Ok… Everybody who shaves dreads reaching for new razors at the grocery store. The prices are absolutely ridiculous. And as someone who also shaves their head, it makes it doubly worse because of the added "real estate" I have to cover every time I shave. I end up going through blades faster and using more of the damn things. And the final straw? For me it was the eternal search for the most comfortable blades with supposedly no discomfort, razor burn, or razor bumps. I remember seeing new 3 blade razors, then 4 blade razors, then 5 blade. All with names like Fusion®, Proglide®, Hydro®, Quattro® that promised smooth, close, comfortable shaves. But, by the end of the week I would still find myself rejoicing in being able to give my face a break by not shaving on Saturday or Sunday… or both.
Do you want the answer? Buy an old school Double Edged Safety Razor. That's right. Shave just like FDR, JFK, Joe Louis, and well… Granddad . Your shaves will be closer, ridiculously more comfortable, and at about .15 cents a blade you will save a ton of money. Shaving will become a joy (seems impossible to imagine right?).
Here's what you need to do:
- Buy a safety razor from a reputable company like Merkur, Edwin Jagger, or Parker. You want one that's designed well to insure that the blade sits properly and is most effective. Merkur makes a razor called "Bakelite" that you can find on Amazon for under $20. It's a great place to start and won't set you back while you're learning how to do this. There are also a ton of cheap Chinese made razors on ebay, but beware that you may get what you pay for.
- Buy a variety pack of blades for your razor (search Amazon). There are many types with different characteristics. This will allow you to find the one that works the best for you. Mine turned out to be Shark Super Chrome blades and at about .13 cents a blade I'm in razor blade heaven.
- Buy a styptic stick/pencil. Look… it's your first time. You will not slice you chin off, but you will make a mistake or two. It will not be the end of the world and you will laugh about it later.
- The golden rule… Go Slow. Your fear of slicing your chin off (which will not happen) will most likely keep your pace slow, but as you get better you may need to remind yourself some.
- Use short and not long strokes.
Remember. You're smart, and you can do this. You just need to shake off all that marketing that the big razor companies pound you with so you can step into the world of happily shaving 7 days a week. If you need to, there are a ton of youtube videos out there for instruction right before you start. Be brave and smack Gillette and Schick in the face like I did.
Written by: Jeremiah Thompson
Request a FREE consultation: www.oxygenfinancial.net
If you would like to receive more information on making smart money moves for your future, be sure to contact us today!