Plenty of us collect safety razors, shaving soaps, and shaving brushes as much for function as beauty, and proudly so – the hashtag #SOTD (Shave of the Day) has over 1.7 million posts on Instagram, and is one of the most popular boards on Badger and Blade. Wet shaving has been thoroughly elevated into an art form. But let’s not forget the science.
Since the early 20th century, when King Camp Gillette invented the first double edge safety razor, there have been three groundbreaking independent studies on wet shaving. “Independent” is the operative word, as there have been numerous other studies carried out by cartridge manufacturers like Gillette, Schick, and Dorco claiming that shaving with a multiblade razor is more beneficial. In these studies, scientists are paid to say multiblade razors reduce the pressure needed for a close shave, thus cutting down on irritation. If you’ve ever shaved with cartridge razors and later switched over to single blade razors, you know otherwise.
The following infographic (via Prime & Prep) covers 5 key observations from independent studies conducted in 1937, 1976, and 2007. In total, these studies prove wet shaving is gentler on skin and delivers a more effective cut than cartridge shaving. Each observation comes with a takeaway that will both boost your knowledge of wet shaving as well as improve your daily shave.
One takeaway for us is the importance of softening hair before a shave with a hot towel treatment or by taking a shower. Learn how to DIY a barbershop hot towel treatment here.
