This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure policy for more info.
I have been finding plastic free alternatives to everyday items. In my quest to reduce plastic around my house, I began in the bathroom. Looking around I saw a bathtub covered in nearly empty shampoo bottles and a stack of bright pink, yellow and green plastic razors. Ones for each of my sisters and me, and ones we had neglected to throw away. I started looking into alternatives to plastic disposable razors, I learned about safety razors.
Safety razors have a handle and a head which you sandwich a double edged blade in and then screw it together. I learned the price to replace the blade was less than 10¢. Only 10¢, I thought! The cost alone made me want to try one. The disposable razors I had been using cost at least $10 for a pack of 3, that is over $3 a razor. Comparing that to a 10¢ blade, I just had to give it a try. Even if I weren’t concerned about reducing plastic. I am all about reducing unnecessary spending.
The price of the handle ranges from prices in the twenties to the hundreds. Varying due to material, style, and grip. I went for a Merkur Long Handled Safety Razor, costing around $25. I recommend starting off with one like mine until you decide how fancy you want to be. (The handle does not come with blades, I started with this sample pack, it even comes with a bar of shave soap!)
This has honestly been one of my favorite Amazon purchases. I can understand why people would buy an even more expensive handle. Shaving with a stainless steel razor made me feel instantly more sophisticated. The weight of it helps it to glide along the skin. I felt much classier than using a bright pink piece of plastic.
The resulting shave was much better and smoother than I could have expected. I was a bit nervous to shave my legs with a double edged blade for the first time. I thought I might cut myself with it. My sister even requested a video of blood coming out of my leg. But the first time was a success. No blood! To my excitement and her disappointment.
After a few months of using the my new razor I have had a few small nicks, but no more than I had with my old plastic razors. This problem was usually solved by getting a fresh razor blade and making sure I had no goose bumps.
Switching to a safety razor not only helps me save $10 a month, I am able to get a better shave than before, while reducing the amount of plastic I consume. I even feel a bit classier using it. I recommend giving one a try if you are interested in saving money and creating less waste. This has been one of the easiest, and probably most fun switches I have made on my plastic free journey.
Leave a Reply