Cheap razor made after P&G watches Indians shave
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Cheap razor made after P&G watches Indians shave
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Re: Cheap razor made after P&G watches Indians shave
#2This article has some interesting insights about the process of developing a product, and the problems of working in a lab away from the people who are going to use the product.
But I can't help feeling disappointed that we have yet another disposable thing, instead of a better handle for double blades.
> The takeaway: In the U.S., razor makers spent decades on marketing centered on a close shave, adding blade after blade to achieve a smoother cheek.
Haha! My bathroom looks like something from a Tarantino movie after I finish shaving. Blood everywhere. Honestly, I'm surprised I still have both ears. Some days I just stop half way through if I haven't cut myself, quit while I'm ahead. And they keep adding blades - you might as well just give me a cheesegrater and get it over with. At the moment I'm using a double blade and Merkur handle, and I really really like it. Initial investment, but much cheaper over time. The ritual of shaving is nice.
Re: Cheap razor made after P&G watches Indians shave
#3This article has some interesting insights about the process of developing a product, and the problems of working in a lab away from the people who are going to use the product. But I can't help feeling disappointed that we have yet another disposable thing, instead of a better handle for double blades. > The takeaway: In the U.S., razor makers spent decades on marketing centered on a close shave, adding blade after…
I also hate to cut myself while shaving.
That's why I use an electrical shaver.
MAJOR improvement for me over the blades.
Re: Cheap razor made after P&G watches Indians shave
#4> ... until they traveled to India and observed men using a cup of water to shave. All the MIT students had running water.
Interesting. My brief sojourn as a representative of Her Majesty's Government also taught me to shave from a bowl of water, simply because running water was an inefficient use of resources. It did require agitating the razor quite abruptly to clean it, and shaving was a little more jarring than when using warm water, but it worked.
And the bowl could be tipped-out after shaving to be filled with tasty porridge for brekkies. :)
P&G should promote this design to various militaries around the World. The use-case seems to match perfectly ( right down to the lack of a proper mirror ).
Re: Cheap razor made after P&G watches Indians shave
#5DE Blades are the way to go. http://www.maggardrazors.com/index.php/product/budget-starte...
Re: Cheap razor made after P&G watches Indians shave
#6This article has some interesting insights about the process of developing a product, and the problems of working in a lab away from the people who are going to use the product. But I can't help feeling disappointed that we have yet another disposable thing, instead of a better handle for double blades. > The takeaway: In the U.S., razor makers spent decades on marketing centered on a close shave, adding blade after…
> But I can't help feeling disappointed that we have yet another disposable thing, instead of a better handle for double blades.
I noticed that in the article, it talks about the price of the handle and the price of the blades[0]. I looked it up and it's not a disposable razor, it's a replaceable cartridge head[1]. Which isn't as bad from my perspective. Same source for [1] also says that the razor's made in India[2], so it's going to have a much shorter maker-to-market chain.
[0] - http://news.yahoo.com/cheap-razor-made-p-g-watches-indians-s... "Gillette sells the Guard for 15 rupees, or 34 cents, and each razor blade is 5 rupees, or 12 cents"
[1] - http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Gillette-Guard-Cartridge-Raz... "Description Newly released Gillette Guard Cartridge Razor with pivoting head."
[2] - http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Gillette-Guard-Cartridge-Raz... "Made in India."
Re: Cheap razor made after P&G watches Indians shave
#7> ... until they traveled to India and observed men using a cup of water to shave. All the MIT students had running water. Interesting. My brief sojourn as a representative of Her Majesty's Government also taught me to shave from a bowl of water, simply because running water was an inefficient use of resources. It did require agitating the razor quite abruptly to clean it, and shaving was a little more jarring than w…
Wouldn't it be worth putting a brush (or felt) at the bottom of the bowl, so you could brush the razor in the direction of the blades (the opposite way of shaving) to clean it much faster? That way, the fabric pushes the hairs out, instead of having to rely on the force of the water from the agitation.
Re: Cheap razor made after P&G watches Indians shave
#8DE Blades are the way to go. http://www.maggardrazors.com/index.php/product/budget-starte...
I prefer straight razors. They're a lot of work, but not generating a material waste stream is totally worth it for me.
Re: Cheap razor made after P&G watches Indians shave
#9Everyone's shaving needs are different -- mine require me to spend a considerable amount of time and effort to make sure I don't end up with cuts or ingrown hairs. I used disposable razors for the longest time until I found a thread on a wet shaving forum[0] where someone had shared a quick tutorial video[1] on how to shave with a double edge razor. After committing to wet shaving I now get the closest shaves possible which require me to shave less often.
What I really like about this method of shaving is that it made me view this activity differently. It's no longer a chore and it isn't something that I mindlessly rush through. The shaving brush, razor, blades, and cream are my tools; I don't just toss them into garbage (the blades being the exception) once I've had a few shaves. I prepare everything and commit to being present while I shave. It's a ritual now and as lame as it might sound my life is richer as a result. I wish someone had taught me to shave this way when I first started.
Re: Cheap razor made after P&G watches Indians shave
#10LOL. Rings true.
"Indian men have thicker hair and a higher hair density than their American counterparts. Adding to that, they often shave less frequently than American men, so they wind up shaving longer beards." .. "
"... observed men using a cup of water to shave. All the MIT students had running water. Without that, the razor stayed clogged."
I live in a first world country now, and still use a bowl of water when shaving: it's the environmentally kind thing to do. People who keep the water running all the time while they brush their teeth or shave drive me nuts. Ditto people who pull out three to four paper napkins from public restrooms after washing their hands. Take them one by one: one or two is probably enough.
End rant.
And on topic, I've found that the quality of the blade makes a huge difference. I think they intentionally put bad blades in the cheap razors. I wonder how good the blade on this one is.