Back to Shaving Basics
By Karina | November 16, 2009
The moment I’ve been dreading has happened - I just ran out of shaving cream, and I have to say, as melodramatic as it sounds, I’ve been anticipating this for some time. See, now I have to decide what other product to bring into my bathroom!
Even though I haven’t cut it out entirely, I do try to bring home less plastic - and for whatever reason, I haven’t started in the kitchen, like many people have, but in the bathroom. For starters I use bar soap, because I can find soaps that aren’t packed in plastic or in paper. I made do with a preserve razor handle that I had around instead of replacing my razor when it broke, so I would be able to use up the extra blade heads I had around. I don’t buy shampoo in bottles - I started out using baking soda and vinegar, and since then I’ve tried a bunch of shampoo bars, and now I use J.R. Ligget shampoo bar which comes wrapped in paper. I use olive oil to clean my face and remove my makeup. And I refill my conditioner bottle at the bulk section of the food co-op in Pittsburgh, and happily, we manage to have a reason to head out there just about when the bottle is getting empty.
My partner uses an old fashioned straight razor, bristle brush, and dry shaving soap (just like Beth at fake plastic fish), and I did think of grabbing his kit when I get into the shower to lather up. However in my limited experience with shaving soap and bristle brushes, they don’t go great together in the shower - and I’d hate to damage his gear by getting it all soggy as I bathe.
So I was standing in the shower yesterday morning thinking about what to do, and then I realize: duh! I should just use our regular BAR SOAP. I did just fine shaving with bar soap for years and years until I started spending money on extraneous shaving cream. While I will admit to getting a cleaner shave than I ever thought possible with my now-old Kiss My Face shave cream, all I have to do is remember to moisturize after shaving - something I should do anyway!
And now of course I’m wondering why in the world I’ve wasted so much money and time on shaving cream when soap worked just fine for me in middle and high school… darn that persuasive advertising! and YM Magazine!
Any recent changes you’ve made to your hygenic routine?
[[photo from flickr user roadsidepictures via creative commons license.]]
Topics: Health | 18 Comments »
18 Comments
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you really hit on the bottom line for me: the MEDIA! years ago when i started my Ms Mag subscription and stopped buying other womens mags, it was because of the media. Ms Mag had a policy of no ads, therefore no policy manipulation thru ads. to me, this relates to shaving because i too try to stop buying all those fancy products out there to get the woman audience. and i do not shave. but you guys know this already!!!
Have you tried using your hair conditioner instead of soap? — I’ve found that it works well and moisturizes at the same time.
Holly, you beat me to it- this is what I use to shave, too!
I’m thirding this.
I have thought about it - but I guess because I have to travel to Pittsburgh to refill my conditioner container, I am a little reluctant to use it up too quickly!
You can also use olive oil for shaving, which will probably eliminate the need for moisturizing afterward. You’ll probably need a cloth to wipe the blades on occasionally, but that’s very do-able.
Rechargeable electric razors (that can be used dry) are another good option, and over their lifetime probably have lower environmental impacts than disposable razors (and possibly are even as good as straight razors, since there’s an impact from using the water and shaving cream/soap).
because of the nature of my skin, i use dove bars and have always used that to shave. Admittedly I would occasionally use a bit of yours if i wanted a break in routine, but i didn’t realize that you always used shave stuff…wait are you the one who squirted it in your eye that time?
I also shave with oil, which as Wroth says above, eliminates the need for moisturizing. I keep a small spray bottle in the shower with almond oil + a few drops each of lavender oil, orange oil and tea tree oil. Lasts forever & works very well.
Holly & Jenn have it, conditioner works great for shaving!
This may go without saying here, but you can save a lot of water by either using a sink or container full of warm water when you shave instead of leaving the shower running the whole time. Just swish your razor in the water to clean it and get fresh water when you switch legs.
Okay, for those of you who use olive oil in the shower/for shaving/etc, have you had problems with cleaning your towels? Last winter I started using olive oil (or it may have been grape seed oil) as a moisturizer that I rinsed off in the shower. My skin felt great, but my bath towel started to reek of rancid oil. My bathroom smelled like a deep fryer. I wash my towel once a week, and a regular cycle through the washer didn’t get the smell out. I finally soaked it in OxyClean for about 48 hours, washed it, and swore off the oil. Anybody else have this problem? What do you do about it?
I have had exactly this problem - I posted about it here:
http://tinychoices.com/2009/06/01/washcloths-saved/
now I’m just trying to wash the washcloths a little more frequently, maybe using them 2 or 3 days instead of a full week? I think it’s working. It’s a hassle, but maybe get another towel and swap out?
Just this month I switched to a shampoo bar and shave soap from this wonderful seller on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/DressGreen. I will NEVER go back to shave cream/gel! Not only is this shave soap sooo wonderful anyway, I haven’t been able to shave/remove hair much higher than my knees in years because everything I tried made me break out with a razor burn type of rash. The shave soap works! I’m also loving the shampoo bar. All of her products are wrapped in recyclable paper and arrive looking like gifts, they’re so nice looking. Now I need to at least switch to razors with refillable heads…
I haven’t used a disposable razor or blade in a couple of years or so. I use my electric razor. Granted, the shave isn’t as close as a safety razor and I have to re-shave every three or four days, but then I used to throw away a razor head twice a week too. Now I throw nothing away.
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I would like to add that many out there don’t know the sustainability of personal products, such as shaving cream, related to personal health. One is applying these products directly to the skin. Natural shaving cream or a good lathering organic bar soap, guaranteed with no toxicity, can be purchased at repurify
I forgot…. I found that for pure products, either specific companiesor online retailers such as Repurify provide consistent no-toxicity products.