Purchasing razor blade cartridges for my Venus razor always made me mad. Coughing up $25 for a lousy 8 blades? How can such a price be justified? A razor cartridge is literally two tiny pieces of metal in a plastic housing. The fact that stores need to put them in shelves with a protective plastic covering that beeps to high heaven when you open it tells you they’re commonly stolen. Go figure.
But I did it for years (buying, not stealing razor blades) because I wasn’t aware of any viable alternative. I didn’t want to grow my leg hair out long enough to make it waxable. And I didn’t want to just forego hair removal at all, though for many those are preferable options and I’m behind you all the way.
So, I did what we all do in modern times. I Googled. And I came across some shave club-type outfits that I did try out. I found Harry’s blades to be utter crap. I’d just as soon use a disposable Bic. Swing and miss!
Enter the safety razor
The next thing to try was a safety razor. I read a few articles by women who used them successfully and figured it was time I gave the ol’ standby a whirl. I wish I could say I did a tonne of research on the right razor and blades to buy (weren’t they all the same, basically)? But nope. I went to Amazon and chose the first one I saw (a Weish razor) and the “frequently bought with” Astra blades. All in, it was $42 for the razor and 100 blades.
I was super excited to try out my safety razor and didn’t read enough how-to articles or watch any Youtube tutorials beforehand. Don’t do that. Because I DID cut myself. I got so wrapped up in trying to maintain the correct angle and apply zero pressure that I unknowingly loosened the “twist-to-open” knob on the end of the handle, thus destabilizing the blade and shredding my ankle. Again. Do not do that.
What I have learned about safety razors
- Watch some tutorials before you shave. I found this one super helpful.
- Some brands of blades are more aggressive (i.e. sharp) than others. I’ve read that Astra blades are a decent option for beginners as they are not overly sharp. By contrast, I’ve read that Feather blades are best left to veteran safety shavers. Heed.
- Glycerin soap all the way. Some women who use safety razors say they just use their everyday soap and others go to the other end of the spectrum with badger brushes and old timey tins of lather pucks. My everyday soap wasn’t rich enough for me, but I have done just fine with glycerin soap alone. It’s super moisturizing and I find it’s enough for a good “wet shave.”
- Underarms are tricky. I only shave my underarms in front of the bathroom mirror to make sure I get my angles right. Also, at least for me, I find it super important to make my first pass with the grain of my hair growth or my skin gets irritated. My second pass goes against the grain and then I’m good to go.
- Bikini areas are totally doable. I know you want to know, so I’ll tell you. Just go with the grain and you’ll be fine!
- It gets easier with practice. There is certainly an element of skill involved that just isn’t required to use a Venus cartridge-based razor. You’re not going to mindlessly shave in the shower with your safety razor — you need to pay attention and probably should only shave your legs in the bath so you can keep a dry, steady hand.
In the end, I’ve found that learning to use a safety razor is a bit like many other things that enable greater frugality, like insourcing fixit jobs or making hummus from scratch. It’s not necessarily going to be easier or faster, but there is a financial benefit to be achieved if you’re willing to invest a bit of time. Good luck!