The Safety Razor:
The Disposable Razor Is Reinvented

A manual razor or safety razor is a device that many if not most of us will probably use at some point in our lives to temporarily remove hair from some part of our body.

Typically, men use them to shave their face (or head) and women tend to use them to shave their legs and underarms.

I remember seeing my grandfather's old style safety razor (see the grey razor to the right) back in the 1970s when I was a kid that had a twistable dial at the bottom of the handle. You'd turn the knob and at the top of the razor where the actual blade was, two small metal arms would open up and the actual razor blade sat inside. You'd take the old blade out, put a new one in, and then turn the knob in the other direction to shut the arms and hold the blade in place. Then you were ready to shave!

While there are certainly plenty of newer options to shave various body parts, the disposable razor is a popular product for men and women that continues to get reinvented with more blades and newer features.

You can now buy higher-end razors that are battery-operated and that offer upwards of 5 blades. It's a long way from the days of razors offering a single blade, that's for sure.

Here are some things to consider regarding the use of razors as well as other disposable-type products that you can easily find in retail stores.

Razor: Benefits

• Can offer a very close shave especially newer razors that offer more blades and new features.
• Relatively cheap to buy.
• An increasing number of purchase options are available with new features being added regularly.

Razor: Considerations

• Sharp razors can cause cuts and skin irritation.
• Some people with sensitive skin experience ingrown hairs, shaving bumps and other side effects especially as newer blades shave hair closer than ever before.
• Blades need to be regularly replaced before they get dull.
• Requires the use of shaving cream and access to a sink with water.