Off the top

A look back at the Gillette Trac II razor

2011-12-26T04:00:00.000-06:00

In 1971, Gillette introduced the world's first multi-blade razor system to the North American market: the Gillette Trac II Twin Blade shaving system. It consisted of 2 blades placed closely together in a plastic cartridge. Instead of changing the blade directly, shavers slid the cartridge onto the handle.

Gillette advertised the Trac II pretty heavily. Check out this 2-page ad from LIFE magazine (December 10, 1971); it features the slogan "It's one blade better than whatever you're using now."
The TV spots often featured athletes, and each one emphasized the special advantages of having 2 blades instead of 1.

You can find other Gillette ads from the 70s at Archive.org; it makes for some fun viewing.

One of the claims Gillette made in most of their ads was that 2 blades shaved closer than 1 blade due to what they called the "hysteresis" effect. That is, the first blade would cut a hair and, in the process, pull it out a tiny bit from the skin. Before the hair could snap back to its regular position, the second blade would come along and cut the same hair just a little bit closer than the first blade had, resulting in a shave that lasted longer than a single-blade shave.

Was the claim true? Hard to say. Certainly, many people think that the hysteresis effect was more hype than science. For instance, this "Straight Dope" article by Cecil Adams from November 25th, 1983, goes at the question in depth.

Gillette claims to have done slow-motion microphotography that shows hysteresis actually works. In an Esquire magazine article on this subject some years ago, a spokesman for Bic, one of Gillette's chief competitors, admitted his firm couldn't prove hysteresis _didn't_ work. Nonetheless, years of testing by consumer magazines and by the razor blade companies themselves have never demonstrated any clear superiority for twin blades--at times, quite the contrary.

Some people (especially those with very thick or curly hair) report experiencing ingrown hairs more frequently with multi-blade razors than with single-blade razors - the hysteresis effect is sometimes cited as the reason why multiple blades increase the incidence of ingrown hairs.

Whether people believed the hysteresis explanation or not, they definitely bought the razors, and the Trac II was a great commercial success.

Gillette still makes cartridges for the Trac II; I can buy them locally in all of the supermarkets and pharmacies that I regularly shop at, for instance, and there are plenty of sources online. Finding a handle is a bit trickier - Gillette doesn't seem to sell them any more, at least in North America. So if you want to try out Trac II cartridges, you'll have to find a handle some other way.

The Trac II was marketed as the GII in Europe; I've found a few G2 handles listed on eBay. You can also find handles made by other manufacturers online, and sometimes in stores. There are a number of clones available that fit Gillette's Trac II cartridges too. I found a fairly solidly-built plastic handled version called the Precision Twin 2 razor at a local Dollarama (5 cartridges plus the handle for $1) which shaves great, for instance. In many Wal-Mart stores in the US (and on Amazon.com), you can find the Bump Fighter razor, which also fits Trac II cartridges.

A number of manufacturers also sell cartridges modeled after the Trac II, usually naming them "Twin" or "Twin Plus" razors, and usually charging a fraction of what Gillette charges.

So, is the Gillette Trac II still relevant in the age of 5+ blade razors? I think so. One of the complaints I read about frequently is the cost of modern razor cartridges. It's a complaint I can sympathize with; at local stores, a Gillette Fusion ProGlide cartridge averages somewhere around $5! Trac II cartridges, on the other hand, can be had for around $1.50 each, and you can find knock-off cartridges for less than half that.

And the shave? Well, the most important part of getting a good shave isn't the razor, it's the preparation. If you ensure your hair and skin are very wet, and you've got a good shaving lubricant properly applied, then any good, sharp razor will do the job. I've been trying out Trac II and generic Twin razors recently, and getting the same type of close, comfortable shaves that I'm used to from the more expensive Mach 3 and Sensor razors that I've used previously. Definitely worth checking out, if you're looking to cut costs but keep your shaves close and comfortable!

Guest review: Wahl Balding Clippers

2011-12-22T04:30:00.000-06:00

Recently, I got some email from Albert asking me about Wahl clippers. He purchased some, and after using them, sent me these comments (which he graciously permitted me to share):

Well I did it. I'm now part of the bald headed club. This specific Wahl is the Wahl Professional Balding Clipper Model 785110. I first used the the 1/16 cutting guide to get the the longer hair out of the way. This step was very easy and the shaver cut the hair like it wasn't there. I then removed the cutting guide and started again taking off the peach fuzz that was left. The shaver motored through this step again.

What was left was a VERY close shave that I guess would be like a 2-4 day growth of hair. I then took my Mach 3 razor that I use to shave my face, lathered the head and started with the razor, 15 minutes later I had a smooth head and NO cuts. With the excitement, I was going for the "Mr Clean Look," I lathered my face and shaved like I do every day before work and cut myself in 3 places. Go figure.

Overall I'm very happy satisfied with the Wahl and would recommend it to anyone that needs to get their hair down to the length that can be then handled by a razor.

I've used Wahl clippers myself; in fact, I still have the same clippers I bought around 20 years ago, and they still work brilliantly. I used those clippers to buzz my hair down the same way Albert did. Wahl makes some solid, solid products.

Looks like Amazon has them for around $42 as I type this, which seems like a great value to me.

Preview: Pacific Shaving's All Natural Shaving Cream

2011-12-21T15:12:00.001-06:00

Just received a tube of Pacific Shaving Company's All Natural Shaving Cream in the mail. With any luck, I'll have a review posted within 2 weeks.

Pacific Shaving's one of my favourite shaving-related companies. Their shaving oil is still my favourite shave oil - light, with a pleasant, mild scent, and it always gives me a great shave. If you haven't checked them out, visit them online at PacificShaving.com today!

The best type of shaver for your head?

2011-12-19T05:00:00.000-06:00

The aim of the advice and suggestions I give on HeadShaver.org is to make it easier to have a close, comfortable, and convenient shave. The question of what type of razor to use for headshaving is a pretty common one. So, what are your options?

A shavette - a type of straight
razor that uses disposable blades.

The most old-school option is the straight razor. You've probably seen one of these on TV or in a movie, but may not have come across one in real life; they're something of a specialty item. They've been around for hundreds of years, and were once the primary way that people shaved.

A straight razor requires skill and care to use - careless use can result in serious injury. Keeping the blade at a good angle (something like 30 degrees) is essential for good results. This can be a challenge sometimes even when you can see the shaving area (as when you shave your face), but shaving the scalp is even trickier. While it can be done (and you can find videos on YouTube of people using straight razors on their scalp), I don't recommend them for shaving your head.

For everyday shaving, straight razors were largely supplanted by safety razors in the early 20th century. The double-edge safety razor is enjoying a resurgence these days, with a number of forums and communities that consider the DE razor to be the best way to shave your face. The razors are still a specialty item; the only place I can find them locally is at antique shops, but a number of online retailers sell them. One of the big draws to DE razors (aside from aesthetics) is that the blades can often be had for very reasonable prices - it's not unusual to find a pack of 10 good blades for under $2 at online retailers.

Though the DE safety razor has a guard in place to prevent big gashes (making them considerably safer than straight edge razors), they do require some care and skill to use. The blade still needs to contact the skin at a good angle, for instance. Traditional wet-shaving enthusiasts usually recommend a multi-pass approach, shaving first with the grain, then across the grain (and sometimes against the grain) for a very smooth shave.

You can certainly shave your head with a DE razor (I've done so in the past), but it's not something I recommend unless you're interested in the challenge and experience of it. While you're learning, it's pretty easy to draw blood, and it's fairly time-consuming if you want a smooth shave - it wasn't uncommon for me to take 30 to 45 minutes, and that was after much practice and effort.

The razor you're most likely to see advertised in contemporary media is the cartridge razor. The current champion (in terms of TV time) is probably the Gillette Fusion ProGlide, but there are many, including Gillette's Trac II, Atra, Sensor, Mach 3, Schick's Hydro and Quattro, and various generic versions of these razors.

The great innovation of the cartridge razor is that it holds the blade at a fixed angle relative to the position of the cartridge, and that it holds the blade at a fixed distance to the skin. This essentially reduces the skill required to shave, and makes it possible to shave more quickly and with less chance of nicks or cuts (though it is still possible to draw blood; you should never be careless with a sharp blade). Some models have a fixed head, but most have a pivoting head that changes position for you as you move over the curves of your face and scalp.

Another popular shaving option is the electric shaver. Unlike the other types of razors mentioned here, electric shavers can be used without wetting the skin, which can be very convenient. Their design also generally precludes nicks and cuts, though some people do find electric shavers irritating on their skin.

It's easy and safe to use an electric shaver on your scalp. I spent most of the past 3 years using one as my primary shaving device. The only downside is that electrics generally do not shave as close as a blade razor. I've tried a number of different models over the years, and while you can get a pretty close shave, it's never quite as smooth as I really prefer.

When all is said and done, I recommend the cartridge razor for headshaving. They are easier and quicker to use than straight or DE razors, and they shave closer than electric shavers.

The question of which cartridge razor to use? As with many things, it comes down to personal preference. I've used quite a few razors over the past decade-and-a-half of shaving my head, and I can honestly say that almost all of the cartridge razors I've used are capable of giving you a good, close, comfortable shave. Use whichever one you're already comfortable with.

Bald bridal revenge

2011-12-13T12:49:00.000-06:00

Is anything as entertaining as a good revenge story?

From the Weekly World News, December 7th, 1993:

Angry bride Andrea Braysted was so furious after her sister Carol smushed a cream pie in her face during her wedding reception that she got three friends to help her even the score - by holding Carol down and shaving her bald as a melon!

The story describes the wedding, Carol's smushing of the pie into Andrea's face, and how they're no longer speaking to each other.

The Weekly World News is one of those sources that you have to take with a grain of salt, of course, but they do know a good story. They liked this one so much, in fact, that they ran it again in 1999, virtually unchanged. I guess the sisters must be twice as mad at each other now. :-)

How smooth?

2011-12-05T05:00:00.000-06:00

Most of the time when I shave, I aim to get my scalp as smooth as I can. When I'm done, it's usually slick and frictionless, which feels great when I'm running my hand across my skin. It also means that my scalp is at its most reflective (ie. shiniest), which isn't always the best look. Also, my toque (knit cap, for any non-Canadians) sometimes actually slides off, since there's not enough traction to keep it in place.
Completely smooth isn't actually my favourite scalp texture, though. Somewhere between 12 and 24 hours after that first smooth shave, a bit of hair has grown back and my scalp has an entirely different feel to it that I quite enjoy. My toque stays in place, the appearance is a little more matte, and I haven't yet hit that rough-and-tough feel that I prefer to avoid.

Sometimes, especially when I'm in a hurry, I won't make the effort to shave completely smooth. Instead of shaving against the grain and going over rough spots until it's completely slick, I will stick with one pass of the razor. It's an easy, quick shave, and sticking with one pass means no irritation (as long as your pre-shave preperations are adequate, of course). It also means that I have that slightly-roughened texture sooner, which I don't mind at all. The only real disadvantage to this approach (for me) is that I usually have to shave again the next day - when I go for a completely smooth shave, I usually only shave every second day.

What's your preference when it comes to smoothness?

New review: Squid Lid Head Shave bar

2011-11-28T20:47:00.001-06:00

At the beginning of the month, I mentioned receiving a new product called Squid Lid Head Shave bar. I've been using it for much of the past few weeks, and the full Squid Lid review is now available on HeadShaver.org.

Just want the high notes? Squid Lid is a comfortable lotion-style shaving cream that provides good lubrication and great skin protection, all the while smelling good and not gunking up your razor! It's a great product, and I recommend giving it a try if you're in the market for something luxurious at a reasonable price. Also, if you're into stuff that's certified vegan and cruelty-free, this'll fit the bill.

Enjoy!

Shaving for the fans

2011-11-25T05:00:00.000-06:00

For fun, I searched Facebook with the phrase "shave head". This produced a huge number of pages wherein the page creator promises to shave their (or someone else's) head if the group gets a certain number of 'likes'.

The number of 'likes' required to trigger a head shave varies quite a bit. I saw one page that was requesting 100,000 likes. On the other end of the spectrum, another page was only looking for 75 likes.

All of the pages I came across seemed to be joke pages, and nobody seems serious about following through. Granted, I only checked out a few, most of which hadn't reached their targets, but even those who had met their goals (like this page, or this one, or the '75 likes' one lined previously) show no evidence of actually having shaved anyone's head.

Anyone know a page of this type where they've followed through? Just curious. :-)

Virtually bald celebrities

2011-11-20T12:13:00.001-06:00

Plenty of celebrities have shaved their heads over the years, for movie roles or just for the heck of it. In the past several years, for instance, both John Travolta and Jeff Bridges have gone for the completely bald look for film roles (Travolta in From Paris With Love, Bridges in Iron Man). Jeff Bridges in particular is an actor I associate with long hair, but I thought he looked fantastic playing the villain opposite Robert Downey Jr.

Granted, I'm a bit biased, but I think the bald look would suit a lot of folks who haven't gone that route. Sometimes, you wonder how a particular celebrity might look if they shaved their heads, but there's really no way to tell until they do it, right?

