How Shaving Times Have Changed

[Conservator]

I started using a double edge razor when I was 14 years old - a very long time ago. Gillette was my razor of choice and I use a Fat Boy and Slim for many years. My brush was something I bought from a local pharmacy. If it had a name, I now wouldn't know. I do recall it was a badger brush, on the smaller side. I started off with creams and gradually added soaps. Creams and soaps were bought based on cost and how they performed. I don't recall ever buying a soap or cream because it smelled nice. I remember Colgate, Old Spice, Williams, Palmolive, and later Noxema as being sold. The only blades I recall was Gillette Blues. Witch hazel was my aftershave.

Gradually, many of these companies dropped out and it became difficult to find a source for supplies. Al Gore had not invented the Internet yet so if you could not find it at a local store or send away for a product you were out of luck.

Fortunately for me, I lived in NYC and I had a local source for what I wanted to buy. Plus, my local barber sold some shaving products.

Now the choices are endless. There are numerous choices for blades, soaps, creams, aftershaves, etc. I find it amusing when shavers ruminate about how a soap smells. I never thought I would see the day when you can buy a custom brush or that razors could cost over $100.

The shaving scene is a lot better today.

 

[Sid James]

Did people pontificate about bloom water, proto-lather etc back in the day?

 

[R181]

My recollection of shaving is about the same without the advantage of being in a huge city like NY. So when things disappeared off the local retail shelves it was off to other ways of shaving without much thought given. Fast forward to 5 years ago when I became interested in learning to shave with a straight razor and the amazing amount of shave gear you could access through the internet I am back to where I started. I will say though that I get as good a shave with a boar brush, a tube of shave cream and a vintage Gillette DE as I get with the more expensive gear I have acquired. So full circle and the old standbys have stood the test of time very well.

Bob

 

[R181]

Did people pontificate about bloom water, proto-lather etc back in the day?

Ah, no. Shaving was just a daily chore to be done. It was not a hobby as it is today.

Bob

 

[NOTSHARP]

I still have my first brush. I probably bought it when I started work, so I would say around 1967.



There was no enjoyment in shaving, it was just a necessary evil.


Steve.

 

[Conservator]

Did people pontificate about bloom water, proto-lather etc back in the day?

No. Shaving was something you did because you had to look good. Most of the conversation revolved about a new product that came out (e.g. the Slim after the Fat Boy) or where you could find products cheaper.

 

[Sabre]

I think the guys in the 1950's had it best, gift sets from Yardley, Wrisley, Courtley, Seaforth, Old Spice, Cussons, and Goya. It may seem that there is plenty of choice but strangely it's hard to find more than three aftershaves in each European country, Brut and Old Spice in the UK, Aqua Velva and Skin Bracer in France, Tabac, Pitralon and Hattric in Germany, Proraso and Floid in Italy, La Toja, Floid and Lea in Spain. Drugstore shaving soaps and creams are also the same.

 

[bandito]

Did people pontificate about bloom water, proto-lather etc back in the day?

Ironically I started DE shaving to

A) save money (no doubt like many others)
B) simplify

Fail. Big time.

 

[Nishy]

Back in time when tools could not be blamed only technique. Probably the purest form of shaving?

 

[jar]

I must admit I only have one unopened soap left from the 50s or 60s or sometime back then, and it's a Surrey. But I still have and use the razors and brushes and mugs from back then and will continue using them even though a few have fallen prey to having fallen. I still have an Old Spice mug or three, a Surrey mug and even a Seaforth mug.

Some of the older brushes and a few of the razors.

 

[efsk]

Back in time when tools could not be blamed only technique. Probably the purest form of shaving?

Technique still is the issue

 

[KAV]

Change, and our reaction is the only constant. Renewed interest in wetshaving is what, about 12 years now? The internet either made available, or frustratingly not ( customs regulations, shipping restrictions) a whole new world of international products and people elevating razors, brushes and soaps to levels of workmanship and art undreamed of. We've also seen no few products and vendors disappear or reformulated for better and worse. In no little irony the critical component; that thin wafer of steel called a blade remains little changed and probably a lessor product than the legendary Wilkinson Swords eagerly sought on EBAY and resold at high markup. My ironic comfort after mourning many product's demise is my circumnavigation BACK to almost the same setup I started with. All are available with fans and detractors. So obviously many of our classics have earned said title and the periodic shark feeding frenzy on a discontinued product is avoided. I do admit to painfully and slowly building a reserve in case a life destroying meteor comes our way.