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The (new) razor’s edge
This new shaver was 11 years in the making; so far, I think I like it.
In 2013, after many years using an electric shaver, I decided I missed the ritual of blade shaving, and I was intrigued by two up-and-coming direct-to-consumer companies, Dollar Shave Club and (especially) Harry’s, which promised quality razors much cheaper than those of market leader Gillette.
I have used Harry’s razors ever since, except for a flirtation with Kroger’s store brand Bromley’s. I now like the kind of shaving cream that comes in a tube. My original Harry’s starter set came with a tube of their shaving cream, and while their cream (unlike their blades) was overpriced, it led me to other tube-style shaving creams I liked just as well and which I can find easily in local stores. I think my favorite brand is Cremo, especially their cooling mint shave cream, but I also like Duke Cannon. Kroger’s Bromley’s brand is fine as well. (The Harry’s cream costs less now, as well, although I haven’t gone back to it.)
I was an early adopter of Harry’s, but both Harry’s and DSC have exploded in popularity in the past eight years. Both are now sold in stores as well as online. The parent company of Schick tried to buy Harry’s a year ago but was stopped by antitrust regulators. DSC was bought by Unilever, a huge multinational corporation.
