Let's Talk About Razors

Ever since I decided to take a razor onto my own legs (that fateful day at 11 years old), I've been looking for a better and easier way to remove hair. In fact, I wrote a poem about it when I was in high school, which I can't find at the moment. But back to being 11... I decided to take matters into my own hands after Mom refused to let me try razors. It was intense, and I spontaneously started wearing (neon green) knee socks to cover the finished product (my first attempt resulted mainly in shin carnage). After almost 20 years of practice, I can safely say that I've discovered a few arteries in my ankles, and rushing is a bad thing, despite tools or products to prevent "accidents".

A recent study at Gillette Venus found that 30% of women use men's razors for their own shaving needs. Why? Could it be the toddler-spoon handles they use for the women's version? Women's refill cartridges are over $2 a piece whereas men's are less? Aversion to moisturizing strips, which the women's variety carries extra? Apathy?

Conversely, do dudes use women's razors? What would be the real benefit?

To me, it comes down to the bottom line - price. Three blades is three blades, any way you slice it. I have used shaving cream, conditioner, and good ole' water to get the job done without a problem. Issues with nicks, which is what the ladies' version is supposedly preventing, can be avoided if not trying to finish in 3 seconds.

I've provided a survey on the right, should you care to weigh in on such hairy matters...

Forevs 21

I was in the mall yesterday and had a few minutes to waste before my friends arrived for dinner. I hit all of the usual stores: Banana Republic Petites, Guess, Sephora, etc. I also went into Forever 21,  and if you've never been, it sells designer knockoffs made in countries with few worker rights*, and no one in the store is actually 21 years old. On paper, the store is targeting female teens with about $35 of disposable income on a given day.  The difference between this store and some of the other popular tween locales is the lack of overpowering cheap cologne.  Surprisingly, one of the retail specialists (folding clothes) was approximately 70 years old and male.

While I was listening to the store's eurotrance song that sounded like Bjork on helium, I wondered what happened in order for him to land this job. Maybe it's great to have a job where you're surrounded by teenage girls all day, although I highly doubt it.

Things that would entice someone to work in this setting: the music, the level of skill required, a serious monetary emergency... While the song was quite catchy (similar to most of these clubs stores), you can't hum it while folding a stack of striped tunics in sized order.  The level of skill - folding clothes a certain way - is minimal, and he looked put together enough to be formally educated. Formal education can be a hard guess, because initial judging is usually based on cleanliness, neatness, and ability to listen. I was an immaculately groomed high schooler for example, and no one outside of my friends knew if I was from a "poor" or "rich" neighborhood, which was a great skill for adulthood.

Anyway, I concluded in that 50th of a second that he had money issues, and if that's the case, I really hope this guy can get out of his situation. I also hope that my work never leads to such a mundane and abstract area like female teenager clothing (or clothing for adults if they have the body type).


* I tend to buy clothes from these countries as I would organic versus conventionally grown food. As in, I'm leery of anything "Made in China" but Vietnam and Sri Lanka are ok.  The reason is actually a combination of fabric and cut qualities. I fit in clothes better that are not made in China, and the cloth is usually thick enough to pass my "No See Through" policy.