Safety Razors: Why I Use One

Safety razors have been around for a long time, they date back to the 1870's when were first produced as an alternative to the straight razor. They predated todays cartridge razors by only a few years, but the latter did not come into wide spread use until the 1970's. Although razors that use a cartridges are technically a safety razor, many consider them a whole different breed due to how they operate and are assembled. A safety razor is made mostly of stainless steel and in some cases some plastic may be added, where a cartridge razor is mostly made of plastic. Also safety razor has a rounded head that splits into to parts a top part and lower part you place the blade in between these two sections and them screw in the handle at a 90 degree angle to finish assembly. That also how you replace the razor blades, just screw out the handle pull apart the head discard the old blade and put in a new and you are set to go.

When you look at the starting price of a safety razor compared to a cartridge razor, the cartridge razor seems to be the bette option at first glance. This is because a cartridge razor with two spare cartridge cost about $10-$15, where as a safety razor can cost anywhere from $20-$90 for the usually safety razor depending on brand and usually comes with a few extra blades. Now it seems like we have a clear winner, but not so. On average a cartridge costs about $3.00 compared to a single blade for a safety razor which costs around $0.80. So say you shave a few times a week and have to replace your cartridge or blade every other week you may be spending about $6.00 a month for cartridges vs. $1.60 for blades saving you $4.40 a month. Now translate that to a year and your looking at saving about $50.40 a year. That doesn't include possibly buying a whole new cartridge razor I usually have to buy 2 or 3 new ones a year but have never had to replace my sturdy built safety razor.

As I stated above safety razors are made mostly of stainless steel, unlike cartridge razors which are made mostly of plastics. As stainless steal is one of our best natural resources as it is sturdy and easily recyclable unlike plastics. Also, when buying replacement cartridges and blades, you use much less packaging material with safety razor blades which is usually paper, compared to a lot of cardboard and plastic for replacement cartridges. So as we can see the waste that comes from the use of safety razors is much less that that of cartridge razors.

Yes, there is a confidence factor that comes into play here. Now, some of you may be thinking how does this even factor in? Well, I feel that a safety razor gives me a better shave, and when I feel better I perform better. When people see my safety razor they automatically start asking questions which when I give my answers usually turn into approval ratings of awesomeness. Most people assume these things are a tool of time long since past and are surprised that these things even exist outside of the cinema, and when they find I am using one I think it puts my manly rating just a little higher. In the world of shaving I have discovered that the only guys more cool than myself are the straight edge guys, one day I may try that out, but for now I love being a safety razor guy.

These are just a few reasons in which I feel the safety razor is superior to a cartridge razor. Some may disagree claiming that more blades equal a better shave, I reply with quality over quantity. Just because there are more doesn't mean it's better. Some claim that it takes to long to use a safety razor. I say that is ok, every morning when I prep and shave I zone into a zen like state where I can focus on my shave and also plan out my day or just have a little calm me time. Finally the cool factor which I discussed above. Some guys still think I am like an old man and laugh because I use an outdated mode of shaving, to that I just say I think the only thing that can beat a safety razor in all categories including cool factor is the straight razor.