I hate shaving. I hate everything about it. I hate how it feels, I hate how much time it takes, I hate the inevitable razor burn that follows. Most of all, I hate buying razor blades; I hate how much they cost and how it just feels like you’re getting ripped off when you buy replacements. More than once, I’ve wondered if it just wouldn’t be cheaper to keep buying a whole new Razor each time.
The only thing I hate more than shaving is the prickly, stubbly, neck-itch inducing presence of not shaving.
Today was my first shave with an old school, double-edged safety razor. And it was glorious.
The idea came about when we were at the store a few days ago picking up some supplies and I was lamenting, once again, the fact that I needed new razor blades. But tucked into a lonely corner of the lowest shelf, I noticed an inexpensive little box containing a double-bladed safety razor and a set of replacement blades. There were also replacement blades that were a fraction of the Gillete shit I’ve been buying.
Holding the box in my hand, I recalled a blog post I’d read a very long time ago, about how to shave like your grandpa. It had made shaving with a true safety razor seem old school and stylish and slick. I never followed up on the advice from that blog post, however, because it seemed like a true safety razor was beyond my reach. My grandfathers are deceased, so I can’t exactly ask them.
That blog post was written in 2008; what a difference seven years has made! Double-edged safety razors are coming back into vogue; the Wikipedia page indicates that since 2009, sales of traditional safety razors have increased by 1,000%.
Gentlemen readers of this blog, if you haven’t yet tried this, I urge you to do so. It’s less expensive and yet it also feels so much better. I had the best shave of my life today. I feel clean, whole, and thoroughly unburnt by razors. I’m actually looking forward to the next time I can shave, simply because of how good I felt immediately afterwards.
That’s the life lesson from this experience, at least for me. I approach too many things as necessary tasks that must be endured rather than savored. It’s something that I’m trying to change.
Cynical Idealism 
What are your current razor and blades of choice? I started shaving with a safety razor a few years ago, and it’s been great! I like my Merkur long handled razor (though I think I want something a little more aggressive now) and my Personna med prep blades (though I’m considering their less expensive “lab” line for my next box). Also, Proraso shaving soap is sooooooo nice, and my girlfriend loves the sandalwood scent.
My current blade is Van Der Hagen, a pretty cheap model since I wasn’t sure how much I’d enjoy the safety razor. I might upgrade to a more expensive razor down the road, but right now I’m getting better shaves than my old Gillette Mach 3 and it’s only cost me a fraction of the Gillette price, so I’m happy.
Somehow I’ve lucked out and don’t experience stuff like razor burn. I agree that replacement razor blades are totally a racket, though.