World’s First Eco-Razor!
GIRLS AND BOYS, tell me you understand my frustration: You buy a disposable razor system, like the Mach 7 by Schtick or Gillette or whatever the razor companies are called. You use it for a few weeks, then find yourself needing new cartridges. At the store, everything looks the same and there is no way in hell you can possibly remember what brand razor you bought. Am I right? I mean, who keeps track of something that ridiculous? Is there really a difference? In terms of a shave, no. In terms of what cartridge fits with what razor, you betcha there is. If you’re like me, you just grab a pack that looks familiar. Then you get home and find that you bought the Quattro or the wrong Mach number and your new $12 pack of razors doesn’t fit the handle. Believe me, I’ve done this a number of times. Then I toss the handle, and buy a new one as the handles cost less than new razors. From an environmental point of view, it’s all destined for the landfill and it’s terrifically wasteful.
THIS TIME I got fed up. This morning I found myself with another mismatch. And I needed a shave badly. So rather than waste more money supporting Gillette (a company who snaps surreptitious photos of unsuspecting shoppers: LINK), I decided to craft myself an all-purpose handle. Out of a stick. With a knife.
Here’s how the difficult process went:
1. I walked around outside until I found a stick. Took about 45 seconds.
2. I picked up a paring knife and removed a notch from the stick. About two minutes, including the minor hack job on the cartridge itself.
3. Shoved stick and cartridge together.
4. Cemented relationship with non-toxic chemical-free animal glue from free range, biodynamically-grown grass fed cows.
And you know what? It works absolutely fine. My skin is smooth and soft, same as with a plastic and chrome job. And far more biodegradable. Even has a nice little grip and a curving arc so as not to sit flat in the soap dish (stays dry this way). Entire process took about six minutes. Cost me not a penny.I don’t know if I’m ever going back to the branded shaver handles. Why should I?
Song o’ the Day is awarded to DJ QBert for “Razorblade Alcoholic Slide”. Click and rock: [audio:razor.mp3]
Tags: Ruminations
You may want to enter this in the crafts section of the Oakland Museum. It’s quite aesthetic.
I’m on it, Gail! Got any connections?
Not too far off. I seem to remember reading somewhere that a stick was basically the first, known toothbrush only with a soft, frayed end.
If you go back to the classic shaving method, you will never have this problem again. I recommend starting with a Merkur “Hefty Classic” Double Edge Safety Razor, either Merkur or Derby blades, a medium priced Vulfix Badger shaving brush, and any of the Taylor of Old Bond Street shaving creams. If you prefer shaving soaps, you can get a nice ceramic or wooden bowl to go with your kit. Not having the pivot and the perfectly set multiple blades of the newer cartridges takes some practice and you will suffer some cuts. However, a styptic pencil or some alum will take care of those. Once you get the hang of the “old” method, the shave is closer than you ever thought possible and lasts hours longer.
Environmentally, many say the double-edge razors create much less waste than the new-fangled razors. The only part that gets thrown away is a paper thin blade, which will rust away in a couple of months. Although maybe not be typical, I get about 3 or 4 more shaves from a DE blade than I ever got from one of those multi-blade cartridges. So, that’s an even further reduction in waste. Some don’t like the idea of using badger or boar hair for the brushes, but most of it comes from China where they raise both like cattle and the animals get slaughtered for food anyway. Why not use every bit of the animal if it’s available, right?
Here are a coule of links to get you started:
http://www.classicshaving.com/Home.html
http://www.leesrazors.com/
http://www.shaveblog.com/
There are loads of other resources on the net. Be sure to scan the “How To and Why” section at Classic Shaving for important information. Shaveblog can also be quite useful.
If you are real adventurous, you could get a straight razor. Personally, I steer clear of those primarily because I don’t have the patience to maintain the edge. Plus, a slip with one of those can be disastrous.
Have fun!
Bobby!
So funny you mention this as I have been researching making the switch back to better shaving tools for some time. In fact, I’ve scoured classicshaving.com before and hunt for perfect old handles in antique shops (hard to find old ones with swiveling heads). I’ve also thought of a straight blade (ever since I had a shave with one in Turkey which was perfection) but way too much work pairing the metal with the right strop, et cetera. You’re dead on about safety blades being the most eco-friendly version of a shave, as they conserve a whole lot o’ metal and do away with all the bizarre plastic/lube strip grafting b.s.. Thanks for the nudge.
Man, bobby! Where were you about 6mo ago? I started a beard because I couldn’t get a good shave. I looked all over for answers.
Now, I like my beard.
I am by no means on the cutting edge (pun intended) of retro-shaving. I did forget to mention that there is also a forum called Badger and Blade where you can get drowned in information and find loads of other links. Some of its members are - should we say - very committed to the retro-shaving movement.
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Getting started does require a fair-sized capital outlay, but the returns are definitely worth the investment. BTW, I forgot to mention using some sort of post-shave treatment to finish off and reduce the effects of razor burn. I get less razor burn with the DE’s than I did with the modern cartridges, but breaking in a new blade can sometimes be an adventure. Thayer’s Witch Hazel is cheap and works well as do most of the creams. A lot of folks seem to like a Bay Rum for scent value. Others swear by rose waters. Whatever you choose is a matter of personal preference.
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Tod - I recommend that you try it for a month and you will likely be sold on the idea. Good luck with going the collector’s route in finding your hardware, but don’t let anyone convince you that the new versions aren’t just as good. You may also want to have a look at King of Shaves because they’ve signed onto the whole global warming thing, which is the primary reason that I quit purchasing their products. The King’s stuff is good, but for me it is not as good as the stuff I listed earlier. It may have been due to the cartridge-type razor I was using at the time.
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Kirk - I had a beard in college but it always itched. I now work in a place where beards are forbidden for safety reasons, so a good shave is a must.
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You guys take care.
This looks wonderful, when I get a chance I will try it. Gracias!