Iona man gearing up for fourth annual shaving expo in Idaho Falls
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IDAHO FALLS – Teton Shaves, a company that makes customized shaving brushes and razors, is gearing up for its fourth annual Tradional Shaving Expo.
It’s happening Oct. 12 at the Residence Inn in Idaho Falls.
“It’s a way to introduce people to traditional wet shaving,” Teton Shaves Owner Matt Darrington tells EastIdahoNews.com.
Did you know…
- Large-scale razor manufacturing began in 1680. The first form of what we now call the safety razor was developed by William S. Henson in 1847. Frederick, Richard, and Otto Kampfe patented their version of the safety razor in 1880.
- King Gillette invented disposable blades in 1895 and a razor that accommodated disposable blades in 1904.
- Jacob Schick developed the first electric razor in 1928. The blades were sold in clips and loaded into the razor similar to a repeating firearm. It didn’t become a widely used product until the 1940s.
- Cartridge razors, developed by Gillette in 1971, are the most common kind of razor in use today.
While it’s geared primarily to men, Darrington says many couples enjoy attending together. It’s become a popular event that attracts people across the globe. He anticipates at least 300 people attending this year’s expo.
There will be live demonstrations from industry experts at the event, along with vendors who provide all the supplies needed for a wet shaving experience. Raffle prizes and panel discussions will be available as well.
Darrington launched Teton Shaves in 2019. Customers all over the world purchase his products online. He also sells them locally at Snake River Barber Co. and Idaho Falls Barber Co.
The idea for this business stemmed from his enjoyment of what he calls one of life’s simple luxuries.
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As long beards have become fashionable in today’s society, Darrington says having customized shaving supplies that aren’t disposable lowers the cost and improves the experience.
“There is an element of wet shaving that is thrifty. People don’t want to spend money on non-reusable cartridge razors that are horrendously overpriced,” he says.
It’s hard to say why long beards are now acceptable, Darrington says, but it could be the simple reason that “we’ve got bigger problems to worry about than how someone decides to groom their face.”
For Darrington, the appeal of having a long beard is defined in his business slogan — “Be kind to you.”
“For me, it’s a way to take care of myself,” says Darrington. “We’re kind to other people … but the one person we’re commonly not kind to is ourselves. Taking that extra five, 10 minutes (prepares you) to go to battle and face the world.”
Darrington says there will be something of value at the expo for anyone who shaves, regardless of gender, and he’s encouraging people to attend.
It’s happening from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 635 West Broadway.