaps it is the advent of the Internet and online purchasing. Or perhaps I am talking nonsense - that seems the most likely option.

That's an interesting point of view and I can actually relate to that because I have some sentimental reasons for starting this hobby. But as much as I agree with that I also see a lot of younger guys/girls in their 20's joining in so there has to be something else too, like retro style being popular today.

 

[BigJ]

I think there is also an increasing awareness of plastic waste especially amongst the younger generation. Most carts are almost all plastic and people are slowly looking for alternatives.

+1! That’s my guess also! Younger folks are more sensitive to environmental issues.

 

[GNR]

I think the two biggest factors are:
1) An attempt/awareness of the reduction of plastic waste
2) Cost for replacement cartridges/blades

 

[SharpieB]

I would love to see the actual sales numbers.

Maybe it is the “selective recognition” phenomena. If you are interested in something, you tend to notice it more. I.e. if you drive a BMW, you notice more BMWs on the road.

I hope wetshaving use is growing, but almost all of my friends are using disposable carts.

 

[valrohr]

I would love to see the actual sales numbers.

Maybe it is the “selective recognition” phenomena. If you are interested in something, you tend to notice it more. I.e. if you drive a BMW, you notice more BMWs on the road.

I hope wetshaving use is growing, but almost all of my friends are using disposable carts.

It can be just my imagination of course since I have no sales data to back it up with but in fact even if i did the figures could be misleading. More sales in this case doesn't mean more people started buying new products, that can be the same guys from B&B who's just stockpiling more gear

 

[Noodles]

I find more of my friends use DE razors than I would have thought. At band practice, three of four! Anecdotal, and no one would call us young, but interesting to me. I think it helps that our local B&M shave store is pretty well-known. Also, I do hang out with musicians and socialists .

 

[jackgoldman123]

James Bond movie Skyfall reruns

 

[JBlaze]

I can only speak for myself. I hate cartridge razors i had to shave since high school almost every day and carts shave horribly no matter what brand or type so i then moved on to electric razors which were to my opinion just night and day and just convenient to boot. However the price of head replacement were ahead of 80 plus dollars not to mention the hefty initial price for a good back then arc 5 razor. I also from time to time would get horrible foil burn and irritation and i still didnt get bbs without a fight or being time consuming. I didnt grow up with wetshaving it wasnt until scrolling through youtube about better electric razors i saw a safety razor and as time went on and looking at the cost i decided to switch and never looked back. However i would say the conventional wisdom of ppl suggesting the de89 or merkur 34c as beginner must razors is a horrible trend that i fell into and regretted and i have found out im not the only one talking to friends about that. I just think the cost as well as youtubers and just the overall superior shave has people waking up to wetshaving. Also new companies like leaf and supply company making it more mainstream and just also the whole environment friendly thing i seen alot movement of ladies switch over.

 

[gsurko]

I’m the only wetshaver I personally know.

 

[NovaDave]

I’m the only wetshaver I personally know.

Same here.

 

[JCinPA]

I think some of them like the “retro” thing. I got my son to shave with a replanted gifted tech, he got me on a Triumph Bonneville T100 “Modern Classic”.

 

[Atlantic59]

Interest seems to come in "waves" as new people start looking for alternatives to cartridge or electric razor shaving. I'm not sure what the net effect of that is, though.

 

[SydneyShaver]

A minority also make up a lot of sales volume though. 99% of people who 'wetshave' (though I hate calling it that because I've never EVER dryshaved) will only ever have 1 razor, brush, soap/cream and 100 pack of blades and simply replace the consumables as they finish. There are people here who have soap,blade, AS etc. collections that might outlive their grandchildren. I mean I'm really only interested in sampling new blades every now and then, and changing my soap/cream up when I finish what I've got.

 

[Nik870]

For me it was the work from home stage last year. I had more time on my hands to shave and since then discovered I liked it. I then found that it did not take any longer than shaving w a cart an canned gel.

 

[Ckmaui]

I think sometimes its not more popular its just one is more aware

but maybe it is ? I could say with covid and people having bonus money and being at home and looking for things to do ? No idea but who knows