Don't be silly! This is the Internet, after all, and whatever curiosity we have, there's someone out there to help satisfy it. In this case, you can go to Balderazzi.com and check out their Virtual Head shaving for celebrities gallery for your education and entertainment. The site is run by the same gentleman who runs the Baldly Go website - he's offered a virtual head-shaving service for many years.

So now, if you want to know how Barack Obama, Angelina Jolie, Sarah Palin, or Stephen Colbert might look with shaved heads, you know where to go. There are around 100 celebs who have been balderized at present.

The origins of the electric shaver

2011-11-14T05:00:00.000-06:00

Gizmodo had a short article a little while back about the origins of the electric shaver. It all starts with mining in the Alaskan wilderness.

It's 40-below, so you have to collect ice and then melt it. Then you have to hurry the heck up before your face freezes. And if you sprain your ankle during your time in the north country? You have a lot of time to think about a better way to shave your face.

That's how retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Schick (yep, that Schick) came up with the idea for the electric razor.

The article includes a link to an original patent drawing of Schick's invention, which is pretty cool.

The first electric shavers that Schick sold in 1929 were $25. Based on changes in the consumer price index, that's worth around $320 in 2010 dollars, but the relative cost compared to overall income could be equivalent to over $1000 for an average production worker (according to the Measuring Worth website). Whichever way you slice it, it represented a large capital outlay.

Despite the price, the electric shaver sold rather well.

Nevertheless, Schick sold more than 3,000 electric razors the first year. [...] By 1937 he had sold almost two million.

These days, you can only get Schick electric shavers as a vintage item, of course - if you want to buy one, eBay or antique sites are your best bet.

Wet vs dry shaving

2011-11-11T05:00:00.000-06:00

As a young man, my first shaving experiences were with an older Braun electric shaver that belonged to my father. For whatever reason, I had it in my head that blade shaving was a dangerous, uncomfortable affair which could result in heavy blood loss, so I stuck with electrics for years, moving from the Braun to a 3-headed Philishave model.

Eventually, though, curiousity won out, and I bought a Gillette Sensor II cartridge razor. Oh, what a difference! There was more work involved (getting my face wet, using shaving cream, the clean-up afterwards), but it was a much closer shave than I'd been used to. I did manage to cut myself on occasion, but it wasn't as bad as I'd feared, and my technique improved over time.

The first time I shaved my head, it was with that Sensor II. Soon after, I bought my first Mach 3, and I was even happier - less irritation, and a closer shave! Over the years I would find better shaving lubricants than the Edge Gel I'd started with, making for an even better experience.

The thing is, I'm a lazy, lazy man, and proper wet-shaving takes a bit of effort. A couple of years ago, I received a Panasonic wet/dry electric shaver for Christmas, and started using it as my primary shaving device. The time I spent on the actual shaving portion of the process was about the same (or even slightly longer), but there was essentially no preparation required, and clean-up was a breeze.

The Panasonic was a big step up from the older Braun and Philishave models I'd used a decade before, but it still wasn't as close as a blade shave, especially on my face - there's an area near my Adam's apple that the electrics usually miss completely, and the surface of my head is never completely smooth (though it's close).

So now I'm back to wet-shaving with a cartridge razor (my trusty Mach 3, naturally), and though it is extra work, I'm loving the extremely smooth results.

The wet-shave/dry-shave debate is a very common one: what you choose depends on what's important to you at the time. For more discussion, check out these links:

Luke at The Aspiring Gentleman discusses the issue with a list of pros and cons for each side (he focuses on wet shaving with a double-edge razor and more traditional shaving implements rather than a modern cartridge razor, but the comparisons are mostly relevant to both).

MenScience has a nice article with pros and cons laid out as well. In this case, double-edge shaving and cartridge razor shaving are each given their own list to contrast with electric shaving.

What's your experience? Leave a comment below and let us know!

First look: Squid Lid head shave bar

2011-11-08T19:08:00.000-06:00

Squid Lid head shave bar

Deborah from Squid Balm was kind enough to send me a sample of their Squid Lid head shave bar. It's a solid bar, which forms a thin, slick layer of lotion for shaving.

Directions are simple: after you've wet your head, rub the shave bar in your wet hands until you've got a little oil/lotion in your hand, and then rub the lotion over your scalp. Then you shave! If the lotion dries up at all, just run your moist hand over your scalp to 'refresh' it. Afterwards, a standard rinse and you're ready to go.

According to their website, Squid Balm products are certified Vegan and cruelty-free. As a little side bonus, since it's a solid, you don't have to put it in a zip-lock back if you're going through a TSA checkpoint.

I just received the sample today, but I've already used it for one shave. So far, it's very promising. Shaving with a Mach 3, it didn't provide as much lubrication as the shaving oils I normally use - in fact, the razor squeaked a bit as I shaved. It did a great job with irritation and nicks - my skin felt very comfortable throughout the shave and afterwards. The shave bar has a pleasant scent that's not overpowering, and applying the lotion to the scalp was easy and pleasant.

Overall, I'm looking forward to using Squid Lid more; it seems like a very solid product. Once I've used it for a while with a couple of different razors, I'll post a more complete review to the main HeadShaver.org reviews section.

Curtis's Cure for Baldness

2011-11-07T05:00:00.000-06:00

Men have feared losing their hair for all of recorded history, it seems, and other men have happily played to this fear by selling products meant to prevent this "terrible" fate. One such product was Curtis's Cure for Baldness, an ad for which ran (amongst other places) in the January 6th, 1860 edition of the Providence Daily Post. Some excerpts:

To be bald, or not to be bald!
That's the question.
Curtis's Cure for Baldness.
The late Great and Reliable Remedy.

And the only article which restores the hair to bald heads and stops its falling off, and which has merited the certificates of reliable men in our midst; containing no oil, sulphur or lead.
Read the following testimony...

One piece of testimony came from J.Q. Brigham:

About a year since my hair began falling off badly; to prevent which, I tried various preparations without success. Believing I should otherwise lose my hair entirely, I was about to submit to the shaving of my head, when a friend, who had been using Curtis' Cure successfully, advised me first to give it a trial.

Despite all the flim-flam, there's something charming about the style of these ads - probably something of a misplaced nostalgia. Anyway, the ad concludes:

Notice the size of the bottles, which contain one pint of the fluid.
For sale by all wholesale and retail druggists everywhere.
J.M. Curtis, Proprietor, Providence. R.I.

Cold up top? Not so much.

2011-11-04T05:00:00.000-05:00

So, I'm sure you've heard it said that we lose most of the heat from our bodies through our heads, right? It's one of those things that I've heard cited many times over the years, the type of thing that I've accepted uncritically and even said to other people. In fact, until recently, I had it on the FAQ page of my website. But, like many little nuggets of information we carry around with us from day to day, this one doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

Reader Sam Kauffman kindly sent me links to a couple of website ("Scientists debunk the myth that you lose most heat through your head" and "Do You Lose Most Of Your Heat Through Your Head?") that nicely clear the air on those subjects.

Of course, if you were completely bundled up except for your head, it would end up being the source of most of your body heat loss when you were out in the cold. But then, if you were all bundled up except you weren't wearing any pants, then most of your body heat loss would be from somewhere else altogether. :-)

The "Cleanhead" gallery

2011-11-02T05:00:00.000-05:00

Pete Levin's Take It From The Head website offers something I haven't seen before: a gigantic photo gallery of clean-shaven musicians containing over 1600 photos.

This gallery isn't about celebrity or music style; it's about hair - or rather, no hair. Cleanhead! So it's an alphabetical list of musicians who shave their heads. Nobody's featured; Seal, Michael Stipe, Jimmy Cliff and Isaac Hayes are right in there with hundreds of guys you never heard of.

It's a nice collection of photos, and each has a link back to the musician's website or myspace page. As a musical hobbiest myself, I'm naturally drawn to the idea.

Baldness, race, and feminism collide

2011-10-31T05:00:00.000-05:00

CristenConger, writing on Bitch magazine's website, offers up an interesting article about baldness, head-shaving, race, and culture titled "Isn't He Lovely: The Body Politics of Male Balding".

I realize that a common male fear of balding isn't news. But here's a finding that grabbed my attention: For people struggling with body dysmorphic disorder (especially men), hair is one of the most affected physical features.

It's a well-written and interesting piece, definitely worth a read. Check it out.

Bald enthralled...

2011-10-29T15:30:00.000-05:00

Sally Stang, writing on Centraljersey.com, has a great little rambling piece that muses on the bald-by-choice look, and why she loves it. She starts out straight to the point:

I have something to say to any bald men out there who are still forcing three hairs to do the job of hundreds. Quit it! And to you guys who are still wearing toupees? Sheesh! Unless you are in the Witness Protection Program, what are you thinking? Consider yourself blessed not to have those unsightly hair follicles! I’m telling you it’s a stroke of good luck! Bare your brainpan proudly, fellas!

It's a fun article, and worth a quick read.

Guest review: the Panasonic ES8103 electric shaver

2011-10-28T05:00:00.000-05:00

Reader Jon Little sent me some comments about the Panasonic ES8103 electric shaver:

I would like to recommend the Panasonic ES8103 to your followers who prefer or require an electric shaver.

I have sported a shaved head (by choice) for over ten years and have tried every shaving system imaginable. If you have a healthy scalp with no skin problems, nothing can touch the Gillette Fusion razors: quick, and slickly amazing.

If, on the other hand, you have scalp issues like mine (seborrheic dermatitis) that are aggravated by wet/blade shaving, the Panasonic may be the answer. It provides a very slick, dry shave without a lot of pressure and can also be used wet. You have to go over the scalp several times, but gently... after which it looks and feels damned near as tight as the Fusion shave. If you need to shave dry or just touch up during the day, it's well worth whatever Best Buy is charging this week.

Thanks for the report, Jon!

I've been using a similar Panasonic shaver (the ES8077) for the last couple of years, and think it's an excellent device. I can't get mine to shave quite as close as Jon can, but I've been very happy with it.

Blast from the past: shaving her head to spite her husband

2011-10-26T16:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a great little find from an Ann Landers article, linked here from the August 19th, 1969 Edmonton Journal:

Dear Ann Landers:

My husband has always been on the conservative side, until about six months ago when he decided to let his hair grow.

I didn't say anything until his hair got longer than mine. Then I demanded that he get a haircut. He refused. To teach him a lesson, I took the scissors and gave myself a baldy bob. He said I looked like a billiard ball and called me a spiteful nut. I agreed to let my hair grow if he would cut his. His answer was, "I refuse to be blackmailed. No deal."

Last night, out of sheer frustration (and after a few drinks) I went to the bathroom and shaved my head. I walked into the room and said, "How do you like this?" He nearly died. Now my husband refuses to be seen in public with me until my hair grows out. I realize I made a mistake but I feel his terms are too harsh. What do you say, Ann?

Vergo

Ann's response is straightforward:

Dear Vergo:

Buy a wig and stay away from the booze.

The best part? There's an ad on the page for "Unwanted hair removal" and another one for wigs! Contextual advertising at its best.

Personally, I think people should be free to express themselves through their hairstyle if they want, so I think she should have let her husband be. Still, I do admire her style - she was definitely ahead of her time!

Going bald for literacy

2011-10-25T23:19:00.001-05:00

Literacy is an issue close to my heart, and I tend to cheer on any efforts to get kids reading. So when Principal Don Mrozik of John L. Sipley Elementary School in Woodridge, Illinois decided that shaving his head would be good incentive to encourage his kids to read, I cheer!

If 95 percent of Sipley students read at least 30 minutes a day between Oct. 14 and Dec. 5, Mrozik will go bald.

There are also other prizes for reading, including a Nook e-reader, but I'd like to think the chance to shave the principal bald is at least as big a draw as an e-reader.

Way to go, Principal Mrozik! Here's hoping you're head is smooth come December!

Edited to note a similar story I've linked to before. :-)

eBay and Economical Razor Blades

2006-04-01T23:56:00.000-06:00

Adam from San Francisco sent me an email that I'm sure many of you will find interesting.

I want to share a technique that's working well for me in buying razor blades.

Buying blades on eBay is by far the most economical way to buy razor blades with anything from Gillette Mach 3, Mach 3 Turbo, Mach 3 Power (m3power), Fusion, Schick Quatto, Quattro Power, etc.

There are always many factory sealed blades being sold on eBay.

Before I was purchasing blades on eBay, I was buying through razorsdirect.com . While razorsdirect.com offers competitive prices and offers free shipping, one can save between 25% to 50% using eBay, including the addded shipping expense.

The process is as follows:

1) Compare price to Razorsdirect.com

Suppose you wish to purchase 24 Mach 3 Turbo blades.

Razors Direct sells 24 Mach 3 Blades for $38.99 (say $39).

2) Multiply the price above by 0.75 (to enable a 25% minimum discount).

39 x 0.75 = $29.25

3) Find someone selling 24 Mach 3 Turbo blades on eBay.

