Stubble Trouble

Umbra on shaving 28

Dear Umbra,

Every morning when I shave, I stare in the mirror and wonder if my razor is the best choice for the environment. I realize the easy answer is to let the beard grow. Except the problem is, lots of today's environmentalists are quietly waging their struggles in modern offices, where beards do not sit well with the management. And besides the risk of my boss telling me I look unprofessional, a beard is a surefire way to guarantee that no one takes my environmental ideas seriously. Plus I'm single, and I don't want to blow my chances of ever getting a date again.

Right now I buy plastic disposable razors that you throw away after one use. They're inexpensive and get the job done quite painlessly, but they're plastic and they're disposable. So I'm toying with the idea of buying the old-school barber kind that requires considerably more time and skill, but does not wind up in the landfill.

Am I misguided, Umbra? Is there a better alternative?

David Grover
Nottingham, England

Dearest David,

Which blade is best?

Both fairness (Title IX) and bias (male boss) compel me to respond to your male-grooming query. Actually, few male-grooming issues land in my mailbag -- I welcome the recent increase, and the aesthetic relief and gender equality it implies.

Your argument for remaining beard-free is unimpeachable. But you must stop using disposable plastic razors. I don't need to spell out the reasons: the source of plastic, the likely distant country of origin, the effect on the waste stream. Here in the U.S., 2 billion disposable razors are purchased annually. That's a lot of space in the landfill.

Besides the environmental concern, David, there's, well, the dorkiness. You want a date, you want the date to lead to something, and at some point the date might see you shave. Shaving is sexy, and a choice opportunity to impress that special man or woman with your suave masculinity. Plastic disposables say, "I think little about personal grooming" -- not to mention, "I'm cheap" -- and you have little margin for this type of drastic error.

So yes, you need an alternative. Electric razors won't do, because they use electricity. Not much, to be sure, maybe 15 watts -- but if we're going to talk about the impact of shaving, we might as well split hairs. We don't need to add any more watts to your consumer demand. A permanent razor that uses refillable blades is somewhat better; at least your generated trash won't involve the plastic handle. But as you surmise, the no-trash option is best.

A straight razor will place you in the rarified echelon of sexy enviro men who remain low-hair with confidence, style, and danger. Also, the straight-razor purist uses only hard soap -- one more opportunity for waste reduction (viz., those aerosol cans of cream). An excellent tip from one straight-razor aficionado is to gradually phase the new razor into your routine, using it on easy areas like the sideburns first. Other how-to tips and necessary supplies are all over the internet.

I bet if you get the technique down, your increased self-confidence ("can wield blade near throat without fear of death") will radiate around Nottingham, and all the hard work will pay off.

Cheerily,
Umbra

Yours is to wonder why, hers is to answer (or try). Send your green-living questions to Umbra.

Umbra Fisk is Grist Research Associate II, Hardcover and Periodicals Unit, floors 2B-4B.

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  1. Eric Sorensen Posted 7:46 am
    06 Jun 2005

    Stubble Trouble, or Razor-backed Energy HogA fond memory of my youth is hearing my dad's electric razor buzzing from down the hall every morning. He loved electric razors.

    Last year, I inherited his last model, a rechargeable, self-cleaning Braun with a digital readout.

    My Braun tells me I'm shaving two minutes a morning, three minutes when I don't have a goatee. I'll spare you the math, but I calculate I use about two watts per shave. If I were to use as little energy during a wet shave, I could use no more than one ounce of hot water from the tap to wash my face, lather, shave and rinse. Water is the essential lubricant of a good shave and only a true hairshirt will do that with cold water and a straight razor.

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  2. bhurley Posted 7:48 am
    06 Jun 2005

    Morning Becomes Electric?Hmmm, I remember some years back an ardent (and bearded) environmentalist told me that electric rechargeable razors were actually a better environmental choice than standard replaceable-blade safety razors, based on the research he'd seen.
    Probably, though, it works out the same as disposable versus cloth diapers: there's no significant difference in environmental impact between the two. With electric rechargeable razors, you don't have the packaging and waste associated with replaceable blades. But you have the nickel-cadmium batteries, which eventually die and end up in the landfill, and you have the more materials-intensive body of the electric razor itself. And of course there's the electricity use.
    I switched to an electric last year mainly because I was fed up with the escalating cost of replacement blades for standard safety razors. The razor manufacturers use the same economic model that computer printer makers do: charge peanuts for the razor (or printer) itself, and make your money on the blades (or ink cartridges). I still think I made the right environmental choice too, given that the packaging and materials use of replacement blades adds up over the years, but who knows?
    Straight razors are scary, and you can't take 'em on an airplane, so they're not the most practical choice.

