Safety Razors: The Practice of Slow, Ecological, and Economical Living

I recently ran out of Gillette Mach 3 cartridges and headed to the store to buy some more. I was disgusted to find out that the prices had increased: they now charge around $15 for 5 blades. While it is cheaper to buy in bulk - with prices dropping to a little more than $2 per blade for a box of 15 - prices are still excessive. Having to be mindful of my expenditures due to a major move, I was determined not to give Gillette any more of my money on their razor racket and went home empty-handed to do research on alternatives.

I first mulled the idea of buying a straight razor, but the learning-curve and time-investment are a bit extreme according to all accounts. I then discovered “safety razors” (also called “single blade safety razors” or “double edge (DE) safety razors”). Safety razors are old-fashioned razors, the kind your grandfather used. They were invented in the eighteenth century and further refined towards the end of the nineteenth to enable easy and safe auto-shaving.

The mechanics are simple; twist the handle to open the razor, place a double edge razor blade inside, twist the handle to secure the blade. They are called “safety razors” because they have “bumpers” that glide along your face to ease the amount of angle, contact, and depth the blade has with your skin.

The safety razor has a cult-like following, with extremely active discussion boards and review sites (Badger & Blade; The Shave Den; etc.) scattered around the web. There is a good reason: it delivers the cleanest, closest shave available, eliminates razor bumps and irritation, and exfoliates the skin. Yes, a one-blade safety razor gives a better shave than a 3- or 4-blade cartridge. With cheaper blades and less plastic waste, this method of shaving also makes more sense economically and ecologically.

Though, there are some drawbacks: shaving time now increases from about 2 minutes to 10. It takes more time to shave because more attention goes into “prepping” your face for the shave with lather/soap and because you need to shave slowly, being careful not to cut or nick yourself. However, some would argue that the time and care needed to shave with a safety razor is part of its appeal. With various cremes, lathers, and shaving soaps, it is a practice in pampering oneself. With its exacting care and mindfulness, it is a practice of slow-living. If you’re the type of person who wakes up 15 minutes before work, this isn’t the system for you.

The economic benefits are undeniable. When bought in bulk, DE razor blades cost .12 cents on average. You can probably get the same mileage from these razor blades as you can from Gillette cartridges. Similarly, you do not need to buy proprietary blades. You can buy/try blades from other companies - which are built differently and give different shaves - without compatibility issues.

The blades are also ecologically wise. There is comparatively very little plastic waste. While higher-priced DE razor blades come in plastic, they typically come packaged in paper. Needless to say, there is no plastic on the blade unlike their gillettean counterparts. The blades are 100% biodegradable. Similarly, the razor handle is not made out of plastic, but a sturdy, long-lasting metal.

There is also a short learning curve; you’ll need to relearn how to shave using your new razor; it will have 1) a sharper blade at 2) a different angle and 3) a heavier weight. I didn’t cut myself on my first shave, and if you’re careful you won’t either. I did nick myself, however, which I didn’t realize until after my shave. I didn’t even notice the nicks until little spots of blood appeared. This probably has more to do with my inexperience and technique with my new razor. Despite this, I threw my old Gillette in the trash after my first shave. Ladies can use this on their legs and pitts with the same benefits too.

While there is a small initial investment (about $20-30 for a razor; $10 for a brush; $12 for a 100-pack of blades, couple bucks for shaving soap), the long-term savings (economically and ecologically speaking) are a no-brainer. This system would pay for itself after two packs of cartridges from Gillette. Plus, this method will give you the closest shave of your life while exfoliating your skin. Take the plunge. Learn how to shave with a safety razor and live better.

If you’ve found my post helpful, please use the links below to browse for your new razors and blades:

--

a painter of modern life

A Night of Turkish Delight

A Night of Turkish Delight:
President Barron attends “A Turkish Evening” at the Center for Global Engagement

The Center for Global Engagement held “A Turkish Evening” during its fifth annual Cultural Dinner Series on Thursday, April 15.

