So I’ve seen ones that’s use safety Razors and others that are just built into a handle. But I think there is more blades it is supposed to be safer? But one blade gets you a better shave, but all the commercials show more blades get better shaves.
How does all of this work?
In: Other
It really is just nothing more than marketing and gimmicks. Modern multi blade safety razors are one of the biggest scams in the past few decades.
Here’s what’s what. Multiple blades offer some minor safety benefits. The small gap between each blade doesn’t allow for the skin to pinch in between them easily so nicks and cuts are rarer. However the same mechanism doesn’t allow for a close shave, at least compared to a one blade razor, and these gaps clog with hair. Single blade razors allow for a closer shave and they don’t clog as easily, and even if they do they can be cleaned very effectively, but you need to be a bit more careful with them.
People used to shave with straightrazors but it was a hard art to master and it was a bit dangerous. If you knew the technique, and were careful enough, you could get a good shave. But hold it at a slightly wrong angle, move it a bit sideways or use too much pressure and you’re cut fairly badly. But safety razors were invented and they were a hit, with a design that exposed a very small part of the blade and the shape of the head guided your hand more easily to maintaining the right angle. You could still cut yourself, as you can cut yourself with multi blade razors, they are razors after all. But safety razors were great, in fact too great, because even a “cheap” one was still a solid and simple metal construction that never really wore down or broke, aside from maybe rust forming or the threads wearing down but that took many years. The blades themselves were very cheap, costing mere cents. Some marketing genius thought of cartridge razors and marketed the hell out of them to give the impression that they were better. First it was about convenience and ease of use, then safety, then the gimmicks started. 2 blades, then 3, then 4, then 5, then lubrication strips, then articulated heads, then vibrators and whatever else. Each more expensive than the last and each touted as the best shave you can get. In reality all those did was justify a ridiculous increase in price. Every cartridge gets maybe 3-5 shaves before it’s trash and they cost 15-20 bucks per pack. Conversely you can get a safety razor handle and a year’s worth of blades for the same amount. But the marketing has been so successful that most people don’t even think about getting one, assuming it’s worse and more dangerous than cartridge razors but they’re not.
TL;DR multi blade cartridge razors are just gimmicks. They don’t actually offer a better shave but they’re making tons more money for razor companies.
Latest Answers