Shaving the Epidermis

So let’s examine the trend with all these razors coming out these days… it seems as if companies like Gillette and Schick are just competing on who can pack the largest number of blades onto the razor.

Now let’s assume that man did descend from monkey. One obvious hair related trend, is that as time goes on, the amount of hair decreases. In other words, Monkey’s are really hairy, humans are not so hairy (Greeks and Italians are excluded) So then, why are we adding more blades? Isn’t that wasteful to our precious resources, as well as unnecessary?

One thing I noticed watching Gillette commercials over the years, is that the last blade always manages to get the last nanometre of hair left. When only two blades were in a razor, the first blade would get the first half of the hair, while the second blade would finish off the second half. With the introduction of Mach 3, each blade successfully removed exactly 1/3 of the hair, leaving nothing behind. The two commercials clearly contradict each other.

Schick also jumped on the Gillette bandwagon when they introduced the Schick Quattro. Each blade in the Quattro magically removed 1/4 of the hair… hmm, that’s some intense blade design!

While we’re on commercials, Gillette and Schick commercials either begin in a lab full of scientist (seemingly busy developing the newest razor) or with a guy shaving in the bathroom, meanwhile being touched by a gorgeous blond. The message that I get is:

Shaving with Gillette = Smooth skin and hot chick

Not a bad equation!

The additions to razors didn’t stop at adding more blades. The new “Mach 3 Power Nitro” includes a battery and a little motor which “sends micro-impulses to the blades” to help get a closer shave.. WHAT? The Mach 3 also features a “lubricating strip” and “enhanced microfins.” I wonder if this blade needs oil changes too.
So all this technology is going into razors, offering a man a closer than ever shave; yet when you watch “Makeover” shows the story is different. The men involved in the makeovers usually end up going to a master barber who uses, get this, a single blade razor. I find that ironic.

At this point you’re probably wondering, which razor does Omar use? I use the Gillette Sensor Excel, as I have been for the past 7 years, although I’m thinking of upgrading to a Turbo :-|

Quick survey.. which razor do you use? (Girls too)

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