Saving The Planet One Shave At A Time
- Baldylocks
- Mar 2, 2021
- 4 min read
Ok, so I know that sounds dramatic but hear me out!
We know that plastic bottles, straws and packaging are ending up in our oceans and killing the wildlife, but what about other plastic products? We are swapping plastic toothbrushes, plastic travel cups and plastic boxes for bamboo ones, but there is another plastic fiend that lurks in the bathroom of millions of homes across the UK, yet it is oblivious to us. The disposable razor! And that includes cassette refills.
Gillette estimate that 2 BILLION disposable razors are thrown out each year, and when you think the plastic component is probably what? at least 85% of the razor, that's a hell of a lot of plastic. And currently there is no way to recycle them, after all they were designed to be thrown away! Although Gillette have partnered with TerraCycle to offer the world's first national razor recycling program to help keep hard-to-recycle blades and razors from ending up in landfills. gillette.co.uk/recycle.list
The simple solution to the problem? Double Edge (DE) safety razors.
If every household that has a disposable razor or cassette in it switched to a DE safety razor just think how much of a plastic reduction that would be. And thats not the only perk to DE razors, there are so many products out there that you will soon be hooked and collecting all of the fragrances. Suddenly the mundane chore of shaving has become enjoyable again, to the point where you actually get excitted by the prospect of your next shave.
I ordered my very first DE in January this year after a recommendation from a fellow headshaver on Reddit. I really wish I had done it sooner and not just for my headshaves but for my legs too. I was told to practice on my arms or legs to begin with as you need to adjust to how you hold the razor compared with a cassette or disposible razor, which I did and even the first shave was amazing. My legs were so smooth it was a fantastic feeling. I managed to get to grips with it quite quickly and went to shaving my head and got through my very first shaves with no cuts. That's not to say I don't get cut now mind, I get my fair share, I am only 8 weeks in after all.
"Being eco friendly comes at a cost though, everything that is suppossed to help save the planet comes with a price tag!"
Normally I would agree but in this instace it's just not true, don't get me wrong if you want to pay the pricetag then it is most definitely there to pay but it really doesn't have to be bank breaking. When you look on the various shaving websites you might see a shaving soap puck selling at £16.00, you immediately think "No thanks, I'm not spending that much money on a bar of soap,"
I definietly wouldn't normally but this puck will last you months, I have heard of them lasting a year or more depending on how often you are shaving, the soaps often come in trial size or sample size and are much cheaper, but still give you plenty of use.
So...
You want to make the switch but don't know where to start? I know exactly how that feels I went throught it myself in January.
Below are a range of starter kits for most budgets from UK sites, now I haven't personally tested these myself and this is not a review or recommendation by any means, it is a starting point to get you going, think of it as I have pre-googled for you.
If you need advice, I have found a lot of shaving companies are more than happy to help you, all you need to do is send a message and they will guide you in your search for your perfect razor, soap and aftercare, if you are really lucky they may even put a starter set together for you. I know that shavingtime.co.uk are more than happy to recommend products and answer any question, they answered enough of mine, they were my guiding light in the rabbit hole.
Right, on with the show...
In the £10 - £20 range we have...
Blades and Whiskers £16.95
This trial set includes Lord L5 DE razor with diamond etched handle, Omega 49 pure boar bristle brush, Arko shaving stick 75g, DE blade sample pack (5 packs of 5 blades) and The Legends London Alum Matchsticks (20 matches) for less than a Gilette fusion 5 on the Gillette website.
In the £20 - £30 range we have...
The Shaving Shack £29.99
This kit includes Drake double edge razor, 40 Israeli made Double Edge Razor Blades, Sovereign Synthetic shaving brush, Alum Block to stop nicks and cuts as well as a 200ml tub of The Shaving Shack Exotic Sandalwood Luxury Shaving Cream.
In the £30 - 40 range we have...
Mutiny Shaving £30
The iconic, eco, Mutiny Box contains a stunning, traditional chrome or rose gold, safety razor, a synthetic vegan shaving brush and a beautiful, natural, handmade, rosemary and lime shaving soap bar.
And in the £40 + range we have...
The Traditional Shaving Company £53.50
The Traditional Shaving Company Cream Starter Kit has been developed to offer an easy way for non wet shavers to start wet shaving. The kit includes everything you need to start wet shaving and consists of a shaving brush, shaving cream, safety razor and 10 blades.
And if you need any more reasons to switch from a disposable/cassette to a DE, how about turning a personal care chore into an enjoyable experience, with so many soaps, fragrance collections and aftercare ranges on the market you really are spoilt for choice. And if you want to go all out why not check out some of the UK Artisans they have great products for you to indulge in for that perfect shave.
I think i've gone on enough now.
Stay safe.
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated or linked to any of the companies mentioned within this article. I have not tested these products personally and this is not a recommendation for you to go out and buy these products. All information was correct at time of editing. To access the link please click the link not the picture. The link is not direct to the product but the home page of the website.
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