Why Men Stopped Using Straight Razors

About this video

Centeno traces the 10,000-year history of straight razors from ancient stone blades through their dominance in the late 19th century, then explains their rapid decline after 1921 when safety razors surpassed them in sales. He details the mechanics of straight razors and their necessary accessories, while analyzing how World War I military distribution, marketing by King Gillette, and the safety razor’s advantages in speed, ease of use, and lower maintenance caused men to abandon straight razors en masse.

Key takeaways

• Centeno argues that straight razors dominated men’s grooming for roughly 10,000 years until safety razors emerged in the late 19th century, with the shift accelerating after WWI when the US military issued Gillette safety razors to soldiers
• Centeno explains that safety razors succeeded because they offered greater safety, required less skill and time commitment, and involved minimal maintenance compared to the elaborate procedure of straight razor shaving
• Centeno recommends that men interested in straight razor shaving visit a professional barber rather than attempting it themselves, describing it as a classic masculine grooming experience similar to spa services

Episode details: published March 25, 2025 · 174K views · 14:58 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. The style advice summarized here is Antonio Centeno’s own teaching and opinion, presented for education; product recommendations are his, not ours. Summaries are written by Self Growth Videos from each video itself.

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