In the past, you could tell when Christmas was approaching by seeing lots of advertisements for men’s grooming. How things have changed! Lots of ads are placed throughout the year focusing on men in wide spectrum from head to toe. TV shows a man spraying to stop athlete’s foot or combing in something to take the gray away.

As OTC beauty advisors, you should be able to answer a rudimentary question, such as “What do I do about these razor bumps?” Or women may inquire about something for the men in their lives. Customers coming in the stores with questions are seeking remedies, fixes, solutions and help.

These are what we know:
Ingrown hairs (razor bumps) are painful for the man who has them;
Ingrown hairs are unsightly to look at.

So, how do we combat them? You must understand the problem before you can fully address the problem. I have spoken with a number of men who own OTC stores. I asked them all the same question, “How do you shave?” Almost all answered that they employed a razor when shaving. Others said they used an electric razor. I continued to ask questions like “How often do you shave?” or “How long does it take and how long do you use the same blades?”

That was when it hit me. OTC men are already experts in shaving. If customers were asking the same questions that I asked, then they might have gotten a partial solution. Black men are not different from any other man. However, every race has some distinguishing characteristics that make them unique in some areas.

Let’s take a look at skin of Black and men of color. This skin type is usually full of melanin and also has tendency to overreact when it comes to scarring. In fact, some of the smallest scars can keloid if not taken care of properly. You must also remember that Blacks were protected naturally from malaria when they dug the Panama Canal, but fell victim to sickle cell anemia. Many black men think falsely they are allergic to razor blade because of skin reacting to hair removal.

Many black men use depilatories to remove hair. Depilatories can only be used safely in every 36 hours. If a man is at a job where his appearance calls for a daily shave, then 36 hour interval will not do it. Many men are afraid to use depilatories because they are made from barium sulphide and calcium hydroxide. These two chemicals when combined in a wet solution become activated and can melt hair in five minutes or less. If left on too long, it can also melt skin.

Another frequently used or misused tool is the edger/trimmer. This tool is turned on edge and pushed upside down in the opposite direction of hair growth, repeatedly scraped across skin until hair is removed, not razor-close but close enough not to look ill groomed. Feel the faces shaved by razor and clippers and you will notice a stark difference.

Shaving has a long history steeped in religious and military lore. For modern man, the reason for shaving may be to attract the opposite sex, in addition to professional consideration. Any man who uses his face as a calling card and has to put his best face forward will agree that smooth, blemish-free, clean shave will add to his portfolio as a professional man.

So let me tell you, OTC beauty advisors, the reasons why we all need to help Black men shave correctly and why as advisors you should be telling them correctly.

THE NUMBER ONE REASON IS BECAUSE HELPING MEN SHAVE CORRECTLY IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

Close behind the number one reason is the number two reason that the shaving blade category is 700 million dollar category. The potential for OTC is amazing! Your women customers would be glad to purchase shaving goods for their husbands or boyfriends if they had the right information. In fact, they might have bought blades already when they came to your stores before! If you are a man reading this article or woman who buys those triple and multiple blades for their men, you already know how much it will add to your business to add blades, handles and razors. Shaving is back in vogue.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE STARS

Most Black male stars in movies and music are clean shaven. When the role models are shaving, then those who follow them will be shaving as well. Just as soon as wife or girlfriend feels a man’s smooth face without bumps and ingrown hair, she will not let him return to the stubble that once scratched her face and skin.

NOW IS THE VERY BEST TIME FOR BLACK MEN TO SHAVE BECAUSE RAZORS ARE AS CLOSE TO PERFECT AS THEY CAN BE.

Let’s take a look at the history of razor improvement.

1847 William Henson created the first razor with blade perpendicular to handle
1901 King Camp Gillette and William Nickerson developed low cost disposable blade
1921 US Army Lt. Col. Joseph Shick invented razor with blade not be touched by fingers
1971 Twin Blade Trac II system
1998 Mach 3
2003 Shick Quatro 4 blades
2006 5 blade fusion

It’s not just the number of blades but also the way blades are made. I am always astonished that no one asks the barber not to use the hair cutting razor on the face. Those silver and straight razors with replaceable blades are haircutting razors. They are not made for faces and can do harm to the face. They do not give a close shave.

I would venture to say that if OTC sold quality razors for face shaving, then barbers would buy them and lots of home consumers would, too.