Shaving. It’s a necessary evil. Even worse is the fact that you have to pay for this daily tedious and unwanted task. Of course, you could avoid shaving and attempt your best Zach Galifianakis, but that probably won’t take you all that far. Unless you’re a lumberjack, rocking a full grizzly beard probably isn’t a good call at work. And, most ladies don’t care for a thick manly beard either. So, yeah. Shaving is an obligation.
But, if we have to shave day in and day out, at least we can save a couple of bucks doing so. Here are five ways we men can save some dough shaving.
5. Buy Generic
You’ve probably noticed that replacement razor blades are way overpriced, so an alternative would be to pick up some generic replacements from chains like CVS. The jury is still out on whether or not these razors do as good a job, but some guys claim that they do. What’s the worse that can happen? Maybe not as a close of a shave or some skin irritation? Or, maybe you’ll discover that name brands are running a scamming. It’s worth a try.
4. Join Dollar Shave Club
You’ve probably heard of the startup Dollar Shave Club either because of its hilarious viral video or remarkable prices. If not, the concept is simple. You pay a monthly fee, as little as $1 per month plus shipping, and then razors are shipped right to your house. Not only are you saving some cash, you’re also avoiding an extra trip to the store.
3. Keep Your Razor Dry and Clean
After you shave, your razor is probably wet. Why’s this a bad thing? This will cause your razor to rust and dull more quickly than when it’s dry. To slow down this process, dry the razor off after use by blotting it on a towel or even using a blow-dryer. Also, make sure that your razor is clean. Stuff like hair and shaving cream/gel will also shorten the life of your blade. Make sure to clean your blades after use by scrubbing it with something like a toothbrush. These tricks will help make your razor blades last longer.
2. Sharpen Your Razor
Did you know that you can sharpen your disposable razor? Well, you totally can. There’s a couple of MacGyver-like ways to complete this task, such as pushing the razor along denim in the reverse direction that you shave or even along your forearm. If you’re lost on these tricks, check out the above instructional video.
1. Switch to Safety Razor
You may have to make an initial investment, but in the long run, you’ll save a ton of cash on shaving. After picking up a handle, which can be bought for around $40, replacement blades only cost about $0.50 apiece, or a ten pack of blades from Amazon can be purchased for under $10. This old-fashioned technique may be a little more time consuming, but it’s a very cost effective method after the initial cost of supplies. And, you’ll get a pretty clean shave as well.
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You did not mentioned the razorpit … http://www.razorpit.com/
Shaving with a safety razor/Double Edge razor is absolutely NOT more time consuming.
I tried using the WinnDixie brand of razors and they worked OK. Problem is, they discontinued them (and their handle, like most brands, was unique, so I had to throw it away). Maybe they got on the receiving end of a Patent Infringement suit, I don’t know.
So, I did the next best thing – grow a beard. For the first time in 40 years, I am not giving those B@stards at Gillette a bloody nickel. Maybe the Taliban is onto something.
Sadly, beards need to be trimmed, and as such, shaving is not entirely eliminated (unless you want a really fugly beard like that Michael Moore dude – ugh!).
But a beard does seem to cut down on the amount of shaving and thus the blades do last longer.
And for trimming, we use the same rechargable trimmer we use for haircuts. That was a real deal – about $20 at the Bed, Bath, and Beyond – or about the cost of ONE haircut. I figure we have saved, conservatively, $600 or so in haircut costs, over the last three years.
I switchedabout a year ago to shave soap & a brush. I got a better shave from my razor. Switched to double edged a month ago. Less irritation and a much closer shave. Make the jump,cheaper,smoother, better. It will cost you more time but to me it’s worth it.
Safety razors are definitely the way to go. Affordable enough you can replace a blade every shave or two. I have also found them to be superior to any Mach blade that I had used in the past.