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When it comes to making daily lifestyle changes like abandoning plastic water bottles, or even switching to removable tampon applicators, there has been a seismic social shift toward being more environmentally conscious. But even though shaving is a daily grooming ritual for many, disposable razors and cartridges have managed to fly under the eco-radar—which is an especially stunning notion given that an estimated 2 billion razors are thrown away each year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Offering not just a greener alternative but a closer, smoother shave is Brooklyn-based, Black woman-owned brand OUI the People's old-school, rose gold safety razor. German-engineered, the sleek model is a modern reimagining of the sturdy, stainless steel razor your grandfather used to keep in his shave kit. And it may only have a single blade, but trust that it functions just as well, if not better, than its plastic, multi-blade drugstore counterparts. Razors with three or more blades lift the hair with the first and cut with the second, thus causing the remaining blades to rake over the skin, contributing to burning and bumps, says founder Karen Young. And thanks to its weighty design, the retro-inspired safety razor—in tandem with one of the brand’s soothing, grape-seed–infused shave oils—requires less pressure, gliding elegantly up the limbs and around edges.
There is a learning curve when making the switch to a simple blade. You’ll need to develop a new muscle memory for the heftier body of the handle, and then when it gets dull, typically after five or six shaves, swap out the blade itself as opposed to the entire head. But once mastered, you have a more sustainable and economical solution to tossing plastic razors and cartridges each month—not to mention a much chicer razor displayed in your bathroom. Transforming shaving into a luxurious ritual as opposed to a rushed chore, this razor is far too functional and beautiful to end up in a landfill.
