Why have men stopped using DE razors for the most part?
- Thread starter BadNature
- Start date
Gillette released the Trac II in 1971. The marketing team said "Use this!", so men did.
As far as older men no longer using the shaving brush, I know many that still do. However, some of them also fell into the same marketing pitfalls that many make today: goo from a can is quicker, so it's better. We at B&B know that to be patently false.
As far as older men no longer using the shaving brush, I know many that still do. However, some of them also fell into the same marketing pitfalls that many make today: goo from a can is quicker, so it's better. We at B&B know that to be patently false.
Lets face it, a proper wet shave is a time consuming activity in the microwave age. We are living in the I want it and want it now age, misguided souls. 
The wet shave takes more time to prepare and do properly. And is more than beyond worth it.
The wet shave takes more time to prepare and do properly. And is more than beyond worth it.
Well, looking at it with basic logic, generally we have seen that technology usually improves upon things. When people see a more technical razor, they would probably assume that all the “research” and “technology” that was put into it obviously makes better. It’s a logical sentiment, and to be honest, it was easier and faster to shave with these multi-blade razors, but they were fooled when they thought it was better. And who wouldn’t be fooled? With its lift-and-cut action and those cool CG videos on the commercial showing how incredibly smooth they shave, why would you ever go back to a DE?
I think a big problem now is nobody even knows about DEs or wet shaving. The only thing I knew about wet shaving was from Loony Toons cartoons. I thought they were impractical and out-of-style, like the abacus or stone blades. It’s so primitive. Now we have 5, count em, 5 blades! With rotating head, and lubrication strip! It's the future of shaving!
I think a big problem now is nobody even knows about DEs or wet shaving. The only thing I knew about wet shaving was from Loony Toons cartoons. I thought they were impractical and out-of-style, like the abacus or stone blades. It’s so primitive. Now we have 5, count em, 5 blades! With rotating head, and lubrication strip! It's the future of shaving!
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+1 to the above!
Just looking at that doco made in London with Gillette where they were testing new razors and trying to cut cooper whiskers stuck in a jelly consistency skin...
I guess the theory of it's better and take less time would be the answer...
Again, it's not very time consuming when you get use to it...
Just looking at that doco made in London with Gillette where they were testing new razors and trying to cut cooper whiskers stuck in a jelly consistency skin...
I guess the theory of it's better and take less time would be the answer...
Again, it's not very time consuming when you get use to it...
I think the internet and our availability to "customize" our shave with different razors, blades, creams, soaps, brushes etc. probably makes it that our DE wet shaving experience is more pleasurable then it was for men back then. I imagine all they had access to is what was available in the local drug store and if those items didn't get along well with your skin, then your're stuck,
And I would say that now if more people knew about how we shave they would shave that way, but again, people like be able to shave in 2 minutes....idk, just my thoughts
And I would say that now if more people knew about how we shave they would shave that way, but again, people like be able to shave in 2 minutes....idk, just my thoughts
It's more convenient to use a cartridge razor, and there is less skill involved. It's fast and easy.
We lose something when we make things more convenient. I'm addicted to the internet, cell phones, GPS, MP3 players, etc...and I don't know that I'm as happy as my dad was with his relatively gadget free, slower paced lifestyle.
One of the few times I'm truly focused and relaxed is during my shave. It makes me wonder if the other gadgetry is like the cartridge razors, rewarding me with convenience and robbing me of something more important than that.
We lose something when we make things more convenient. I'm addicted to the internet, cell phones, GPS, MP3 players, etc...and I don't know that I'm as happy as my dad was with his relatively gadget free, slower paced lifestyle.
One of the few times I'm truly focused and relaxed is during my shave. It makes me wonder if the other gadgetry is like the cartridge razors, rewarding me with convenience and robbing me of something more important than that.
Then there are the guys who are not into the experience of the shaving ritual. They just want to get it over with as soon as possible, probably because they don't like the process of shaving.
Just my opinion, of course.
But that's ok. That's a positive. Look at it this way: By their not using a DE, they are helping keep prices down of our supplies that we use every day.
Just my opinion, of course.
But that's ok. That's a positive. Look at it this way: By their not using a DE, they are helping keep prices down of our supplies that we use every day.
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Someone should come up with a cool gunmetal black DE razor. I think young hipsters think of silver razors as their dad's. Weishi and Goodfellas are on the right track.
The logic of the advertising campaigns made total sense in the context of the time in which they were originally run, especially for the goo.
Everything that was faster and more convenient was, to most people, a vast improvement over the old way. In this case, the logic didn't really follow. It may have been the strategy all along.
"Get them shaving with aerosolized shaving cream. Then, once they've tired of nicks and irritation from a safety razor(1950's blades sucked, as I understand, and the drying of the skin caused by the aerosol made it much worse.), we'll introduce a new 'cartridge shaver' with guard wires, recessed blades, and, hell why not, two of those blades in there."
It does make marketing sense. The easiest way to get people to switch the way that they perform daily habits is to make them hate the way that they do them now.
Cartridge razors shave quicker and are simple to use.People are bombarded and sadly influenced by misleading advertising,and have more disposable income than in the past.
That's an interesting theory and I agree. The internet has made it much easier for us to purchase products made in other countries that aren't regularly imported to the U.S.
I know as soon as I introduced my friend to wetshaving (at least the brush/cream part) he was hooked. Now to continue honing my DE technique and to keep planting the seeds.
For most men, shaving has never been or will be a Zen experience. It was/is something that had/has to be endured. The quicker the shave the better. Cartridge razors provided that. Quite simply, they are easier and more comfortable for the majority of men.
Canned shaving cream, on the other hand, has been around since the mid-fifties and was in general use well before the end of the DE/SE era.
Canned shaving cream, on the other hand, has been around since the mid-fifties and was in general use well before the end of the DE/SE era.
Isn't the Goodfella razor gunmetal black?
That is a very good point. It is a fallacy to assume that the incredible luxurious shaves we experience today with our DE's were had by the typical user back then.
Without the internet, you would be confined to whatever you could find locally, which would mean Williams/ VDH, and Personnas/ Store Branded Blades in today's world.
If you had disposable income you might make it to the "big city" once a year, and you could stock up, but only if you were obsessed about shaving enough to care, and somehow knew that superior products existed (in an era without the Internet).
Very well said my friend.
Without the internet, availability of wet shaving products is almost non existent at brick and mortar stores. My search for a new brush led me to this group and a whole "new old world" of product availability. I'm still amazed at the wide variety of choices that are easily available.
I think the answer lies in the fast paced life style we are all supposed to be living. In my fathers day, the DE day, the working day was 9 till 5. Now I start work at 7, finish at 5. I don't have time fore a proper DE shave in the morning. I do it the night before.
I know my shave, when I've finished, is way better than I could achieve with a mach 3. But, by 7am, it's about the same. Could I just do what most guys do and shave quick and easy 1st thing? Yes.
Would I enjoy the process half as much? No.
compromises must be made.
DE shaving with a brush, etc, is not necessarily only about the result. The process is just as important, IMHO.
I know my shave, when I've finished, is way better than I could achieve with a mach 3. But, by 7am, it's about the same. Could I just do what most guys do and shave quick and easy 1st thing? Yes.
Would I enjoy the process half as much? No.
compromises must be made.
DE shaving with a brush, etc, is not necessarily only about the result. The process is just as important, IMHO.
I disagree. My work day starts around 0530 (PT) and ends around 1700 so a near 12 hour day is the norm. I shave every morning and I take my time and enjoy it!
