A PERSPECTIVE ON PRECISION

“We’ll stop making razor blades when we can’t keep making them better.”

A PERSPECTIVE ON PRECISION

“We’ll stop making razor blades when
we can’t keep making them better.”

King Camp Gillette and his amazing razor were the first disruptors of the grooming category as well as the barbershop industry. Men’s facial trends were changing rapidly in the late 1800s. Long beards were out while clean chins and cheeks and a well-manicured mustache were in. To achieve this look, men could go to a barber two to three times per week or shave themselves, which could be a dangerous undertaking.

 

Standing at his sink in the early morning, King C. Gillette realized his permanent blade razor was dull and required professional sharpening. In that moment of frustration, he saw that the only necessary part of his blade was the finest part of the tip. He quickly envisioned that tip on a flattened piece of steel, sharpened on both sides, produced at such a low cost that it was easily and quickly replaceable. King C. Gillette’s new, disposable razor blade and handle promised men safety and personal freedom to achieve the looks they desired.

 

King C. Gillette's vision has inspired more than 100 years of innovation to bring you the best shave in the world. And, we’re not done yet.

100 Years of Innovation

1900

PROTOTYPE

King C. Gillette has the revolutionary idea of disposable blades so thin and so strong they were deemed impossible to forge by MIT-trained scientists. By 1901, he’d proven them wrong with his breakthrough innovation.

1920

NEW AND IMPROVED

Gillette® set out to create the first mechanical innovation since the creation of the company — to make the blade angle more accurate and improve the grip, as well as the opening and closing adjustments. The first "instrument of precision”.

1957

ADJUSTABLE

The first adjustable razor with three settings was introduced for light, medium, and heavy beards. Over time more settings were added, totaling nine. This was the company’s first distinctly mechanical effort at making a razor “share the work” of adjusting the blade angle to the face.

1965

TECHMATIC

This was the first system razor with a ‘continuous band,’ spooled and retractable. It meant that the user would no longer have to touch the blade. This design was a highly stylized evolution of the original Techmatic, which had been a Gillette staple razor for over 30 years; an expression of the industrial design experimentation of the era.

1972

TRAC II®

Gillette® produces the Trac II®, the first twin-blade shaving system.

1977

ATRA®

Gillette introduces the Atra/Contour system, the first twin-blade shaving cartridge with a pivoting head, which allows the blades to better follow the contours of the face for a closer shave.

1985

ATRA PLUS®

Gillette launches the Atra Plus®/Contour Plus — the first razor with a lubricating strip.

1990

SENSOR®

Gillette launches Sensor® — the first razor with twin blades individually mounted on highly responsive springs that automatically adjust to the contours of every face.

1998

MACH3®

Gillette breaks the performance barrier with the MACH3®, the first 3-blade technology, for an even smoother, closer shave.

2006

FUSION5™

Gillette Fusion5™ razors debut in Manual and Power versions. They feature five blades and beat the MACH3 on every attribute, providing Gillette’s closest and most comfortable shave ever.

2014

GILLETTE FUSION5™ PROGLIDE® WITH FLEXBALL™ TECHNOLOGY

The Gillette Fusion5™ ProGlide® with FlexBall™ Technology Razor is the next evolution in our shaving revolution — a pivoting razor built to maximize contact with every contour of a man’s face.

2015

GILLETTE FUSION5™ PROSHIELD®

Gillette Fusion5™ ProShield® with lubrication BEFORE and after the blades, shields from irritation. ProShield razors also feature FlexBall technology.

2017

TREO

There have been more than 4,000 razors designed for shaving yourself. None have been specifically designed to shave someone else – until now. Gillette TREO is the first of its kind, a unique razor we designed for caregivers and their loved ones.

2018

SKINGUARD

Gillette® SkinGuard is our first razor specifically designed for men with sensitive skin and razor bumps. The razor shaves hair and protects the skin, thanks to its unique SkinGuard positioned between the blades. It works to minimize tug and pull and cut hair at skin level, helping to prevent irritation.

