You wake up at 6:00am, drag a half-comatose kid out of his bed, get him dressed, fed and onto the school bus. Then it’s your turn. You quickly eat a bowl of cereal, drink a cup of coffee, make sure your clothes are clean and ironed, then hop in the shower. It’s a mad dash to get out the door and get to work on time. Oh no. You realize you need to shave.
What if shaving could be the highlight of your morning instead of being yet another mindless task? It can be hard to believe such a thing is possible but, for many men (and women), wet shaving has made a necessary burden into an enjoyable undertaking. To be perfectly honest, it’s not going to save you any time. You might have to wake up a few minutes earlier. However, once you get the hang of it, you might enjoy it more than that cup of coffee. In addition to providing a bit of satisfaction to your routine, wet shaving has some practical benefits.
Right now, you are probably using three different products: a can of shave cream or gel, a disposable or cartridge-style razor and an an aftershave. You may have purchased these items at a local pharmacy or grocery store. Let’s analyze all three items and talk about how they are replaced by wet shaving products.
When you buy a can of shaving cream, you get what comes out of the can. This means that the manufacturer has determined the optimal lather qualities for you. The lather is usually light, airy and somewhat dry. Remember that kid you dragged out of bed this morning? Picture his Slip ’n Slide with just a trickle of water. It wouldn’t be too much fun, would it? Now picture how he glides over it with the hose saturating the surface. Adding water makes for a much slicker ride and a happier kid. The same is true with lather. In wet shaving, the can of shave cream is replaced by a shave brush, a tub of cream or soap and a bit of water. If you like a pastier lather, don’t add as much water. If you like a wetter lather, it’s easy to add water. You are in control of the consistency, not the manufacturer of the product. As a result, your razor will glide with much less effort than it did when using the canned cream or gel.
For many years, major razor makers have been in a race to “out-gimmick” each other while raking in as much money as possible. A five-blade razor from a major company might cost $20-$30, give or take. Replacing the blade cartridges is where the price really adds up. Even if you buy a bulk pack of cartridges at your local price club, you might pay $50 for a 4-6 month supply. Disposable razors are less expensive, but they generate an unnecessary amount of waste. Instead of using a cartridge or disposable razor, most wet shavers use a safety razor and double edge razor blades. The razor itself might cost as little as the name brand razor you currently use. The true savings comes when purchasing blades. Double edge razor blades are extremely cheap. Each blade costs pennies, which is a tremendous savings compared to mass market disposable or cartridge razors.
Besides being cost effective, a double edge safety razor has another important benefit. After acclimating to the new razor, a safety razor causes much less facial irritation than a multi-blade cartridge razor. That five-blade cartridge is essentially shaving you five times with each stroke. When using a single blade, you control how much contact your skin has with the blade. With a bit of practice, you will get smoother shaves with much less redness and irritation. Don’t believe me? Ask your barber for a shave sometime. I’d bet my bottom dollar he won’t use a multi-blade contraption he bought at CVS! If he does, I suggest you find a new barber.
Add a high quality aftershave balm or splash and your skin will be supple, smooth and, if desired, will smell great. Your new routine will put some pep in your step and a few more dollars in your wallet. Even if we take the monetary savings out of the equation, wet shaving is worth it for the personal enjoyment alone. The key to life is to always have something to look forward to. Make the switch and you can have a little something to look forward to every day.