4) Determine the "Maximum Bid" price.

Subtract the shipping cost from the 25% discounted price (since razorsdirect.com offers free shipping and eBay generally does now).

Suppose shipping is $4.99:

$29.25 - $4.99 = $24.26 = Maximum Bid

5) Enter the Maximum Bid (which will be kept private from both the seller and other potential buyers) for the item and wait.

You can usually find some pretty good deals well below the Maximum Bid price.

Using this method, I recently purchased, including shipping costs:

16 Quattro Power cartriges for $19.01 (including shipping)
(42% savings over razorsdirct)

24 Shick Quattro cartriges for $20.08 (including shipping)
(47% savings over razorsdirct)

If you get out-bid, over the calculated Maximum Bid price, that simply means the winner paid too much for the blades and bid on the next item.

Be careful and wait for one auction to close before bidding on another or you may be stuck with winning more than you desire.

For non-exact number of blades, go up to the next largest quantity and calculate the unit cost per blade. For example, if someone is selling 20 blades, find the cost on razorsdirect for 24, divide the razorsdirect by 24, and multiply by 20. Subtract the shipping cost on the eBay item to calculate the Maximum Bid.

Normally, I search on eBay first for a good deal. Next, I compare the price to razorsdirect. Finally, I calculate the Maximum Bid to be entered.

Using this method, most blades can be purchased between a 25% to 50% discount over razorsdirect.

It may be a good idea to enter the maximum bid during the last hour of the auction, or as close to the end as possible. In many cases, the razors will be purchased well below your maximum bid.

That's a very well-thought-out plan for economical razor acquisition if I've ever read one. Razor blades are pretty expensive these days, especially if you're picking them up from your local supermarket (as I usually do); Adam's technique sounds like it would be a great way to consistently save a good amount of cash on one of a headshaver's most common purchases.

Thanks, Adam!

Gillette Fusion - first impressions

2006-02-12T22:58:00.000-06:00

The Gillette Fusion razor was recently released (to great hype, of course), and early reviews are popping up in various places. I picked mine up a couple of days ago, and thought I'd share some quick initial impressions, based on 2 shaves.

As I tend to expect from Gillette products, I've gotten really good, close shaves. There's an area around my adam's apple which is very difficult to get smooth, but the Fusion has managed to get it smooth without too much hassle, and that impresses me. It's an area that other razors haven't been able to do much with, so I'm very happy with that result.

Irritation is similar to the Mach 3, with no noticeable improvements. That's very good, but I was hoping for some improvement. The commercials talk about the Fusion applying less pressure (since it's spreading out the pressure over more blades) and that this would result in less irritation, but I'm not feeling it so far.

The handle feels heavier than the Mach 3, and I like it. The pivot point of the blade head seems better positioned, moving closer to center than the Mach 3.

Overall, excellent initial results. I'll keep using it for a while and see if I continue to like it.

Is it worth the price, though? Replacement blade cartridges are very expensive. As I write, Drugstore.com has a pack of 8 going for $22, and that's with $5 off. That'll get you 12 Mach 3 cartridges and some change. I don't think the Fusion is 50% better than the Mach 3, not from what I've seen so far.

Mailbag: Double-Edge headshaving

2006-02-09T10:45:00.000-06:00

I received the following email from Herbert recently:

Hello, I am thinking of shaving my head, mainly because of a very dry scalp which no shampoo seems to be able to fix. I currently use a straight razor and Double Edge razor for my face shave (Straight with the grain and the double edge against). The after shave balms and moiterizers I use really give my skin a softness and sheen I never had using the usual shaving products.

I never liked ever using a multi-blade system and shaving my head with a straight razor sounds a little dangerous. But I thought a Doubled Edge razor might work. I have two Murker razors, but niether have a pivoting head. I saw a beautiful DE at classic shaving called "Vision"
that looks like it may work very well for a head shave. What are your thoughts on head-shaving with a DE razor?

I have tried shaving with a DE razor (specifically, the Merkur "classic" Safety Razor), and didn't have great results with it. I posted a blog entry about it back in May, in case you want to read about my initial impressions.
I'm used to modern cartridge razor systems, like the Schick Extreme III or the Gillette Mach 3, but I used the Merkur Classic for several weeks last year. Results on my face were decent, but shaving my scalp proved less than satisfactory.

The biggest problem seems to be the lack of flexibility of the blade. Cartridge razors have a bit of flex to them and can adjust to the countours of the scalp to some degree. The Merkur Classic's blade is very rigid. A rigid blade works fine for the face, since that area is fairly malleable and will adjust to the blade, but the scalp doesn't have nearly so much give and it doesn't adjust to the blade at all.

As a result, shaving took much longer (approximately twice as long in most cases), and even then I couldn't achieve the same quality of shave as with a cartridge razor. I would frequently miss some small spots, and skin irritation levels were higher than I like.

I only shaved with the Merkur for a few weeks, so it is possible that I just don't have sufficient practice to get a good shave with a DE razor. As a long-time DE user, perhaps Herbert would have more success than I did.

In general, though, I don't recommend using a DE razor on the scalp. Based on my experience (and some comments I've read from other DE shavers), I think it's harder than it needs to be, and results with a cartridge razor are better and easier to achieve.

Gambling on baldness

2006-02-06T19:22:00.000-06:00

So what does it take to get your head shaved in Malaysia? Apparently, all you have to do is sit around and play Mahjong in a public place.

There has been widespread public indignation over the action by Kajang police to shave bald 10 senior citizens caught playing mahjong on the second day of the Chinese New Year.

The 10 men claimed trial in a Kajang magistrate’s court yesterday to a charge of illegal gambling at a public place.

A 31-year-old coffeeshop owner, who was also shaved bald, pleaded not guilty to allowing the 10 to gamble at his Hulu Langat shop.

The incident has sparked a probe to determine if police were abusing their power. It's not necessarily clear-cut, either, as it is apparently standard practice.

"I appeal to the Selangor chief police officer to see if the police officers had gone overboard and abused their power," he said at a press conference yesterday.

"It is true that shaving a detainee's head is part of the procedure. But with the majority of the men detained being senior citizens, was it necessary?" he said.

Involuntary headshaving has been used for thousands of years as a way of humiliating others, and the outrage expressed by many people in Malaysia certainly seems justified.

Mailbag: electric shavers vs blades

2005-10-06T17:50:00.000-05:00

I just re-started shaving my head again. I use a gillete sensor on my head every other morning. The sensor is nice but I get tired of putting shave cream all over my head and going over it with a razor. I am now thinking about getting an electric razor. My question to you is do electric shavers work well on the head? How do they compare to a standard blade w/ shaving cream?

The only electric razor I've used on my scalp is a small travel shaver that I use every once in a while when I don't feel like doing a full wet shave. With that razor, I don't get a terribly good shave, but it does smooth things out in many areas and give me another day before I feel the need to shave again.

I haven't used any of the better electric shavers on my scalp, so I can't comment on them directly. I have gotten feedback from others, though, and the impression I get is that you can get a decent shave with an electric, but it won't be as close and smooth as you get with a full wet shave.

In particular, electrics seem to have a problem getting close in areas where the scalp surface isn't entirely even. The face is generally malleable and bends with the razor, but the scalp doesn't have the same amount of soft tissue underneath; as a result, it's much easier to miss some spots.

Still, the comments I've received from people who use electrics are generally positive. It's not as close as a blade, generally speaking, but it's enough for many people.

Mailbag: Art of Shaving Lavendar Scented Shave Cream

2005-09-25T10:39:00.000-05:00

Reader Sonny La Roma sent along this review of the "Art of Shaving" Lavendar Scented Shave Cream.

The Art of Shaving is a full service salon for men located in NYC as well as a few other cities including Las Vegas. The market their own skin and haircare products that are sold via their salons and thru Barney's as well.

I have been using their Lavendar Scented Shave Cream for the last 5 years and love it.

Major pros: High emolient content makes for a smooth and effortless shave. No drag at all on scalp. No nicks because of terrific glide factor. Lavendar scent is great.

Cons: A bit pricey. Standard tub is $22

Sounds nice.

Snarking the Fusion

2005-09-19T19:31:00.000-05:00

In case my previous post on the Gillette Fusion wasn't snarky enough, the Independent chimes in with their own comments about the newly-announced razor system.

I don't know how much R & D went into Fusion, and P & G wishes it probably didn't. But I am sure it was a cast of thousands of highly trained razor boffins, and I am sure they examined every possible permutation of razor and chin before coming up with the genius idea: add another blade!

I have the feeling there will be many more cynical comments about the 5-blade Fusion soon.

Never enough blades

2005-09-17T15:49:00.000-05:00

Until the 1970s, safety razors used a single blade. Then came the double-bladed cartridge razors, which carried us to the 90s. Then we got the 3-blade Gillette Mach 3. Then we got the 4-blade Schick Quattro.

Many people found the explosion in the number of blades to be rather silly. When the Mach 3 came out, there were lots of jokes about razors with a huge number of blades. Those jokes continued when the Quattro came out. Personally, I figured that the trend couldn't last too long, as there just isn't enough room to cram in a lot more blades without making the razor unwieldy. Surely, I thought, four blades would be the end of it.

Turns out I was wrong and the jokers were right. Gillette has announced a five-blade razor. It's called the Fusion, and they've put together a flashy little site to promote it. And there's plenty of early commentary about it as well.

It won't be available until early next year, and I'm sure there will be a big media blitz to alert us once it's available.

Odds are, I'll be trying one out when they're available, just so I can post a review of it. It's going to have to be pretty freaking amazing to get a good review, though. My cynicism meter's on high right now. I'm almost certain we'll soon see stories about new law suits, and then the announcement of a 6-blader with a laser-guidance system.

The power of 4

2005-09-10T11:03:00.000-05:00

A couple of months back, Schick took Gillette to court over their advertising claims about the M3Power razor. The court ruled that Gillette's advertising was misleading, and ordered them to stop making certain claims in their ads.

Now that the Schick Quattro Power has been announced, they're starting their own advertising campaign. I haven't seen any TV ads yet, but a reader sent me a link to a promotional website: That's the Power of 4.

It's set up like an informercial. For those of you who thought that the M3Power's claims weren't exaggerated enough, Schick's got what you're looking for. Warning: Site contains Kato Kaelin.

Schick Quattro Power announced

2005-09-01T11:56:00.000-05:00

Looks like Schick is joining Gillette in the 'stick a battery in your razor' club.

The Schick Quattro Power Razor is designed to reduce cut force and give a more comfortable shave, the company said. It will sell for around $10.99 for a razor kit, which includes a razor, cartridge, stand and a AAA battery.

Thus far, no word use of the word "micropulses".

This scalp for rent

2005-08-27T10:29:00.000-05:00

So can a young female student raise a big wad of cash to finance school and a big vacation? Perhaps by shaving her head and using it as advertising space?

After the shave, came the tattoo.

"I’m not going to lie," DeMers said. "That hurt so bad."

Maybe $18,000 will ease the pain.

That’s how much DeMers, a 20-year-old Sparks student who wants money for a European trip and a college education, was paid to have the name of an Internet casino imprinted, not just once, but twice, on the top and back of her newly bald head.

She will have to keep her head shaved and the tattoos visible for a year to keep the money.

Gilford shaves

2005-08-20T10:57:00.000-05:00

In a follow-up to this post, the Citizen Online updates us on the wonderful shavers in Gilford, New Hampshire.

Those traveling in the Gilford area over the next few days may notice a larger number of people with shaved heads than is usual for a small New Hampshire town.

This is because many in town turned out Saturday at the Belknap County Sportsmen's Club and at Patrick's Pub and Eatery to benefit a national childhood cancer research foundation and a local boy who is currently battling brain cancer

[...]

Beland said that before Saturday's events, $10,000 had been raised for the St. Baldrick's fund and at least several thousand had been raised for the Palisi family. He said Saturday he did not know how much more was raised.

It's great to see so many people turn out and shave their heads for a good cause.

Bald for a video card

2005-08-16T11:12:00.000-05:00

It turns out, shaving your head might be worth a video card, at least if you're at the right promotional event.

The afternoon started with a call for women in the audience who were willing to have their head shaved for an older video card, which carries a retail price of $170. Two women leapt at the opportunity.

"It's hair; it grows back," said newly shorn, 21-year old contestant Teresa Holt.

St. Baldrick's in August

2005-08-13T13:33:00.000-05:00

St. Baldrick's Day events are often held near St. Patrick's Day, but can be held any time of the year. As I'm checking the news, I've noticed several St. Baldrick's stories appearing in August.

For instance, police officers and firefighters in Gilford, New Hampshire held a St. Baldrick's event on August 10th.

Today, also in Gilford, the folks at Patrick's Pub are holding another St. Baldrick's event. They're doing it to support 6-year-old Nicholas Palisi, who has completed conventional cancer treatments without success, and needs funds to try more experimental treatments.

And in Arbutus, Maryland, Kimberly DeBoy of the Cutting Edge salon is making plans for a big shaving event in 2006. The article has a brief history of the St. Baldrick's event, and then talks about DeBoy's experiences and plans for next year.

