Editing Razor (section)

== Safety razors ==<!-- This section is linked from [[Timeline of invention]] -->
{{Main article|Safety razor}}
[[File:Vintage Durham-Duplex Straight Razor, The Blades Men Swear By--Not At, Made In USA (26268173968).jpg|250px|thumb|A straight razor with a comb guard and a disposable blade]]
The first step towards a safer-to-use razor was the guard razor – also called a straight safety razor – which added a protective guard to a regular straight razor. The first such razor was most likely invented by a French cutler Jean-Jacques Perret circa 1762.{{sfn|Waits|2014|loc=page 5 of the introduction}} The invention was inspired by the [[Plane (tool)|joiner's plane]] and was essentially a straight razor with its blade surrounded by a wooden sleeve.{{sfn|Waits|2013|loc=chapter one: THE CUTLER AND THE LACEMAKER}} The earliest razor guards had comb-like teeth and could only be attached to one side of a razor; a reversible guard was one of the first improvements made to guard razors.{{sfn|Waits|2014|loc=page 5 of the introduction}}

An early description of a safety razor similar in form to the ones used today is found on [[William Samuel Henson]]'s 1847 patent application for a comb tooth guard. This guard could be attached to a straight razor or to a razor "the cutting blade which is at right angles with the handle, and resembles somewhat the form of a common hoe."{{sfn|Waits|2013|loc=chapter one: THE CUTLER AND THE LACEMAKER}}

Around 1875 a new design with a smaller blade placed on top of a handle was marketed by the [[American Safety Razor Company#Star Safety Razor|Kampfe Brothers]] as "the best available shaving method on the market that won’t cut a user, like straight steel razors."

=== Removable-blade razors ===
[[File:Parker-76R Safety Razor.jpg|thumb|300px|right|A modern double-edge safety razor and blade]]
The term safety razor was first used in 1880{{sfn|Waits|2014|loc=page 6 of the introduction}} and described a basic razor with a handle attached to a head where a removable blade may be placed. The edge was then protected by a [[comb]] patterned on the head to protect the skin. In the more modern-day produced safety razors, the comb is now more commonly replaced by a safety bar. There are two types of safety razors, single-edged and double-edged. The single-edged razor is essentially a {{convert|4|cm|adj=on}} long segment of a straight razor. The double-edged safety razor is a razor with a slant bar that can be used on both sides, with two open edges. The blade on the double-edged safety razor is slightly curved to allow for a smoother and cleaner shave.

In 1901, the American inventor [[King Camp Gillette]], with the assistance of William Nickerson, submitted a patent for a new variation of safety razor with disposable blades which was patented in 1904.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=00775134&homeurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO1%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526d%3DPALL%2526p%3D1%2526u%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsrchnum.htm%2526r%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526s1%3D0775134.PN.%2526OS%3DPN%2F0775134%2526RS%3DPN%2F0775134&PageNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=NONE&Input=View+first+page|title=Patent No. 775134, K. C. Gillette Razor|publisher=United States Patent and Trademark Office|access-date=2 October 2019|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229135857/https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=00775134&homeurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO1%26Sect2%3DHITOFF%26d%3DPALL%26p%3D1%26u%3D%252Fnetahtml%252FPTO%252Fsrchnum.htm%26r%3D1%26f%3DG%26l%3D50%26s1%3D0775134.PN.%26OS%3DPN%2F0775134%26RS%3DPN%2F0775134&PageNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=NONE&Input=View+first+page|url-status=dead}}</ref> One reason was that shaving with a safety razor should be safer and more convenient than shaving with a classic [[straight razor]] with a sharp blade.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/news-updates/patent-safety-razor-issued-november-15-1904|title=Patent for Safety Razor Issued November 15, 1904|publisher=Department of Commerce's United States Patent and Trademark Office|access-date=2 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628205548/https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/news-updates/patent-safety-razor-issued-november-15-1904|archive-date=28 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The thick grip of these safety razors can be reused. Gillette realized that a profit could be made by selling an inexpensive razor with disposable blades. This has been called the [[razor and blades business model]], and has become a very common practice for a wide variety of products.

Many other brands of safety razors have come and gone. Much of the competition was based on designing blades that would fit only one style of razor until the blade shape was standardized by the inclusion of a multi-faceted central channel to the blade which would accommodate the various designs of blade securing systems; e.g., three pins, a slender metal bar, etc. Even today, these various securing forms still persist in their variety in DE razors, all accepting the same universal blade design.

=== Cartridge razors ===
[[File:Mach-3-Razor.jpg|thumb|300px|right|A modern safety razor with an exchangeable cartridge]]
Exploiting the same razor and blades business model as pioneered in the early 20th century, cartridge razors were developed in the 1960s and are now the most common form of shaving in developed countries. Although designed to have a more [[ergonomic]] shape at both the handle and head (including commonly a pivoted head which keeps the blades angled to the skin at a predetermined angle through the shaving motion), the concept is very similar to that of the double edge razor. However, here, the entire head assembly (a cartridge) is removed and disposed of, not just the blade. It is also common for these cartridge heads to have multiple razor blades set into them, commonly between two and five blades.

In 2023, US-based retailers sold 20 percent fewer razor blades than in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last=Patton |first=Leslie |last2=Shanker |first2=Deena |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-07-01/what-s-upflation-new-retail-trend-is-driving-up-prices-for-us-consumers |title=‘Upflation’ Is the New Retail Trend Driving Up Prices for US Consumers |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=2024-07-01 |accessdate=2024-07-03 }}</ref>

=== Disposable safety razors ===
[[File:Disposable Razor.JPG|thumb|A basic disposable razor]]
Disposable safety razors are highly similar in design to cartridge razors, constructed from inexpensive materials (most commonly injection molded polycarbonate){{citation needed|date=August 2021}}, yet are meant to be wholly disposable after use with no blade sharpening or replacement possible. One device was invented in 1963 by American entertainer and inventor [[Paul Winchell]].<ref name="mickeynews.com">[http://www.mickeynews.com/paul-winchell-invented-the-first-disposable-razor.html Paul Winchell invented the first disposable razor.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928020216/http://www.mickeynews.com/paul-winchell-invented-the-first-disposable-razor.html |date=2011-09-28 }}. Mickey News (2004-01-08). Retrieved on 2012-09-14.</ref>

===Lifespan===
Safety razor life may be extended by drying the blades after use.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/yourmoney/chi-ym-spending-1104nov04-story.html |title=Extending life of razor blades leaves users dry |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=2019-04-16 |access-date=2019-05-14}}</ref>