The Pivoting Controversy
Of all of the controversial “enhancements” to shaving razors that have come along over the years, the pivoting head seems to have the most loyal adherents to both its brilliant novelty and assumed usefulness for their personal shaving experience. So, is the pivot really the cat's ass of cartridge razor ingenuity? Let's take a closer look.
When the first pivoting razor head was introduced, the claim was that this dynamic movement would allow the razor to glide along with the contours of your face, versus a static razor, and that it would thereby prevent nicks and cuts because it would give way to excessive pressure. That was it. It moves, therefore you will not get cut.
In-so doing, the style of shaving was changed, and perhaps irreversibly, for many shavers. What this pivot would lend to the shave itself was more of a “painting” motion than that of a shaving one. Indeed, angling your wrist up or down as you shaved would hereafter have almost no measurable effect, because the pivot would simply eat up that change being induced to it. So the manner in which cutting occurs is a “suck down” method, whereby the razor is sucked-down on pivot into the skin by the leading edge and wiping (painting) it across your skin is how it works to remove the hair.
However, did this invention result in the claim being legitimized? Did it reduce the cuts and nicks it promised? No. And I will tell you why.
If a razor cartridge pivots under spring tension, you have almost zero precise control by sheer physical definition. Imagine for a moment that the boot of a hockey player's skate rolled 15 degrees to either side on pivot – what would happen? well, he would eat the ice immediately is what would happen. But, could he eventually get used to this movement and skate? Doubtful, but maybe. However, he would never become an expert skater because the dynamic change would never be predictable – by, again, sheer physical definition. Too many variables of unpredictable motion have been introduced to the process.
There is nothing wrong with your wrist. Well, hopefully not, but what I mean is... why can't we simply allow our wrist and fingers to be the dynamic control of the razor? Are our hands made of stone? Are your fingers a vise? Original razors didn't pivot. Trendy DE razors don't pivot. So, why are we pivoting again? Oh yeah... because it reduces nicks, right?
While the pivot is one of the most widely-assumed benefits to come out of razor company patent wars because it seemed to make all kinds of sense, it was still bullshit - just harder to define bullshit than was, say, the vibrating razor handle. So, let me help you define it even more. Pivoting utterly failed to deliver on its promise. More cuts occurred, not less. Why? because as the blade in your pivot razor is gliding along at that magic angle of 20-25 degrees, you hit a spot or press a little too hard. What happens? Your pivoting razor pivots all right, but this time outward, putting the angle of the blade for a split-second into the slicing-into-your-ass angle of, say, 45 degrees and it then nicks you. If you had total control of the angle with your fingers, this would not have happened.
When the marketplace puts a pivoting razor in your hand and (for decades henceforth) throws obstacles in your way for having access to none other, you will become not just accustomed to, but indentured to, using that tool.
Over a decade of use, or more, you may well delight in your framing hammer's swing and balance. Almost to the point that your friend's framing hammer feels ridiculous in your hand. And the same is true for him with yours. Yet, you both can frame a house. Time and greed has deprived us all of the skill and knowledge of shaving with classic techniques. But it can be gained, if you're willing to try something new and shed the habits of what you've come to know.
The razor companies can tell us whatever they want us to hear. With enough marketing money and time, we all eventually start believing it. At UNO, the number one thing we want to do is be honest with our customers, and provide the truth about shaving. We will never bullshit you and sell you something that is essentially a lie, like the big companies have done – one company in particular.