Nationally, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation reported raising over $5 million in 2005, with events in six countries. Sadly, Maryland boasts only one - the aforementioned Baltimore Baldies - which is why Kim has issued a challenge - she’d like to see other salons in the area organize their own events, and compete to see who can raise the most money and shave the most heads. "I’m grateful to have the opportunity to do this," she said. "It was amazing how many people wanted to help."

[...]

Although people can donate any time, and donations are coming in, Kim knows the real money comes from the event itself, and she and Candy are planning the 2006 shave-a-thon, which will come "as close to St. Patrick’s Day as we can." With a 900 sq. ft. shop, Kim is thinking about finding another, larger venue for next year, with more chairs, more barbers, and more heads ready to be shorn.

In other words: bigger, better and balder.

It's a great charity, and it's good to see St. Baldrick's busy throughout the year.

The League of Bald-Headed Men

2005-08-11T11:06:00.000-05:00

The Herald Sun of Australia has a story about the continuing growth of the League of Bald-Headed Men.

The League of Bald-Headed Men has been around for a little while, quietly finding its feet in a world awash with hair-product its members are never going to need.

Now it's breaking out.

This month, the league will be launching the Bald Bar on top of the James Squire Brewhouse and Portland Hotel in Russell St.

Naturally, the League has a website of it's own that you can check out. It's all about accepting who you are.

Mailbag: About time

2005-08-08T11:28:00.000-05:00

I received a great email this weekend from Ernie. It's the type of story I've heard before, but he really tells it well.

Hey, I just wanted to write in hopes to let a few others know they aren't the only ones out there. A bit about myself: I'm currently 45. Since I was 22 I've been so embarrassed about losing my hair that I either wore a hat or just plain avoided situations (pools, swimming, sports) that might bump off my hat. I felt like I had some sort of sickness.

Then I finally had enough and sought a doctor for hair transplant. All looked great in the photos. So I went ahead, I was told I'd need 2 to 3 scalp reductions. After my first one I went back to the doctor and saw many more guys then first hand. To be honest I was in shock at how easy it was for me to tell they'd all had work done and actually how bad it looked. So I stopped at that time, now with a big scar on my head and still no hair. I eventually went to hair pieces. They were all high quality human hair and no matter what anyone said I could always tell, even though in photos it was difficult, I continued to wear them, but always with a hat, almost like a back up system in case my hat had to be removed, or fell off, in either intimate settings or court, weddings funeral and such. I was always stressing and worried. Then I would never let anyone touch my head for fear of detection, not even my wife. Then at around 2 weeks it would begin to smell a bit, or at least I could smell it, then the itching and if it was hot, damn it was just terrible.

Last year I began thinking about shaving my head, it's in style and all. However I met with some resistance from my wife. Her concern was that I would not be happy and then have no hair; she knew how sensitive I was about my head. But her biggest concern is that I would look even more intimidating than I already did. I am 6'4, 270 with fully sleeved arms and a muscular build. To this date in time, even my kids had know idea I even wore a piece, they only knew me as "dad with a hat". Or if any one did know, no one ever said a word.

It took me almost a year to convince myself just to remove it and shave it off.

So now listen anyone in a similar situation. Yes it was scary shaving it off, but it has been absolutely the best thing I've ever done to date.

Upon first shaving it all off I was white as could be on top: my face was usually either very tan or red from hours in the sun on my bike, so it stood out. But as I walked out of the bathroom, my wife smiled and said damn you look the sexiest I've ever seen you. White but sexy.

She took some of her self-tanner and applied it to my head in hopes of toning down the white until at least the sun caught up with me.

I then went down stairs, without anything covering my head, the first time in about 20 years... think about that. Twenty years. Before I'd even reached the landing my oldest daughter yelled at me to come back. She was still in bed, however saw me pass. She just smiled and said damn dad you look 10 years younger and sexy as hell. What made ya do it. I just said it's been hot out and I need a change. (she is 22). As I continued down the stairs to my chair to put on my boots, word traveled quick. Now my second oldest daughter and her boyfriend came down. Again both very positive on how much they liked it, he even commented that now he was shaving his head (the next day he did). They both said I looked like Stone Cold Steve Austin. I didn't even know who he was, had to look him up on the internet... yea there is a resemblance.

Then the next daughter came in with her boyfriend, she rubbed my head, smiled and said it looks hot, but be careful with the sun.

My last but youngest daughter was the only one who said she didn't know if she liked it or not. So I asked her why, her response was far from what I expected. It wasn't that she didn't think it looked good, however her comment was that I already scare the crap out of her friends, now they'll sure to be scared of me (she's 15).

It's been almost 3 weeks now, I haven't worn a hat in that time. If I'm in the sun I sometimes wear a bandana, but it looks cool; after all I'm a biker and it fits.

I've had nothing but positive comments, far more than I'd ever dreamed possible. I've now had many younger females at the gym comment and begin to talk to me, at first about my head, but then to other things... most of them wanting to rub my head.

All of my daughters' friends have also commented on it and how much they like it.

So guys, don't wait 20 years and go through what I did... just do it.

My wife, interestingly enough.. I have a friend who has shaved his head as long as I've known him, when my wife sees him she always says hi and rubs his head. A week or so had gone by and she'd not really even touched mine so I got kinda weird about it and finally asked her. Her response was kinda sad, that she haddn't been allowed to touch my head in over 20 years, just hard to break bad habits. She's always loved shaved heads but was afraid to tell me because of how sensitive I'd always been about mine. Kinda sad, huh?

Oh, and that scar on my head from so long ago, yea it's there, but only one person has noticed. I just told them I had surgery when younger, they said it adds to my look.

So guys I know it may be scary, but trust me: I know that's hard, but take it from me a guy that's been there... take the plunge. I shave my head every day in order to avoid the partial shadow. That'd be my only tip.

Thanks for the email, Ernie. A lot of guys live much of their lives embarrassed by hair loss, and it's always great to hear about people breaking free from that worry. It's amazing, the psychological freedom that comes from shaving it all off.

Shaving for the role

2005-08-04T10:30:00.000-05:00

Nancy Duckles of Tennessee is an actress, and she has shaved her head.

Instead, she wants to feel authentic when she gets on stage this weekend to play a woman with ovarian cancer. She both produces and plays the lead role of Vivian Bearing in "Wit," Margaret Edson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play being performed this weekend by DuckEars Theater Company as a benefit for the American Cancer Society.

"I never considered not shaving my head. I was afraid if it didn't look completely natural, I'd lose the audience; they'd be paying attention to the fact I was wearing a skullcap. I wanted them to take the journey with me," she said.

Women shaving their head for a role is not very common, but it does have precedent. Glenda Jackson famously shaved her head to play the role of Queen Elizabeth I in the BBC series Elizabeth R.

Still, a woman shaving her head is still very rare, and it's considered a much greater sacrifice than if a man would shave his head for a role (for instance, Michael Rosenbaum).

Shaving poetry

2005-07-31T13:33:00.000-05:00

Over at the Trinidad & Tobago Express, Tony Deyal is waxing lyrical about shaving.

Ever had one of those mornings when things don't gel and you work yourself into a lather? Life seems like a precarious dance on a razor's Edge and happiness a Blade Runner in a virtual reality nightmare. As you scrape yourself off the primeval ooze of existence even the slightest movement sounds like sound-barrier breaking booms, Mach 3 at least. It feels like someone stumbling through the stubble, the dark shadowy undergrowth. When that happens to me, even my dear wife's attempts at soft-soaping me fail and I get schick to my stomach. Have I lost my cutting edge? Is this a job for Remington steel?

It's an interesting article, especially if you're in the mood for connecting shaving-related terms together in whichever ways might strike one's fancy. And jokes. He's got at least three shaving-related jokes in the article, which is three more than I've encountered anywhere else.

Instead of striking, shave!

2005-07-30T11:09:00.000-05:00

According to this Chandigarh Newsline article, Regional Passport Office employees across India are shaving their heads to protest the potential privatization of their jobs.

All the employees of the RPO came out of their office chambers at lunch time and participated in the head-shaving ritual. All the male employees, except those who are Sikhs, got their heads tonsured by a barber in front of the RPO. This kind of protests are being held by employees of all the 27 Passport Offices (POs) and Regional Passport Offices (RPOs) across the country.

It's certainly a lot more creative than picketing, and perhaps it will get them some publicity.

The image of walking into a passport office and finding everyone there shaved bald is an interesting one.

Need reasons?

2005-07-28T11:06:00.000-05:00

The Dunner's Stunners blog has a list of 20 reasons to go bald-by-choice, in case you're looking for justification.

Aside from the usual reasons (save on shampoo, save on hairstyling time and money), he's got a few less-often-cited reasons to give it a shot. Check out #10, #15, and #16, for instance.

Headshave as analogy

2005-07-27T10:22:00.000-05:00

PJStar.com has an article that's not really about headshaving, but it does use shaving as an analogy. For some reason, I found that interesting.

For a long time, I pretended to actually have hair. I cultivated my few remaining strands with love and care. Finally, I looked in the mirror and asked myself: "Who are you fooling?" I grabbed my Gillette disposable, lathered up with Edge and did the only thing that made sense. And now here I am, all these years later, the happiest bald dude this side of Vin Diesel.

Headshaving is common in sports, but I just haven't read an article that used it in quite this way before.

Change is good

2005-07-23T11:00:00.000-05:00

Baseball player Chad Tracy knows the benefits of change. According to this story at the Arizona Republic, the first baseman is always seeking out things to change, in order to keep himself fresh.

"Yeah, like shaving my head, or maybe growing a goatee," Tracy said. "It's just something to change things up so I'm not always doing the same things. It can help take your mind off baseball a little bit and take your focus off something so you're not thinking about it all the time."

When I first shaved my head, it was out of a desire to do something, anything, different. It's surprising sometimes, but making a change in one area of your life can lead to improvements in completely unrelated areas of your life too. At the very least, it keeps us from stagnating and getting too complacent with ourselves. Shake things up every once in a while.

Too hot for hair

2005-07-22T11:46:00.000-05:00

Michael Patrick Nelson of Long Island Press shares a story about hot weather and an attempted headshave. It seems things have been hot and muggy in Long Island.

The first thing I had to do, I decided, was shave my head. Certainly vanity and personal appearance mean a lot in this world, and one's hairstyle plays a big part in such things, but comfort had become my priority, and comfort began with ridding myself of the Medusa-like locks that were sticking to my forehead and suffocating my scalp.

It's not normally a difficult task to get one's head shaved, but Michael keeps finding people who advise him not to shave.

"Don't do that," said the woman. "You have such nice hair."

I chuckled. "That's what it wants you to think," I said. "But it's not nice at all, believe me. It wants nothing more than to see me dead of heatstroke."

It's an entertaining story. I won't spoil the ending for you, though: give it a read.

Head care tips

2005-07-21T11:25:00.000-05:00

The Kansas City Star says, "If you're hairless, don't be careless." With that, they offer some grooming tips for the bald-by-choice.

Before shaving what’s left up top, hit the showers. "The hot water opens up the shafts and softens the hair, which significantly reduces the risk of irritation, cuts and razor burn."

[...]

If you get nicks and cuts, tend to your wound, stop shaving for a while and let the stubble grow in.

They also include the reminder to wear sunscreen if you're out and about. Trust me, don't forget the sunscreen; a burned scalp is a real pain to deal with.

Interview online

2005-07-20T14:37:00.000-05:00

Curtis Bickham over at Head-Liner.com posted an interview he did with me recently through email. Feel free to check it out.

One shaved head = one wish

2005-07-19T10:36:00.000-05:00

Matt Betler was going to shave his own head as part of a raffle to raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation that he had organized for Bombardier. But then he spoke to his father, Bombardier president Ray Bettler.

"Matt was going to shave his head, and he came home and asked me if I wanted to, too," Betler said. "I told him I would do that if he could raise enough money for one wish (for Make-A-Wish Foundation). He asked me how much that was, and I told him $3,400. I figured I was in the clear."

The final total Matt Betler raised was in excess of $3,500.

And thus, a company president shaves his head, and that shaved head equals one wish. The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

It's nice to know that a simple haircut can make a big difference in someone's life, sometimes.

A straight razor for charity

2005-07-17T10:37:00.000-05:00

If you're near Farmington, Maine, you might want to consider checking this out:

One of the few barbers left in the state skilled in plying the traditional straightedged razor to give a man a close shave is offering her skills to charity.

Jackie Tardif, head barber at Dick's Barber Shop on Broadway in Farmington, said she will be doing a full-face shave -- complete with hot-towel treatment -- with the proceeds, plus tips, to be donated to the Farmington Rotary Club to help the organization's many community service projects. The cost of the shave will be $12.

The event's happening July 29th from 6 to 10 pm at Farmington's annual Moonlight Madness.

There's no mention of shaving heads, but a full straight-razor shave is a rare-enough thing that you might want to take the opportunity and try it out. Why is it so rare?

