The Razor Basics
King Camp Gillette was in the late 1800s working as a seller but was very interested in creating and selling new and own products. He received advice from the inventor behind the disposable capsule, William Painter, that the key to selling big volumes was to be found in inventing products that only can be used once and then thrown away. In the year of 1895 Gillette was 40 years old and standing in front of the mirror he got his bright idea.
Author: Gustav Burman
King Camp Gillette was in the late 1800s working as a seller but was very interested in creating and selling new and own products. He received advice from the inventor behind the disposable capsule, William Painter, that the key to selling big volumes was to be found in inventing products that only can be used once and then thrown away. In the year of 1895 Gillette was 40 years old and standing in front of the mirror he got his bright idea.
The story of King Camp tells that he wrote to his wife that he was standing in front of the mirror that morning in a joyful trance. He shaved with a razor but realized that it was just the edge of the razor that performed the job. The idea that struck him was to develop a small sharp blade that could be attached to a handle and when the edge was blunt, it could be thrown away and replaced with a new one.
King Camp Gillette, a thinking and enterprising man.
Gillette founded the company American Safety Razor Company in 1901 and was granted a patent for his invention. After a short time of product development the razor was launched on the market in the autumn of 1903. Sales were slightly sluggish and he sold only 51 razors and 168 spare blades. But in subsequent years, it took a real momentum and over 12 million blades were sold.
Since then Gillette has developed new generations with multi-blade razors and precision blades. In parallel many different variants of safety razors has been developed.
A piece of history in the form of Gillette patent from 1904. The safety razor has in recent years again become popular to shave with.
To give an extra close shave heads with micro lammelae that smoothes the skin has been developed. To give and even more close shave has there are also now mobile shaving heads that brings flexibility and with materials that will provide low friction against the skin.
Razors with replaceable Gillette Mach 3 or Fusion blades are most common. There are many neat looking variants of handles available today.
If you want to keep dirt away from the razor, leave it standing in a razor stand when not in use.
If you shave your head, take a look at the special razors for head shaving. Read more about how to shave the head in a gentle way.
The story of King Camp tells that he wrote to his wife that he was standing in front of the mirror that morning in a joyful trance. He shaved with a razor but realized that it was just the edge of the razor that performed the job. The idea that struck him was to develop a small sharp blade that could be attached to a handle and when the edge was blunt, it could be thrown away and replaced with a new one.
Gillette founded the company American Safety Razor Company in 1901 and was granted a patent for his invention. After a short time of product development the razor was launched on the market in the autumn of 1903. Sales were slightly sluggish and he sold only 51 razors and 168 spare blades. But in subsequent years, it took a real momentum and over 12 million blades were sold.
Since then Gillette has developed new generations with multi-blade razors and precision blades. In parallel many different variants of safety razors has been developed.
The anatomy of the razor and its advantages
The razor is the tool for shaving that is the safest to use. The risk of injury is small and with a good shaving cream it can be minimized to almost zero. A razor comprises of a blade of steel which is secured in a holder on a handle. Razors are available with replaceable razor blade or so-called disposable razors, where you throw it all away including the handle.To give an extra close shave heads with micro lammelae that smoothes the skin has been developed. To give and even more close shave has there are also now mobile shaving heads that brings flexibility and with materials that will provide low friction against the skin.
Razors with replaceable Gillette Mach 3 or Fusion blades are most common. There are many neat looking variants of handles available today.
Take care of your razor and it will last longer
Even if the razor is a bit of a consumable, you can extend the life of it if you add a little bit of care taking. What shortens the life span is that we are often too careless about keeping it clean. What makes the blade so dull are coatings of lime and soap residue. Therefore, be sure to rinse the blade thoroughly after shaving and remove all water drops. You can blow it dry or drag the razor blade in the opposite direction as when you shaving, against a piece of cloth.If you want to keep dirt away from the razor, leave it standing in a razor stand when not in use.
If you shave your head, take a look at the special razors for head shaving. Read more about how to shave the head in a gentle way.
