I switched to safety razors years ago and haven't looked back. The shave is excellent, and the saving is ludicrous. Seeing the price of cartridge razors (even the ones that market themselves as...
I switched to safety razors years ago and haven't looked back. The shave is excellent, and the saving is ludicrous. Seeing the price of cartridge razors (even the ones that market themselves as being cheaper, such as Harry's) boggles my mind every time. I must have spent £10 on razors in the last year, if that. Cannot recommend them highly enough.
My wife and I recently finished our huge stash of blades and had to buy new ones. I decided to splurge on really nice blades and spent a whopping $25 (including shipping) on a 100-pack, which from...
My wife and I recently finished our huge stash of blades and had to buy new ones. I decided to splurge on really nice blades and spent a whopping $25 (including shipping) on a 100-pack, which from experience is going to last us probably close to half a decade—an amortized cost of 20¢ per person per month.
Granted, we're not shaving as much as some people (just weekly for both of us, for instance). But no matter your habits, even if you go for the spendiest safety razor blades and supplies imaginable, it'll come in much cheaper than even the cheapest cartridge razors.
Another benefit a lot of people find is how much easier single blade shaving is on the skin. I grow a lot of facial hair but like to stay clean shaven, so I shave every day or every other day....
Another benefit a lot of people find is how much easier single blade shaving is on the skin. I grow a lot of facial hair but like to stay clean shaven, so I shave every day or every other day. When I travel, I use a small travel electric razor and it causes me to break out quite frequently. I relish coming home, lathering up, and getting a real close shave. I've been single blade shaving (used to be safety razors but recently moved to a straight) for a decade now, and it's developed into one of my favorite routines.
Last year I bought a pair of clippers. I use them to cut my own hair. But now I also use them to shave. Messy but utterly brilliant, if you like a manly five o clock shadow. If you are going down...
Last year I bought a pair of clippers. I use them to cut my own hair. But now I also use them to shave. Messy but utterly brilliant, if you like a manly five o clock shadow.
If you are going down the DE safety razer route, treat yourself to Geo F. Trumper Sandalwood Soft Shaving Soap or Cream. The soap costs $15 ($30 with bowl) and lasts three years. The cream is $30 and lasts a year.
Yeah cutting your hair really adds up. I'm picky about my hair and have been cutting my hair for ~ 6 years now, and rather than get a fancy haircut for $50 in my area, I pay nothing. That's...
Yeah cutting your hair really adds up. I'm picky about my hair and have been cutting my hair for ~ 6 years now, and rather than get a fancy haircut for $50 in my area, I pay nothing. That's roughly $600 / year savings. I also get to experiment with all sorts of styles.
Sure, I spend less than £5 a year on razor blades (and with bulk buying I only buy every 2-3 years). Yes, I get a better shave than cartridge razors and I don't throw out unrecyclable...
Sure, I spend less than £5 a year on razor blades (and with bulk buying I only buy every 2-3 years). Yes, I get a better shave than cartridge razors and I don't throw out unrecyclable plastic/metal carts every week or so.
But what this article doesn't mention is that it's easy to get into spending lots of money on soaps, creams, brushes and razors. I have a relatively restrained selection of 2-3 soaps/creams, a couple of brushes and three razors - I don't have any in the silly-money range but they were each in the £40 kind of area. On the plus side, shaving is a pleasure now rather than a chore and I think I'm still saving money compared to the cartridge days - but if I'm not I don't care.
I think a lot of that is the modern shaving culture. I picked up safety razor shaving a decade ago to save money because I shave frequently, and the online forums were split between people who...
But what this article doesn't mention is that it's easy to get into spending lots of money on soaps, creams, brushes and razors.
I think a lot of that is the modern shaving culture. I picked up safety razor shaving a decade ago to save money because I shave frequently, and the online forums were split between people who discussed technique and those who discussed gear. I recently (after 9 years of nearly daily shaves!) took a look at the online communities again since I wanted to explore the world of straights, and oh my gosh has the culture completely gone full consumerist. Reddit and forums pretty much spend all their time talking about different brushes, soaps, and occasionally razors. With that comes a deluge of "daily shave" pictures where people pose their daily shaving setups to ... connect with others I guess? But if you're willing to look past the cultural noise, the hobby itself is notoriously cheap.
I started out safety razor shaving on a basic razor, and then upgraded a few years in and stuck with that new razor (a Merkur Futur) for 8 years. I upgraded my brush once (my partner bought me a nice badger brush when she was travelling in Europe). I only try new soaps when I'm running out of the shave soap I currently have, and a given soap usually lasts me 8-12 months despite shaving near daily. Then in the last year I bought a straight razor and a strop, and that's been it. Including the gift of the brush and not including blades, I've probably spent ~ $600 over 10 years, which I find to be a reasonable investment for great skincare and close shaves.
I think this is largely a Reddit thing since it tends to attract people who got into a hobby a few months ago and get really into it, but only at that kinda basic introductory level. It’s also a...
I think this is largely a Reddit thing since it tends to attract people who got into a hobby a few months ago and get really into it, but only at that kinda basic introductory level.
