The Next Big Breakthrough?

We will eventually see a pre shave lotion that contains microscopic atoms of iron that will coat the whiskers.

The blades will be magnetized and will draw the whiskers to them for close, easy removal.

This will eliminate passes 2 and 3 and touch ups thus greatly extending blade life and post shave shenanigans time.

Suspect we're in the midst of it with revolutionary postshave skin conditioning improvements being pioneered by Grooming Dept, Wholly Kaw Donkey Milk, CRWS....

I do not call that "revolutionary" as the same results can be achieved by any one of a myriad of face creams/balms/moisturizers. As regards the actual shaving part we've hit the PODR (point of diminshing return) IMO. There are those who will pay big bucks for artisan shave soaps/creams and that is fine & dandy as capitalism works that way and it is their money. I do it myself to some extent. However, there is no high dollar one that actually shaves marginally better than say an Arko or Palmolive tallow stick, or Tabac or Valobra for that matter. What people are actually paying for is more "sizzle" and not "steak". Some may not like this, but there is far more confirmation bias at play than most are willing to admit.

Let's address the response in its constituent parts:
Placing aside that there are those on the very outer tail of tails of any spectrum representing, in the present case extremely sensitive skin, where advancements in materials deemed de minimis by the fat center and opposing tail constitute a dramatic, meaningful and enabling improvement allowing more frequent shaves - reason enough for such heraldic acclaim as "revolutionary".  The stipulation that using a battery of products betrayed by the term myriad and referencing the litany of products used hitherto to achieve what can now be achieved by the majority of shavers thru simply switching to a new generation of soaps would, by any standard, rightly be referenced as "revolutionary".  In fact, were one a manufacturer of the post shave skin treatment products, it might be sufficient to cause an entire change in mission statement from shave irritation recovery and skin protection to a laser focus on fragrance morphing with any perfume lines perhaps as the understated politically correct corporate fragrance line within the perfume product offerings.  Finally, being of the benighted uneducated masses and having a much higher appreciation of the value of money than most on shave forums, may it humbly be set forth that $20 shave soap, whilst representing real money is not the harbinger of profligacy; far from it and representative of what the average lower middle class shaver spends on canned foam twice annually.  There are soaps literally costing three figures real money but the products cited are all hovering around the $20 price point.  All this to state that it is absolutely possible to properly contest the inclusion of the new generation of soaps in the mantle of revolutionary breakthroughs but that there may be better arguments to be put forth.  Should the admins permit in this one occasion to make an exception and permit sending you a sample sufficient for 5-7 shaves, will do so, simply PM.  however, if the admins raise their shackles, then will need demur.

I've always said that I can get the same BBS shave from my $5 Superspeed that I did with my Wolfman.  Most won't believe it though because they aren't going to concede that they spent north of $200 for a razor that doesn't really shave any better than something that costs $5.  Don't even get me started on the price of a Oneblade.

I use a Gillette Tech for easily 90% of my shaving and to be frank I willingly admit that the old Schick injector razor is the better "mousetrap", but blade selection being what it is I don't use mine that often.

I will be the first to admit that there is hardly a one to one ratio between money spent on razors and the quality of shave but some do work better than others on particular skin types and facial shapes: to claim otherwise is denying reality (admittedly some skin, beard types can literally get away shaving with sharpened tin can tops but that is another matter).  To date, by far the best safety razor used measured by lack of irritation, shave quality and longevity is the Timeless 0,95OC and the most brainlessly easy shave sans irritation and nicks has been the One Blade V1.  Irrespective of that, still reach for the Wolfman manufactured LASSC BBS1 because it provides a tactile feedback vastly superior to anything used short of a Damascus straight razor.  Does that mean that a relatively inexpensive Merkur 46C in possession is declared rubbish?  Obviously not!  Rather that there is an appropriate tool for each application.  Further, there may well be a 1 cent razor that equals the BBS1 or even the Timeless but to date, it hasn't been encountered.  Frankly I paid way way way too much for the BBS1 and really wish it wasn't so tactilely satisfying as suspect the new marketing strategy is going to destroy residual value.  The emotionally intelligent thing is to bail out now recovering the money and repurchase at a far more reasonable price point albeit yet expensive; but it really is that good and don't want to take advantage of another person to make myself whole suspecting the future market value is on the cusp of changing.

We will eventually see a pre shave lotion that contains microscopic atoms of iron that will coat the whiskers.

The blades will be magnetized and will draw the whiskers to them for close, easy removal.

This will eliminate passes 2 and 3 and touch ups thus greatly extending blade life and post shave shenanigans time.

