Shaving Fun Ken 1994

I’ve been falling behind with my English posts lately, but I’ve been pressed for time and my Polish blog takes precedence over the English one. So without a further ado, here’s my Shaving Fun Ken 1994. I published my anniversary post some weeks ago and it made me realize how great disproportion there is in my collection between my ladies and my gentlemen. Of course, my collection is a woman’s world, there will always be more females, but it doesn’t mean I don’t like Ken dolls. There are several Kens that I’d love to own and it was high time I searched for one. Toy Story 3 Hawaiian Vacation 2011 Ken is one of my top favorites and I looked for him with little result, but instead I found Shaving Fun Ken whom I like a lot. He’d been quite elusive too. For some reason, despite being a 90s doll he’s hard to get and comes with a shocking price tag. What makes him so highly sought after? Maybe it’s his stubble?

I’ve compared my hairy Ken with his first release from 1961 and I’m amazed how much he’s changed. The first Ken was slender and youthful, with the expression of innocence all over him. He’s sweet and adorable, but he’s no match for such a woman as Barbie. What she needs is a macho with a jaw like an anvil and a sixpack, and in 1968 Ken became just that. He also got inevitably older by good 10 years and he’s soon to become hopelessly addicted to tanning cream. He’s a true alpha male, but it’s not enough, give him a beard!

the source: https://barbie.mattel.com/shop/en-us/ba/vintage-dolls/ken-dolls-original-swimsuit-750-1961

the source: https://pl.pinterest.com/pin/539165386609052346/?lp=true

So Ken grew himself a beard and real hair – first time in Ken’s history you could actually brush him! He’s called Mod Hair Ken and he was produced in 1972. Mod Hair Ken comes with quite a dowry, as all shaving Kens would so that you could play a little barber for him. The most interesting thing however is a set of flocked stickers to put on his face, he’s got a mustache, a beard and sideburns too! The only problem is that at some point the glue on the stickers refuses to cooperate, it grows thin and dirty and Ken gets his final clean shave. Being at their wits end, Mattel came up with a very primitive solution to that problem. In 1979 Sport & Shave Ken was given a marker pen that you could literally draw his beard on his face! What kind of idea is that! It’s a no-no to me! But other than that S&S Ken is an interesting specimen – and very manly too. And should you have any doubts as to that, read what his box says – “Shave him. He’s athletic. He’s all man.” Wow!

                                              the source: https://pl.pinterest.com/pin/555561304025258156/?lp=true

 

the source: https://pl.pinterest.com/pin/355995545515594633/?lp=true

 the source: https://pl.pinterest.com/pin/1196337375067305/?lp=true

  

To sum up, we've already had Ken with a sticker beard, and another one that you can draw his beard on with a marker, but these were not nearly good enough. The real revolution took place in the 90s along with the application of a thermal paint! From now on, Ken’s beard will grow, you’ll shave it and then it’ll grow back on itself and the first to present that magic is the 1994 Shaving Fun Ken – my Ken. The below picture shows you Ken still in captivity of his box. My Ken does’t look like that anymore, because I purchased him second-handed, but he’s still a handsome guy! His box holds a number of treasures too – there’s a Frisbee, a visor, some kind of drink, two brushes, a shaver with a sponge so you don’t cut his head off, and real shaving foam! My Ken has lost all these, but I’m not ready to pay his triple price just to get those. Two years later, Mattel blew dust off the design and came up with Cool Shavin’ Ken 1996. I honestly don’t know what to say about him, he renders me speechless! I mean, he has a handsome face – Alan face, he has stubble, he’s outfit is realistic and well made, he comes with a lot, but  ... his hair! Oh woe! I guess the designers were trying to copy the style of Backstreet Boys but the result is mediocre at best! He does smell nice at least. Apparently he was sprinkled with Oldspice from head to toes and sources reveal that the smell still lingers if you happen to be so lucky as to get him boxed. Of course he comes with a Ken scale Oldspice bottle – empty and some other accessories. In 1999 he was replaced by Shave’n Style Ken. He’s all blonde this time and his hair is still rooted and I can’t determine if he’s handsome or not, but I’d love to have him in my cabinet.

 the source: https://www.etsy.com/listing/539803541/1994-magic-shaving-fun-ken-doll-by

the source: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cool-Shavin-Ken-Doll-1996-NRFB-Mint-w-LN-box-15469-/391419615830

the source: https://pl.pinterest.com/pin/503488433322835455/?lp=true

 

Modern Kens are much closer to the original thing from the 60s. They got rid of their heavy tan and their muscles to become youthful again. Some of them shave themselves though. Around 2011-ish Mattel came up with another Shaving Fun Ken whose hair is rooted, he’s a blonde and has a number of accessories to groom his thermal paint beard. And then earlier this year Mattel offered us a brand new Shaving Ken & Bathroom set. This Ken’s hair is molded and painted on but he gets his wash basin and mirror to make his shaving more realistic. He’s also became the ambassador of Wilkinson Sword!

the source: https://www.amazon.com/Barbie-Shaving-Fun-Ken-Doll/dp/B0042ESFQQ

 

My Ken arrived in a pretty decent condition, a little dusty and awfully frizzy. The uncontrolled kanekalon hair wasn’t that difficult to tame though. I gave him a wash and shampooed and conditioned his hair. I combed it back to the desired shape and put on some hair spray while his hair was still moist. It dried and I’m satisfied. The Alan 1990 headmold looks very handsome with a 3-day stubble and eyes as cold as a winter morning. He’s smile is nice and good-natured. His beard doesn’t work anymore though, but I like him better this way. He’s not so handsome when you give him a clean shave.