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  3. mforbes321 Posted 8:10 am
    06 Jun 2005

    Oh no!What should a female do, short of letting it all grow?  Probably sugaring?

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  4. tonytrina1948 Posted 8:11 am
    06 Jun 2005

    Plugged drainThe best way to unclog a drain is not by using chemicals or snakes, use your wet/dry vac. Just place end over drain and turn on to high. Problem solved.

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  5. apn76 Posted 8:18 am
    06 Jun 2005

    Some points:

    Rechargeable batteries can be recycled

    Corded electric shavers without batteries are available

    Throwing away inert plastic and metal bits every day seems troubleing

    Razor blades in trash represent a potential safety hazard for the many folks handling your trash.  After it's been compacted a few times, the plastic protector is long gone.

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  6. pbritnell Posted 8:28 am
    06 Jun 2005

    Prolonged Use Technique is Quick and SimpleI use disposable razors and realize that this is not good for the environment, however I have come up with a technique to preserve the razor for multiple uses that I find quite simple to perform: After finishing with the shave I take an old toothbrush  (I keep it in the holder with the other current brush allowing for effortless access) and use it to remove ALL the stubble and bile from between and around the blade.  Next I rinse the blade and then DRY it.  Gillette and pals have come up with an alloy compound that quickly dulls if moisture is allowed to sit on the straight edge of the razor.  After drying I then administer the coup de grace:  I take the hair dryer, turn it to high heat and hold it to the razor for about 5-10 seconds, effectively evaporating the micro-drops.  Once you get it down this technique only takes about 30 seconds of your precious morning time.  No sh*t.  I go through about 30 razors a year, saving landfill space as well as my wallet.  Tell 'em you heard it here first.

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  7. Stentor Posted 8:44 am
    06 Jun 2005

    Not so disposablePeople actually throw disposable razors away after one use? Even without any pbritnell-style tricks, I'll go weeks on a single razor.

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  8. Andy Brett's avatar

    Andy Brett Posted 10:00 am
    06 Jun 2005

    Right on, Stentor.I find that I'm able to do the same. The lubra-strips on disposable razors tend to wear out long before the blade actually goes dull, which probably gets a lot of people to throw out perfectly good razors.

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  9. anwrnews Posted 10:30 am
    06 Jun 2005

    Electric is the way to goI've used the same electric razor for about 14 years. They don't really wear out, and this was a cheap model to boot. It's a plug-in (so no rechargeable batteries to wear out and dispose) without any fancy LEDs or other junk. I replaced the blades once and kept on using it. It still works great. I shave 'dry' so no fancy creams or fluids to buy and, therefore, no containers to throw away. I don't think I would feel good about throwing away disposable razors or their blades every week.

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  10. bhurley Posted 10:40 am
    06 Jun 2005

    Razor batteries: yes, butapn76 wrote "Rechargeable batteries can be recycled"
    Sure they can, but how many people will do it? I bet 0.01% of electric razor users will go to the trouble of taking their razor to the recycling center when it dies; everyone else will toss it in the trash.
    Stentor wrote "Even without any pbritnell-style tricks, I'll go weeks on a single razor."
    Yes, but I know of people whose beard is so tough that they have to replace the blade on even a standard safety razor every day or two.
    mforbes 321 wrote: "What should a female do, short of letting it all grow?"
    Let it all grow. Hairy legs on a woman are très sexy; I've never understood why women shave 'em.

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  11. david a liddle Posted 11:12 pm
    06 Jun 2005

    stubbleCan't believe someone throws away disposables after one use! I use all shaving methods available - keep a disposable in my toilet bag for trips. Its been in there for months. Also use electric - for speed and convenience. And it uses very little electricity. For most of my shaving I use a three bladed razor that came with my paper for free one day. I've been using it for about 6 months, really! A month after getting it I bought a new three pack of blades but have yet to use one of them! They are fantastic! When I do put in a new blade the only thing thrown away will be one blade!

    David

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  12. wallrock's avatar

    wallrock Posted 2:15 am
    07 Jun 2005

    electric slideI have to say I had not given much thought to the subject, but for me electric is the only way I will go.  I used to always use the standard replaceable three-blade razor, and would change blades about once a month, but my main problem stemmed more from my sleeping habits.  I don't get up well in the morning, and unfortunately have a job where I must be up and running in the wee hours.  Therefore time in the morning is at a premium.  I am always running late and shaving with a blade gave me the worst razorburn.  I tried shaving before bed, but then I started getting that five o'clock shadow around eleven in the morning.  I pretty  much resigned myself to a life of little bloody pieces of kleenex until my grandmother unexpectedly bought me one of those top-of-the-line Braun electrics for X-mas.  I am well aware of the concerns regarding the Ni-Cd batteries and I can't imagine the alcohol solution it uses to clean itself is all that sustainable (with the packaging and disposal and all), but I am not exaggerating when I say it is pretty close to the best thing that has happened to me all year!  

