Why Use a Safety Razor? Pros and Cons Guide (2023)

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Why use a safety razor? If you are one of those still using multi-blade razors, then it’s time that you refine how you shave.
Shaving has been oversimplified that the passion for the art of grooming and shaving has been watered down. And though shaving is often thought to be a man-thing, it’s also for women.

Now, most companies market depict shaving as a mundane task to sell more disposable products. But instead of viewing it as a chore to avoid, make it an experience. Using a safety razor is the best way to do this. Take time to pick the best shaving soap or a quality shaving cream to create the best lather and protect the skin and use a shaving brush.

Take time to achieve a closer shave, even if it means making several passes. We should also stress paying attention to the direction of hair growth as it’ll help you get a closer shave without getting skin irritations or razor bumps after. Also, when choosing your shaving tools and products, consider your skin type – not all products are ideal for sensitive skin.

When you do this, shaving sessions will be a time you look forward to. If you don’t know which safety razor is best for you, read through our best safety razor guide.

Why Use a Safety Razor

If you are not yet sold on making the switch to safety razors, below are some reasons why you should use a safety razor.

Get a Quality Shave

See if you relate to this:

You often get skin irritations on your neck after shaving and have accepted it as a normal result of shaving. Using even the best electric razors isn’t an option since they don’t get you as close a shave as you like. As such, you’ve stuck to using multi-blade disposable cartridge razors and random aerosol gels for ‘sensitive skin’ from the supermarket. But this doesn’t solve your shaving problems.

If this hits home, switching to a safety razor may be the solution you need. After learning and mastering wet shaving techniques, and finding shaving products that work best for your skin, the results and the experience will be unbelievable.

On paper, using multi-blade razors on your skin sounds efficient and effective. But this could not be further from the truth. This is because one pass with a 5-blade razor is equivalent to 5 passes with a safety razor. You know that when a blade glides over unlubricated skin, it causes irritations and razor bumps.

For this reason, most people who switch to using safety razors state that they experience far less irritation than with multi-blade razors. But this is also because they are using better products and follow a comprehensive shaving process that results in a better shaving experience.

Cost

Though the upfront cost of buying a safety razor is higher than disposable razors, in the long run, they are less expensive. Using a disposable razor means getting a new cartridge each week. And if one costs $3, the costs add up to $156 a year. On the other hand, a quality safety razor like Merkur 34C or Edwin Jagger costs usually less than $50, and good double edge blades between $0.10 and $0.30 when you purchase a pack of 100. And even if you were to get high-end safety razors and blades worth $60 and $30, respectively, you’d still have a lot left to spend on a quality shaving brush. So instead of a year, you’d be good to go for two years. And in subsequent years, the recurring expenditure will only be on blade replacements.

We haven’t accounted for shaving soaps, creams, and aftershaves since you’d still buy these whether you use a safety razor or not. If you currently have these shaving products, you don’t have to buy new ones when you make the shift.
With all that said, be careful not to get caught up in the prices that you end up getting low-quality products.

Environmental Impact

If the quality of shaves or reduced cost isn’t enough to convince you why to use a safety razor and to make the shift, maybe knowing you are positively impacting the environment will help. Disposable and cartridge razors are packaged in plastics and creams in aerosol cans. When you compare these materials to a single razor wrapped in a small piece of paper, you see there’s a lot of waste saved.

Quality Time

For most people, wet shaving has become a passion that they enjoy. When you enjoy it, the process becomes meditative and a time to clear your mind and relax, which benefits your body and mind.

Bear in mind that shaving with a safety razor takes slightly more time when learning the technique. However, it’s time spent positively instead of a loathed task.

Visual Appearance and Feel

When you get a quality shave, you’ll feel and look better. Who doesn’t enjoy getting a close and clean shave without getting irritations on the neck and cheeks?

Aside from this, safety razors often have unique and beautiful designs. Collectively, your shaving tools and products will look great in your bathroom. You also get a good feeling when you use a well-made safety razor than a disposable razor.

Some Negatives

It’s not all rainbows and roses with safety razors. For some people, the higher upfront cost and the time needed to learn and master using a safety razor is a con. You have to learn wet shaving techniques and learn how to use different blades, soaps, creams, and aftershaves to find a combination that works for you.

FAQ

Why Do People Use Safety Razors?

Because they only have a single blade, safety razors don’t accumulate bacteria and germs like cartridge blades normally do. And since they sport sharper blades, they deliver clean cuts and result in smoother shaves. Using blunt razors often results in ingrown hairs.

Can You Shave with a Safety Razor Every Day?

Yes, you can. If you have stubble and need to remove it, you can use your safety razor every day to shave it off. However, not everyone shaves every day. Some men do it every other day or a couple of times every week, depending on preference.

Do You Need Shaving Cream for a Safety Razor?

Most people who use safety razors use shaving creams and shaving soap. The cream creates a barrier between the safety razor and the skin making the razor glide over the skin without making cuts or causing irritations. Regardless of the shaving tool you use, you should always use quality shaving cream for a good shaving experience.

How Do You Keep a Safety Razor Sharp?

To keep your safety razor sharp, you should clean it well after every use. Rinse the razor with some water. You can use some soap when rinsing but be sure to rinse off the soap with plain water.

Conclusion

With our article about why using a safety razor coming to an end, I hope that you have learned more about why using safety razors and wet shaving products can be a great new experience. Though it takes slightly longer to get the full experience, nothing ever comes easy, and you always get what you pay for. You can consider time as a form of currency.

And even if you opt to stick to using a cartridge, you’ll have a better experience (than normal) when you take the time to learn and follow the correct shaving procedure and use quality shaving products.