A few weeks ago I decided to try to grow a beard.
There were so many good reasons to grow a beard. It makes me look older. It’s manly. It keeps my face warm. I don’t have to pay for razors.
And there was one good reason to get rid of it. A beard just isn’t comfortable.
I’ve actually gotten the idea to grow a beard multiple times, but I can never do it because beards are just so itchy and uncomfortable. Plus Tag doesn’t like kissing me when I have a beard so that’s pretty much the nail in the coffin.
The problem is I’m always shaving with dull old razors because I don’t want to spend the money to buy a new set of razors. They are too dang expensive. Or at least they were. Enter the Dollar Shave Club.
$1 (+$2 s&h) Razors from the Dollar Shave Club
You may have heard of the Dollar Shave Club. They send you razors straight to your door every month, include a free handle for the razors, and they cost either $1 (plust $2 shipping and handling), $6 or $9 (free shipping and handling) depending on how comfortable you like your shave.
And they have this amazing video:
I’m a huge fan of products that make shaving easier and/or less expensive. The best $10 I’ve ever spent was on a shaving mirror for my shower, and now combined with the Dollar Shave Club my facial hair doesn’t have a chance!
The Dollar Shave Club solves all of the following problems:
- Razors are affordable and come with a free handle.
- 4 or 5 razors are shipped directly to your house every month free of charge for the 4x and Executive, or it costs $2 for the basic razor.
- You never have to decide between buying more razors or having an uncomfortable shave.
A Great Shave for a Few Bucks a Month
I’ve always said when you work hard for your money that it’s important to spend that money on things that make you happier and make your life better. And if you’re a guy there’s a good chance you’re buying razors anyway that cost about twice as much as you can get from the Dollar Shave Club.
photo credit: @cdharrison
I used to use the Gillette Fusion, which costs $16 for a pack of 4 and I have to go to the store to get it. I can get the Executive from Dollar Shave Club for just $9 a month (a pack of 4) delivered to my house.
Finally, if you’re like me and don’t have to shave every day, you can sign up for a few months. After 5 months you’ll have stock piled 20 razors. That could very well last me 1-2 years without wearing them out. You can cancel your subscription at any time with no penalty, so there’s really nothing to lose.
Plus their video is still just awesome.
Readers: Have any of you tried the Dollar Shave Club?
Also check out the Safety Razor. A quality safety razor costs between $30 to $40 up front but will last you a lifetime. I got a pack of 100 blades for $10 and have been using it regularly for two years now! I usually use each blade twice so we’re talking about 5 cents per shave, always with a sharp blade. Merkur, Edwin Jagger, and Parker are all good choices for double edge safety razors.
Although I wear a beard (my wife likes it, BTW), I shave my neck and cheeks. Blades dull mostly from corrosion, not the actual act of shaving.
I go down to a local discount & closeout store right here in Plano, TX, and buy name-brand disposable razors. Last batch I got was 15 razors for $12. I use “Shave Secret” shaving oil (http://h2ha.com/shavesecret 2 bottles for $15 from Amazon, but can occasionally be found cheaper at Walmart). Each of the 15 razors lasts about month (I carefully rinse and wipe them dry after each use, and the shaving oil doesn’t corrode the blade like either soap or shaving cream), and 2 bottles of Shave Secret last about a year.
@Nick: I agree with your assessment of the safety razor. If you use Shave Secret, and wipe your blade dry each time, you will get at least 15-20 comfortable shaves per blade, and probably more, making the cost of shaving insignificant. I just find the disposable razors a bit more convenient, and the cost is still insignificant.