Ken’s lost all his accessories, but his outfit is complete. I’m glad that he’s not a part of any Barbie line and he has his own style. His clothes are well designed and realistic looking. To make it, Mattel used good quality fabrics. He’s dressed in a hoodie, a pair of real denim shorts, he even has a matching backpack. He’s wearing some slightly too long socks and black ankle high sneakers. I must admit that I like his clothes a lot and if the shorts were just a tiny bit more fitting on the thigh part and the socks shorter, he’d be very much up to date with his fashion.

My new arrival has remided me of my favorite Ken doll list. The Japanese Ken is my all-time number one, just look how fierce he is! The next on the list is Harley Davidson second edition – amazing – all my Barbies would swoon upon the very sight of him! Then there’s my silly looking Toy Story Ken and the fourth one is Jack Sparrow, forgive me, Captain Jack Sparrow and very much like Johny Depp who by the way, is a Barbie collector as well.

the source: https://barbie.mattel.com/shop/en-us/ba/barbie-dolls-of-the-world-asia/japan-ken-doll-v5005

 

 the source: https://barbie.mattel.com/shop/en-us/ba/pop-culture-barbie-dolls/harley-davidson-ken-doll-25638

the source: https://www.amazon.fr/Exclusive-Story-Barbie-Hawaiian-Vacation/dp/B00589VXNQ

             the source: https://www.amazon.fr/Barbie-Collector-Poup%C3%A9e-Mannequin-Pirate/dp/B004LKRRAQ

Locket Surprise Ken 1993

04.09.2018

Holy cow! The 90s have just exploded like right into my face so my eyebrows are still smoking and my brain is taking a while to process the information that my eyes are so desperate to transfer! Wow, this Ken is something! I mean, he is not a surprise gift, I selected him myself on the basis of the pictures I’d seen online, but the pictures failed to convey all the shine and shimmer about him! Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting you Locket Surprise Ken 1993!

The Locket Surprise series was produced in 1993 and it included Barbie, Barbie AA (Christie 1987), Kayla (Teresa 1990) and Ken (Alan 1990). The dolls came with a set of make-up accessories- lip gloss or blush as well as a picture of Ken for Barbie, Barbie for Kayla and Ken AA for Barbie AA. The gimmick was that these could be placed in a secret compartment in their chests. The compartments were heart-shaped and had tiny little locks. Now, who do you think had the key to all those locks? Ken of course, but about that in a minute, now the below commercial presents Barbie and Ken. 

the source: https://www.coroflot.com/anapdesign/Product-design

Now, I’m not all that crazy about Locket Surprise Barbie. The gimmick is a little too much for me, and her body isn’t the regular TNT – the waist doesn’t turn for the “locket” in her chest, but Ken is just another story. He’s out of this world and so colorful that I’m calling him Mr. Marvelous Peacock. Now Mr. Peacock’s been given the Alan 1990 facemold and although the New Superstar will always be my favorite, I’m getting fond of Alan. His hair is two toned and the style reminds me of MacGyver. Of course he likes sun a lot, but he’s not quite as orange as my other Ken is. His eyes are brown and green and blue – an interesting combination and are a little narrower and deeper set than those of my Super Star Ken 1988. When he arrived, his face was sticky and shiny but baby tissues worked their usual magic and now he’s fine.

Regarding his outfit, I imagine some artists working on it and having a hell of a fun. Let’s throw a golden shimmery jacket with golden buttons, add to that a flowery vest, crazy colorful, gold buttons here as well. Not enough! Give him a pink shirt, a pink pink shirt if you know what I mean! What about the pants? Teal green, striped, make the stripes shiny. Sure, done, and the shoes? Green, green, greeeeeeen! Throw a pair of socks… tulle socks! Is that it? No, the key for the locks, give him a golden chain, make him wear it on his heart! – Seriously, were they drunk or stoned?! I don’t know but I looooove the result!

Now the golden jacket has some signs of wear, but that’s alright and he looks perfect otherwise. The designers gave Ken as many layers as they could, but not to make him much bulkier, they combined a sleeveless shirt with the vest. At least, when he takes off his jacket, he can show off his muscles. I love the attention to details that used to be one of Mattel’s defining features and the tiny little golden buttons on the jacket and the vest are just an example that demonstrates just how important for the company the tiny little things once were. It’s just such a pitty they’ve lost it somewhere on their way.

Ken’s box also contained a white box with a golden lid and a fragrance gift for Barbie inside. The cosmetic is so old that it’s completely dried out and it doesn’t smell anymore but it’s a nice touch and it’s consistent with the series. As the box shows, Ken intended to give it to Barbie who’d put it in her locket. And speaking about the box, my Ken’s used but his previous owner kept the box. The window is cracked and yellowed but I’d never throw it away. A box often tells a bit of a doll’s history and this time its tag revealed that the doll once occupied one of Fred Meyer shelves. Now Fred Meyer no longer exists on itself, it was founded in 1922 and merged with Kroger in 1999 but apparently still holds its name in 4 states. Fred Meyer is considered to be one of the pioneer stores to combine different compartments in one place so as to make one stop shopping a reality. It’s always interesting to me what places a doll’s been to before she or he came into my possession. It’s been a long way but Mr. Marvelous Peacock , ehhhm Ken has finally arrived at his destination. Welcome home!

A little bonus – both of my vinyl men posing together, which one is more handsome?