September 30, 2005
September Wrap-Up
Huge month for us at ShavingStuff. HUGE!
From the two 800 pound industry gorillas we had Gillette's announcement of the Fusion and Schick's launch of the Quattro Power. These stories got picked up by and a bunch of the other cool gadget blogs which drove our traffic through the roof. Welcome to all you new readers. We're glad you're here.
We also covered productdose.com's five-part series on shaving sponsered by Baxter. If you haven't read them here are the links to installments one, two, three, four, and five.
In the reviews department we covered Pacific Shaving Oil, a totally different shaving experience if you're used to working with creams and gels. $6.95 for 100 shaves. No brainer.
So what's on tap for next month? KENMEN just sent over a shipment of their shaving-related products. We'll be trying those out for a couple weeks and hopefully have a review up at the end of the month. Also, we've been talking with an inventor in England about a method he's developed to get the most out multi-blade razors. More news, more deals, and more fun to come.
September 30, 2005
September 29, 2005
Review: Pacific Shaving Company All Natural Shaving Oil
I've been shaving for a while now with Pacific Shaving Oil and have been duly impressed. I had an underwhelming experience with a previous shaving oil, so going into this I wasn't sure what to expect, but this stuff is a winner. Great shave. Easy shave. Clean shave.
Let's get one thing straight right away - Pacific Shaving Oil is all you use when shaving. It's not a pre-shave oil so you're not using it as a base or in conjunction with a cream or gel. Just splash some warm water on your face, squeeze five drops into your hands, and rub it into your face. You're good to go.
One of the huge benefits of a shaving oil is that it's clear, so your face isn't hidden by all this white stuff. That means it's much easier to avoid cuts or blemishes, or even facial hair you're trying to keep. It also means that your razor isn't constantly getting gunked up with cream which you've got to clean out. A while back I reviewed the shaving oil from Total Shaving Solutions, which is a similiar type of shave. One thing I didn't like about Total Shaving Solution's oil was that it was so clear I couldn't tell if I had covered all parts of my face. When you are applying Pacific Shaving Solution's oil to your face, it actually foams up just slightly so you can tell if you've missed a spot. I really liked this. Once you work the oil into your face for a minute the foam disappears, and you're back to shaving in the clear. Not sure if this is intentional, but it's a great touch.
Shaving oils work by applying a thin layer of lubricant to your skin, so the razor glides over the oil and can cut the hair without damaging the skin. This is similar to the way creams and gels work, just without all the extra junk which gets caught up in the razor. Think of it as a back to the basics shave. The fundamentals. You're only applying to your face the bare essentials of what's needed. It's a good philosophy.
One other thing I really liked about Pacific Shaving Oil was its smell. I know that I'm going to sound corny here, but let me try to describe it. Many shaving products are overly perfumed. Some make you smell like a man (from the '50s). And others smell like crap. Pacific Shaving Oil smells vegetal. In a good way. I swear. Perhaps it's because it's made with all natural ingredients - sunflower oil, tangerine oil, grapefruit oil, avocado oil, cucumber oil. (It also contains kukui nut oil, so be careful if you have nut allergies.) I don't know. The stuff smells good. Trust me. It smells different than any other shaving product you've tried, and I applaud that.
Here's another thing to consider - the actual bottle of shaving oil is tiny. Since you only use five drops at a time, a little bit goes a long way. So if you're really into your current shaving system but want a compact travel shave, here's your solution. The bottle takes up no space, and you're going to get 100 shaves out of it. Throw it in your travel kit and forget about it. You're covered.
So have I convinced you that this stuff is worth trying? Still got questions? Click on over to their FAQ, directions for use, or home page for more info. Pacific Shaving Oil is available at www.pacificshaving.com and costs $6.95 a bottle plus shipping, which starts at $1.
September 28, 2005
Analysis of Gillette
Here's a great article by David Vinjamuri, former Brand Manager at Johnson & Johnson and Coca-Cola, covering Gillette, the new Fusion razor, the razor market. The main point of this article is that Gillette is a monopoly and has no real competition. While I'm not sure I agree with that premise, the author does bring up several good points.
