Zero Waste Shaving

Shaving with a safety razor is actually very easy. I was nervous at first, but after a brief lesson from my hubby, I was shaving without any problem. 

The main reason I started shaving with a safety razor was to eliminate plastic waste. I no longer need plastic disposable razors, or shaving gel. All I need is a steel razor (which is reusable forever), stainless steel recyclable blades, and shaving soap. My husband uses a soap lathering brush, but I do not find it necessary to use. 

Along with no plastic waste, there is an added bonus of money savings! I can buy a pack of steel razor blades (100 count) for the same price as a 5 pack of “fancy” plastic disposable razors! If I used one blade a week, I would have razor blades for two years! I use one blade for 2-3 times, shaving both my armpits and legs, which is usually about two weeks because I don't shave very often. As for soap, I use shaving soap from Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve, but any plastic free shaving soap will work. Just make sure it creates a good lather. That’s why I love Chagrin Valley soap, because they use natural oils and butters that are super smooth on your skin.

Below are videos to show the process for using a safety razor. Pay close attention to the safe techniques for adding and removing the blade. Be extra careful and take your time until you feel comfortable. Don’t touch the sharp edge of the blade! And shave slowly with the razor at an angle on your skin, always shaving WITH the direction the hair grows, not against. 

1.    Put a blade on the razor.

2.    Lather some soap.

3.    Warm your blade with warm water before shaving.

4.    Put the soap lather on the area to be shaved.

5.    Slowly shave the area with the razor at a slanted angle. Listen in the video for the shaving sound! It's silly, but that's a good sign you are doing it right.

6.    Rinse and dry your razor. Remove the blade.

I hope you give this a try to reduce plastic waste. I actually enjoy shaving now. Surprisingly, it can be relaxing to use a straight razor. Also, I don’t cut myself as often as I did with the plastic disposable razors. And, I’m saving money. The list of benefits is long, and I really haven’t found any negatives.

Sending positive vibes for your free-living. Leave comments and questions below!