The safety razor evolution

Razors have evolved dramatically over the past century. From the first safety razor – a razor handle that houses a double-edge razor blade – to ProGlide with FlexBall^™ Technology, Gillette^® has been on the forefront of shaving innovation. See how Gillette innovation has produced better shaves for more than a century.

The century begins with the system razor

In 1903, Gillette introduced the world’s first system razor – a two-piece safety razor with a thin, strong, sharp double-edge blade attached to a reusable handle. When the Gillette system razor hit the market, it didn’t take long for blade sales to reach into the millions.

Everyone loves a classic. Meet the Gillette Platinum-Plus Double-Edge Blade.

An era of safety razor innovation

In 1971, Gillette pushed razor innovation further with the launch of the Trac II^®, the first safety razor with twin blades. Not long after, in 1977, Gillette stepped up the safety razor yet again with the Atra/Contour system. This gave men the power of the first twin-blade cartridge with a pivoting head, which allowed the blades to better follow the contours of the face for an even closer shave than before.

"Gillette introduced the world's first system razor–a two-piece safety razor with a thin, strong, sharp double-edge blade attached to a reusable handle."

Thinking outside the blade

In 1985, Gillette’s ability to innovate the safety razor went beyond the steel blades and handle. With the introduction of the Atra Plus/Contour Plus, Gillette’s first razor with a lubricating strip hit the market. Incorporating this strip above the blades improved the glide of the safety razor over the skin, increasing the comfort level of the shave. In 1990, the twin blades of the Sensor^® safety razor were individually mounted on highly responsive springs that automatically adjusted to the contours of the shaver’s face.

Breaking the performance barrier

In 1998, Gillette rocketed men to an even smoother, closer shave^* with the launch of the MACH3^®, the first safety razor with three-blade technology. Gillette has continued to innovate with the MACH3 system, expanding the capabilities of this razor into the present with the MACH3 Turbo, featuring more lubricants and a larger skin guard versus MACH3.

Today's technology at work

In 2006, Fusion5^® safety razors debuted in manual and power versions. They feature five blades and surpass the MACH3 in comfort. ProGlide^® arrived in 2010, taking precision and performance further with thinner and finer blades.^** GILLETTE BODY^™, introduced in 2014, altered the landscape of manscaping as our first razor built for the male terrain. That same year also brought our next evolution in shaving – ProGlide with FlexBall^™ Technology, a multi-pivoting razor built to maximise contact with every contour of a man’s face.

The next safety razor is always getting closer

Gillette never stops looking for ways to improve your shaving experience. We want to help you look, feel and perform your best every day, and that drives our quest to give men the closest and most precise shave in the world. More than a century ago, King C. Gillette said, “We’ll stop making razor blades when we can’t keep making them better”.