1) Gillette does not make the methodology of their shaving studies known, so when they claim that most men prefer the new Fusion two-to-one over the Mach3, we don't know how they arrived at these numbers. It seems unlikely that scientific double-blind techniques were used, and when presented with a new product people tend to like it implicitly.
2) The Procter and Gamble acquistion of Gillette was probably helped by the upcoming release of the Fusion. As the author points out, launching a new brand is generally quite risky, but Gillette is in a unique position to attain huge success given its track record with the Mach3.
I don't necessarily agree with the author's assessment of the market landscape however. According to this St. Louis Business Journal article sales of Schick Quattro were $26.9 million verses sales of Mach3 which were $28.3 million for the same 12 month period ending in November of 2004. That doesn't seem like a Gillette domination, but it doesn't account for razors sold under different brand names.
Anyway, click on over and form your own opinions. Thanks Lukas for sending this article in! Great read.
September 27, 2005
Schick Quattro Power Site
Ask and ye shall receive. The main site for the Schick Quattro Power is thatsthepowerof4.com. Cool retro-tacky design featuring Kato and some hot chicks. Plus, if you're willing to "Join the Society" you can get a $3 off coupon which you can download and print. Not a bad trade for an email address.
Office warning! Wear your headphones before clicking over. Plently of audio and video for you to peruse, but it will turn heads.
15 Blades of Norelco Sarcasm
Think all this talk of multiple blades is a little ridiculous? Norelco does. A ShavingStuff reader sent in this link to the commercial for Norelco's Cool Skin electric razor, which appears to introduce the new 15 bladed Quintippio before showing you the real deal. Awesome.
But the Norelco Cool Skin is actually quite cool. It's got this compartment for Nivea lotion or gel which gets automatically applied to your face as you're shaving, so you've got a nice layer of lubricant. None of that harsh hot metal on your delicate skin. And it's a wet/dry electric razor, so you can use it in or out of the shower. $87.99 at Amazon, but c'mon, you know you want to try it.
September 26, 2005
More Info on the Schick Quattro Power
Still combing the web for more info about the Schick Quattro Power, which appears to be out and available now. On the right we have a close-up of the razor, sent in by a ShavingStuff friend.
Next we have this promotional site detailing the adventures of Owen - "the dude in the Quattro Power Hummer aka the luckiest guy ever!"
My name is Owen and I will be spending the next month driving around to major events around the GTA giving away the brand new Schick Quattro Power razor. -The newest addition to the Quattro family. Not only do I give them away but I am accompanied by four beautiful girls, The Quattro Power girls.
Show me the girls. Then I'll decide whether or not you're the luckiest guy ever. (Although if this is large-scale marketing effort I'm guessing he's pretty lucky.)
Finally, on a more serious note, we have this page from Walgreen's, which has a surprisingly good amount of information.
My biggest question - where is Schick's website devoted to the new Quattro Power? Am I simply missing it? Is Google letting us down?
September 23, 2005
Weekend Reading - ShaveBlog.com
When we got picked up by Gizmodo last week they had trouble determining which was more unusual - a 5 bladed razor, or a blog devoted to shaving. Well, if yesterday's post about BarberBlog.com wasn't unusual enough, here's your weekend reading assignment - ShaveBlog.com written by Corey Greenberg. And he's been on TV!
So I did a segment on NBC's Today Show about the lost art of wetshaving, and how old-school razors, badger hair shaving brushes, and high-end English shaving creams not only deliver the greatest shave you can possibly imagine, but bring back the pleasant, gentlemanly ritual that's been missing since the bloodbath of 1971 when Idi Amin led a coup to become ruler of Uganda and Gillette introduced the first twin-blade razor.
The writing on ShaveBlog is great. Tons of personality and personal experience. The focus is mainly on older single-blade razors, and Corey's contempt of multi-bladed systems is comical yet honest. He's a man after the perfect shave. What's so unusual about that?
September 22, 2005
New Shaving Blog - BarberBlog.com
Just got an email from our friends over at SharpsUSA about their new blog BarberBlog.com. We covered Sharps earlier in the month when they were having a great sale. Hope you took advantage of it. Now the guys are back with a new blog, covering all topics barbershop related from shaving to haircuts and other means of hair removal. My two favorite entries are the Jesus Shaves T-shirt and the guide to what type of moustache you should have depending on your face, nose, and mouth. I'm guessing my big mouth means I should go triangular.
