History Main / ShavingisScience

* Rembrandt goes in the opposite direction; [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYBu7G3kKMA they turn brushing into vaguely German-impressionist film with "sciencey" elements]].

* [=BiC=] Canada parodied and lampshaded this in their commercial for the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CHPrV7MU0U "Hands-Free RoboRazor"]]!

* Parodied in a ''Franchise/TouhouProject'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9utIhYvQM8o fan video]], where Suika worries about the suction of her black holes.

* ''Series/MadTV1995'' had a similar sketch involving the 20-bladed [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FAP8o5ZEo0 Spishak Mach 20]].

* ''Webcomic/IrregularWebcomic'' took it to its logical progression with [[http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/1186.html this strip]]. The razor utilises fractal technology to create a razor with an infinite number of blades. Then adds a conventional one for [[MoreThanInfinite infinity plus one blades]].

* Dara O'Briain:

** A "depilator" in ''The Stars Like Dust''. Apparently, whatever future technology has in store for us, it will keep us thoroughly clean-shaven. Note that the shaving method the hero is shown ''using'' is basically a sandblaster for the face, and he's concerned about rumors that this technique leads to skin cancer.

* Parodied in a ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9utIhYvQM8o fan video]], where Suika worries about the suction of her black holes.

* ''Series/{{MADtv}}'' had a similar sketch involving the 20-bladed [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FAP8o5ZEo0 Spishak Mach 20]].

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Wiki/{{Wikipedia}}'s article on technological singularities used to predict this would happen in 2015, illustrated by a picture of the Schick Infini-T. Then [[StopHavingFunGuys some humorless bastard]] [[SeriousBusiness got hold of the article, obviously]]. Then someone went and actually made a documentary about all this. (Modern Marvels, maybe?)

** In 2004, they ran a parody editorial attributed to the CEO of Gillette, entitled [[http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33930 "Fuck Everything, We're Doing Five Blades."]] [[HilariousInHindsight The following year, Gillette actually introduced such a product.]]

Two men in white lab coats walk in holding [[TechnicolorScience two containers that glow in different colours]], and put them into what appears to be a small particle accelerator. The energies from the containers collide, and form the scientific breakthrough of the century: [[MundaneMadeAwesome A Razor With FIVE Blades!]]

* Gillette parodied their own "science of shaving" adverts with an ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' {{Dualvertisement}} that showed razors based on Thor's hammer, Cap's shield, Hulk's fists and Iron Man's armour while the voice-over explained "You could make a razor with Avengers technology," and then, as the bathroom was destroyed, "but you clearly shouldn't."

-->"Why should you spend $40 a month for a bunch of over engineered razors with seven blades? Your handsome-ass grandpa had only ONE blade...AND polio!" *Passes portrait of distinguished, clean shaven man* "Looking good, Pop-Pop!"

** Similar to the Gillette example above, there was a promotional solo comic that was about Tony Stark presenting cutting edge razors using technology based on Avengers' superpowers that A.I.M. attempted to steal.
* ''ComicBook/{{Transmetropolitan}}'': Whatever's going on in that [[OurShowersAreDifferent sonic shower]] Spider Jerusalem steps into, it moves him from "hirstute mountain man" to "permanent hairlessness" in about ten seconds.

** In another Heinlein novel, the main character laments the loss of his diamond bladed razor as it had comfortably dulled over the decades.

* ''Radio/ThatMitchellAndWebbSound'' did a 14-blade version, including blades which got your shopping and scraped all the skin off your face. Notable for the speed with which it got extremely silly (the third blade files your tax return), and the fact that [[RunningGag every few blades]] there was one that SHAVED YOU CLOSER STILL.

* ''Webcomic/ArthurKingOfTimeAndSpace'' had a strip that began in the contemporary arc with Arthur saying he wasn't sure why a razor needed five blades, and Merlin replying that he remembered when three blades was a SNL punchline. And then a cut to the space arc with the same dialogue only both numbers are followed by "thousand".

--->"Why should you spend $40 a month for a bunch of over engineered razors with seven blades? Your handsome-ass grandpa had only ONE blade...AND polio!" *Passes portrait of distinguished, clean shaven man* "Looking good, Pop-Pop!"

Other shaving companies like Harry's are [[AvertedTrope bucking this trend]], Going for a more retro luxury style. (They still have 5 blades, however.)

Other shaving companies like Harry's are bucking this trend, Going for a more retro luxury style. (They still have 5 blades, however.)

* Defied by the first online ada for Dollar Shave Club, which focused more on the company's speedy shipping and inexpensive memberships packages. The ad even had the company founder mock this idea.

