Zero Waste Shaving

To me, the scariest part of going zero waste was not shopping with bulk bags, composting, or asking for takeout in my own containers. It was switching to a safety razor (and menstrual cup, but more on that later). YouTube videos depicted long, seemingly complicated shave routines requiring brushes, creams, and balms. Forums spun gory tales of bloodthirsty blades wreaking havoc on delicate areas. Research yielded the unsatisfactory conclusion that reducing my environmental impact- according to the EPA, over two billion disposable razors end up in landfills each year- would require learning to shave all over again. 

I appear vaguely Asian in countenance, but I'm 50% my dad's indeterminate swirl of ethnicities physiognomically, so my hair is coarser and there's more of it than the average, considerably less hirsute Korean. Fifth grade was a watershed year; I shaved ever since, drying the plastic-encased blade after each use. Most blades lasted around twelve months. If I'd been more diligent, I could have used them even longer! Still, that's a lot of cartridges and shave gel containers in the trash. What once made me feel grown-up and sophisticated soon made me self-conscious, thanks to chicken legs and razor burn. Venus wasn't easy on the allowance, either (remember when Jewel sang that weird song for the Schick Intuition commercials?).

When my interest in zero waste grew, I resolved to use up the last cartridges and switch to a safety razor. I braced myself for a lifetime of 30° angles, anticipating a sharp increase in nicks and cuts. Reading online, it sounded like women were at a distinct disadvantage when it came to safety razors, like shorter handles made shaving difficult, nearly impossible. Here are some of the unfounded myths I encountered during research. Spoiler alert: The "myth" classification is based solely on my own overwhelmingly positive experiences with safety razor shaving.

mYTH:

you need multiple blades for a close shave

Multiple blades catch and pull hairs, causing irritation. Prone to clogging, disposable cartridges tend to miss spots, slicing stubble only partway. A single blade cuts cleanly without the extra passes required of multi-blade cartridges, resulting in less razor bumps, burn, or ingrown hairs. From what I've seen, the smoothness of a shave is inversely related to the number of blades- I shave half as often with a safety razor. Someone should tell Chrissy Teigen this. Apparently she shaves twice a day!

MYTH:

safety razor shaving is time-consuming and difficult

It's the same as disposable razor shaving, only way easier! I can't believe I wasted time reading guides on how to use safety razors when the differences are nominal. I hate the internet. Just lather up with a bar of soap- I don't even use a brush- and shave as usual, applying less pressure than with a disposable. I use the same olive oil or Aleppo soap we use in the shower, but some people use Dr. Bronner's, coconut soap, oatmeal soap, DIY shave creams... whatever. It's not complicated. 

MYTH:

safety razor shaving is expensive.

Only if you want it to be. My Merkur long-handled safety razor was $12 three years ago and I'm still on the first blade. I also bought a pack of Kai double edged blades for less than $0.60 per blade, since I didn't realize I could sharpen mine indefinitely (still on the hunt for a vintage sharpener). Doesn't a Venus razor cost like $14 at Target? Cartridges are twice as expensive, plus shave gel is $4 a can. Safety razor shaving may require more of an upfront investment, but maintenance costs are significantly lower, according to a 2009 American Laser Center study estimating the average woman spends $191.40 per year shaving. I spend about $5 a year.

MYTH:

safety razors are more dangerous.

I'm really clumsy- not in the faux-relatable Jennifer Lawrence way, but in the if-I-get-one-more-concussion-I'll-be-a-vegetable way- and it took months to nick myself with a safety razor. Even then, that was only because my cat jumped in the bathtub. The infrequent cuts I get are minor compared to the chunks accidentally carved out with disposables. The safety razor is also gentle on sensitive and delicate areas. 

In short, I experienced significant time and money savings, no learning curve, and a markedly smoother, longer-lasting shave after switching to a safety razor. Less shaving means less water used and less trash! We could argue that not shaving at all is more environmentally friendly, and hairlessness merely a normative cultural imperative. However, it's far too late for me. Not shaving makes me itchy. If you're looking to switch, please use up any disposables at home first. I recommend a long handled razor (you can even buy vintage) with a butterfly head for easy cleaning- adjustable models are available, though I don't miss that feature one bit. Dry the blade afterwards, storing in a drawer or medicine cabinet. Some recommend keeping the blade in oil to prevent oxidation. Moisturize as usual, apply deodorant, whatever you normally do. Prefer waxing? Click here for a zero waste Oriental sugaring tutorial.