September 21, 2005
Baxter Shaving Article #2 at productdose.com
Article #2 entitled Shaving 101 with Baxter, Pt. 2: Your Face is Unique is up on productdose.com. Great info about paying attention to which way the grain of your whiskers grow, and also when not to use a multi-bladed razor. Apparently sometimes a close shave is too close. Click on over and check it out.
September 20, 2005
Shaving Kits from Mulholland Brothers
Trading links with the good folks over at productdose... they sent over this page on shaving kits from Mulholland Brothers. Really nice high-end stuff, priced from $85 - $129.
Mulholland Brothers designs are made just one at a time, entirely by the hands of trained artisans. Here, there are no assembly lines and no conveyor belts - just talented individuals who take pride in what they do. We combine time-tested construction methods with the finest available materials: Rich leathers, solid brass fittings, polished zippers and the highest quality threads. Spend some time with a Mulholland Brothers design... you might just become a collector.
Five different designs to suit anyone's needs. Would make a great gift, and it is getting to be that time of year. Click on over and check them out.
September 19, 2005
Norelco 6423LC for $31.88 at Amazon.com
Dealnews is reporting that the
Norelco 6423LC Reflex Plus Corded Men's Shaving System is only $31.88 at Amazon.com with free shipping. This is not a cordless electric razor, but don't let that dissuade you. In my expereince the motors on cordless razors tend to be less powerful and become noticeably less effective as the batteries run out. Corded electric razors are the way to go for home use if you've got an outlet near your mirror.
Baxter Shaving Article #1 at productdose.com
Article #1 entitled Shaving 101 with Baxter, Part 1: Take Your Time is up on productdose.com. Click on over and learn why you shouldn't rush your morning ritual.
September 16, 2005
Baxter Shaving Week at productdose.com
If you haven't checked out productdose.com then you're missing one of the great fashion / tech / products blog out there. They sample a little bit of all that's cool and hip. And next week they're covering a subject near and dear to our hearts - shaving!
"We were fortunate to have the Baxter team stop by our office the other day and give us a few tips on shaving, which we’ll be passing on to you throughout a weeklong shaving series next week."
Read more about productdose.com and Baxter, and then check out the rest of their site. I guarantee you'll find at least three things you want for Christmas.
September 15, 2005
The Schick Quattro Power - Too Little Too Late?
Here's a little more information on the upcoming release of the powered version of the Schick Quattro:
Release date is mid-September, which is any day now.
Initial suggested retail price will be $10.99.
Will come with an Energizer AAA battery.
(Some day I hope to understand the business synergy of shaving and batteries.)
The St. Louis Business Journal has some interesting financial information on Schick and Gillette earnings on their Quattro and Mach3 razors. Schick's Quattro website will supposedly be updated to coincide with the release of the Power, but so far that hasn't happened yet.
So how will the Schick Quattro Power do in the face of the 5-bladed Gillette Fusion Power announcement? Both companies are denying any projected future impact from the other, but it's likely that consumers could wait for the Fusion release and reviews before making up their minds. Then again brand loyalty is tough to break, so avid Schick users will likely make the Quattro Power at least a moderate success.
P.S. Apparently the Schick Quattro Power is already available at CVS stores in Michigan. Any MI readers have any early feedback?
September 14, 2005
Gillette Introduces Five-Bladed Razor. I'm Not Kidding.
Remember that webcast I told you about? Did you watch? You're never going to believe this. Gillette has leap-frogged the Schick Quattro into the unchartered world of five blades. Five Blades! Did you hear me? FIVE BLADES!
Here's the current main site for information on the new Gillette Fusion, which will be available during the first three months of 2006. Initial pricing will be $9.99 for non-powered version, and $11.99 for powered. Anti-lock brakes are extra. Articles are starting to trickle in from the news sites, but here's a good summary from Reuters. My favorite quote - in response to questions about whether or not Gillette is reacting to Schick's upcoming launch of the powered Quattro, Gillette Chairmain responded:
"The Schick launch has nothing to do with this, it's like comparing a Ferrari to a Volkswagen as far as we're concerned"
Hey - I drive a Volkswagen... although truth be told I'd rather be driving a Ferrari. Can the Fusion really make that happen?