* One ad parody by French stand-up comedian trio ''Les Inconnus'' began with a man moaning in pain, who then turned toward the audience to reveal that his whole shirt was dripping with blood. The announcer then proudly revealed this was the work of their 12-blades razor.

* ComicBook/IronMan:

* Whatever's going on in that [[OurShowersAreDifferent sonic shower]] [[ComicBook/{{Transmetropolitan}} Spider Jerusalem]] steps into, it moves him from "hirstute mountain man" to "permanent hairlessness" in about ten seconds.
* Franchise/{{Superman}} shaves using his heat vision.
** It's been surmised that he '''has''' to. Although there's that episode of ''Series/LoisAndClark'' where Clark shows up at the ''Daily Planet'' with multiple cuts on his face after being depowered. This was repeated in the comics when Clark was depowered for a year during ''52''.
** Some early Superman comics suggested that he didn't have to shave. In at least one early story some perceptive child is convinced that Clark Kent is Superman after seeing inside his medicine cabinet, which contains only a hairbrush (because Supe doesn't need to shave, doesn't get headaches, never needs a bandaid, maybe never even gets BAD BREATH, etc.)
** There was an episode of ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' where he did the whole bouncing his laser vision off of a mirror to shave.

** It's never explained how other {{Nigh Invulnerab|ility}}le heroes shave, except for Film/{{Hancock}}, who just uses his fingernails.
** ComicBook/PowerGirl [[http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgdszxKKnA1qbmslxo1_500.png uses her heat vision to shave her legs]] in one issue of her own comic.

* For some reason, Golden-Age SF seems to have a special place in its heart for shaving technology.
** For example, Creator/IsaacAsimov's "depilator" in ''The Stars Like Dust''. Apparently, whatever future technology has in store for us, it will keep us thoroughly clean-shaven. Note that the shaving method the hero is shown ''using'' is basically a sandblaster for the face, and he's concerned about rumors that this technique leads to skin cancer.

** Larry Niven did this too, but pictures suggest he wouldn't use it.
** Creator/RobertAHeinlein's novel ''Literature/TheNumberOfTheBeast'' had someone mention that the future he was visiting had a device that made razors seem like stone age technology.
** In another Heinlein novel the main character laments the loss of his diamond bladed razor as it had comfortably dulled over the decades.
** A full-body depilator shows up in Creator/CharlesStross' ''[[Literature/TheEschatonSeries Iron Sunrise]]''.
** Depilatory cream is the primary method of removing facial hair in Steve Perry's ''Literature/{{Matador|Series}}'' series. Possibly a reference to the above Asimov story.

** One Creator/HarryHarrison had a ''sonic'' shaver -- it delivered a perfectly close shave by '''shattering''' stubble.
*** [[Series/DoctorWho Who has a]] ''[[Series/DoctorWho sonic]]'' [[Series/DoctorWho shaver? Laser is so much better.]]
** In the ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'' shaving is just for Barrayaran nobles who have the free time and inclination (and because they are so macho, that holding a blade to one's face holds certain appeal). Rest of the nexus uses a depilatory cream, or permanently stun the hair follicles.
** [[VideoGame/DarkForcesSaga Kyle Katarn]] ''does'' [[IdleAnimation use it as a shaving implement]]!
* The young adult ScienceFiction story, "Junior Achievement", has a child of a biochemist come up with a form of depilatory cream that causes the hair to grow brittle. He calls it "before-shave".
* This trope is parodied/referenced in one of the Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse books, where Luke mentions that most models of weapon scanner will interpret a [[EnergyWeapon Lightsaber]] as a shaving implement.

In the world of commercials, shaving equipment is right there next to rocket science. This is all part of a general trend in male grooming adverts, desperately trying to rescue their product from the implication that hygiene is un-masculine -- [[RatedMForManly moisturizer "refuels" your face, deodorant "combats" sweat]], and so on. Common imagery includes [[CoolPlane fighter jets]] and [[CoolCar sports cars]]. Often an adoring woman will walk on screen to [[SexForProduct stroke or kiss the smooth chin]].

In the world of commercials, shaving equipment is right there next to rocket science. This is all part of a general trend in male grooming adverts, desperately trying to rescue their product from [[TheDandy metrosexuality]] -- [[RatedMForManly moisturizer "refuels" your face, deodorant "combats" sweat]], and so on. Common imagery includes [[CoolPlane fighter jets]] and [[CoolCar sports cars]]. Often an adoring woman will walk on screen to [[SexForProduct stroke or kiss the smooth chin]].