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The bit which really tripped my PR filter was: > To do that, P&G executives would have to attract the nearly 500 million Indians who use double-edged razors, a
by kemayo 13y ago
The bit which really tripped my PR filter was:
> To do that, P&G executives would have to attract the nearly 500 million Indians who use double-edged razors, an old fashioned T-shaped razor that has no protective piece of plastic that goes between the blade and the skin when shaving.
...such razors are generally called "safety razors", and unless there's a radically different design in use in India, they're pretty hard to cut yourself with.
But a resurgence in their popularity would be pretty terrible for Gillette, given how much cheaper their blades are, so their PR can't say anything positive about them.
- tlrobinson 13y agoMaybe I don't know how to use them properly, but I cut myself way more often with safety razors than Gillette style razors.
- stevewillows 13y agoSlow and with the grain, short strokes with medium temperature water. I've been using one for about two years now and won't ever go back to that multi-blade, whisker tugging nightmare.
- christoph 13y agoI invested in one of these recently, along with a badger hair brush, some proper shaving foam, and something like 100 blades from a variety of manufacturers. The total outlay was maybe £50. I am honestly never going back to a mass manufactured multi-blade type razor again. I get a much better, closer shave and way less rash and burn. It takes longer, but i feel the trade off is well worth it. There is the obvious financial benefit that will more that pay for itself within a couple of years as well. I forget how much a gilette mach whatever blade was, something like £3-5.
- doorhammer 13y agoI recently started purposefully taking longer to shave and it seems that my quality of shave has gone of pretty dramatically. Granted, I'll usually just be shaving my neck, but I don't get the nicks and burn anymore. ymmv I've thought about going the safety razor route but there was a span of time where I was travelling almost constantly and, from what I understand, you're not allowed to bring them in your carry on (I don't usually check luggage). Might give it a shot now that I don't really travel anymore.
- Espressosaurus 13y agoI used a cartridge razor before I switched to safety razors for cost reasons--and you're wrong. It's much easier to cut yourself with a safety razor than with a cartridge razor. All it takes is being tired and in a hurry, or being clumsy when replacing the blade. I've found the benefits (closer shave, cheap enough to replace regularly) worth the costs in time and (occasional) blood. But don't pretend that they're as idiot-proof as the cartridge razors, because unfortunately, they're not. All that said--yeah, this was pretty transparently a PR piece with the moral of the story being "watch how people do what they do to make products that will appeal to them." Um, duh?
- kemayo 13y agoI also switched to a safety razor a few years back, and I didn't notice any change in the likelihood of cutting myself. It's possible that I have particularly resilient skin or steady hands, or something, but our dueling anecdotes seem to cancel out.
- pandler 13y agoI've been using safety razors for a while now, and my personal experience has been that it depends on two things: the geometry of the razor (the tool, not the blade), and the brand of double-edged blade. I have used blades and razors where I can wantonly hack away at my face without fear of harm, and I have used combinations that require the utmost concentration if I want to make it out of the bathroom alive. If I had to guess, I would think that you two just have very different setups.
- DanBC 13y agoDepends on the handle used for the double edged blade. It's really easy to cut yourself with some of them. Especially if the blade is blunt and you're using more pressure. And you don't have good visibility. I agree that the article is PR puff piece.