September 13, 2005
Kiehl's Ultimate Man Shave and Skin Sessions
Kiehl's is hosting sessions on shaving and skin care at many of its stores during the second half of September. As regular readers probably know, I'm a big fan of their products. The Boston store has sessions from the 15th to the 30th, and for signing up you can receive a complimentary 8 oz. Grapefruit Luquid Body Cleanser. Give them a call if you're interested since space is limited. Kiehl's locations are available at their store locator.
Gillette Webcast
Gillette has just announced a webcast tomorrow (Sept 14th) in which they will reveal their latest. From their press email:
The Gillette Company (NYSE:G) will webcast live the press conference to introduce its latest innovation to members of the media and financial analysts on Wednesday, September 14, beginning at 9:00 a.m. (ET). Those wishing to access the webcast should visit the Investors section of www.gillette.com, the Company's Web site.
Can't imagine it will top Steve Jobs and the iPod Nano, but it might be better than the iTunes phone. Here's the actual link to the webcast if you're interested.
September 12, 2005
KENMEN Cosmetics for Men
KENMEN defines the "Metrosexual" as
The modern urban male, who's ego is in the new comfort zone of blending intuition, fashion savvy and practicality...
To that end, they offer a wide array of male cosmetics, including such traditional women's products as color foundation and lip gloss. On the shaving end of the spectrum, KENMEN offers Baby Face Healing Shaving Cream, Ener-C After-Shave Moisturizing Balm, and Hydra-Blu After-Shave Toning Mist.
KENMEN is led by Lee Gilbert, a photography and television makeup artist, which may explain why their products are used by people like Robert Downey Jr., Leonardo DiCaprio, L.L Cool Jay, Jamie Foxx, Will Smith, and many more. Feel like looking like a Hollywood leading man? Might be worth a click.
September 10, 2005
Great Deals on Remington Shavers from Amazon.com
Dealnews has a great round-up of Remington Shavers available at Amazon.com, many around 60% off.
For women there's the Remington BKT-1000 Trim & Shape Bikini Trimmer, normally $24.99, now $9.99; and the Remington WDF-5500 Smooth & Silky Ultra Shaver-Rechargeable, normally $49.99, now $19.99.
For men there's the Remington MS2-370 Titanium MicroScreen 2 Screen Shaver, normally $65.99, now $25.99; and the Remington MS2-100 Microscreen 2TCT Men's Electric Shaver, normally $42.99, now $15.99.
No word on how long these deals will last, so act quick. Most are available for free shipping if your total cart is over $25.
September 9, 2005
September 8, 2005
Last Day to Save 30% at SharpsUSA.com
Lots of great stuff over at Sharps, and until the end of today it's 30% off with the possibility of free shipping.
We're giving you a 30% discount off anything on sharpsusa.com between now and September 8th. Just enter the code "hookup" as you're checking out. And as always, get free shipping (only available in the continental U.S.) on orders totaling $30 or more.
Check out shaving supplies Kid Glove Shave Gel and their after-shave Kid Glove Hydrating Gel. I love their tag line - "Barber-tested on guys, not animals". Is there really a difference?
September 7, 2005
The Beautiful Rosendahl Razor
At the infrequently traveled intersection of high-end design and shaving we find the Rosendahl Razor, by Flemming Bo Hansen,
... a prize-winning razor made of aluminium [which] uses Gillette no. 2 razor blades. The quality of the razor is further accentuated when you consider the waterproof travel case, made of black plastic, which fits in your shirt pocket, glove compartment or desk drawer. This is the perfect razor for everyday use, travel, or keep it in a desk for emergencies.
"Gillette no. 2" appears to mean standard twin blade razors from the old Sensor or Excel. For the refreshingly odd price of $25.33, you can purchase this work of art here.
Special thanks to ShavingStuff reader Takashi Yamada of Yanko Design for sending this in.
