Think, Eat, Be Healthy

A Natural Shave

Getting a good daily shave should not mean exposure to man-made chemicals and waste for the landfill.

Getting a good daily shave should not mean exposure to man-made chemicals and waste for the landfill.

I need to shave daily, for my job and for my comfort. In Florida it is just too hot and humid to wear a beard, even if it is very short. I also like to take advantage of the long swimming season in the Gulf of Mexico and a beard makes drying off more time consuming. Shaving is a daily habit that is well worth the time.

What I did not like about shaving were all of the industrial and potentially harmful chemicals in shaving products – pre-shave, aerosol shaving cream, after shave, etc… The waste and expense of multi-blade-cartridge razors bothered me. Aerosol propellent and disposable cans for shaving cream seemed wasteful and harmful to the environment.

Cartridge razors are not quality products and are wasteful. This one came in the mail, for free, to get me to buy more very expensive replacement cartridges.

Cartridge razors are not quality products and are wasteful. This one came in the mail, for free, to get me to buy more very expensive replacement cartridges.

There had to be another way. Another way to shave that was cheaper, produced less waste and exposed me to fewer chemicals. And so there was. It turned out to be the way my father and grandfather used to shave when I was a young child. After several years of shaving the “old” way I like shaving more than ever and am still saving money and producing much less trash.

A good safety razor will last for decades, shaves as closely and safely as any cartridge razor and costs less that one 5-pack of cartridges. Replacement safety blades cost a few cents each if bought in bulk.

A good safety razor will last for decades, shaves as closely and safely as any cartridge razor and costs less that one 5-pack of cartridges. Replacement safety blades cost a few cents each if bought in bulk.

Now I use a “safety” razor that should last the rest of my natural life. It cost the same amount as a 5-pack of cartridges for my old multi-blade razor. I can buy a year’s worth of replacement blades for a few dollars. This razor feels like the quality, precision product that it is, making it a real pleasure to use. It is made totally of recyclable metal. The replacement blade containers have only a very small amount of plastic in their construction and are barely larger than the blades.

My new shaving cream is a cake of soap in a small bowl, applied with a natural hair brush. Nothing gets thrown away when the soap is gone. You just buy more soap, which is available locally with no packaging, and put it in the cup. And the soap is an all-natural product: no industrial detergents or foaming agents, no artificial scents or colors and no unpronounceable moisturizers.

A cup, a cake of all-natural soap and a brush. Shaving products that grandad would recognize. And not aerosol propellents or waste!

A cup, a cake of all-natural soap and a brush. Shaving products that grandad would recognize. And no aerosol propellents or waste!

I have noticed absolutely no difference in the quality of my shave since making this switch. One blade works just as well as two or three or more. There are no more nicks or cuts than before with a multi-blade cartridge. My skin is not itchier or dryer or flakier or oilier than it was before when using commercial shaving creams. TheĀ  whole process does not take any longer but is more enjoyable now because it is more of a morning ritual.

And once each month I shave with an antique straight-edge razor. Just to stay in practice. Because I am a “just in case” guy and I like knowing that I could still get a good shave with something that I can sharpen myself. This is a learned skill but one I feel is worth maintaining. For just in case.

Straight razors are sharpened - no replacement blades. They are, however, more difficult to learn for consistently close shaves.

Straight razors are sharpened – no replacement blades. They are, however, more difficult to learn for consistently close shaves.

I am much happier with my new shaving routine. There is less waste for the landfill and almost no plastic. There is no aerosol propellent. There is no more personal pollution by man-made chemicals against my skin. And the tools last for many decades or longer, not just for months or years. Also, everything travels well in a small ziplock bag, taking up even less space than my former shaving kit.