For thousands of years, men have been using specially created tools to shave facial hair. Sharpened, razorlike objects carved from metal or obsidian (a glasslike substance found in rock) have been found in Bronze Age sites across the globe.
By the end of the nineteenth century, the straight, "cutthroat" razor was the most common shaving tool. These had dangerously sharp blades that required skill to use without cutting the skin. They also had to be constantly sharpened to remain effective. The first safety razor with a guard along the razor's edge was introduced in 1875 by the Kampfe brothers, but the blade still needed frequent sharpening.
Astute American businessman King Camp Gillette (1855-1932) realized that if he could create a safe and simple shave without the inconvenience of having to sharpen the blade beforehand, his product could be of interest to every adult male in the world. His idea was for a small, inexpensive razor fitted with a cheap disposable blade clamped safely into the headpiece. The user could shave safely and when the blade was blunt, a new one could be bought. He applied for a patent in 1901, the same year he set up the Gillette Safety Razor Company. By the end of the decade, Gillette's "razor and blades business model" was the most popular shaving system in the world and it dominated until the 1970s. Gillette lost most of his fortune in the Great Depression of the 1930s, but his name lives on as one of the most significant brands among shaving products.
