This page contains some affiliate links. Please review my disclosure policy.
Looking to make the switch to a safety razor? Learn how to use a safety razor and the best safety razor to switch to and you’ll be off to a great start. Disposable razors will be a thing of the past!
I’m someone who tries to lead a sustainable lifestyle and I know full well how bad disposable razor blades and heads can be for the environment. One time I almost stepped on a razor blade at the beach! But it still took me a while to make the switch to a safety razor.
Full transparency: My husband switched to a safety razor years ago and seeing how thin and small the razor blade was and the process of putting it together totally freaked me out. I was terrified I would slice myself open. I also mistakenly believed safety razors were only for men (NOT TRUE!) so this post has been a long time in the making.
I also want to add that shaving is of course 100000% optional. I don’t shave all of my body hair and sometimes I’m infrequent about it. Shave if you want and what you want – it’s all your personal preference. More power to you either way!
What is a Safety Razor?
Safety razors were kind of the OG home razor to come onto the scene in the 1800s. They got their name because technically they offered a safer shaving experience at home to the straight razors often used in men’s barbershops. Safety razors are much sleeker than typical drugstore razors and are generally only a single (albeit very sharp) blade.
The blades are typically made of stainless steel and come in several varieties including: closed comb, open comb, adjustable, and butterfly styles. The best safety razor blade for women is typically closed comb as women’s hair generally isn’t as thick as men’s with a longer handle. Safety razors are always used with wet shaving.
Why Switch to a Safety Razor?
The two main reasons are sustainability and price.
Sustainability – Unlike typical drugstore razors, safety razor blades can be recycled. That means your razor handle is indefinitely reusable and all you’ll need to do is swap out the blade when it dulls down. You’re creating much less waste in general and also a very small metal blade that can be recycled.
Price – The initial cost of the safety razor handle aside, typical safety blades cost around 10 cents each so you’ll save a TON of money. Replacements usually come in large packs or cartridges so you’ll only have to buy 2 or 3 a year (depending on how often you shave)
Tips for Using a Safety Razor
Using a safety razor for beginners requires a bit of getting used to but once you get over the hump it’s really quite simple.
Be careful switching the blade but I PROMISE YOU WON’T CUT YOURSELF – yes, handling a very flimsy, thin blade feels scary so use caution but I promise that if you’re careful and slow you will be totally fine!
Short movements – ignore everything those gillette razor commercials taught you…you should not be shaving in long movements (I.e. from your ankle up to your knee). Keep your movements short, covering just a few inches at a time to get a closer shave.
Light touch – don’t press hard! Aggressiveness is tempting but unnecessary. You’ll prevent cutting yourself if you keep a light touch.
Use a shave oil – I personally prefer shaving oil over shaving cream which tends to be full of unnecessary additives. Plus shave oil leaves your skin moisturized (especially important if you have sensitive skin) after shaving so it works a double purpose. My personal favorite is the Oui The People Shave Gel. Using a shave oil/gel/cream helps to get a close shave and prevent irritation, ingrown hairs and razor bumps
How Often to Switch Your Blades
Typically you’ll need to switch out your safety blade after roughly 10 shaves. However, for women it really depends on the surface area you are shaving. If you shave a lot of body hair you may want to switch more often or less if it’s infrequent.
The Best Safety Razor
These are the four brands of safety razors I recommend:
Well Kept – What I currently use. A little pricey but a great women owned Canadian brand.
OUI the People – Another awesome women-owned brand with tons of other skincare products and shave accessories.
West Coast Shaving – This is what C uses but they offer longer handles for women (easier grip) which I recommend!
Merkur – Around since the 1800s, they are a very well-known safety razor brand. They offer tons of different styles and long handles for women.
Like this post? Here are some others you might enjoy:
