There are a thousand ways to shave.
Let's talk about hair removal! Oh no! We know it's not a happy subject, but unfortunately it's something that every woman has to deal with, like it or not, from adolescence. Assuming that, thank goodness, things are changing and the freedom to choose what to do with one's body and one's hair is becoming more and more important in this area too, we assume that even today the vast majority of women (but now also many men) shave one or more body parts. There are so many methods to juggle and we women have tried almost all of them: the disposable razor, the waxing at the beautician, the DIY waxing, the ready-made waxing strips, the hair removal cream, and so on and so forth!
Sustainable hair removal
Everyone has their own preferences, of course, but let's try to understand the environmental impact of hair removal and what could be the most suitable plastic free solution for those who choose a green, conscious and sustainable lifestyle!
Hair removal creams: Failed! because the chemical components used are super toxic.
Hair removal strips: they are disposable and end up in the undifferentiated waste creating a lot of rubbish.
Waxing: probably sustainable but certainly not affordable for everyone's pocket and in any case emergency touch-ups at home are always necessary. So the disposable razor? Rigorously made of plastic, packed in shiny plastic packaging, strictly non-recyclable because the razor blades cannot be separated from the body of the razor. In short, a disaster. Not to mention the weight on the wallet: they have to be changed very often because the blades are of low quality (even if they have 2, 3, 4, or a thousand!). A pack of disposable razors lasts for about two months. A little bit, no?
There is an ecological and economical alternative, but maybe the safety razor is not so well known:
Durable metal version (normally the handle is brass) of the plastic colleague. You buy it once and it will stay with you for years, you just need to change the blade from time to time, with a minimal investment and very little waste.
A bit of history...
The brilliant idea to cover the blade of a classic freehand razor came to a French cutler, Jean-Jaques Perret , in the second half of 1700. With this shrewdness the blade flowed more easily without sinking into the skin. The prototype was then resumed and perfected until, in about 1850, it took the classic T shape that we still find today. In 1900 Gillette had the intuition to create a model with a replaceable blade. The official consecration comes with the First World War when 3.5 million soldiers were equipped with safety razors to shave the beard that they could not let grow because of the gas masks.
Instructions for choosing the safety-shaver
But how do you use the safety razor? First of all, there are two types: open-comb or closed-comb? The first leaves the blade more exposed and is therefore more suitable for thick beards than hipsters, while for female hair removal, which must certainly be more delicate, it is better to prefer closed-combed razors. Another feature to consider when buying is the knurling of the handle which helps the handle to be secure and prevents dangerous slipping. Depending on the model you will then have different ways of replacing the blade: from the butterfly opening or the removable handle. But the difference is very small.
Hair removal instructions
For real hair removal it is always advisable not to proceed dry but in the shower or bathtub, when hot water makes the pores more open and the skin more elastic. Use an emollient product to accompany shaving, better still if it foams a lot. The blade should be passed with an inclination of about 30° on a small area of skin at a time, not with a single pass along the entire leg as shown in TV commercials! Did you also know that shaving with a single blade is proven to be much more gentle than shaving with disposable multi-blade shavers? Here, too, the safety razor proves to be friendly to the skin as well as to the environment.
Last but not least, once you have finished shaving, open the razor and dry it thoroughly, including the blade, which can last for up to a month. Your safety-razor, on the other hand, will last a lifetime!