Gillette recently announced the launch of TREO - the world's first ever assisted shaving razor, designed and engineered for men and women of all ages who need a little extra help to shave. It provides a comfortable and dignified shaving experience for the millions of men and women who, for whatever reason, are unable to shave themselves.

But the team at Procter & Gamble hopes to improve upon and refine the razor's design even further -- with feedback from users. Gillette's scientists and researchers will be collecting first-hand feedback to refine the TREO product experience - at launch and beyond.

In order to do this, consumers in both the U.S. and UK can request samples on Gillette's new website, while supplies last. In addition, a number of professional care homes and institutions are also partnering with the brand to try the new razor.

The Design

Gillette's TREO is specifically engineered for shaving another individual. The design is driven by two very different needs -- of the caregiver and the individual getting the shave.

Matthew Hodgson, TREO's lead designer at Gillette, explains, "When researching the project, the first step was to visit a care facility to see how the assisted shaving experience is different when compared to how we shave ourselves. Very quickly, we noticed big differences and big difficulties. For example, we realized the ergonomics of the handle and direction of the blade completely change when turned to shave another person, and thus a complete redesign would need to be engineered."

Unlike traditional razors, the Gillette TREO's special handle operates like a paintbrush, for control and comfort for caregivers and those being cared for. The blade is designed to make the shave safe and help prevent clogging. Shave gel is built into the handle.

Melissa Monich, vice president of research & development, Global Grooming at P&G, adds, "Our UK research found that when asked how care and support services helped them, the most common answer amongst people over 65 was personal care (68%), which helps them to maintain a sense of normalcy and to support lost functions like the ability to shave oneself. We were struck by how important these day-to-day activities are in supporting the dignity, pride and morale of those who need assistance. This made us even more compelled to use our expertise to develop a more comfortable and safer experience - and that is what continues to inspire us on this TREO journey."