2019

HEATED RAZOR

The Heated Razor by GilletteLabs activates and delivers instant warmth in less than one second at the push of a button and provides a noticeably more comfortable shave. Designed in Germany, the Heated Razor features adjustable temperature levels to achieve optimal comfort, and has Gillette’s best blades combined with FlexDisc™ technology to maintain skin contact in order to give a smooth shave. The Heated Razor Starter Kit comes with the Heated Razor, magnetic charging dock and plug, and two GilletteLabs blade cartridges.

1900

PROTOTYPE

King C. Gillette has the revolutionary idea of disposable blades so thin and so strong they were deemed impossible to forge by MIT-trained scientists. By 1901, he’d proven them wrong with his breakthrough innovation.

1920

NEW AND IMPROVED

Gillette® set out to create the first mechanical innovation since the creation of the company — to make the blade angle more accurate and improve the grip, as well as the opening and closing adjustments. The first „instrument of precision”.

1957

ADJUSTABLE

The first adjustable razor with three settings was introduced for light, medium, and heavy beards. Over time more settings were added, totaling nine. This was the company’s first distinctly mechanical effort at making a razor “share the work” of adjusting the blade angle to the face.

1965

TECHMATIC

This was the first system razor with a ‘continuous band,’ spooled and retractable. It meant that the user would no longer have to touch the blade. This design was a highly stylized evolution of the original Techmatic, which had been a Gillette staple razor for over 30 years; an expression of the industrial design experimentation of the era.

1971

TRAC II

Gillette® produces the Trac II®, the first twin-blade shaving system.

1977

ATRA®

Gillette introduces the Atra/Contour system, the first twin-blade shaving cartridge with a pivoting head, which allows the blades to better follow the contours of the face for a closer shave.

1985

ATRA PLUS®

Gillette launches the Atra Plus®/Contour Plus — the first razor with a lubricating strip.

1990

SENSOR®

Gillette launches Sensor® — the first razor with twin blades individually mounted on highly responsive springs that automatically adjust to the contours of every face.

1998

MACH3®

Gillette breaks the performance barrier with the MACH3®, the first 3-blade technology, for an even smoother, closer shave.

2006

FUSION5™

Gillette Fusion5™ razors debut in Manual and Power versions. They feature five blades and beat the MACH3 on every attribute, providing Gillette’s closest and most comfortable shave ever.

2014

GILLETTE FUSION5™ PROGLIDE® WITH FLEXBALL™ TECHNOLOGY

The Gillette Fusion5™ ProGlide® with FlexBall™ Technology Razor is the next evolution in our shaving revolution — a pivoting razor built to maximize contact with every contour of a man’s face.

2015

GILLETTE FUSION5™ PROSHIELD®

Gillette Fusion5™ ProShield® with lubrication BEFORE and after the blades, shields from irritation. ProShield razors also feature FlexBall technology.

2017

TREO

There have been more than 4,000 razors designed for shaving yourself. None have been specifically designed to shave someone else – until now. Gillette TREO is the first of its kind, a unique razor we designed for caregivers and their loved ones.

2018

SKINGUARD

Gillette® SkinGuard is our first razor specifically designed for men with sensitive skin and razor bumps. The razor shaves hair and protects the skin, thanks to its unique SkinGuard positioned between the blades. It works to minimize tug and pull and cut hair at skin level, helping to prevent irritation.

2019

HEATED RAZOR

The Heated Razor by GilletteLabs activates and delivers instant warmth in less than one second at the push of a button and provides a noticeably more comfortable shave. Designed in Germany, the Heated Razor features adjustable temperature levels to achieve optimal comfort, and has Gillette’s best blades combined with FlexDisc™ technology to maintain skin contact in order to give a smooth shave. The Heated Razor Starter Kit comes with the Heated Razor, magnetic charging dock and plug, and two GilletteLabs blade cartridges.