If you are a man who shaves regularly, you are being legally robbed every time you go to the grocery store.
Modern multi-blade cartridge razors (like Gillette or Schick) are a notorious budget trap. The plastic handles are practically given away for free, but the replacement blades cost $25 to $30 for a pack of four. If you replace your blade every week, you are throwing away over $300 a year just to scrape hair off your face.
Worse, those 5-blade cartridges are designed to clog with hair and shaving cream, making them useless after just a few shaves. You don’t need to keep feeding this scam. Here are 3 smart ways to shave for pennies a month:
1. The “Dry Your Blade” Trick If you absolutely must use your expensive cartridge razors, you are probably shortening their lifespan by leaving them wet. Water causes the microscopic edges of the blade to rust and dull rapidly.
- The Free Hack: The moment you finish shaving, rinse the blade and dry it thoroughly with a towel. Don’t just leave it in the shower. If you keep the blade perfectly dry between uses, a single $8 cartridge can last for 2 months instead of 1 week.
2. Stop Buying Shaving Cream in Cans Aerosol shaving gels are mostly compressed air and cheap chemicals that dry out your skin, forcing you to press harder and dull your blade faster.
- The Fix: Switch to traditional shaving soap and a badger hair brush. A $10 puck of shaving soap lasts for an entire year, provides a far superior, slick lather that protects the skin, and saves you $50 a year on canned gel.
3. Ditch the Cartridge, Buy a Safety Razor This is the ultimate financial cheat code for men. Before the 1990s, men used Safety Razors—a solid metal handle that holds a single, double-edged steel blade.
- The Smart Move: A high-quality Safety Razor costs about $25 to buy once, and it will last a lifetime. The replacement blades? They cost about $0.10 each. A single blade lasts a week, meaning a $10 pack of 100 blades will last you TWO YEARS. You will save $250 in your very first year. Plus, a single blade cuts cleanly without clogging, preventing razor bumps and ingrown hairs. (If you want to see which safety razors are easiest for beginners to use without cutting themselves, check out our review of the best safety razors for men!)
The Bottom Line Stop paying a premium for plastic razors that clog and rust. Dry your blades, switch to real shaving soap, and upgrade to a safety razor. Your face will look better, and your bank account will thank you.