It’s also a feed thing. Unique thoughts or original content are hard to do but anyone can buy a very nice, mass-market thing and show a picture of it. Same thing happens in /r/watches where it seems like every 4th post is a moonwatch or a black bay.
I bought my first DE well over a decade ago. I have averaged maybe one razor every couple of years since then, and obviously consumables like soaps, creams and so on are an ongoing costs. I like a...
I bought my first DE well over a decade ago. I have averaged maybe one razor every couple of years since then, and obviously consumables like soaps, creams and so on are an ongoing costs. I like a change occasionally, and a few different designs just to see if anything is better for me (Parker's half-slant head is amazing and I wish I'd bought it years ago). I'm probably in about the same boat as you, spending-wise.
I agree about /r/wicked_edge though. I unsubbed a while ago because it just felt like a series of adverts.
I switched to safety razors years ago and haven't looked back. The shave is excellent, and the saving is ludicrous. Seeing the price of cartridge razors (even the ones that market themselves as being cheaper, such as Harry's) boggles my mind every time. I must have spent £10 on razors in the last year, if that. Cannot recommend them highly enough.
My wife and I recently finished our huge stash of blades and had to buy new ones. I decided to splurge on really nice blades and spent a whopping $25 (including shipping) on a 100-pack, which from experience is going to last us probably close to half a decade—an amortized cost of 20¢ per person per month.
Granted, we're not shaving as much as some people (just weekly for both of us, for instance). But no matter your habits, even if you go for the spendiest safety razor blades and supplies imaginable, it'll come in much cheaper than even the cheapest cartridge razors.
Another benefit a lot of people find is how much easier single blade shaving is on the skin. I grow a lot of facial hair but like to stay clean shaven, so I shave every day or every other day. When I travel, I use a small travel electric razor and it causes me to break out quite frequently. I relish coming home, lathering up, and getting a real close shave. I've been single blade shaving (used to be safety razors but recently moved to a straight) for a decade now, and it's developed into one of my favorite routines.
Last year I bought a pair of clippers. I use them to cut my own hair. But now I also use them to shave. Messy but utterly brilliant, if you like a manly five o clock shadow.
If you are going down the DE safety razer route, treat yourself to Geo F. Trumper Sandalwood Soft Shaving Soap or Cream. The soap costs $15 ($30 with bowl) and lasts three years. The cream is $30 and lasts a year.
Yeah cutting your hair really adds up. I'm picky about my hair and have been cutting my hair for ~ 6 years now, and rather than get a fancy haircut for $50 in my area, I pay nothing. That's roughly $600 / year savings. I also get to experiment with all sorts of styles.
Sure, I spend less than £5 a year on razor blades (and with bulk buying I only buy every 2-3 years). Yes, I get a better shave than cartridge razors and I don't throw out unrecyclable plastic/metal carts every week or so.
But what this article doesn't mention is that it's easy to get into spending lots of money on soaps, creams, brushes and razors. I have a relatively restrained selection of 2-3 soaps/creams, a couple of brushes and three razors - I don't have any in the silly-money range but they were each in the £40 kind of area. On the plus side, shaving is a pleasure now rather than a chore and I think I'm still saving money compared to the cartridge days - but if I'm not I don't care.
I think a lot of that is the modern shaving culture. I picked up safety razor shaving a decade ago to save money because I shave frequently, and the online forums were split between people who discussed technique and those who discussed gear. I recently (after 9 years of nearly daily shaves!) took a look at the online communities again since I wanted to explore the world of straights, and oh my gosh has the culture completely gone full consumerist. Reddit and forums pretty much spend all their time talking about different brushes, soaps, and occasionally razors. With that comes a deluge of "daily shave" pictures where people pose their daily shaving setups to ... connect with others I guess? But if you're willing to look past the cultural noise, the hobby itself is notoriously cheap.
I started out safety razor shaving on a basic razor, and then upgraded a few years in and stuck with that new razor (a Merkur Futur) for 8 years. I upgraded my brush once (my partner bought me a nice badger brush when she was travelling in Europe). I only try new soaps when I'm running out of the shave soap I currently have, and a given soap usually lasts me 8-12 months despite shaving near daily. Then in the last year I bought a straight razor and a strop, and that's been it. Including the gift of the brush and not including blades, I've probably spent ~ $600 over 10 years, which I find to be a reasonable investment for great skincare and close shaves.
I think this is largely a Reddit thing since it tends to attract people who got into a hobby a few months ago and get really into it, but only at that kinda basic introductory level.
It’s also a feed thing. Unique thoughts or original content are hard to do but anyone can buy a very nice, mass-market thing and show a picture of it. Same thing happens in /r/watches where it seems like every 4th post is a moonwatch or a black bay.
I bought my first DE well over a decade ago. I have averaged maybe one razor every couple of years since then, and obviously consumables like soaps, creams and so on are an ongoing costs. I like a change occasionally, and a few different designs just to see if anything is better for me (Parker's half-slant head is amazing and I wish I'd bought it years ago). I'm probably in about the same boat as you, spending-wise.
I agree about /r/wicked_edge though. I unsubbed a while ago because it just felt like a series of adverts.