Tardif learned the skill 36 years ago in barber school, and these days, there are few carrying on the tradition because it isn't being taught any more.

"There are no more barber schools. Back then, when we were in school, we had to do them from day one," she said.

The loss of traditional barbering skills has been noted before, of course. Finding a barber anywhere who will give a straight-razor shave is harder and harder. Fortunately for the people in Farmington, there's at least one that they can go to.

Social statements?

2005-07-15T14:47:00.000-05:00

There was a time when a shaved head was often construed as a socio-political statement. It might represent your detachment from the material world (a la Buddhism), it might represent anger and violence (neonazi skinheads), or it might represent something else. That time seems past, as the shaved head has moved into the mainstream and become a fashionable hairstyle.

Not everyone feels that way. Andrew Calcutt of Spiked Culture thinks that shaved heads are a part of something he calls ultimatism. As he describes it, ultimatism is "going all the way all the time, taking what we look like to the nth degree, and not only on exceptional occasions."

If you can only see yourself as a forceful individual if you shave your head like a stormtrooper, it means you cannot really see yourself as a strong character. Lack of self-conviction is then compounded by the patent superficiality of the references being made: of course, I'm not really a stormtrooper; only joking; only me. Today the sight of so many shaven heads bobbing up and down in the tidal wave of commuters coming over London Bridge into the City of London each morning, suggests that the masturbatory mix of frustrated desire and self-mockery which expressed itself in the New Laddism of a decade ago, has now spread to the post-lads and dads among the wider population.

Along with self-mockery, Calcutt thinks that "ultimatism" also represents contempt for others. All in all, a very negative view.

I've certainly never noticed the attitudes he ascribes to "ultimatists" in the people I know who shave their heads, either in person or online. At least, not on any serious scale. I'm sure there are people who have those ideas in mind when they go bald-by-choice, but I'm not sure it's at all common. It screams of over-generalization.

Maybe it makes more sense if you're British?

Shaving the CEO

2005-07-14T11:04:00.000-05:00

Motivating people by promising to shave your head is so popular now, even business people are doing it. At least, Steve Moles of Microprobe is.

Over a year ago, Moles, 53, president and chief executive officer of Carlsbad-based MicroProbe, which provides products and services to the semiconductor industry, challenged his employees to ship more products than in any other month in the company's 32-year history. In return, he said, he would shave his head.

With a previous single month sales record of about $1.8 million, Moles thought he would be retired by the time the record was broken. However, MicroProbe bested that record in June, shipping more than $2 million worth of products.

True to his word, Moles donned a yellow plastic parka on July 6 as MicroProbe Data Analyst Tom Davis put the electric shaver to his boss's head, much to the delight of the dozens of MicroProbe employees who gathered to watch the ceremony.

Moles has a history of motivating his employees in this manner. A few years ago, he promised he'd do a cartwheel if they met a goal; the cartwheel ended up putting him in crutches. Presumably, he'll fair much better with a shaved head than he did with gymnastics.

Bases loaded

2005-07-13T10:16:00.000-05:00

How do you motivate a team of 12-year-old baseball players to do their very best? If you're Wally Clements, you offer up your hair.

As a challenge to give it their all following a defeat to a Bath County team at the Cal Ripken Baseball Tournament in Mount Sterling recently, Robertson County CRB League President Wally Clements said he would let the team shave his head if it beat the next team.

"They not only beat the team, they knocked Winchester out of the tournament with a 3-2 win," said Clements.

If you're in or around Maysville, Kentucky, you can even see the shaving done, as it'll be open to the public.

"After the coach pitch game is over, about 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, the team will get to shave my head, on the pitching mound, at the Lions Club Park," said Clements.

Shaving inflation

2005-07-11T10:21:00.000-05:00

Joe Posnanski of the Kansas City Star has something to say about the price of razor blades:

I’ve got to shave. And you know what that means. I’ve got to get a second job.

I’ve run out of Gillette Mach3Turbo razorblades.

Maybe I could pawn my wedding ring.

Oh yeah, these blades are expensive. I have no idea how I got on this crazy Mach3 train. Maybe it’s the enhanced microfins that precede the blade and gently smooth down my skin so the blades shave evenly and effortlessly. Maybe it’s the patented anti-friction technology that reduces the cutting force. Maybe it’s the open cartridge architecture that makes rinsing and cleaning the blade easier than ever. Maybe it’s the indicator lubricating strip, also patented - this razor has more patents than General Electric.

Maybe I’m just a sucker.

It's an observation made by many shavers during their trips to the supermarket. Modern cartridge razors keep getting more and more expensive. Mr. Posnanski points out that he can't even get the cartridges off the shelf; you take a ticket to the front to get your blades. That's because they're expensive and small, so they're heavily shop-lifted.

What's a poor shaver to do? You can always try making your blades last longer. There are two ways of doing this that I'm aware of.

You can get cryogenically-tempered razor blades online. These blades are put into a machine that makes them extremely cold, which (apparently) does something to the structure of the metal and makes them harder. I've tried them before, and they definitely lasted longer than the regular blades I had used before and after. Comments I've gotten from others appear to confirm that.

Alternately (or in combination), you can store your blades in oil. Wet-storage systems keep air off of the blades, reducing the dulling that occurs due to oxidation. As an added bonus, the oil adds a bit of lubrication when you're shaving. I tested the RazorMax system (back when it was called EdgeSaver), and had good results, which are also confirmed by many other comments I've read online. Some people just stick the razor in a cup with some mineral oil covering the blade, which works just as well.

It's always a good idea to avoid the hype when possible. For instance, instead of the Mach3Turbo cartridges that Mr. Posnanski buys, I tend to stick with the regular Mach3 cartridges. I don't get any improvement with the Turbo blades, so they're not worth the extra couple of bucks. That goes doubly for the M3Power blades. All 3 cartridges work with all 3 handles, so even if you like the vibration feature of the M3Power, you can use regular Mach3 blades.

Shave to the music

2005-07-10T10:39:00.000-05:00

Schick's launching Quattro for Women, and it's doing it to music.

Each of the more than 150,000 packages of Schick(R) Quattro(R) for Women(TM) razors -- on store shelves beginning in July 2005 -- will include a code allowing access to five free downloads.

[...]

The promotion, featured on in-store displays and product packaging, is the first between Schick and Universal Music Enterprises, which represents the world's largest music catalog.

Somehow, shaving and music have never connected in my mind, but in the dog-eat-dog world of razor sales, I guess the big shaving companies have to pull out all of the stops.

Mother and son shaved

2005-07-09T12:04:00.000-05:00

From the Times-Tribune, we get the story of Shannon McKeel, a woman who shaved her head at a recent Relay for Life event for the American Cancer Society.

Shannon McKeel’s hair is about a quarter of an inch long this week. That’s about a quarter of an inch longer than on June 5 and a good deal shorter than on June 4.

Shannon, 36, of White Mills, Wayne County, is not a cancer survivor, but she wants to make sure more people are. Shaving her head was Shannon’s way - for this year - to make a difference.

It's pretty common these days to know someone who is suffering with cancer, and Shannon is no exception.

Shannon’s mom, Patricia McKeel, passed away of cancer in 1999. Her mother was a strong woman who quickly moved away from hiding hair loss from treatment under hats, Shannon said. "I’m proud of it," she said of her shaved head. "I don’t hide it at all - if I did it to wear wig or wear a hat, what good would it be?"

The family connections to this event go both ways, too.

Shannon’s 9-year-old son and relay walking partner, Walker Day, had his head shaved about a week before the relay.

I imagine that the pair of them made for a cute couple. Shannon managed to raise over $6000 for the Relay for Life, which is excellent.

St. Balrick's in July

2005-07-07T10:18:00.000-05:00

We've talked about St. Baldrick's day before (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). It's a great head-shaving charity event that normally takes place around St. Patrick's day, but can be run at any time. Though I've read plenty of St. Baldrick's stories, none of them involved tattooing a leprechaun onto the scalp of any of the participants. At least, not until I read about Bonnie Otillo of Hyde Park.

Bonnie Otillo didn't get her last haircut and tattoo to be fashionable.

The mother of two had her head shaved and a small, bald leprechaun tattooed on the back of her head as the latest of her ongoing efforts to support children's cancer research and awareness.

Otillo, who has never known a child cancer patient personally, said she has become involved in helping children she has come to know through other groups such as Make a Child Smile and Hugs and Hope.

[...]

Otillo said women raise the most money because it is far less common to see one without hair.

St. Baldrick's events continue to raise money for childhood cancer research. It's a great cause, and it's great to see people so devoted to it.

Protecting the dome

2005-07-04T14:23:00.000-05:00

Florida's Gainsville Sun reminds us to protect our skin from the ravages of the sun's rays.

Aulisio points to the latest trend in men - sporting a "chrome dome" look, particularly in the summer - as just another incidence of skin cancer waiting to happen.

"A lot of guys are shaving their scalp, while others are balding and may play golf or go fishing without protecting their head," Aulisio explained. They are running the risk of developing skin cancers on the scalp.

"There's no sun tolerance built up, and the skin will burn even more easily," he warned.

More than half of people newly diagnosed with melanomas are men, and it's common for men to develop melanomas on their scalp. It's easy to prevent skin cancer, though: if you're out in the sun, use sunscreen, and cover up. Avoid being out in the mid-day sun if you can avoid it.

Doing the 'do

2005-07-03T08:43:00.000-05:00

The Herald & Review of Decatur, Illinois has some comments about the trend towards bald-by-choice.

There are economic advantages to the 'do, Bill Deetz said. "I probably haven't gone to a barber in five years," he said. "It's a lot cheaper."

Deetz said he was surprised how a bald head feels. "It felt really strange," Deetz recalls. "Believe it or not, it feels a lot different than the skin anywhere else on you. My skin almost felt like rubber on the top of my head."

It's a lower-maintenance look, said Roy Winings of Decatur. "I don't have to wash my hair," Winings said. "I don't have to worry about it blowing when I'm on my motorcycle."

Many find the Kojak look sexy. "You cannot believe how many women come up and want to rub your head," Danny Hoult said.

The article also has brief comments about the history of headshaving, and lots of quotes from Illinois locals about why they shaved.

Miami style tips

2005-07-02T16:31:00.000-05:00

The Miami Herald offers some style tips for taking care of a shaved dome, from Dr. Julio Gallo, medical director at The Miami Institute for Age Management & Intervention.

Some of them are pretty standard, but definitely worth repeating. Like tip #1:

As hassle-free as the style appears, those who go close-shaven should take special precautions, especially in Miami, where the risk for sun damage is much higher,'' Gallo says. Your first line of defense should be sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 applied liberally and often, regardless of how dark you are.

Some of the tips aren't likely to appeal to the budget-conscious among us, like this part of tip #4:

For high-maintenance types, Gallo recommends ridding yourself of skin imperfections with microdermabrasion, a ''mild sandblasting,'' ($150 a treatment for one hour). Zap persistent ingrown stragglers forever with laser hair removal (from $300-$400).

It's always good to see shaving advice and tips in the mainstream media. A lot of folks don't know much about shaving, and endure more discomfort than they need to endure.

Stretching the shaving ritual

2005-07-01T11:47:00.000-05:00

The New York Times has an article about the expansion of products in the men's shaving market (registration required). In a market that was once just about razors and shaving cream (and maybe some alcohol-based aftershave), there are now pre-shave oils, razor bump healers, soothing aftershave balms, and skin toners.

For the past few weeks Mr. Ragaza, a magazine editor in Manhattan, has been stretching out his shaving ritual to almost 10 minutes. He starts by moisturizing with a citrus-scented preshave oil, then applies a frothy swirl of foaming shaving cream with a badger-hair brush. Then, after shaving as usual, he gives himself a final soothing pat with after-shave lotion.

Apparently, the shaving products industry is hoping to adjust consumer expectations among male shavers, and convince them to think about it not just as shaving, but skin care. This isn't an easy sell to men, as we typically don't pay much attention to our skin (according to the article, men spent $22 million on skin care last year, while women spent $6.7 billion).

"It's easier to upgrade a consumer than to convert him or get him to start doing something new like skincare," said Eric Malka, a founder and president of the Art of Shaving. His company makes a four-step shaving system and a line of soaps, scrubs, masks, moisturizers, eye gels and lip balms for men.

I know that more of the guys I communicate with about shaving are using multiple products and taking care of their skin better than they used to. It's not too hard to understand: we're looking for a comfortable shave, and some of these products really do contribute to an easier, less irritating experience.

Making choices

2005-06-30T11:01:00.000-05:00

The Pittsburgh Valley News Dispatch has an article about headshaver Ric DeTorres and headshaving in general. Ric is 47, and shaves his head because he was losing his hair.

He made up his mind early that he would not become a member of the Hair Club for Men.

"No to hair plugs, no to over-the-counter hair-growth treatments," DeTorres says emphatically.

But if hair plugs and over-the-counter tonics were not the answer, what about a toupee?

"No way!" he exclaims. "I would not be that vain to wear a toupee that looks like something out of the back of a comic book."

