Sustainable shaving: ditch disposable razors

The switch from disposable razors to a safety razor is one of the most straightforward low-waste bathroom changes there is — a small learning curve, a modest upfront cost, and then dramatically less waste and spending for the rest of your shaving life.

The waste from disposable and cartridge razors

A standard disposable razor is made from several types of plastic moulded together — the handle, the cartridge housing and the lubricating strip are different materials combined in a way that makes them impossible to separate and recycle. The whole thing goes to landfill. Cartridge razor systems are marginally better in that the handle lasts longer, but the cartridges themselves are multi-material plastic assemblies that almost no recycling programme accepts.

Then there is the packaging: individual blister packs of plastic and cardboard for each cartridge refill, outer boxes, and the aerosol cans that contain most mainstream shaving foam — pressurised steel cans that, while technically recyclable if completely empty, are often not accepted due to residual propellant.

Add up two to four cartridge changes a month over a lifetime of shaving and the waste is substantial. The safety razor was the dominant shaving technology for most of the twentieth century precisely because it worked extremely well. The shift to disposables and cartridges was primarily a marketing and convenience move, not a functional improvement.

The safety razor: how it works and why it wins

A safety razor has a solid metal handle — typically brass, zinc alloy or stainless steel — and uses a standard double-edged (DE) blade. The blade is a thin piece of steel with two sharpened edges. When it dulls (typically after five to ten shaves, depending on use and hair type), you unscrew the head, remove the blade, and insert a fresh one. The blade is the only thing you discard — and it is 100% steel, making it straightforwardly recyclable once disposed of safely.

• The handle: lasts indefinitely. Many people use the same safety razor for decades. Quality metal handles do not corrode or degrade in the way that plastic does.
• The blades: inexpensive — a pack of 100 blades typically costs a small fraction of an equivalent number of cartridge refills. Blades are sold in minimal cardboard packaging.
• The shave: once you have the technique, many people find safety razors give a close, smooth shave with less irritation than multi-blade cartridges, because a single blade is less likely to cause drag and ingrown hairs.

How to shave with a safety razor

1. Prepare your skin thoroughly. Shave after a warm shower, or apply a warm, wet flannel to the area for 60–90 seconds. Warm skin and softened hair make a significant difference to how the blade performs.
2. Apply a good lather. Work shave soap or cream into a rich lather with a brush or your fingertips and coat the area well. The lather lifts the hair and lubricates the skin.
3. Hold the razor at roughly 30 degrees to the skin. Start with the handle nearly parallel to your face and angle until the blade just contacts the skin. This is the key thing to get right.
4. Use zero pressure and short strokes. Let the weight of the razor do the work. Short strokes — rinse the blade frequently under running water — prevent clogging and give you more control.
5. Go with the grain first. Shave in the direction of hair growth on the first pass. A second pass across the grain can follow once you are comfortable.
6. Stretch the skin where needed. On the neck and chin, gently pulling the skin taut with your free hand helps the blade glide evenly and reduces the risk of nicks.
7. Rinse, pat dry, and moisturise. Cold water to close the pores, then a simple moisturiser or balm. For more on low-waste skin care, see our natural skincare guide.

Expect a short learning period — most people find the first three to five shaves involve one or two nicks while the technique settles. A styptic pencil (a small alum stick, sold inexpensively) stops minor nicks almost instantly. After a week or two, most people are shaving as quickly and comfortably as before.

Safe blade disposal

This is important: double-edged blades must never go loose into the general rubbish bin. They can cut through bin bags, injure waste workers and cause problems at sorting facilities.

• Use a blade bank. A blade bank is a small, sealed metal tin with a slot on the top — you slide used blades in and they are contained safely. When full, the tin can go to a scrap metal recycler or local metal recycling point. Some pharmacies also accept sharps for disposal. Check what is available locally.
• Make your own: a clean, dry steel can (like a small soup tin) with the slot taped over once full works just as well as a purchased blade bank.
• The steel is recyclable: double-edged blades are simple steel, so once safely contained they can enter the metal recycling stream — a far better outcome than a multi-material plastic cartridge.

Other low-waste options: electric and straight razors

Electric razors

A good-quality electric razor — foil or rotary — is another genuinely low-waste choice. The device lasts for years, uses no disposable blades, generates no single-use plastic per shave, and requires only electricity. The cutting foil or head will eventually need replacing (typically every twelve to eighteen months with regular use), and the old one is electronic waste. Some brands offer cutting head recycling schemes. Electric razors are a particularly good option for people with sensitive skin who find wet shaving causes irritation, and for those who prefer a dry, quick shave.

Straight razors

A straight razor — the traditional open-bladed "cut-throat" razor — is the ultimate zero-consumable option. One blade, maintained properly, lasts a lifetime. It requires stropping before each use and occasional professional honing, and the technique takes real time to learn safely. It is not for everyone, but for the committed shaver it produces no ongoing waste whatsoever.

Shave soap, cream and brushes

Aerosol shaving foam is convenient but wasteful: a pressurised steel can with propellant gas and a plastic cap, used up in a few weeks. The alternatives are better in almost every way:

• Shave soap bars: a puck of shave soap in a small wooden or ceramic bowl lasts far longer than a can of foam and comes in minimal or no packaging. Work up a lather with a brush or your fingers.
• Shave cream in a jar or tube: concentrated, long-lasting, often in recyclable or refillable packaging. A small amount goes a long way compared to aerosol foam.
• A shaving brush: a badger or synthetic-bristle brush builds a much richer lather than fingers alone and also lifts and prepares the hair. Synthetic brushes perform comparably to badger and are the lower-impact choice. A good brush lasts many years.

Cost over time

The economics of switching to a safety razor are genuinely compelling. A quality metal safety razor handle is a one-off purchase. Replacement double-edged blades are sold in packs of typically 10, 50 or 100 — the cost per blade is very low compared to cartridge refills. A shave soap puck also outlasts many cans of aerosol foam.

Most switchers find the upfront cost of the handle and a starter pack of blades is recovered within a matter of months of regular shaving, after which the ongoing cost per shave drops substantially. Over years, the saving is significant — and over a lifetime of shaving, the waste reduction is dramatic.

• Use up your current razors before buying new — no need to throw away working equipment.
• Buy a quality metal safety razor handle — it will last for decades.
• Get a blade bank for safe blade disposal before you start.
• Try a shave soap puck and brush instead of aerosol foam.
• Allow a week or two to learn the angle and pressure — go slowly.
• Find a local scrap metal or pharmacy sharps facility for full blade banks.