lisv:shaving

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revision Previous revision
Next revision		 Previous revision
lisv:shaving [2026/03/10 12:41] – external edit 127.0.0.1lisv:shaving [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
Line 1: Line 1:
-# Low-impact shaving+This topic is part of [[gt:wellbeing|Wellbeing, home & relationships]]. 
 +====== Low-impact shaving ======
  
  
Line 10: Line 11:
  
  
-## 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.
Line 45: Line 46:
 </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:
Line 68: Line 69:
 </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.
Line 87: Line 88:
  
  
-## 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.
Line 114: Line 115:
 </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.
Line 133: Line 134:
 </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.
Line 156: Line 157:
 </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.
Line 162: Line 163:
 - 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.
Line 181: Line 182:
  
  
-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 First, learn more (see further resources below).  First, learn more (see further resources below). 
Line 202: Line 203:
 </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.
Line 225: Line 226:
 </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.
Line 248: Line 249:
 </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.
Line 273: Line 274:
 </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?
Line 285: Line 286:
  
  
-## 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 - [Shaving Made Easy](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Shaving_Made_Easy) - 1905 book turned into a wiki
Line 297: Line 302:
  
  
-## Related topics+===== Related topics =====
  
 +- [Natural skincare](ntsk:natural_skincare)
 +- [Natural soaps](ntso:natural_soaps)
  
-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • lisv/shaving.1773146480.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2026/03/10 12:41
  • by 127.0.0.1