Eco-Shaving

Sharp Witted

10.27.2009

The Bite:
Is the money you spend on disposable razors nothing to laugh at? We'll get straight to the punch line, then: Try a resharpening tool, or (if you're a dude) go for longer-lasting electric or straight razors. Just humor-us.
The Benefits: 
  • You'll create less waste - disposable razors contribute an annual estimated 2 million pounds of plastic waste to landfills.
  • Electric razors, while they use electricity, can last for years and many have rechargeable batteries - and a lot of energy goes into making and transporting disposables (plus you avoid the packaging and chems in creams or gels).
  • Straight razor blades also have longer lifetimes and offer the closest shave.
  • Razor cartridge sharpeners extend the life of your disposable blades, reducing the number of disposable razors you use by up to 75% per year.
  • You might save some not-so-funny money: Disposables aren't superexpensive, but electric or straight razors will pay for themselves in a few years.
Personally Speaking: 
Hands down, the number one reason we encourage guys to use straight razors? It's just plain hot.
Wanna Try: 
  • Art of Shaving Straight Razor - stainless steel beaut that comes with a great guide on how to use and maintain it ($170).
  • Razor Saver - resharpener that helps you get at least 10 more shaves from your blades; shell made from recycled plastic ($12).
  • AskMen - solid reviews of the top electric razors out there.

Cocktail Fact

In the United States, 24% of women shave every day.

Bang For The Bite

If 10,000 Biters throw away one less razor, we'll avert the weight of 13 barber chairs in plastic and metal waste.

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Wow $170, you could buy a lot of bottles of hair removal lotion for that. Unwanted hair isn't something to be laughed at, but if you do want to read a good account of why using razors might be better than hair removal lotion, check out this ladies account of how trying to remove unwanted hair left her glued to the toilet seat with hair removal lotion. http://www.hair-removal-lotion.info/hair-removal/glued-my-butt-to-toilet... lol. Angel Cakes
The Merkur Safety Razor with Bar is less than $30, ten replacement less than $10, through Amazon and other sellers. One blade lasts a week for the ordinary shaver.
This article unfortunately failed tomention epilators... they are not that well know in the US yet, but they should! I discovered epilators a few years ago and must say that I will never go back to shaving or waxing my legs again. The epilator in a sense tweezes out your unwanted hair at very high speeds; some pain is included, especially the first few times, but certainly not more than waxing. However, the more you use the epilator the less painful it becomes and the less often you have to use it. I wouldn't recommend it for your nether regions, but for that I use a warm wax that hardens and does not require strips for removal. Check out http://www.emjoi.com/, their epilators are excellent! But just google epilator and you will find many other well-known brands :) Good luck!
I purchased the Razor Saver a couple years ago because I saw it listed in another one of your tips. I waited a long time to get it and was so disappointed that it did not work. I really wanted it to work, and had several other people try to sharpen razors on it using the technique that was included with the Razor Saver - to no avail.
I switched to a brush and shaving soap over a year ago. No aerosol, not plastic tubes and it's cheaper. Yea, it cost me upwards of $50 for the initial investment of a good badger brush and soap. But, I'm still on the same bar of soap after over a year. Plus it's a much better shave. Try it, you'll like it!
You forgot to mention threading. While threading may not be the best way to remove hair on large parts of the body, it is great for facial hair. Simple and effective method for hair removal.
Are you crazy?! My grandfather was a barber and used a straight edge. They're not for the faint-hearted. Better get a styptic pencil and pieces of tissue (band aids aren't very green...). I on board with being green,but cripes, we don't have to go back to the 19th century! Why don't you women at Ideal Bite try a straight razor out for a few months.
You also didn't mention lazoring, I had my underarms lazored and it worked great, no more hair.
Cute pun, but the humerus is the large bone in your upper arm, not a leg bone.
The straight razor method does seem a bit extreme, but to think that so many folks (particularly women)use gazillions of disposable razors is pretty extreme, as well. Perhaps this idea might be more appealing to Biters. I switched to using a men's Gilette Atra razor about 13 years ago, and I still have the same one! The razor is metal, and while the razor blades (replacement cartridges) themselves are disposable, I feel pretty good about not throwing 300+ plastic razors away so far, and the hundreds I won't be putting into the landfill in the future.

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