# How many blades will Gillette razors have in 10 years? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 9, 2003, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143 "2003-11-09T00:39:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![WILLASS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WILLASS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WILLASS)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143/41 "2003-11-09T18:37:20Z")
I envisage the \*\* Mach Daddy\*\* - it is basically a mach 3 but it will be blinging its shizzle like it aint no thang and will have solid gold blades encrusted with diamonds and have a faux mink handle with polka dot motif. Or possibley the **Mach 10** - it uses hollow point shells to literally ‘gat’ the hair straight out of the follicles, making sure to get medieaval on the hard to reach parts whilst simultanousley bitch slappin yo face smooth…Aiiiggghhhht? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143/42 "2003-11-09T18:44:13Z")
Just cut to the chase and use a sharpened cheese-grater. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143/43 "2003-11-09T19:06:05Z")
Much more important - what will it cost? > [@](#): > > [Gilette] spent six years and over $750 million bringing [Mach 3] to the marketplace, nearly four times the amount it spent on the 1999 launch of its Sensor razor. The first year’s marketing budget pushed the upfront cost to more than $1/2 billion. [Link](http://www.moderngent.com/site/gillette3.php) ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143/44 "2003-11-09T19:14:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Weirddave \* > Coming to a store neer you, November, 2013! I just now noticed your misspelling of _near_ is not _Nair_. Drat. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143/45 "2003-11-09T20:46:53Z")
What the hell goes into R&D for a razor that could possibly cost $750 million? That’s more than it costs to design many cars and airplanes. Or even spaceships. I suppose it goes something like this: R&D: 1 million Massive ad campaign: 374.5 million Shipping out a bazillion free samples: 374.5 million ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143/46 "2003-11-09T21:09:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > **What the hell goes into R&D for a razor that could possibly cost $750 million? That’s more than it costs to design many cars and airplanes. Or even spaceships.** Hell, I’d do the R&D for $50. **Them:** “We’re looking for a 4-bladed razor design. Do you have any suggestions?” **Me:** “Yes. Make the head very slightly longer, and insert an extra blade.” _Sound of crisp $50 bill being passed._ ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143/47 "2003-11-10T04:11:36Z")
In 10 years, Gillette razors will boast an array of blades vast enough to contact the user’s entire beard at once. Each flexible razor head will custom-mold itself to the user’s facial structure. One quick swipe and your whole face is as smooth a baby’s butt. And replacement cartridges will only cost $852 each. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143/48 "2003-11-10T04:26:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Seven \* > \*\*AHHHHHHHHHHHHH > > _hits head on desk_ > > WACK-WACK-WACK-WACK \*\* Wassamatta? You’re 1920’s style “Death ray” not working? ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143/49 "2003-11-10T04:30:36Z")
Well, my 1920’s style “Punctuation ray” certainly isn’t working. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143/50 "2003-11-10T08:53:56Z")
I was wondering about this myself. I think the razor of the future will have somewhere between ten and two hundred thousand blades and will not only achieve a perfect shave in the _up_, _down_ and _sideways_ directions, but also _in_, _out_, _round_, _through_, and _forward and backwards in time_ as well. It will, of course, be far too heavy to lift (which is shy the television commercials have started to condition us to the use of razors in a zero-gravity environment), but the Multi-Kilo-Blade razor will be fixed in a stationary position; the user will move his head back and forth across the device. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143/51 "2003-11-10T12:51:52Z")
My money is on _no_ blades. The razor will look the same, but instead of blades, it will have a bacterial strip that eats your facial hair off. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143/52 "2003-11-10T14:58:06Z")
If the replacement cartridges get any more expensive, then to hell with it says I. Bring on the electrolysis! ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143/53 "2003-11-10T17:58:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jenaroph \* > \*\*And replacement cartridges will only cost $852 each. \*\* Plus tax. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![hybrid\_dogfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@hybrid\_dogfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hybrid_dogfish)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143/54 "2003-11-10T20:20:18Z")
**WILLASS** not quite mink and diamond encrusted, but available with a [gold finish](http://www.carterandbond.com/detail.phtml?pID=TB1001&filter=Shaving:Razors,%20Safety), bling, very bling:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143/55 "2003-11-11T05:45:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tranquilis \* > \*\*Plus tax. > > 😃 \*\* Ah yes. And in 10 years, the average state sales tax will be about 23 cents on the dollar. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143/56 "2003-11-11T07:24:07Z")
They won’t have any blades. You’ll buy a package of nanomachines, armed with microscopic pairs of scissors, and smear them on your face. When you say “Shave ON!”, they scurry around, cutting each individual hair perfectly level with your skin. After they’re finished, they march down your chest and sleep in your navel. You’ll never have to replace them, because their scissors are self-sharpening. You’ll never need to recharge them, because they’re powered by your body heat and the kinetic energy of walking around. But you’ll need to pay a monthly fee to Gillette, and if you don’t, the nanomachines will wake up at midnight and cut off your johnson! ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143/57 "2003-11-11T08:01:04Z")
Hey, you’re all a lot more creative than I am! All I can come up with is “I think the theoretical limit on the number of blades on a razor has been proven to be 2\*pi”. ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143/58 "2003-11-11T08:15:29Z")
Tried the Mach 3. I’d never had razor burn before; it was interesting. A whole section of my jaw developed enormous, garganuan proto-zits, which seemed to develop heads instantly, at the most embarrassing moment possible. I also bled copiously. I’ve gone back to my normal method of shaving: dull disposable razors. Much more comfortable. Remember: The first blade chops off the hair, and lifts it. The second blade chops off what’s left of the hair. The third blade is for skin. ---
**Author:** ![WILLASS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WILLASS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WILLASS)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143/59 "2003-11-11T21:50:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hybrid\_dogfish \* > \*\ ***WILLASS** not quite mink and diamond encrusted, but available with a [gold finish](http://www.carterandbond.com/detail.phtml?pID=TB1001&filter=Shaving:Razors,%20Safety), bling, very bling:dubious: \*\* What kind of idiot would spend that amount of money on a razor? What next? Solid platinum toothbrushes? Christian Dior silk toilet paper? The mind truly boggles…😕 ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143/60 "2003-11-11T22:05:04Z")
Wilkinson Sword (who do actually make swords) have just released “the worlds first 4-blade razor” [http://www.wilkinson-quattro.com/](http://www.wilkinson-quattro.com/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-blades-will-gillette-razors-have-in-10-years/212143.md?page=4)