Newspaper reports out today are suggesting that the global financial crisis is taking its toll on the men’s grooming industry, with the ‘alpha male’ supposedly making a comeback.
According to a new study by The Grocer, British men are switching away from the smooth metrosexual ideal to the bearded and messy look during the economic downturn.
The research has revealed that in the past year sales of razors and blades were down by 7 per cent.
Market analysts Kantar Worldpanel say rising prices, as well as the economic slump, is a key factor for the change in male attitudes.
However, for men still wanting too look dapper and clean-shaven but don’t want to pay the earth for some overpriced and poor performing cartridge razor, then there is a solution, and it’s called double edge shaving.
Not only is double edge razor technically superior to a Gillette ProGlide or any other expensive cartridge based razor system, its also much cheaper.
The following comparison is based on an average use of: 1 x Mach3 cartridge a week OR 2 x double-edged razor blades a week
MACH3 CARTRIDGE YEARLY COST
Boots do twelve cartridges for £11.99. So: £11.99 divided by 12 weeks of shaving x 52 weeks a year = £51.96 for a year’s worth of Mach3 cartridges.
DOUBLE EDGED RAZOR BLADE YEARLY COST
At the Shaving Shack, we do 30 blades for £5.99 (15 weeks shaving at two blades a week). So: £5.99 divided by 15 weeks of shaving x 52 weeks a year = £20.76 for a year’s worth of double edged razor blades.
That’s a saving of around £31 a year and less than half the cost of shaving with Mach3s.
Even in the first year, where you would have to purchase a double edged razor, this saving is more than enough to cover this initial extra cost.
Need another reason to bin the expensive cartridge system and opt instead for the luxurious double edge razor? A study published earlier this year found that well-groomed guys have much better job prospects as well. 90 per cent of HR professionals said being well groomed is more important than a firm handshake when it comes time for a job interview.
And if that doesn’t convince you, surely this well….Research also suggests that men who shave regularly have twice as much sex as those that don’t.
This study found that men who shave at least five times a week are having sex 15.5 times per month, compared to 7.8 times for unshaven men.
So men, abandon the scruffy, un-shaven look and quick as it would appear that keeping yourself clean-shaven is the key to a successful career and love life.
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