Since when did it become a thing that you need to take out a bank loan in order to buy razor blades?
Well … maybe not that extreme. But pretty darn close!
True story: The last time I bought a bulk pack of razor blades at Sams Club, I had to go to the section where they lock up things with a chain-link fence (where they also sell the cigarettes) and ask for them. On top of that, they were ridiculously expensive – even by bulk packaging prices.
And so I decided: That’s it! People have been shaving for hundreds of years without spending all of their hard-earned money on it. Why can’t I do it too?
And so I set out to find the best deals possible when it came to buying razors and shaving.
Here are 11 lessons that I’ve learned and you can use too!
1. Don’t use disposable razors
When doing price matching at the store, I right away noticed that disposable razors were by far the cheapest – almost $1 per razor! I was sold … until I got them home and used them for about a week.
Forget it! After about 1-2 uses of a disposable razor, it starts to feel like I’m scraping a brick across my face. Though the cartridge style razors cost more, I get more usage out of them.
This is clearly a case of you get what you pay for.
So my vote: Disposables are out!
2. Don’t buy razor blade cartridges from a brick and mortar store
Though I just told you my story of buying razor blades from the warehouse Sams Club, in general, it’s not a deal to buy them from brick and mortar stores.
I’ve seen a 5-pack cost as much as $25 retail. That’s $5 per razor – insane!
Instead, buy your razors online from a trusted retailer. You’ll get a much better deal.
3. But be careful of what you buy online!
Though I just told you to buy your razors online, I must also warn you to be VERY careful of where you get them.
Believe it or not, those deals you’ll find on Amazon or Ebay may not be all they’re cracked out to be. Some shady companies specialize in making fake knock-offs of these blades and tricking consumers into buying them. The packaging even looks authentic; although you can see some differences. Here’s an article that will tell you how to spot the differences.
4. Avoid buying into shaving clubs
Ever seen a commercial for the Dollar Shave Club? That sounds like a good deal, right?
Well, you may be delighted to learn that LifeHacker revealed that you buy the same razor blades online yourself straight from the Korean manufacturer Dorco through Amazon. I actually did this myself, and have been very pleased with both the shave and the price.
5. Shave every other day
It’s not 1950 anymore, and beards are in. Feel free to go a little longer than normal between shaves. Not only is it less work, but its also less miles on your razor blades.
6. Go longer between changing razor cartridges
Don’t follow the recommendations to change your blades once per week. If you don’t shave every day, then its just not necessary. Use your razor for at least one month (or more) before you change the blade.
7. Don’t let your blade supply rust
So you get a good deal on razor blades and buy up a bunch of them. What’s the worst thing that could happen?
How about moisture gets to them and rusts them all out! (Yes, this one actually happened to me …)
The lesson learned: Store your blades in a place where they absolutely will not rust; such as a hallway closet.
8. Skip the fancy shaving cream
Powder? Designer products? You can pass on it all. Buying regular shaving cream will do just fine.
9. Buy the generic store brand shaving cream
In fact, while you’re at it – you can also skip the name brands and simply buy the generic store brand shaving cream.
10. Bulk up on shaving cream
ONLY buy your shaving cream in bulk or when its on sale. I personally like to stock up when there’s a “buy 1 get 1 free” deal.
11. Use generic lotion
It’s pretty well known that the old-school days of using aftershave with alcohol are long gone. So what are you supposed to use?
Well, just like everything else we’ve ran down, you can skip the fancy designer products and go straight for the generic store-brand lotion with aloe to soothe your skin. A big container will last you for months!
Featured image courtesy of Flickr
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