Everyone who shaves should consider a safety razor
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If you spend a lot of time traveling, chances are you've made your razor decisions based on what the airlines allow you to bring in your carry-on bag. That means you're probably using a cartridge-based one that likely came from packaging that's either reminiscent of the Transformers movies or extremely pink and 13% more expensive.
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Regardless of which marketing demographic you fall into—and provided you don't mind stowing your razor in a checked bag—you can get a major razor upgrade that will cost you significantly less in the long-run while providing better results. That option is a safety razor.
Specifically, I recommend you get a Merkur Progress safety razor, though plenty of less expensive options exist. I started using a Merkur Progress over 10 years ago and I haven't looked back—and neither has anyone else I’ve convinced to give it a try.
Safety razors are a better way to shave
While many cartridges boast about the sheer number of razor blades they're able to cram in there, a safety razor sticks to just the one, to excellent effect. By distributing the cutting over multiple razors, it can be difficult to create straight lines with a cartridge-based razor. With a safety razor, you know exactly where the blade is cutting, allowing you to get cleaner lines. You can even feel the jump in precision going from multiple blades to just one. It's like moving from a paint roller to a brush.
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You'll also get much less skin irritation by shaving with a safety razor. Razor burn typically happens because you've shaved the same area multiple times with a somewhat dull blade, causing micro-abrasions in your skin. It's incredibly easy to feel when your safety razor isn't cutting as cleanly any more. Judging that point with a cartridge-based razor is much more difficult, because all of its blades are going to wear down at different rates. This can result in raking your face a dull razor because you're still feeling the cutting power of the sharpest blade or misjudging how much pressure you should apply, leading to nicks and cuts.
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Of course, there's the cost over time to consider. You've probably heard of the "razor-and-blades" pricing strategy, which boils down to "give away the razor, so you can sell them the blades." A single, good-quality razor cartridge costs about $2 if you shop around—most are over $3—whereas you can buy safety razors for less than 10 cents per blade. Even if a five-bladed razor somehow managed to be five times more effective than a single razor, the cartridges would still be significantly more expensive.
Why the Merkur Progress is the best safety razor
The Merkur Progress is a must-try if you're on the market for a safety razor. For starters, its shorter handle provides more control over the blade. Despite a shorter handle, it still has a great heft to it, allowing you to ease up on the pressure and let the weight of the blade do the work.
The dial at the bottom of the handle is an excellent innovation that allows you to customize the angle of the blade, allowing you to switch from a more aggressive shave to something less likely to shave off some skin.
The multi-part design is easy to disassemble for cleaning, and its robust metal build won't randomly snap in that checked bag, leaving you sad and stubbly.
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.