September 6, 2005
Pubic Shaving from NYTimes.com
Here we go again... Our good friend Steph sent in this article from last Thursday's New York Times. The article The Revised Birthday Suit covers the latest fashion trends in women's pubic hair, or lack thereof. While some are dying them pink, a large percentage are zapping those pesky pubes with lasers to achieve a perfectly bald look. Bald women and lasers? Reminds me of the first Star Trek movie. But I digress.
Why are they doing this?
Shanacy Kashani, 27, an airline scheduler who is one of Dr. Shamban's patients, said that she and her boyfriend are enjoying sex more now that she's had the treatment, which was a gift from her boyfriend.
Some interesting facts in case you're considering this type of treatment:
- 1.4 million Americans in 2004 had their pubic hair removed, up 53% since 2003
- Laser treatments can permanently reduce hair by 80 to 90 percent.
- Doctors charge from $250 to $750... Three to 12 sessions may be needed for permanent hair reduction, plus follow-up treatments once or twice a year.
Read more, and you know you want to, here and get a Pubic Razor here
September 2, 2005
Extreme Shaving from King of Shaves
OK, these guys at King of Shaves rule. To the EXTREME!!!
Extreme Shaving is the new cutting-edge sport that involves shaving in
strange places. And by strange places we don¹t mean your backside or
other intimate parts. We mean bizarre locations. You could shave your chin
on a packed commuter train, de-fuzz your back whilst skateboarding outside
Buckingham Palace or whip your razor out in the middle of a job interview!
ExtremeShaving.com is the perfect Friday afternoon diversion. The photos are set up like AmIHotOrNot.com for you to rate the extremeness of the shave. Upload your own and get a free voucher to King of Shaves' online store. EXTREME SHAVING!!! WHOOO!!! Where the picture of the guy shaving while doing the Dew?
The Best of the Blogpire
It's September and Summer is slowly wrapping up around the Blogpire. The students are back in Boston and causing traffic madness wherever you go, the nights are a bit cooler, but we all know we've got a few weeks left of some really nice late Summer weather and some great late Summer blogging.
Single Serve Coffee has news of the Keurig Elite B40 & Special Edition B60 Available at Keurig.com and their Single Serve Coffee.com Monthly Round Up for August 2005
Just The Chips looks at Phil Gordon's Little Green Poker Book and the PSP World Series of Poker
Kitchen Contraptions reviewed the simplehuman Wall Mount Paper Towel Holder and also has a great Monthly Round Up for August 2005
Shaving Stuff found Hitachi's +10 Razor of Goodness and also has a terrific August Wrap-Up
What's All the Racquet found The Coolest Tennis Gear in Forbes Magazine and 5 New Racquets from Dunlop, Head, Prince, Wilson & Yonex
TV Snob has been watching Photonic Textiles on their pillows and has great Roundup for August 2005
Shirt Snob continues to find Great deals at Max Studio and has their round up for August
GPS Lodge find a bunch of new reviews: GPS Review: Garmin V and an UPDATE: Geocaching.com Contest Details for September plus their Monthly Round-up for August 2005
And The Cooking News finds out that Hurricane Katrina May Affect Coffee Prices and some very cool cooking tips that Asian flavors add to recipes
September 1, 2005
Hitachi's +10 Razor of Goodness
What do you get when you cross two Mach3s and a Schick Quattro? Why it's the 10-bladed Hitachi electric razor, of course, model RM-SX100.
Maybe one of our readers who understands Japanese can translate the specs better, but for now we're stuck with this interpretation:
The razor helps close, smooth, and comfortable shaves by rotating continually at a high speed. It also plays at invariable speed, ensuring the overall effectiveness. The rotary washer built-inside helps to keep the razor clean.
I wonder if the translator thought that "invariable" was one of those words like "inflammable." or "invaluable.". I can only assume they meant the razor has several "variable" speeds, but hey, did I invent this razor? No.
Check out pictures of this totally cool design here. We'll let you know if and when it's available outside Japan. In the meantime you can order one from Amazon.co.jp for only ￥8,526. I think that's either like $8,000 or 3 meters/second. Not sure if I did that conversion right.
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