lisv:shaving

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lisv:shaving [2025/12/05 10:36] – created - external edit 127.0.0.1lisv:shaving [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Low-impact shaving+This topic is part of [[gt:wellbeing|Wellbeing, home & relationships]]. 
 +====== Low-impact shaving ======
  
  
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-## What is it?+===== What is it? =====
  
 First, the lowest-impact approach to shaving is not shaving at all. But you could say that about a lot of our topics. For example, solar panels – the most low-impact approach would be not to use electricity. But people want electricity, so let’s do it in a way that is as low-impact as possible, and that you can do even if there’s any sort of societal breakdown. It’s the same with shaving - a lot of people do want to shave, so let’s do it with the lowest impact possible, and that’s doable in case of any stage of societal collapse. First, the lowest-impact approach to shaving is not shaving at all. But you could say that about a lot of our topics. For example, solar panels – the most low-impact approach would be not to use electricity. But people want electricity, so let’s do it in a way that is as low-impact as possible, and that you can do even if there’s any sort of societal breakdown. It’s the same with shaving - a lot of people do want to shave, so let’s do it with the lowest impact possible, and that’s doable in case of any stage of societal collapse.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Disposable razors.+_Disposable razors._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Low-impact options+==== Low-impact options ====
  
 So the two low-impact shaving options we’ll be looking at are: So the two low-impact shaving options we’ll be looking at are:
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 <caption> <caption>
-Cartridge razor with disposable cartridges.+_Cartridge razor with disposable cartridges._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### History+==== History ====
  
 As with most things, shaving has become increasingly environmentally-damaging over time. First of course, there would have been no shaving at all for tens of thousands of years, and first attempts were with pieces of flint, sharpened shells or other natural materials. Straight razors then ruled supreme, with local craftspeople forging and sharpening blades that lasted a lifetime and required no further resources. Then at the cusp of the 19th and 20th centuries, safety razors with disposable blades appeared, and that disposability boomed in the 20th century, so that nowadays, in the UK alone, around 20 million people use disposable razors of some description, or electric shavers. That represents a huge amount of corporate profits, energy, resource use and unrecyclable waste. All unnecessary if we return to reusable products, or not shaving at all. As with most things, shaving has become increasingly environmentally-damaging over time. First of course, there would have been no shaving at all for tens of thousands of years, and first attempts were with pieces of flint, sharpened shells or other natural materials. Straight razors then ruled supreme, with local craftspeople forging and sharpening blades that lasted a lifetime and required no further resources. Then at the cusp of the 19th and 20th centuries, safety razors with disposable blades appeared, and that disposability boomed in the 20th century, so that nowadays, in the UK alone, around 20 million people use disposable razors of some description, or electric shavers. That represents a huge amount of corporate profits, energy, resource use and unrecyclable waste. All unnecessary if we return to reusable products, or not shaving at all.
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 <caption> <caption>
-How to use a straight razor.+_How to use a straight razor._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What are the benefits?+===== What are the benefits? =====
  
-### Environmental+==== Environmental ====
  
 - Less resource use and waste. No electricity required in use. - Less resource use and waste. No electricity required in use.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Electric shaver.+_Electric shaver._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Social+==== Social ====
  
 - A straight razor can be made in your community, by a [blacksmith](/blck/blacksmithing) / [bladesmith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bladesmith). This keeps craft skills alive, keeps wealth in communities and doesn’t line the pockets of corporations. - A straight razor can be made in your community, by a [blacksmith](/blck/blacksmithing) / [bladesmith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bladesmith). This keeps craft skills alive, keeps wealth in communities and doesn’t line the pockets of corporations.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Safety razor and blades.+_Safety razor and blades._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Cost+==== Cost ====
  
 - Disposables cost around 20p-£1.80 per razor. Cartridges c. £1.80-£3. - Disposables cost around 20p-£1.80 per razor. Cartridges c. £1.80-£3.
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 <caption> <caption>
-How to use a safety razor.+_How to use a safety razor._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Quality / your skin+==== Quality / your skin ====
  
 - More blades in a cartridge increases the risk of ingrown hairs or skin irritation. - More blades in a cartridge increases the risk of ingrown hairs or skin irritation.
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 - With safety or straight razors, you’ll get a better shave with less chance of skin irritation / ingrowing hairs / redness, because the blade will be sharper (either because it’s changed more regularly, or it’s sharpened). - With safety or straight razors, you’ll get a better shave with less chance of skin irritation / ingrowing hairs / redness, because the blade will be sharper (either because it’s changed more regularly, or it’s sharpened).
  
