It’s getting toward the end of No-Shave November (also known as Movember), which means there’s a good chance you have a long mustache or beard that needs to be tended to pretty soon.
Most of us just pick up our razor and shave our face without giving it much thought. But the other day I was on the internet doing some reading and I came across a Tristar Inc. Products review that talked about the creation of some great inventions and it got me thinking about the invention of the razor.
I never thought reading that Tristar Inc. Products review would lead me to researching and learning so much, but I’m happy it did and I’d like to share what I found.
A Brief History of the Razor: Prehistoric records show cave walls with images of cavemen shaving with items such as clam shells, shark teeth, and flint knives. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, early civilizations have also used materials such as gold, copper, or sharpened volcanic obsidian glass to make razors.
The time period in which shaving actually became a mainstream practice is debated and some say it dates back to the Romans of 6th century BC, while others have written that Alexander the Great urged his soldiers to shave in 4th century BC so that the enemy could not grab their beards as an advantage in battle.
Modern-day razors didn’t really come around until the 1800s when William Henson invented the first hoe-shaped safety razor. By 1895, a traveling salesman named King Camp Gillette combined Henson’s invention with the idea of adding a disposable double-edged blade for better shaving efficiency.
Gillette’s invention eventually made him a fortune and lead to the major razor blade company that we see today. By 1906, Gillette was moving 300,000 units of its razor blades per year. Gillette actually manufactured his razor blades at a loss, but he was able to make up for it and them some by selling them at a huge profit margin.
Schick razors then revolutionized the industry by producing the first electric razors, which hit the shelves in the 1930s. These quickly sold millions of units and are still popular today. Schick and Gillette are still thriving razor blade companies that have paved the way for many other razor inventors.
Tristar Inc. Products review some of the world’s greatest inventions. Check them out for yourself and they very well might get your wheels turning, as well.