A Clean Shave
Our grandfathers and possibly our own dads used safety razors. You know the kind – reusable, refillable, and with a stainless steel blade. A clean, close shave. Maybe with shave cream that was mixed as part of the morning ritual to get a smooth face. It was a rite of passage for a young man to learn from his dad how to achieve the perfect smooth shave. Has this ritual gone with the dinosaurs or is it making a comeback?
The popularity of safety razors has risen. More and more guys, not counting us women, have found the ritual of the old way of shaving to be not only nostalgic, but clean, close and highly rewarding. There are whole websites dedicated to the art of shaving that have tutorials, recommendations and more. It definitely has come into its own in 2021.
In our home, my husband started with his own safety razor about six to eight months ago. He had been complaining for years about the price of razors for the standard Gilette razor. Just to keep him supplied with razors was upwards of $50/20 razors. And the shave was anything but close. It seemed that the blades just were not keeping their edge or sharpness. He tried stretching the life of them because the price was high for our small budget – he would go two weeks on one blade and by the end of the allotted time his blade was dragging across his face resulting in a mediocre shave and stubble for the day. He was fed up. So, he asked me to research about it and he is very happy with the results.
According to a June 28, 2021 article by EcoWatch, billions of plastic razors wind up in our landfills each year. Because razors are made of mixed materials (plastic and metal) they cannot be recycled. A staggering 158.10 million people in the U.S. used disposable razors in 2020, and that number is expected to increase to 160.16 million by 2024. Although plastic razors are not designed as single-use, they are very consumable and a part of many of the population’s grooming routine, thereby adding to the overgrowth of plastic.
Because plastic is so prolific in our society – plastic bags, tubs, food storage containers, clothing, toys, kitchen ware, basically everywhere, our plastic use is taxing our landfills not to mention the five large islands floating in our oceans that are entirely made of microplastics. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is the largest one and it’s located halfway between California and Hawaii (The Ocean Cleanup, theoceancleanup.com). Microplastics are the small particles of plastic that pass through the water treatment systems and end up in our water ways. Plastic does not fully break down, therefore as time goes on, we have more and more of a problem disposing it – it cannot be disposed, it accumulates.
In favor of the safety blade is the fact that it is not plastic, and it is two-sided, allowing one to get twice as much use from a single blade. The stainless steel blades for a safety razor are relatively inexpensive – anywhere from $4/10 to $10/50 and they will last about 2 weeks per blade, give or take a few days. The initial cost of a safety razor can be pricey, but it is a hefty piece of grooming equipment that will last a lifetime, and one you can put in your will to pass onto the next generation.
Depending on style, weight, color and feel, your choice for the actual razor is plentiful. Many companies offer different options – and there are ones for men and women. Personally, I favor the rose gold variety, but it’s not a must. I am currently using the Zomchi brand while one daughter is using Eco Roots. My husband’s brand is Vikings. An additional piece of equipment that is handy is what is called a blade barn – a little metal box with a slit on top. Any used/spent blade is dropped in there, and when it is full the whole barn can be recycled.
Using a safety razor does have an initial learning curve – because one holds the safety razor at a 45 degree angle rather than how a disposable razor is held, straight on. A safety razor’s blade is quite sharp, and our body’s surface areas are rounded in some areas, so learning to master the art of the blade is crucial for a clean shave with minimal or no nicks. I have found that my learning curve was short, super simple and I enjoyed the first clean shave I have had in years when I began using them about six months ago. Because of the close shave, I can go a little longer than I was used to and still feel quite clean shaven – my legs feel great! Under arm irritation has been a mute point for me and the close shave is a great advantage in these summer months.
A pro tip when using the safety razor is to spritz it after each use with rubbing alcohol to prevent rusting of the stainless steel blade, and to sanitize the razor. This will minimize irritation as well because we start with a sanitized blade each time. Another pro tip is using a good shave cream. I have found that a lathery soap or even a scrub of sugar/coconut oil provides what I need to get a good shave. My husband uses safe clean shaving cream, designed for men and likes the results as well. On his Christmas list is the shave cream cup, cream mix and brush and I just might be borrowing for myself.
Turns out that the old ways are sometimes good ways. Just like standing at the crossroads and taking the ancient paths, asking the good way and walking in it (Jeremiah 6:16)). In life and in getting a clean shave, we can learn from our elders – things of God and things of the every day.