-### Other+==== Other ====
  
 - Although of course you don’t care about superficial things like being ‘cool’, let’s face it, safety razors are much cooler, and straight razors are off-the-scale cool, and you’ll have the satisfaction of owning a quality product that can support craftspeople and will last for years. This is the same with clothes, and with craft products generally. - Although of course you don’t care about superficial things like being ‘cool’, let’s face it, safety razors are much cooler, and straight razors are off-the-scale cool, and you’ll have the satisfaction of owning a quality product that can support craftspeople and will last for years. This is the same with clothes, and with craft products generally.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Leather strop for sharpening.+_Leather strop for sharpening._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
-First, learn more. Here's a classic from 1905: _[Shaving Made Easy](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Shaving_Made_Easy)_, turned into a wiki.+First, learn more (see further resources below). 
  
 Next, decide if you need to be super-smooth every day. Obviously, shaving every other day will use half as many blades (if you’re using a safety razor), or maybe your straight razor will last longer? A bit of ‘designer stubble’ won’t hurt you. Next, decide if you need to be super-smooth every day. Obviously, shaving every other day will use half as many blades (if you’re using a safety razor), or maybe your straight razor will last longer? A bit of ‘designer stubble’ won’t hurt you.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Turkish barber – try it out to see if straight razor shaving is for you.+_Turkish barber – try it out to see if straight razor shaving is for you._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Buying+==== Buying ====
  
 - Avoid corporates, who are far from ethical, and only interested in selling you as much stuff as possible. - Avoid corporates, who are far from ethical, and only interested in selling you as much stuff as possible.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Shaving brush.+_Shaving brush._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Soaps+==== Soaps ====
  
 - Avoid gels / foams / plastic containers or spray cans, which use way too many resources, usually toxic chemicals and are unnecessary. - Avoid gels / foams / plastic containers or spray cans, which use way too many resources, usually toxic chemicals and are unnecessary.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Shark supply double-edged safety blades without plastic packaging.+_Shark supply double-edged safety blades without plastic packaging._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Use+==== Use ====
  
 - You need to know what you’re doing, or you might cut yourself. It’s not difficult though – it just needs a bit of practice. But that’s the same with any kind of razor. - You need to know what you’re doing, or you might cut yourself. It’s not difficult though – it just needs a bit of practice. But that’s the same with any kind of razor.
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 <caption> <caption>
-How to sharpen a straight razor with a leather strop.+_How to sharpen a straight razor with a leather strop._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Sharpening / care+==== Sharpening / care ====
  
 - Keep your razor away from moisture - so don’t store it in the bathroom. Maybe in a bedside cupboard? - Keep your razor away from moisture - so don’t store it in the bathroom. Maybe in a bedside cupboard?
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 - Learn to keep your straight razor sharp [with a leather strop](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Shaving_Made_Easy/Chapter_8). - Learn to keep your straight razor sharp [with a leather strop](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Shaving_Made_Easy/Chapter_8).
- 
-- Here’s a [deeper dive into straight razor care and sharpening](https://web.archive.org/web/20160307084942/http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/sharpen/instrazor.html). 
  
 - You can even [sharpen safety blades](https://www.wikihow.com/Sharpen-Old-Razor-Blades). - You can even [sharpen safety blades](https://www.wikihow.com/Sharpen-Old-Razor-Blades).
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-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:wellbeing|Wellbeing, home & relationships]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/wellbeing). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources ===== 
 + 
 +- [Shaving Made Easy](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Shaving_Made_Easy) - 1905 book turned into a wiki 
 +- [Straight razors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_razor) 
 +- [Safety razors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_razor) 
 +- [How to sharpen a cutthroat razor](https://cutthroatclub.co.uk/blogs/wet-shaving/how-to-sharpen-a-cut-throat-razor) 
 +- [How to sharpen old razor blades](https://www.wikihow.com/Sharpen-Old-Razor-Blades) 
 +- [Deep dive into straight razor care and sharpening](https://web.archive.org/web/20160307084942/http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/sharpen/instrazor.html) 
 + 
 + 
  
 +===== Related topics =====
  
 +- [Natural skincare](ntsk:natural_skincare)
 +- [Natural soaps](ntso:natural_soaps)
  
-## Specialist(s)+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
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  • Last modified: 2025/12/05 10:36
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