Haha like adding metal shavings to shock absorber fluid then magnetizing to create a viscous sludge impacting damping curves; a terrible solution to a problem simply requiring turning knobs to adjust damping and using a proper water like oil fluid to achieve consistent flow through the orifices....

Let's address the response in its constituent parts:
Placing aside that there are those on the very outer tail of tails of any spectrum representing, in the present case extremely sensitive skin, where advancements in materials deemed de minimis by the fat center and opposing tail constitute a dramatic, meaningful and enabling improvement allowing more frequent shaves - reason enough for such heraldic acclaim as "revolutionary".  The stipulation that using a battery of products betrayed by the term myriad and referencing the litany of products used hitherto to achieve what can now be achieved by the majority of shavers thru simply switching to a new generation of soaps would, by any standard, rightly be referenced as "revolutionary".  In fact, were one a manufacturer of the post shave skin treatment products, it might be sufficient to cause an entire change in mission statement from shave irritation recovery and skin protection to a laser focus on fragrance morphing with any perfume lines perhaps as the understated politically correct corporate fragrance line within the perfume product offerings.  Finally, being of the benighted uneducated masses and having a much higher appreciation of the value of money than most on shave forums, may it humbly be set forth that $20 shave soap, whilst representing real money is not the harbinger of profligacy; far from it and representative of what the average lower middle class shaver spends on canned foam twice annually.  There are soaps literally costing three figures real money but the products cited are all hovering around the $20 price point.  All this to state that it is absolutely possible to properly contest the inclusion of the new generation of soaps in the mantle of revolutionary breakthroughs but that there may be better arguments to be put forth.  Should the admins permit in this one occasion to make an exception and permit sending you a sample sufficient for 5-7 shaves, will do so, simply PM.  however, if the admins raise their shackles, then will need demur.

I've always said that I can get the same BBS shave from my $5 Superspeed that I did with my Wolfman.  Most won't believe it though because they aren't going to concede that they spent north of $200 for a razor that doesn't really shave any better than something that costs $5.  Don't even get me started on the price of a Oneblade.

I use a Gillette Tech for easily 90% of my shaving and to be frank I willingly admit that the old Schick injector razor is the better "mousetrap", but blade selection being what it is I don't use mine that often.

I will be the first to admit that there is hardly a one to one ratio between money spent on razors and the quality of shave but some do work better than others on particular skin types and facial shapes: to claim otherwise is denying reality (admittedly some skin, beard types can literally get away shaving with sharpened tin can tops but that is another matter).  To date, by far the best safety razor used measured by lack of irritation, shave quality and longevity is the Timeless 0,95OC and the most brainlessly easy shave sans irritation and nicks has been the One Blade V1.  Irrespective of that, still reach for the Wolfman manufactured LASSC BBS1 because it provides a tactile feedback vastly superior to anything used short of a Damascus straight razor.  Does that mean that a relatively inexpensive Merkur 46C in possession is declared rubbish?  Obviously not!  Rather that there is an appropriate tool for each application.  Further, there may well be a 1 cent razor that equals the BBS1 or even the Timeless but to date, it hasn't been encountered.  Frankly I paid way way way too much for the BBS1 and really wish it wasn't so tactilely satisfying as suspect the new marketing strategy is going to destroy residual value.  The emotionally intelligent thing is to bail out now recovering the money and repurchase at a far more reasonable price point albeit yet expensive; but it really is that good and don't want to take advantage of another person to make myself whole suspecting the future market value is on the cusp of changing.

Is there a CliffsNotes version available?

I do think we will continue to see improvements in hardware and software, even if they are incremental. The folks making shaving soaps/creams as well as aftershave will continue to find ways to make it better.

My preferred double edged razor is a Muhle R41. This is more modern than the vintage Gillettes. While the vintage Gillettes are awesome, I consider the R41 to be an improvement.

I will also say that a I love the 100 year old GEM's for single edge shaving.

My most favorite of all is the straight razor, which hasn't changed that much in several hundred years.

Dan Law,

Oh boy, Oh boy, Oh boy!
I am all wound up for a big battle of words!

But you are 100% right on all counts.
I must admit that when it comes to shaving I am a cheapskate.
But because these items are sources of great pleasure, most are in my possession as collectables. Just like postage stamps or cameras or piggy banks.

Here are my expenditures:

*=collectables= Razors that are used in my rotation.
15 GEM's (none more than $20). 11 Rolls. (None more than $35) 8 Schicks. (Up to $20) 1 Gillette Adjustable. $15.

