This dude's guide to frugal shaving:
BLADES. Dry your blade(s) after each shave with a towel or, better yet, a hair drier. Dry blades last much longer and stay SHARP. I can not emphasize this enough. I get up to 9 months per blade if I treat them right. If you take nothing else from this posting, this will be the best way to stretch your shaving dollar.
Shave less often. 2 or 3 days of stubble is socially quite acceptable these days, even in the corporate office. Of course, this depends on your beard growth and personal style, but if you can cut shaving down to once or twice per week, that will save you blades, shaving cream, etc., not to mention your time.
I see a lot of talk of safety razors in this thread, but no talk of the downsides. Handling the loose blades can be extremely dangerous. Disposing of them can be hazardous. Adjusting the handle and blade can be a pain in the ass (and dangerous). Air travel with safety razors can be a hassle (no safety razor blades allowed in carry-on luggage (blades must be in checked bags; ugh.). Plus, YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL with all that gear. "No big deal", but I assure you it isn't as easy as tossing a Gillette Mach3 into your carry-on. Find a sale on a bulk quantity of cartridge razors you love, and it will potentially be a multi-decade supply for some. I love Mach3s, found a bulk deal on eBay about 10 years ago for about $1/cartridge, and I'm still using them to this day. Heck, on Costco.com right now there is a 20-pack for $37 (1.85/cartridge). If conservatively someone gets 6-months per cartridge, that's a decade worth of shaving; 15 years if you can get 9-months per cartridge.
SHAVING CREAM (i.e., LUBRICATION). Yes, cheap soaps and a brush are nice, but honestly, can be a hassle for some. A can of shave cream can last a very long time if you're frugal about it. Most people use a too-generous portion as they show in commercials, and wind up washing mostly unused cream down the drain. Try using a very small dollop, the size of a cotton ball or so. Rub hands together and coat your beard evenly from there. You may need more or less, but I've gotten a VERY long time out of a can of Nivea I found on sale one day for a dollar. Again, use sales/shopping arbitrage to your advantage. When you find a deal, stock up. I bought 4 or 5 cans when I found the dollar deal, and I know that will be many years worth of a high-quality shave cream for me. Test your skin's tolerance. You may not need lubrication! A sharp blade and some hot water may be all that's necessary. Careful, though. I do find that some lubrication helps keep irritation at bay.
AFTER SHAVE (i.e. TONER). Is it even necessary? Again, test your skin's tolerance. A splash of cold water is often enough for me. I also keep a cheap bottle of witch hazel in my medicine cabinet and use a splash of that occasionally.
Post is getting long. LMK if you have any questions.
June 01, 2022 at 11:56PM
