Sometimes, what we think of as progress turns out to be a bit of an illusion. For example, some of you might remember the era of laser discs and Blu-ray. They weren’t any better than DVDs or even VHS; then along came streaming services, and the industry was turned on its head again.
There are plenty of examples of products and innovations that we all seemed to think were a good idea at the time, only to reassess down the line and realise we probably had it right the first time around. One major example is the double-edged safety razor. Invented at the turn of the 20th century, disposable razor blades were created to remove the need for the traditional cut-throat razor used by barbers. What this meant was that, for the first time, people could get a clean shave at home, safely and without having to spend a fortune on equipment or valuable time keeping their blades sharp.
For several decades, everyone seemed delighted with this new invention, and millions of people around the world could get good, clean and safe shaves whenever they wanted them. But progress and innovation were around the corner, and in the second half of the 20th century, the cartridge razor was born. These cartridges enclosed blades within a plastic cartridge head, which could simply and quickly be changed whenever you wanted a sharp blade. Further innovations saw the addition of new gimmicks such as safety bars, two, three, four, five and even six blades – all promising the best shave ever. Except…there were a few issues. Replacing the cartridges seemed to cost a small fortune, and many people found they simply didn’t get the clean shave they were after. And so, a few decades later, there is a shift once again. Not to something new this time, but back to something we already know and trust – the double-edge safety razor. Here are just a few reasons why 2025 is the year you should switch back to a double edge.
Shaving the budget
Double-edge safety razors are the most cost-effective way of getting shaved. Yes, the initial investment in the razor itself might be higher than a cartridge system, but from then on you only have to buy the blades. And these are significantly cheaper than having to buy new sets of cartridges every few months. Double-edge safety blades also tend to last longer, maintaining their edge for up to a month. Over several decades of shaving, you could save a small fortune by switching to double-edge blades.
Environmental benefits
At a time when we all need to do what we can to use fewer of the world’s finite resources, it just seems a bit wasteful to be throwing a plastic cartridge in the bin every few weeks. And it’s not just the cartridges themselves but all the packaging that comes with them. In comparison, double-edge safety blades come in small, usually recyclable, packaging and the blades themselves are made of nothing but metal so can be recycled. Making the switch to double-edge blades could see you reduce your shaving footprint, which again when added up over decades, could make a substantial difference.
Quality shave
No matter what claims are made, or how many extra blades are added, there is often something lacking about the quality of a cartridge shave. The single and sharp blade of a safety razor gives you a very clean shave and leaves a smooth finish. In fact, the multiple blades of a cartridge razor can often irritate the skin. So, no matter what the advertisers say, a double-edge blade is usually gentler on the skin and causes fewer problems.
A classic
There seems to be a move in various areas of life back towards design classics. Just look at the boom in vinyl records or the popularity of well-made vintage clothes. There is a sense that a desire for profit above all else has resulted in a drop in quality and reduced experience. Yes, you can have all the music in the world at the touch of a button on your phone, but does that experience really compare to dropping the needle on a classic album and hearing how it was supposed to sound?
The double-edge razor is another design classic that has lost none of its charm over the years. Shaving is not always something to be done in a few minutes before you rush off to work; it can be a luxurious ritual where you take pleasure in grooming and looking after your appearance. And when you make a safety razor, shaving brush, high-quality cream or soap part of that ritual, it can become more than just a chore. It’s a way of helping you connect with your routine in a meaningful way.
Here at Blades & Whiskers, we might be a little biased, but we can think of nothing better than making the switch back to a more traditional, cost-effective, environmentally friendly and classically designed way of shaving. That’s why we have worked hard to bring you an impressive range of safety razors and blades for a perfect shave. All our available blades work with any razor in our range, meaning you can create the perfect combination for your shaving needs. Combine this with a big choice of creams and foams, brushes, balms and more, and 2025 could be the year you switch back to the way shaving should be done.
Life is not always about convenience and progress; sometimes it’s about doing things the way they should be done – and finding joy and pleasure in the process, too.