The article also offers some general impressions of the bald-by-choice and why we do what we do.

During the past several years, more men who are losing their hair have fancied themselves in the image of stars such as Michael Rosenbaum, who plays Lex Luthor on "Smallville," basketball star Michael Jordan or Proctor & Gamble's rugged 6-foot-3-inch, earring-wearing sailor, Mr. Clean. The strong, confident images those men portray provide assurance that bald men can be sexy.

Personally, I've never thought of myself in the image of any particular celebrity, but the idea that bald-by-choice men look confident and self-assured is one that I've heard many times from a variety of sources.

Shaving records

2005-06-29T12:16:00.000-05:00

Back in May, I mentioned the Geneva, New York Relay for Life and their record-setting headshave. A little while ago, I ran across an article about their desire to break that record at this year's event.

Arlene Eddington was satisfied last year when 135 people had their heads shaved as part of the local Relay for Life. In fact, it was good enough for the "Guinness Book of World Records."

But this year, she and Jen Harris, chairwoman of this year’s head-shaving event, are aiming for 200.

Apparently, they ended up with poor weather at this year's event, but still managed to get a good number of people shorn.

Harris stressed, however, that about 161 area residents still voluntarily had their heads shorn at the second annual shave-a-thon.

I hadn't run across any references to whether or not all of those were officially counted (last year's event had 185 shavees, but many were disqualified from the Guinness total for various reasons, including not having enough hair to start with).

While searching, I came across this page describing the 2004 event, which includes a big picture of some people getting shaved.

With any luck, they succeeded in their record-setting goals. Whether or not they did, though, they also managed to raise $65,000 for cancer research, which is substantially more important than any world records they might set for other things.

Shaving the slump

2005-06-27T11:29:00.000-05:00

Here's a general principle for you: if you're stuck in a rut, make a sudden change to something in your life and shake things up. It seems to work for athletes (via Newsday):

If David Wright knew that shaving his head would end a 13-game homerless drought, he probably would have done the deed weeks ago.

Wright stunned his teammates yesterday when he showed up with his new military-style 'do. A few hours later, he opened the second inning with a home run off Yankees starter Sean Henn.

"I'm trying as much as I can to look like Cliff [Floyd]," Wright said, "so some of that power will rub off on me."

I like to periodically make some sudden changes to my life, to keep things from getting too dull. For some people, this can be accomplished with a shave. Whatever you do, though, the important part is to keep your mind and body active.

Bald is still beautiful

2005-06-26T10:55:00.000-05:00

The North Adams Transcript has a nice article titled For Many, Bald Is Beautiful available for your reading pleasure. It's another "headshaving is mainstreaming" story, featuring quotes from barbers and the shaved.

How many heads does he shave?

"I'd say every day there's a couple," St. Pierre said, pointing out that many men shave their heads themselves.

These days, Shannon Klose of Contemporary Hair in North Adams is doing multiple head shavings.

"With this heat, a lot of guys are coming in and having their heads shaved," she said. "I've been outright busy with my clippers. They're constantly recharging. A lot of guys have been coming in to have their heads buzzed."

Klose believes the trend is mostly heat-related, rising during the summer months. Last Saturday, she shaved four heads.

They also have comments from a 16-year-old boy who first shaved his head when he was 12, mainly to feel comfortable while playing sports.

I was surprised to hear about the number of guys getting shaved in a barbershop, to be honest. I would have figured most guys would do it at home, as it's cheap and easy. Then again, I have often heard that a barbershop shave is something of a treat, so perhaps that explains the numbers.

Razor Gator

2005-06-24T11:23:00.000-05:00

Tired of getting lots of 'gunk' in your multi-blade razor? Reaching for toothpicks or Q-tips to clean out the razor cartridge?

Now there's a tool created especially to clean out the gunk from modern cartridge razors: the Razor Gator. Their website has some info on the Razor Gator, and on shaving in general. There's even a Gunk Gallery, in case you haven't seen enough gunk in your own razors.

Is it a shaving essential? No. But it's relatively cheap, and it does come in handy sometimes, so some people may appreciate it. There's a full review of the Razor Gator here, if you're interested.

What's hair between friends?

2005-06-21T10:28:00.000-05:00

From Prince Edward Island comes the story of Terri Anderson, who decided to shave her head to support a friend and raise some money for the Canadian Cancer Society's Relay for Life at the same time.

But, says Anderson, shaving her head is only a small sacrifice compared to what her friend, Jane (she did not wish to have her last name used) has gone through in recent years.

Jane is currently fighting her second battle with breast cancer. She is in Halifax, undergoing chemo, as Anderson has her locks clipped.

"When she (Jane) told me that she had cancer again about a month and a half ago I thought I don't want her to be bald alone," says Anderson. "I thought if I am going to shave my hair off I'm going to get money for it."

Anderson managed to raise over $5000 through family, friends, and co-workers for the cause. She said that even if she hadn't reached her goal, she would have shaved her head for her friend.

The many ways to remove hair

2005-06-20T13:15:00.000-05:00

GoBelle.com has an article from Men's Fitness about various ways to remove hair from the body. It covers each method fairly briefly, but well enough that one could get the general idea.

Though I recommend shaving for people going bald-by-choice, there are always the adventurous sort who want something more permanent.

Their comments on topical hair inhibitors:

After the success of the topical hair-inhibitor Vaniqa (which has yet to be tested and approved for use by men), many new nonprescription topical hair inhibitors entered the market. Yet whereas Vaniqa is a prescription drug that has been sanctioned by the Federal Drug Administration, most other topical inhibitors have not been clinically proven to work.

All of the methods feature a pro/con and estimated cost. If you're thinking of trying something besides a razor up top, feel free to have a look.

Shaving improvements

2005-06-19T10:36:00.000-05:00

Ashish Jagtiani of Mid-Day Mumbai in India wonders about the improvements in shaving technology.

I remember when the Mach 3 was launched, that’s all it was called. Then they added Turbo and now Champion. I’m sure there is some technological advancement involved with each name extension, I’m just not sure what it is. All I know is that I’m paying almost twice as much for my blades with no perceptible change in my daily shave.

At this rate I’m expecting to soon see the Gillette Mach 3 Turbo Champion King of the World Master of the Universe shaving blade. I miss the days when I could say the word razor and everybody knew what I was talking about.

Just wait until Gillette unveils the M3Power in India. The name hasn't gotten longer, but the price certainly has gone up again.

Quick product shots

2005-06-18T10:30:00.000-05:00

This week, I picked up some new shaving lubricants, just to give them a whirl, and figured I'd post my initial impressions.

First up is Neutrogena Razor Defense shaving gel. I've only given it one go so far; I'll try it more thoroughly later. It reminded me of Edge gel, which was, once upon a time, my shaving lubricant of choice. Since then, though, I've encountered better shaving lubricants, so I don't particularly favour this type of gel any more. Lubrication was fine, but I ended up with a fair bit of irritation, more than I'm comfortable with.

Second on the list is Kiss My Face Moisture Shave (vanilla earth). I've used this one twice now, and my initial impressions are great. It has a very pleasant scent, it applies nicely, great lubrication, and low irritation. It cleans out of the blade pretty easily too, which is always good. I look forward to using this one more.

In the same product-review theme, I got an email from Thomas, who kindly shared a product experience.

Just wanted to let you know about a new aftershave I tried that works really well. Old Spice High Endurance SOOTHING AFTER SHAVE BALM. This stuff doesnt burn, smells nice for the ladies and keep your header soft. I've been shaving my head for about 2 months and was still getting some irritation after I shaved, saw this stuff and thought I would give it a try. Works really well. Give it a trial run. They also have something that reduces 5 O'clock shadow, may try that as well in a couple of months.

Thanks for the input, Thomas.

Toupee or not toupee

2005-06-16T11:05:00.000-05:00

The Sacramento Bee has an article (registration required) about Neal Young, a toupee stylist. Neal's been in business for a long time, and he's good at his job, according to him and his customers. Because he's good, of course, it isn't cheap.

Young has been trying to look young since he was young. He went bald at 22 and got his first hairpiece that same year, shelling out $400. Wall-to-wall carpet was selling for less in those days.

[...]

An entire new hairpiece from Neal's is $588 installed. They last one to two years before they wear out, Young says.

I hardly need to point out that two years worth of razor cartridges and shaving lubricant are significantly cheaper, of course. Mr. Young has an opinion about headshaving as an alternative to getting a rug.

"Right now, there is this fad out there of shaving heads - and it is a fad," says Young. "It doesn't look good on everyone. You see odd-shaped heads - dimples, bumps, flat spots."

I'm sure Mr. Young desperately hopes it's a fad, lest it cut further into his business.

Personally, I'm amazed that people spend the time and effort that a hairpiece requires. Different strokes for different folks, though.

Smooth in Tucson

2005-06-15T11:00:00.000-05:00

The Tuscon Citizen has a story about the bald-by-choice look and its popularity.

A lot of guys have taken razors to their scalps as a way to essentially thumb their noses at hair loss. The bare look has been growing in popularity, cutting across various ethnic and economic boundary lines. According to a spring study by Roper Public Affairs, 86 percent of respondents say they see more men with shaved heads now than they did 10 years ago.

The Roper study also suggests that up to 10 percent of men have shaved their heads at one time or another. They also have their own head-shaving FAQ to handle some common questions about going smooth.

Gillette re-packaging could be costly

2005-06-13T10:58:00.000-05:00

Further fall-out from the recent court case in which a judge ruled that Gillette's advertising for the M3Power razor was deceptive and misleading. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

Gillette Co. could spend up to $1.6 million to change 6.5 million razor packages that claim its battery-powered Mach3 razor can lift hair up and away from the skin, the Boston-based company said Thursday in court papers.

After they lost the case, Gillette updated its website and commercials so they no longer featured the visuals that the court had ruled misleading. Gillette's competitor, Schick, which had brought the case against Gillette originally, says that Gillette has to change the packaging on it's razors, too.

Gillette said it would cost about $400,000 to resticker, or cover, the back panel of 3.3 million razor packages coming off its production lines or those stored in its regional distribution centers. And it would cost another $1.2 million to resticker about 3.2 million M3 Power packages already in the hands of retailers, Gillette said in a motion asking the court to clarify its injunction.

Gillette said razor package advertising that says, "Gentle micro-pulses stimulate hair up and away from the skin," isn't covered by the ruling.

Hmmm... I just can't seem to get enough of this legal stuff, can I?

Baldness leads to scholarships

2005-06-12T10:14:00.000-05:00

Eleven-year-old Warren Woods is the head of Education Means Something To Us Crew (or EMSTU) at Barstow Intermediate School in California. This group, started by Grade 5 students at the school, raises money for college scholarships. One person he approached had a challenge for him:

"If you truly believe in this cause; shave your head, and I will give you $50," Eason said. "I saw his long raggedy hair; I had just shaved my head, and I thought he needs to look like me."

Though initially reluctant, Woods agreed. He got other offers of $50 as well, raising the total to $200.

His decision became more profitable when Olguin, Police Detective Tim Heiden and a business, Marshall Pools, each offered Woods an additional $50 to shave his head.

"It is a great cause and we want to encourage students to pursue further education," Mary McClure, president of Kiwanis, said. "Children excited about education is amazing."

Heiden organized a police truck to be at the school. A chair was put on the back and Woods sat on the chair at lunchtime on Wednesday awaiting his fate, with about 50 students cheering him on.

Though the group was only started 2 months ago, they've raised $1000 for scholarships, and recently handed out a $500 scholarship to a Barstow High School student.

I find it quite impressive that a group of Grade 5 students is raising money to support education. It's great to see this kind of enthusiasm for learning and school.

Father's Day bonuses

2005-06-12T09:18:00.000-05:00

If you tell Modern Gent why your Dad deserves a treat, you have a shot at getting a free "Dad Bag" from them. Contest closes tomorrow (so that there's time to ship the Dad Bag out for Father's Day), so enter now. Just for entering, you get 10% off any purchase.

Also, we've got a discount code that's good until June 19th:

Vh5amR

Use it for 10% off of your purchases at Modern Gent until Father's Day.

Batting bald

2005-06-11T12:46:00.000-05:00

Headshaving in sports is fairly common, and there are a lot of reasons for an athlete to shave their head. Mark Messier shaved his head to intimidate his opponents. Michael Jordan shaved because he was losing his hair anyway and didn't like it. Brian LeClerc shaved his head because his coach told him to. Well, sort of.

Spring baseball practice was set to begin in January, and Brian LeClerc's hair was out of control. Clumps of blonde locks covered his ears and began to stretch toward his shoulders.

[...]

LeClerc's hair became so unruly that head coach Pat McMahon, who enforces a strict team grooming policy, finally had to intervene. McMahon sat with his sophomore right fielder prior to the start of the season and asked for a simple favor.

Brian, cut your hair.

The entire team started bugging him about his hair. And instead of opting for the type of haircut his team and his coach were expecting, he decided to go all the way.