“The Cultural Dinner Series serves as a fundraiser toward establishing an endowment for international student scholarships,” said Cynthia Green, the director of the CGE. “At the same time, it provides an opportunity for many community and campus people to learn more about different cultures through food, music, and art featured at each of the dinners.”

Turkish hors d’oeuvres were served at the reception, and Atlanta-based chef Erdogan Uduk prepared an authentic four-course Turkish dinner. Turkish artwork by Pamir Thompson was on display, while live Turkish music performed by Mukhammed Tairov and Raim Tairov contributed to the event’s lively ambiance.

Students from the Dedman School of Hospitality earned internship credit by assisting Uduk in the kitchen and serving guests. “Their help has been invaluable,” said Green, noting that they have been on a rotating schedule since 8 o’clock in the morning.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was also held to celebrate the opening of the CGE’s new Turkish-themed conference room. The room’s furnishings were donated by the Istanbul Center in Atlanta, a not-for-profit nongovernmental organization that seeks to promote intercultural dialog for peaceful living in the Southeastern United States.

Florida State University President Eric J. Barron was in attendance and shared the ribbon-cutting honors with the Istanbul Center’s Director of Educational Programs Gurkan Ekicikol.

For the past five years, the CGE has held its Cultural Dinner Series to celebrate FSU’s diversity. Previous Cultural Dinner Series countries include China, India, France and Germany.
During the dinner, guests voted for next year’s Cultural Dinner Series country. Thailand, Korea, Peru and Spain were on the ballot.

“The Center enriches the FSU community [by] providing a variety of intercultural programs that bring together and connect international and U.S. students, scholars, faculty and staff,” said Green.

To further this mission on a regular basis, the CGE also hosts the popular International Coffee Hour every Friday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. with free beverages and snacks.

For more information, contact Cynthia Green at cgreen2@admin.fsu.edu.

--originally published in the FSView, April 19, 2010.

BP Protest

In the wake of the oil rig fiasco in the Gulf of Mexico, I had the pleasure to cover a BP protest in Tallahassee, Florida. While the protest platform "Seize BP" uses rhetoric that leans a little too left for my taste, protesting drilling in the Gulf of Mexico is a worthy cause as it endangers Florida's ecological/economic foundation: the beaches.

Below are a few pictures from the event:

Hamid Karzai and his Postcolonial Pule

A few days ago Hamid Karzai slammed the "west" for interfering in Afghanistan's domestic affairs. Now, I am aware that the "east" (and by this I mean the "non-western other," including areas like Latin America and the Far East too) has a long history of "western interference," and the war in Afghanistan is a glaring example, but when does the post-colonial blame-game end and responsibility prevail? Wasn't the former Soviet Union technically the "east?" What about China and its "imperial" agenda? How much energy is wasted on the paranoid and delusional denouncement of the "west?" Paradoxically,  post-colonial discourse has become outmoded in the age of global interconnectedness. Instead of focusing on obsolete categories,  perhaps a more constructive and cooperative (not to be confused with appeasing) approach ought to be adopted.

Hilary Clinton on Human Rights

Hilary Clinton casually dismissed Chinese issues of Human Rights in Beijing on Saturday, saying "Human rights cannot interfere with the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crises" (link).

I get her point. She is trying to emphasize cooperation with our Chinese friends in the wake of our global economic crisis. And I surely can't argue against the fact that far more serious human rights violations would occur (globally) if the world's economic stability were to go up in flames (considering this hasn't already happened).

While many Chinese human rights violations, like the lack of religious expression and the freedoms of speech and media, may be independent of our current global economic issues, others are not all together a completely separate matter.

Many of the Chinese human rights violations, like the issues of child labor and substandard working conditions, are directly related to the source of our current economic instability: the "dark side" or "underbelly" of unbridled capitalism in terms of exploitation, greed, and the lack of regulations.

We need not disregard China's poor track record of human rights, not solely because they are oftentimes associated with economic issues, but because they interfere with the natural rights and dignity of mankind. These are, I dare say, far more important (serious, noble) issues. For those who believe that the market system and morals (natural rights, equality, etc) are incompatible, please reread Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations."