‘My Dovo Bismarck Straight Razor’
courtesy of ‘rpscott123’

Gents, let’s get into the economics of shaving. I consider my methods fairly normal, so I’ll use myself as an example. I’ve got a standard, three blade razor. I shave every day and a blade will last me for a little over a week.  Blades come in packs of 5, so every 7 weeks I need to buy a new pack. At $12 per pack, this costs around $90 per year in blades alone. Add the cost of shaving gel and aftershave and you’re looking at over $100 per year. When you multiply that by the number of years that the I’ll likely be shaving, it ends up being a few thousand dollars. That’s not insignificant.

This being Thrifty District, I have a cheaper solution, and a macho one to boot: wet shaving. Wet shaving is the way it used to be done, with a naked blade.  While this may seem kitsch and extravagant, shaving with a straight razor is extremely economical and the longer you do it, the cheaper it gets. As an immediate purchase, a straight razor is not thrifty. A decent blade (which you’ll definitely want) will run you $70-$150 at a minimum. Like I said, the price is steep, but think of it this way: it’s the only razor you’ll need for the rest of your life. Continue reading →