And that he did. LeClerc put the finishing touches on his new 'do by shaving his head bald with a straight razor. That has now become a pre-game ritual for LeClerc.

I'm impressed that he went with a straight razor. I still haven't tried shaving with one of those, but I know it's a lot simpler opting for a cartridge razor. Anyway, Brian, keep it bald. It looks good.

ShavingStuff blog

2005-06-10T10:56:00.000-05:00

This being the Internet, it would be highly unlikely that I would have the only blog devoted to shaving, right? Right. I recently found Shaving Stuff, a blog devoted to anything shaving-related, as they've linked to my review of Cromwell & Cruthers (from here). That provides a wider range of topics than my own headshaving-related blog, of course.

If you're not getting enough shaving-related news in your life, check it out. Aside from linking to shaving news, they post reviews of products as well.

Gillette gets a class-action suit

2005-06-08T13:09:00.000-05:00

Hot on the heels of the reports that a US court has ruled that Gillette's M3Power ads were deceptive, the Boston Herald reports that a class action suit is being brought against Gillette by consumers in New York and Florida.

In a class-action suit filed yesterday, Mark Dearman of Florida and Anthony DeBiseglia of New York allege the company intentionally misrepresented its product.

They're looking for a refund of at least part of what they paid for the razors, according to their lawyer, Samuel H. Rudman of New York.

The class action includes all consumers in Florida and New York who bought the Gillette razor. Other suits will likely be filed on behalf of people in other states, Rudman said.

I don't know what burden of proof exists for cases like this, but it'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

Shaving ads

2005-06-06T13:21:00.000-05:00

The Australian has an interesting commentary in the wake of a recent court decision about Gillette's M3Power advertising campaign (mentioned previously here).

As a company executive explained last year: "Gillette and its competitors are developing more premium, expensive razors and blades. This is where the market is headed - both men and women are trading up. They want better products and will pay a premium price for them."

That's why it was hard not to feel satisfaction last week when a federal judge in Connecticut ruled that advertising by Gillette about the scientific advances associated with its M3Power shaving system was a load of rubbish.

The article takes a certain delight in slamming Gillette, and then noted:

At issue now is whether Gillette Australia - which is not bound by the decisions of US courts - will voluntarily abide by Judge Hall's decision or persist with making claims about the M3Power that have been judged fictional.

It's interesting, I've noticed a lot of resentment towards companies like Gillette. It seems a common sentiment that razor blade sales are a real cash cow, and bilk the consumer. I guess that's natural; I feel the same way when I'm looking at the prices of these blades at the supermarket.

At a loss (of hair) for words

2005-06-04T00:20:00.000-05:00

Indiana teacher Dave Toevs figured that getting his students to read more was worth the hair on his head.

The teacher made good on a promise made to his third graders at Southeast Elementary School and let five students shave his head. It was in exchange for the students' effort in hitting new heights in reading achievement.

"I thought he was kidding when he said this," school secretary Dorinda Turner said as she watched the first student take a big chunk of Toevs' short hair.

His students took delight in seeing their teacher succumb to their little hands with an electric razor.

"I'm nervous," Toevs jokingly said as the razor whirred in his ear. "I think I'm having a panic attack."

The students read 4,261,549 words over the course of a year through the Reading Counts program at the school.

When asked what he might do to motivate them next year, he suggested he might dye his hair.

It certainly seems to have worked. The kids say that they've been inspired to keep reading through the summer. Getting kids to read is important, and it's great to see teachers going out of their way to motivate the kids.

KLTV reviews the HeadBlade

2005-06-03T11:15:00.000-05:00

KLTV in Tyler, Texas has a story about the HeadBlade on their website which asks the question, Does it work?. They got a bald-by-choice photographer on their staff to try it out. He used HeadBlade's HeadSlick lubricant while shaving.

"It's so light," says Arthur. He said if felt like he was holding nothing in his hand. The sensation was like wiping his hand across his head. "With a regular razor, I'm used to having to apply a little pressure so you can actually feel it when drags across your head. But this here, you don't feel any pressure."

[...]

We counted two or three nicks. Arthur says he gets that with a regular razor too. But there's something he did not get this time. "Usually when I cut my hair with a razor, as soon as I finish, I'm breaking out in bumps on the top of my head," he says. "I usually have to go apply alcohol afterward. Well, with this one right here, after I finish, no bumps on top of my head and no break out." Arthur credits the fact that he didn't have to push as hard while shaving with this device.

He says it will take some time to get used to it, but he likes it. "Does It Work?" We give it a "yes."

I have a review of the Headblade on my site from a while back, as well.

Court slams Gillette

2005-06-02T11:31:00.000-05:00

Back in April, I linked to some articles about Schick's lawsuit against Gillette, in which they said that Gillette's advertised claims about the M3Power were false and misleading (1, 2). Yahoo News has a press release about the results of the case:

Energizer Holdings, Inc. today announced that Judge Janet C. Hall of the United States District Court, District of Connecticut, granted Schick a preliminary injunction against false advertising claims by Gillette for its M3Power razor. The court found certain claims by Gillette for the M3Power to be "literally false."

Judge Hall determined that Gillette's claim that the M3Power raises hair up and away from the skin is both "unsubstantiated and inaccurate." The court found that that the product demonstrations in Gillette's advertising are "greatly exaggerated" and "literally false."

Gillette has to stop making the claims in its advertising within the next month, according to the injunction.

This is a big legal win for Schick, but they are also on the defensive in court over another matter. As mentioned earlier, Gillette is claiming that Schick's Quattro violates Gillette's patent for the Mach 3 (1). If Gillette wins that one, sales of the Quattro will be blocked in the US. That battle continues.

This all leaves me wondering, which razors do the lawyers use?

Bluey Day

2005-06-01T16:15:00.000-05:00

From v8x.com:

Autobarn Racing today announced a new partnership with the high profile children’s charity Bluey Day for the 2005 Police and Emergency Service Workers Head Shave on August 12th with regular Autobarn driver Alex Davison and fellow Autobarn supported V8 star Paul Dumbrell taking to the clippers shaving the heads of a trio of Bluey Day officers in a bid to enhance to awareness of the charity.

Bluey Day is a charity that has been raising money to help fund research, purchase equipment, and help support children with cancer and other life-threatening childhood illnesses. Police officers and members of Emergency Services all across Australia have been shaving their heads since 1995 as part of the annual event.

Bald as a horse

2005-05-29T17:37:00.000-05:00

There are a lot of stories about cops shaving their heads for charity. The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle has a story about mounted police and their horses shaving their manes together.

But it's the long strands of this horse's jet-black mane that will help send a child to Disney World or on a date with a celebrity. And not just any child, but one with a special wish to offset the pain and anxiety of dealing with a long-term illness.

Because like many of these children, Myrtle and her rider will soon lose their hair. It's just another form of public service for these members of the Rochester Police Department Mounted Patrol.

They're raising money for the Dream Factory of Rochester, an organization that grants special wishes to children who are critically, chronically, and terminally ill.

The horses set this one apart from most of the similar charity ventures that I've read about. Apparently, horses used by the mounted police normally have their manes kept pretty short, so that their manes won't be pulled by people in crowd-control situations. For this event, the manes will be cut even shorter than normal.

Less is more

2005-05-28T11:03:00.000-05:00

WHAM-TV in Rochester has an article on their website about the popularity of the bald-by-choice look.

While there are those who greet a receding hairline with an arsenal of hairpieces, creative comb-overs and potions, there are men who believe that less is more.

[...]

Men don't decide to go bare on their own; barbers say women have a big influence on their men. Women think the look is sexy.

The bare look has become so popular that there are now men's personal products devoted solely to bald men.

It's a fairly standard piece, but it's always good to see bald-by-choice stuff in the news.

When little things mean big things

2005-05-27T08:56:00.000-05:00

I've posted links to several stories about principals shaving their heads for charities, but I think this is the first one that involves food. Today's story is about the students and principal of Roosevelt High School in Wyoming, who managed to collect a large amount of food for families in need.

Pickett told his students early this year that if they collected 1,000 pounds of nonperishable food and donated it to the Central Wyoming Rescue Mission, he'd shave his head and they could watch.

The first installment of 272 pounds of food was delivered on Feb. 1, 2005. Since then, a total of 1,000 pounds has been given, in addition to enough cash and change to purchase a bed at the mission.

"That's less than an ounce of hair on the floor there," Pickett said, after he'd been sprayed and rubbed down. "I traded an ounce of hair for 1,000 pounds of food. Needy families are the winners. But I'm not gonna make any more bets."

It's always good to hear these stories. Supporting the community's most vulnerable helps everyone.

Deals: Avid Skinglider

2005-05-27T04:01:00.000-05:00

The Modern Gent website is running a 3-for-the-price-of-2 special on Avid Skinglider shaving lubricant for Father's Day. They normally charge £3.99 per bottle (about $7.27 USD), so this might be worth checking out. I've tried and reviewed Avid Skinglider before, and think it's a great product. I'd suggest the sensitive formula, personally.

Mailbag: Braun 370 review

2005-05-25T09:41:00.000-05:00

I got the following email from Bill Tuer a while back, commenting on the Braun 370 electric shaver.

I have been a die-hard razor user (on my beard) for 30 years. I finally switched from my old Gillette double-edge safety razor to a Mach III after my beloved Gillette finally died and I couldn't find an inexpensive replacement. A couple of months ago I decided to try shaving my head. I wasn't experiencing any hair loss, I just wanted to try somthing different. I loved the new look , but the shaving experience left something to be desired. The mach did a good job (smooth, minimal razor burn and nicks), but it was taking me forever to shave. Maybe my head is unusually shaped but the Mach would only shave a path 1/4" wide on most places (flat blade vs. curved skull). Hoping to speed things up I bought a Schick Extreme III (the cartridge model not the disposable). The flexible head certainly shaved a much wider path, but it was at the expense of a ton of razor burn and liters of blood.

I was almost ready to give up and let my hair grow back, when I saw a Braun 370, "Pocket Twist", battery-operated shaver at Walmart. It was under $19 canadian and I thought what the heck. I had tried electric razors, on my face, in the past; but was never happy with the results. Being fairly cheap, I would not have invested the $50-200 that other shavers cost for this little experiment, but this was only slightly more than a Mach III Power making it simple for me to justify.

Well this little inexpensive shaver does an amazing job, at least on my head. It is much quicker than a razor, no irritation or nicks, and it shaves almost as close as a razor and I can touch-up late afternoon stubble quickly and easily, anywhere! The battery life seems to be quite good as the batteries that came with it lasted almost a month.

I can't compare this to other electric shavers, but I still recommend it if you are a newbie struggling with blade-shaving your head or if you'd like a portable way of quickly cleaning up stubble.

Besides, at $19 canadian (probably about $12-15 US) what do you have to lose?

I recently purchased the same model shaver at a local London Drugs store, and I agree with Bill that it's a pretty good shaver at a really nice price. I use it when I don't want to go about getting a full shave, but have too much stubble for my own comfort. It gives me another day of relative comfort before I have to shave completely.

Hair loss research

2005-05-24T10:40:00.000-05:00

The Independent has a story about new discoveries regarding the genetic causes of natural hair loss (specifically, they've found a crucial gene on the X-chromosone, meaning we inherit a significant factor in baldness from our mothers). While it's interesting stuff from a scientific perspective, I also found this bit at the end interesting.

Three-quarters of men who have started losing their hair suffer self-esteem problems and two-thirds of them feel insecure as a result of hair loss, the Gallup survey of 1,500 men in five European countries indicated.

Men in southern Europe were more relaxed about hair loss and more comfortable about getting treatment. Half of British men opted for shaving their heads or keeping their hair very short to make any follicular deficiency less obvious.

To me, the greatest problem with hair loss is not that it happens, but that people feel insecure about it. Hair loss is a completely natural affair, and nothing to fear or be ashamed of, but the social stigma remains. Unfortunately, unhealthy attitudes about things like hair loss, weight, wrinkles, and similar things are far too prevalent among many people.

The article also includes some hair loss myths, like the ideas that combing, blow-drying, or washing your hair too much will cause your hair to fall out.

Betting on a shave

2005-05-23T15:08:00.000-05:00

So, I just opened my mouth and blurted it out. It seemed to be a pretty safe thing to say, especially at that time, and I wasn’t very impressed with Robert’s play, anyway. So, I said, "If Robert Varkonyi wins the World Series of Poker, I’ll shave my head."

When you talk big, sometimes you have to follow through. That's what Phil Hellmuth found out at the 2002 World Series of Poker. Phil shares his story on CardPlayer.com, wherein he made the above statement on camera. And of course, Robert Varkonyi went on to become the 2002 world champion of poker.

[...] the crowd started chanting, "Shave Phil’s head, shave Phil’s head ..."

Of course, Becky Behnen made sure that someone had some barber’s equipment on hand, and I am a man of my word. I would have loved to have avoided the head shave, but I certainly deserved what I had coming, and I knew it! Robert, then Becky Behnen, Andy Glazer, the Devilfish, and others took turns shaving my head in front of a roomful of spectators, press, and cameras.

