Spare Change

Throwing in the Hot Towel

Posted by Bryan

I've waxed philosophic before on the intricacies of facial hair removal, but I'm utterly resigned at the news that a new 5-blade razor will soon be on the shelf.

Why settle for Quattro when you can have Fusion?

Note: The wait for the Fusion Virtual tour very well may be worth the wait, depending upon your passion regarding shaving implements.
Rumors that Schick will respond with the 6-Blade Filet are still unsubstantiated.

For myself, I can't make the journey to the battery-driven straight-edge razor, especially when you factor in the quint-blade presentation. That's just inviting danger. Now, I'm not a guy known for my rugged beard -- or even a pubescent upper-lip test-drive mustache -- but I'm just not brave enough to try out a Ken-doll size weedwacker to chop away at my facial landscaping.

Regardless, because they're sharing, here's some Cliff Claven*-like information on the hair removal phenomenon, both at home and abroad (meaning across the world, not "by females"):Men and Shaving: The United States

• 94 million men [90 percent of the U.S. male population] age 15 years and older remove hair.
  
  


• 68 million men [72 percent of men who shave] shave with a blade and razor.
  
  


• 26 million men [28 percent of men who shave] shave with an electric shaver.
  
  


• On average, men in the U.S. shave 5.33 times/week, 24 times/month.
  
  


• Men spend, on average, $22.00 for blades, razors and shave preparations per year.
  
  


• In 2000, the U.S. blade and razor industry [male and female blades and razors] was a $1.8 billion business.
  
  


• In 2000, the U.S. male shaving industry [male-positioned blades, razors and shaving creams/gels] accounted for more than $1.7 billion in sales.
  
  


• In 2000, male-positioned blades and razors accounted for more than $1.4 billion in sales.
  
  


• In 2000, male-positioned shaving creams/gels accounted for more than $250 million in sales.
  
  

Men and Shaving: Around the World

• More than 1.6 billion men age 15 years and older remove hair.
  
  


• 1.3 billion men shave with a blade and razor.
  
  


• 360 million men shave with an electric shaver.
  
  


• In 2000, the global blade and razor industry [male and female blades and razors] was a $6.4 billion business.
  
  


• In 2000, the global male shaving industry [male-positioned blades, razors and shaving creams/gels] accounted for more than $7.1 billion in sales.
  
  


• In 2000, male-positioned blades and razors accounted for $5.8 billion in sales.
  
  


• In 2000, male-positioned shaving creams/gels accounted for more than $1.3 billion in sales.
  
  

*Who, I'd like to note, while mustachioed (is that a word), was otherwise almost always cleanshaven.

September 15, 2005 3:40 PM