I remember as a young girl watching my grandpa shave his face with his safety razor. He would lather up his shaving cream. I have no idea why, but it fascinated me. Maybe because I just adored my grandpa so much. But as I reflect on the 1970s, we used so many items that were reusable, and we have converted so many items to disposables. What felt like progress forward is now backward progress. So, let’s go back to using things our grandparents used.
Did you know that razors are one of the most wasteful items in your bathroom? They cannot be recycled and they go straight to landfill. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 2 billion razors and refill blades get tossed out in the U.S. each year.
I switched to a safety razor a few years ago. For me, I change out my blades about once a month and I am still filling my little tin to eventually have them recycled. The first straight razor I tried, I struggled as I would typically cut myself at least once every time on my legs. I was using the Albatross Safety Razor which is a fantastic brand, and I would highly recommend it to those of you who are skilled at shaving. The great news is that the razor went to my husband and he loves it. I bought the Leaf Shave which has 3 blades and the head pivots like many of the disposable razors for women. I am absolutely in love with my Leaf Shave!
I am fortunate that my skin is not sensitive in the slightest. For most, I would recommend prepping your skin prior to using a safety razor by exfoliating, washing your face with warm water to open your pores, and using a shave cream or shave soap to get a nice lather to moisturize the skin.
From there you want to make sure you are using fresh blades, so they are sharp. I use a little more caution after replacing the blades for the first time.
Then just let the razor do the work with the sharp blades. You really do not need to apply a ton of pressure. Especially with new blades and on the first pass, be sure to go with the grain. Shave at an angle and use short strokes. Then just make sure you take care of your skin post shaving, especially if you shaved your face. Make sure to give it a good rinse to close your pores and apply an aftershave.
To take the best care of your razor, you will want to keep it in a dry place after use so it does not rust. At least once a month, take it apart to clean out any residue and gunk with an old bamboo toothbrush and some soap.
Come on by Replenish Grocers to check out our safety razor options. And when you need to recycle your blades, bring them back and we will take care of the rest.
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