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  13. tpeterr Posted 5:01 am
    07 Jun 2005

    Next QuestionYep, uh huh.  I should use a straight razor. Gotcha.  High-carbon steel lasts longer, check.  TLC, have it in droves.  So now all I need to know is where in the bearded mists of America do I find one?

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  14. CowsEatGrass's avatar

    CowsEatGrass Posted 9:03 am
    07 Jun 2005

    Straight RazorIf you happen to be wealthy, you can purchase a straight razor here:
    http://www.theartofshaving.com/taos/straight.php?sku=68001

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  15. redboat Posted 12:26 pm
    07 Jun 2005

    shaving creamFirst of all, I cannot believe all of the comments this article has generated. This is great. Straight razor is probably the way to go.
    But why has there been no discussion of the environmental and skin hazards of most standard shaving creams and their ingredients?
    I highly recommend "All Natural Shaving Lotion

    Beard & Skin Therapy" from JASON Natural Products. I love the stuff. All natural, no dryness, no nicks.
    http://www.jason-natural.com/products/mens.php
     

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  16. Chris Schults Posted 4:22 am
    08 Jun 2005

    The Preserve Razor RecyclableFor those of you not ready to go straight, I wanted to share with you a suggestion several Grist readers have shared with us via email (not sure why they are not commenting here): The Preserve Razor Recyclable.
    The handle is recyclable and is made of 100% recycled plastics (65% of handle plastic is recycled Stonyfield Farm yogurt cups).

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  17. fatherseraphim Posted 11:45 am
    08 Jun 2005

    Double Edged Safety RazorsHow short our collective memories are... There is another option besides disposables, plastic-cartridge disposables, electrics, and straight razors (good, but let's face it, too steep a learning curve for most of us). There are permanent razors in which you replace only the metal blade. Lots of advantages here: the blades are much cheaper, give you a much closer shave, and last much, much longer than any disposable. Go to menessentials.com and search for the "Merkur Futur," a German razor. Sure, it's $60, but that's just four big packs of (evil) Gilette Mach 3 razors, which give you a decent shave only once or twice. And those blades are recycle happy. Save them up in a beer can and then crush it. You'll only use one every two weeks anyway.

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  18. Corey McKrill's avatar

    Corey McKrill Posted 5:13 am
    14 Jun 2005

    A non-electric shaver?A friend of mine has a gyroscopic shaver.  Pull the little cord with the plastic ring on the end, the blades start spinning, and shave away.  It sounds like a weed whacker when it's trimming your stubble.  After reading this Umbra and seeing all the comments, I emailed my friend to find out where he got it.  He told me Real Goods used to have it, but they stopped carrying it a few years ago.  Googling turned up info suggesting that it was imported from the French military by a company in Illinois called Brainstorms, which apparently doesn't exist anymore.  I haven't been able to find anything else.
    Anyway, if this product still exists somewhere, it provides an excellent alternative to both safety razors with their disposable cartridges and electric shavers with their nasty batteries.  Any leads or ideas on this?

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  19. TheSSG Posted 1:51 am
    15 Jun 2005

    Extra Electricity CostsFor Most people, I'd say it's safe to say the Bathroom has more lights, and of higher wattage than anywhere else in their house.

    With a Straight razor, good lighting would become a necessity.  Patience, and taking your time would also become paramount.  
    1 15watt Electric Razor VS. 1 straight razor + a good 100-200watts of Bulbs...and an extra few mins of those bulbs running...

    I dunno...seems like a tuffy...

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  20. rickeym Posted 1:10 am
    16 Jun 2005

    Other Shaving Productstheartofshaving.com has the top rated shaving creams, etc. in terms of non-toxicity. See this interesting website for a comparison.
    http://ewg.org/reports/skindeep/listproducts.php?ewg_cat=Shaving%20Products
    Also, an alternative site for razors and blades, including many reasonably priced straight and safety razors:
    http://www.classicshaving.citymax.com/Home.html
    Personally, I think when all is said and done, no shaving method is "sustainable." But the use of disposable (plastic) blades and/or razors is way off the scale of unsustainability. That can't be justified, no way, no how. The remaining methods have their good and bad points. If you're recharging your electric with solar power -- good on you!

