For most of us, our shaving routine is something that we often dread. Why? Well, simply because after the first day or so of soft skin, you are met with razor burn, bumps, itching, redness, and more. Are you using a safety razor?
Now, we usually accept this all as just another part of shaving, but what if we tell you that you can change it all, by just changing one part of your routine, which is your razor.
Yup, that’s right. By simply changing up from disposable, cartridge razors to a safety razor, you’ll be able to experience an easier, pain-free shave every time.
Why You Need To Switch Over To A Safety Razor
Adverts and flashy posters will often have you believe that cartridge razors are the pinnacle for shaving technology. It is implied that the presence of multiple blades means an amazing shave, but that might not be the case.
Safety razors are a traditional and simpler form of razor, created with a double-edged blade that is surrounded by a protective covering on the sides. These unique devices were created almost two centuries ago, but the design and material were perfected only about 70 years ago.
Now, you might be thinking about why using such a traditionally designed device is better for you. Well, here are the reasons why:
- They Give You A Better Shave – The first reason why a safety razor stands out when compared to a cartridge or electric razor is the fact that they deliver smoother, closer shaves. Due to the presence of only one, sharp, blade, the instrument can glide over your skin with more ease. On top of that, cartridge razors tend to have cascading blades that cut the beard gradually and rubber micro-fibers that stretch the skin. This can cause your hair to be pulled out of the surface of the skin, rather than being cleanly sliced off, which is what the safety razor manages to do.
- No More Irritation – Shaving with cartridge razors can be extremely irritating for your skin because of the presence of multiple blades. Here’s how. When you shave with such a razor, you have multiple blades running over one patch of skin, numerous times at one go. Of course, one swipe is never enough, so those blades will graze your skin multiple times. This constant grazing can make your skin irritated, red, itchy, and contribute to razor burn. Since safety razors are sharp and have a single blade, you don’t have to worry about skin irritation and razor burn.
- Long-Lasting – Another amazing thing about safety razors is that they’re long-lasting. Unlike cartridge razors that are made of flimsy plastic, rubber, and a bit of metal, safety razors are usually all metal or have comparatively fewer plastic content. This makes them more durable and long-lasting, and you’ll be able to get a couple of years of usage with that one razor. All you’ll have to do is occasionally change the blade inside, when it becomes blunt. If it’s a strong and sturdy model like the Merkur 34C heavy duty safety razor, then best believe, you’ll be able to use it for quite a few years.
- Cost-Saving and Less Expensive – Since safety razors require less replacing, they are a cost-saving method. Safety razors themselves are a bit more expensive, and when you buy one, you’ll have to pay some more than what you do for a common cartridge razor. But a slightly larger up-front cost saves up on the cost of constantly having to change razors as well as cartridges every month or so. On top of that, the single blades that go into safety razors are very cheap, so replacing the blade will hardly cost you anything.
- Environmentally Safe – Safety razors are such that they can be recycled easily, and are often made of biodegradable materials, which surely isn’t the case with disposable, cartridge razors. Like we mentioned above, safety razors last for a very long time as well, which means you won’t even have to buy them too often. So safety razors are a more environmentally conscious and sustainable shaving option. Keeping things like this in mind is important when you know that almost 2 billion disposable razors fill up landfills every year.
Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Pinstripe Magazine. Creative thinker and menswear designer who has been writing articles dedicated to men’s fashion, lifestyle, luxury items, home design, gear, grooming and gadgets since 1998. For info on PinstripeMag, any editorial needs or to contact me please email at marv@pinstripemag.com.
