Prior to the invention of the safety razor, shaving was a time-consuming act involving a straight razor, which had to be sharpened constantly to ensure its safety and effectiveness. Straight razors, often called "cut-throat razors," were hazardous devices that were frequently used as weapons. Even the most skilled users could not avoid the occasional nick or cut, and occasionally infections contracted from shaving cuts resulted in serious illness or even death. Other methods of hair removal, such as plucking or depilatory chemicals, were often used in place of shaving, particularly by women.

The possibility of developing a safety razor was realized as early as the late 1700's. In 1880, the Kampfe brothers developed a successful safety razor that utilized a wire blade guard to protect the user, but the blade was not disposable and required frequent removal and sharpening; thus, the device never achieved widespread popularity. By combining the element of safety with the convenience and efficiency of a disposable blade, King Camp Gillette invented the first successful safety razor.

The initial design for the Gillette razor was simple: a thin metallic blade sandwiched between two metal plates and attached to a handle. The razor covered all but a fraction of the blade, preventing deep cuts and reducing the frequency of small ones. This design was essentially complete by 1895; but the development of a component sufficiently thin, durable, and inexpensive to serve as a disposable blade is credited to Gillette's partner, William Nickerson, who had developed a viable blade by 1903. Gillette applied for a patent for his safety razor in 1901, and was awarded a patent in 1904.

The Gillette razor greatly reduced the amount of time required to shave, due primarily to the elimination of the sharpening process and the exacting technique required of straight-razor users. Some users of the Gillette razor reported that it cut their shaving time by two-thirds to three-quarters. The reduced risk of shaving with a safety razor also contributed to its popularity, particularly among women. Although other companies introduced their own versions of the safety razor during the early twentieth century, Gillette would continue to dominate the market into the latter half of the century, introducing stainless steel blades in the 1960's.

Although replacement blades for safety razors were still available to consumers in the early twenty-first century, use of the razors declined steadily after introduction of the plastic disposable razor in the 1960's. Several manufacturers, including Gillette, subsequently produced a variety of styles of disposable razors, from inexpensive single-blade models to multi-bladed shavers with pivoting heads, lubricating strips, and other features.

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