It's always fun when someone has to follow through on a boast like Phil's.

He handled it with grace, which is good to see.

Shaving on the road

2005-05-20T19:22:00.000-05:00

Dwain Price of the Star-Telegram writes about getting his head shaved on the road.

My barber was Adriana of Metro Barber Shop. I wear my hair bald -- as in no hair at all -- so I told Adriana to cut everything she saw. There's absolutely no way anyone can mess that up.

It sure felt like Adriana was doing a good job -- until she asked me if I took a razor.

Take a razor where? The two barbers back in Plano -- Anthony Hines and Karl Davis -- who take turns shaving my head have never asked me if I took a razor.

So I said yes.

Adriana then proceeded to put some white shaving cream-looking stuff on the back and sides of my head. I'm going to have to tell Anthony and Karl about this, because that sure felt good.

I've never had my hair shaved by a barber, but someday I'd like to give it a try. It always sounds like an interesting experience. Mr. Price didn't mention whether it was a straight razor or a cartridge razor; I'd like the straight razor experience, myself.

Natalie Portman's buzz

2005-05-18T12:04:00.000-05:00

Aside from appearing in recent Star Wars movies, there's another buzz going around about Natalie Portman: she recently shaved her head. Based on the pictures I've seen, it's not down to the skin, but more of a buzz cut. Still, for women today, the extremely short look is also extremely rare, and it often draws a lot of attention. The Telegraph has a short article on Portman's buzz.

This weekend, shocked onlookers at the Cannes Film Festival gasped as the actress arrived on the red carpet for the premiere of Revenge of the Sith with a freshly shaven head. But, if anyone can get away with such an extreme hairstyle, it's Portman, who has had the dramatic haircut for a role in her next film, V for Vendetta.

[...]

By carrying off a style that would make most women look, in her words, "like a neo-Nazi or a lesbian", Portman joins an exclusive club: only a handful of women can pull off the sexy skinhead trick.

I disagree with the idea that a short buzz makes most women look like a neo-nazi or lesbian, but it is unfortunately true that many people make those kinds of judgements based only on a person's appearance. That's why it's great to see people swimming against the current and trying something different. According to the article, Portman's even considering keeping the style, at least for a while.

Related Links:
More Bald Natalie Portman Pictures
Natalie Portman goes bald for role

Still making headway

2005-05-17T14:45:00.000-05:00

LaMont Jones of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has two nice articles about the popularity of being bald by choice in yesterday's edition (1, 2). The first article features quotes from different people about the style and its desirability.

Fashion designer Carmen Marc Valvo, who once wore a pony tail, decided to go bald several years ago.

"Mother Nature pointed me to that direction," said Valvo, 51. "I chose to embrace it because I preferred it to the other choices out there. I think there's definitely something sexy about a bald head."

The second article has tips and suggestions for those considering the jump to shaving it all off. A couple of the tips are things I've never done myself, like this one:

Keep the scalp moist with a cream or lotion. Occasionally use an overnight cream infused with vitamins, botanicals or essential oils to maintain a healthy scalp. Shea, cocoa and avocado butters are excellent skin conditioners.

Most of the stuff sounds very good, including their reminders to wear sunscreen when outside for more than a brief period.

Mailbag: Various questions

2005-05-14T18:18:00.000-05:00

Here's a reply to someone who emailed me, but gave me an invalid email address (so my reply couldn't reach him).

Ok, I shave every two days, and it continues to grow. Is there any way I can get it to slow/stop growing, I really like being bald. And how do I get it to shine.

No matter how often you shave, your hair will continue to grow. It's the nature of hair, and it's difficult to stop intentionally. There are 'permanent' methods of hair removal, like electrolosis and laser hair removal, though I don't recommend them. There's an article on my site about these methods that describes them briefly and has links to some other sites.

There are products that claim to reduce hair growth, but they are not proven, to the best of my knowledge. I've written about herbal hair inhibitors before, if you're interested. I recently tried Aveeno Positively Smooth shaving gel, which is supposed to reduce hair growth, but while it's an excellent shaving gel, it did nothing to slow my hair's growth that I could perceive.

There's an article on my site about shine that you might want to read. It has some suggestions for producing and/or reducing shine.

Experimenting with the double-edge safety razor

2005-05-13T13:57:00.000-05:00

In my continuing quest to seek out the best in shaving, I recently purchased a Merkur "Classic" Safety Razor from Classic Shaving. These razors are basically the same design that King Gillette developed around 100 years ago, the type of razor that my Dad started shaving with. I got interested after reading some articles about old-school shaving (1, 2), and thought it would be worth a try.

I'm still in the experimenting stage, but I'll share my comments thus far.

It takes a bit to get used to shaving with this kind of razor. My first shave, I nicked myself in several places and had lots of irritation, despite using shaving oil. My next two shaves (each with a different high-quality shaving lubricant) got a bit better, but still much more irritation than I was used to, and nicks each time. I gradually learned to use less pressure and to go slower, and subsequent shaves have been much, much better in this area.

You can't rush shaving with a safety razor. I find shaving takes me twice as long as it did with a cartridge razor (like my trusty Mach 3).

"Corners" are pretty tricky, and I haven't mastered them yet. I always end up with rough spots in certain areas, even after spending some significant time on them. I'll keep working on it to see if I can improve.

Closeness of the shave is pretty good, except in the tricky areas. Is it as close as my Mach 3? I'm not entirely sure. At some point, I think I'll do some side-by-side trials and see how it feels.

At this point, though, I will say that cartridge razors are faster and easier to use than the old-fashioned safety razor. Alternately, the safety razors can be significantly cheaper to use, though. The razor itself was $25 (US), plus shipping and duty. I can get double-edged blades at 10 for $2 (Cdn) at a local store, though, which is less than a tenth of what most good cartridge razor blades cost.

Hair transplants and shaving

2005-05-12T11:12:00.000-05:00

I'm occasionally asked if a person who has had hair transplant surgery can shave their head without showing a lot of scarring. Unfortunately, I don't know, but I did find a comment about this on the hairlosshelp.com website given by a Dr. William Rassman, answering a specific query from a 32-year-old who had this type of surgery 7 years previously:

"Shaving your head will bring attention to any scarring that is now covered by your existing hair. More significant than the recipient area will be the point where the hair was harvested from (assuming that the work is modern work). If the grafts were the older type plugs, then shaving your head may show cobblestonning of the skin and some white plaques of skin where the old plugs were placed. You might get a good opinion from someone who is an expert in this business before you shave your head. I would hate to see you stuck with a baseball hat until the hair grew in again."

If you're considering hair transplant surgery, keep the scarring issue in mind. A lot of guys end up shaving their head later anyway when they become dissatisfied with the results of the surgery. Better to shave it right off the bat, in my opinion, than to spend the money on surgery.

Record-setting baldies

2005-05-11T13:14:00.000-05:00

Folks in Geneva, New York are gearing up for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life head-shaving event, which will be June 17 and 18 this year. Last year's event set a world record:

[E]vent organizers say it was with the help of Newland and dedicated volunteers like her that they were able to get a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most heads shaved in one hour.

"The official tally was 135 heads shaved in one hour with 30 hairdressers cutting," said Linda Equinozzi, chairperson of last year’s event.

Equinozzi added that 188 people actually participated in the event, but that Guinness has pretty strict guidelines for each individual.

"There’s certain rules to how much hair you’re supposed to start out with," Equinozzi explained. "The whole thing is, you can’t be balding."

It's a nice article, with comments from participants as young as 9 years of age. They mention later in the article that the record may have been broken recently, but it hasn't been made official just yet.

Shaving your luck

2005-05-10T11:34:00.000-05:00

Shaving one's head has been a tradition in sports for a long time. Sometimes it's used to haze the new guys, sometimes it's used to look tougher, and sometimes players do it to change their luck. Consider the Chicago Cubs baseball team.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, which is why Kerry Wood was shaving the heads of some of his fellow pitchers Saturday morning. It's one of those inexplicable unity things athletes do, and you wonder whether devising a secret handshake wouldn't be a lot easier.

Starting pitcher Glendon Rusch arrived in the clubhouse with a hairless head courtesy of someone other than the Barber of Wrigleyville. It was the safe move. You don't want to find out in the chair that Wood doesn't have good mechanics when it comes to cutting hair.

The new-look Cubs took on the Phillies at Wrigley Field hoping the reverse-Samson approach might reverse their fortunes, if not any curses. Nothing else has worked.

Unfortunately, the shaving didn't have the desired effect, at least not the first game after going bald. Perhaps it's because some of the pitchers didn't shave?

Mom with a Mohawk

2005-05-09T12:38:00.000-05:00

Writing in the Daily Southtown, Mark Konkol shares a special family moment.

Call it a tender moment - my Old Man gave Mom a Mohawk.

Her wavy black hair, you see, was falling victim to chemotherapy all over the bathroom floor.

"I'd had enough," she said. "I told him to get the clippers."

With his wife's head hovering over the laundry room sink, Dad fired up the sheers and gently gave her a Mr. T, mostly for the amusement of their only boy.

They laughed - like they always have during the 34 years together - and paused for snapshots before Dad went ahead and shaved the rest.

As difficult and challenging as living with Breast Cancer can be, this family finds a way to share love and laughter. This line struck me as particularly tender:

"You know it's love when your husband can shave your head and not make any snide remarks or anything," she said.

The article also talks about Jason Earkes and his efforts to raise money for cancer research. He's hoping to raise $50,000. The article also mentions his website, in case anyone would like to donate.

Bald in Brandon

2005-05-08T11:13:00.000-05:00

When 13-year-old Andrew Nichols was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer, his classmates were concerned. "I felt sad because I knew I wouldn't be seeing him as much," said one of the students at New Era school. So the school got together and raised some money for Andrew and his family, and a little bit more.

Thirty students, including Slimmon, will also rally behind Andrew by shaving their heads on Monday.
"So Andrew doesn't have to be the only one without hair," said 12-year-old Ryan Thorpe. "And he won't feel uncomfortable."
Andrew's teacher Natasha Brancewicz-Lloyd said the kids were upset when the teen was first diagnosed and have rallied together.
"The whole community has just gone that extra mile," said Joanne Nichols.

Brandon's just down the road a bit from my city, so it feels closer to home than some of the other stories I've posted. No matter where you are, though, it's good to see people pulling together.

Bald chums

2005-05-07T11:04:00.000-05:00

The Roanoke Times tells us of students at Roanoke Catholic School shaving their heads for their buddy. Eighteen-year-old Andrew is undergoing chemotherapy, and was told he'd lose his hair right about prom time.

The 18-year-old Roanoke Catholic School senior decided he would shave his head at the school's after-prom party. A few of his friends decided to join him.

Then a few more. And a few more. Someone brought scissors, clippers and a basket - to catch all the hair - to the Kirk Family YMCA, where the party was held after Saturday's prom. By the time it was over, 14 boys had nothing but stubble on their heads.

It was a great gesture of support. It required some flexibility on the part of the school, too.

"It's pretty cool that everybody would do that for me, even though most of them didn't want to," Andrew said.

And, technically, they weren't supposed to.

According to the Roanoke Catholic handbook, students aren't allowed to sport shaved heads or the appearance of a shaved head, said Ray-Eric Correia, the school's president.

Some of Andrew's senior classmates approached Correia and school principal Sue Thompson about waiving that rule. They did.

A lot of religious schools have strict rules about hairstyles (among other things); it's nice to see kindness over-riding the rules in this case.

Vibrating to the future

2005-05-05T12:50:00.000-05:00

The New Straits Times of Malaysia has a great article on Gillette and the M3Power. Along with some of the usual comments about razors and shaving, author Jeremy Mahadevan has some interesting asides about King Gillette and his non-shaving-related ideas.

But anyway: moustache-taming tools were not meant to be Gillette’s major contribution to the world. Before he released his elegant razor, before he infamously had a shouting match with fellow epoch-definer Henry Ford, Gillette published a book outlining his vision of a Utopian nation, where all goods are produced by a single great company, in which every citizen holds shares, and where "Selfishness would be unknown, and war would be a barbarism of the past."

He envisioned a single Metropolis, powered by Niagara Falls and housing 60 million souls in millions of identical rooms, all fed in numerous common dining halls. At one point he tried (and failed) to get Teddy Roosevelt to head the "People’s Corporation".

Mahadevan's other comments are interesting as well.

Shaving timeline

2005-05-04T12:03:00.000-05:00

The Quik Shave website has a shaving timeline on their site, a brief history of shaving. It's an interesting read, though of course it ends with the Quik Shave razor as being the ultimate evolution of shaving.

Some quotes:

The earliest shaving razors discovered were flint blades made possibly as far back as 30,000 B.C. Flint could provide an extremely sharp edge for shaving; these were, of course, the first disposable shavers because flint becomes dull rather quickly.

[...]

1847 - English inventor WILLIAM HENSON creates the first "hoe type" razor, which places the blade perpendicular to its handle, just like a garden tool This forever changes the way that man will grip his shaver, and provides greater manageability. It is an overnight success.