**=Treasures= That are used in my rotation.1 Eclipse Red Ring (DE). 1 Darwin Universal (SE). These were expensive but obtained at a good price. They are used, beautiful, old, things.

***= 4 Modern DE razors that I like and use outside of my rotation just for a change of pace.
All under $30 but excellent shavers..

X$= collectables that are not used=. Primarily because they will not give me a good shave or are too rough for me. Or I don't like them. None were expensive but were still too much based on their performance or my ineptitude.
6 Valets. 4 Cutthroats. 1 Kamisori. 1 Murkur slant. None were expensive.

*SCC= 24 Soaps croaps and creams= that I do use in erratic rotation. That number is gradually being reduced. Most were under $15. A couple were over $20.

XS/S= Four Soaps croaps and creams that I do not use because they smell awful or do not perform up to my inflated standards.

*Brushes= 14 that I like and use in rotation. Various Badgers from cheap to one at $50.
Synthetics. Three were custom made at over $50. Three were made by me. I gave myself a 100% discount.

XBS= 5 brushes that I do not like. Boa bristle, Horse Hair. One Freebee from, perhaps, Uranus or Jupiter.

*PSS= Post Shave stuff. $10 each. Three Aqua Velvas and an occasional venture into the dangerous unknown.

There are a few odds and ends such as Styptic pencils, Band aides, Tourniquets, Hydrogen peroxide (to bleach out the bloodstains), towels, Witch hazel, Glycerine, Alcohol.

Cheers.

We will eventually see a pre shave lotion that contains microscopic atoms of iron that will coat the whiskers.

The blades will be magnetized and will draw the whiskers to them for close, easy removal.

This will eliminate passes 2 and 3 and touch ups thus greatly extending blade life and post shave shenanigans time.

Haha like adding metal shavings to shock absorber fluid then magnetizing to create a viscous sludge impacting damping curves; a terrible solution to a problem simply requiring turning knobs to adjust damping and using a proper water like oil fluid to achieve consistent flow through the orifices....

Hi, Me again, Dan.

Re; metal shavings.
Ever hear of BB's aka BeeBee's
They are quite small.
Surely it wouldn't take much effort to make Billions of Beautiful Bouncing Baby BB's.
It is already being done with tiny plastic balls that are fouling our rivers and streams and lakes and oceans and giving the fish belly aches.

The iron would eventually rust away. Something plastic has not yet learned.

Surely those geniuses who can make a bunch of IOIOIOIO's do wondrous things, can shrink a steel ball to the size if a small atom.

We will eventually see a pre shave lotion that contains microscopic atoms of iron that will coat the whiskers.

The blades will be magnetized and will draw the whiskers to them for close, easy removal.

This will eliminate passes 2 and 3 and touch ups thus greatly extending blade life and post shave shenanigans time.

Haha like adding metal shavings to shock absorber fluid then magnetizing to create a viscous sludge impacting damping curves; a terrible solution to a problem simply requiring turning knobs to adjust damping and using a proper water like oil fluid to achieve consistent flow through the orifices....

Hi, Me again, Dan.

Re; metal shavings.
Ever hear of BB's aka BeeBee's
They are quite small.
Surely it wouldn't take much effort to make Billions of Beautiful Bouncing Baby BB's.
It is already being done with tiny plastic balls that are fouling our rivers and streams and lakes and oceans and giving the fish belly aches.

The iron would eventually rust away. Something plastic has not yet learned.

Surely those geniuses who can make a bunch of IOIOIOIO's do wondrous things, can shrink a steel ball to the size if a small atom.

Agreed with nano tech but the point being in the shock absorber example cited it is a wonderfully Asian solution to a non existent problem more easily, inexpensively and better effected by turning knobs and using proper fluid to best accomplish the desired result.

" Haha like adding metal shavings to shock absorber fluid then magnetizing to create a viscous sludge impacting damping curves; a terrible solution to a problem simply requiring turning knobs to adjust damping and using a proper water like oil fluid to achieve consistent flow through the orifices...."


To me you are beginning to sound like one of Apples "geniuses".

Much too technical.
Bouncing Billions of Beautiful Baby Bee Bee Balls sounds like more fun.

Let's call a truce.
I am going to have a joyful shave with my magnetic blade.

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With all the artisans focusing on soaps, pre/post shave creams/splashes, razors and brushes, I would love to see some love given to the blades themselves. Barring all prohibitive manufacturing and production cost variables, I would love to see a thicker, sharper/smoother and longer lasting DE blade. Some dabbling in different blade materials wouldn't be a bad thing either.