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  21. moremi Posted 7:04 am
    22 Jun 2005

    but for ladies with facial hair . . . ?Hairy legs I can live with, armpits are fine unless I am wearing a tank top, but who is willing to be out-front in fashion by being the bearded lady?  It has to be, sorry Umbra, wax or electrolysis - razors leave stubble and sometimes, bumps.  

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  22. daveofnewyork Posted 1:59 pm
    02 Jul 2005

    shaving and hairy ladiesI'm reminded of some TV and a magazine article. In "All in the Family" (I'm dating myself here), Michael and Gloria ponder whether they should bring another soul into an overcrowded, often ugly world. Then a friend -- the ACLU-going neighbors whose name I can't recall, I think -- show them a little nugget from Alistair Cooke -- not Alice the Cook -- about how none of us really should take the problems of the world so seriously that we overlook its reasonable pleasures, which include "bouncing a baby." And Bill McKibbin, God bless 'im, who decided after much debate some years ago to purposely have only one child, overlooking how cool it really is to have a sibling, and how it really won't make much difference but how good it would be for the kid, and it was actually quite selfish his and his wife's decision.
    Anyway ... I'm thinking of checking out those old double-edge replaceable-blade razors I see in the stores. A sound compromise between consumptive plastic disposables and the macho-but-masochistic-for-no-good-reason safety razors (sheesh! There are other ways to be cool, you know) they are. Hey, the real choice is to never shave, just occasionally trimming the rug with scissors and composting the litter. But beards are damn itchy and hot and chicks really don't dig them.
    Which brings me to ...
    It might not be nice and PC, but hairy legs on women is a humongous turnoff for this observer.
    D

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  23. Corey McKrill's avatar

    Corey McKrill Posted 3:48 am
    01 Aug 2005

    Gyroscopic shaver sighting......on Treehugger.  Seems that they're still pretty hard to track down though...

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  24. hamishfraser Posted 10:21 am
    02 Aug 2005

    Razing hacklesRazing hackles
    I'm studying industrial design and looking at ways of improving the environmental impact of hair removal with most emphasis of disposable razors. This is one subject that really gets people up in arms, most people complain about the cost but a few wise people are noticing the trend of a reduction in the useable life of razors and how they are now designed to be visually degraded by the dilapidated lubricating strip. You can't sell a new razor to people who have one that they feel is working well.

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  25. yoyology Posted 9:26 am
    20 Feb 2007

    Replacable blades (not cartridges) the way to go.Like fatherseraphim, I go the route of the replaceable blade razor.  Often it's a double-edge like the Merkur he favors, but I also use an old Schick injector for trouble spots, since it has a narrower head.
    Another great thing about this is that you can find these old razors at flea markets and antique shops for very little money and make them useful again.  If you put the old blades in a steel can and recycle them, you've got all three sides of the triangle!
    If anyone's interested in more, check out http://www.shavemyface.com.

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  26. Steaming Pile Posted 1:59 am
    07 Nov 2007

    Shaving. Sheesh!I don't really enjoy it, but my spouse insists upon it.  She doesn't like my stubbly face, and I never seem to get past that part without the hair driving me nuts.
    Hannaford store-brand three-blade Sensor clones for me.  $3 for five.  Screw Gillette and their planned obsolescence.  I'm curious to find out what the replacement for the Fusion system ($18 for four catridges!) will be.

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  27. CarlosOnline Posted 5:23 am
    25 Mar 2008

    Re-using razor blades / cartrigesI use the Gillette Atra which uses a fairly simple 2 blade cartridge per shave.  Well I too got frustrated with the cost of replacement cartridges and the environmental impact of throwing out these little buggers was getting to me too.
    So one day I got the idea to clean out the razor blades themselves with an old toothbrush which I no longer.  Well I have been doing this for about 2 months and I find it works.  I am getting amazingly close shaves and I haven't changed blades since.  After & even during each shave I brush out the trapped hairs in between blades and rinse off the blades (using water already in the basin - no new water to limit environmental impact) and then I continue shaving.
    When I am done, I simple brush & clean out the blades & the toothbrush, dry them off and put away till next time.  And this has lasted me for 2 months with about 1-2 shaves per week. Whee!

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  28. beebopinaround Posted 8:03 pm
    02 Jul 2008

    Gyroscopic ShaverSomeone posted about a gyroscopic shaver. I was looking for one too and found this site for purchase.
    http://www.global-merchants.com/home/shaver.htm
    I'm thinking of getting one for a gift.

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