Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:
TLDR: There’s no reason to use disposable razors on the regular. Buy a sustainable option now and you never need to buy one again.
Why you should care: More than 2 BILLION (yes, you read that correctly) disposable razors end up in landfills every year—in the United States ALONE. https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/looking-for-a-sustainable-option-more-people-are-ditching-their-plastic-razors/
What you should buy: https://www.amazon.com/MERKUR-Classic-MK-34C-2-Piece-Double/dp/B002A8JO1Q
I usually don’t recommend buying products on Amazon, but it was out of stock on the brand website. I chose Merkur because of the good reviews, its sustainability and the fact that it works for both men/women. (Price discrimination is ridiculous!! https://www.inc.com/sonia-thompson/women-are-charged-100000-more-for-same-products-as-men-heres-what-you-can-do-to-stop-it.html) Please note that Merkur has differently sized handles. I chose a short handle because it was less expensive, easier for me to control and took up less space in my toiletry bag.
I bought a Merkur because it takes generic razor blades that you can buy at any store. Many of the other options require you to use their special razor blades, and the idea of 1) paying for shipping 2) remembering to order them in the first place 3) adding to my carbon footprint… well, it just seemed silly and impractical.
I also liked that it was a heavier razor, which means it does the work for you, and there’s no need to press down. It’s cool that it only has one blade. Contrary to what you might think, one blade is better because multiples can cause ingrown hairs. Go figure! https://www.menshealth.com/style/a19526899/single-blade-razor-shave/
Don’t forget that you can drop your used razors off at any Whole Foods stores that run a razor recycling program called Gimme5. Or you can save them in a tin can and recycle them that way.
Store your razor outside of the shower to reduce the risk of rusting. This is supposed to last you for ages!
Please note that some TSA agents might give you a hard time about safety razor if you keep it in your carry on. This 2018 blog posts suggests you pack them in your luggage: https://www.tsa.gov/blog/2018/08/07/top-five-items-people-ask-about-razors-batteries-makeup-shampoo-deodorant
UPDATE: I’ve been using the razor for a few months now and have yet to cut myself! It even works well on your bathing suit area, and I got ZERO razor burn. I’ve recommended it to all my girl and guy friends!
Resources:
https://bettergoods.org/best-eco-friendly-razors/ and https://theroundup.org/eco-friendly-razors/
Runners up:
https://albatrossdesigns.it/collections/albatross-shaves-the-world-from-plastic and https://begoodearth.com/products/silkedge-single-blade-safety-razor and https://heyhanni.com/products/razor?sscid=b1k8_ytwm6&
Photo Credit: Stephanie Klepacki