Thread: The cost of shaving!

wow...that's a Dovo?!? It's one of the sexiest things I've seen all day. Time for a cold shower and a web search. How much did it set you back?

Way too much! In fact, I know I paid too much for it, but I don't mind paying a premium to buy direct from the Trumpers store. My wife almost killed me though. It put me back 150 pounds.

(Yes, I know, I know, it's probably half that price on the 'net etc., but I got to see it, feel it, talk to the Trumpers guy about it - I even tipped the guy....)

James.

I didn't get into it for economics or the environment either. I'm just interested in old-school things that have rituals (driving a VW, listening to records, smoking a pipe). Coming from the electric shaver realm, where the shaver is under $50, the heads can last for a year, and electricity is pennies per kilowatt-hour, there's no way straight-shaving is cheaper. (Heck, I've spent over $200 at this early point just to buy entry-level straight razor stuff, and I'll still have to buy more soap and aftershave in the future. And that's if I don't pick up RAD or the other disorders along the way!)

But it sure is better. I'm of the mind that life is short, so if you're going to do something, you might as well make it enjoyable.

- Scott

One of the themes I've noticed for almost everyone is the monetary cost. I'm willing to pay money for the good things in life. I can't stand walking into a store, staring at the little 10' by 5' shaving section, comparing 2-3 products, and finally leaving 30 minutes later with $20 less than when I went in. And I feel bad for those fellow's that still do. The thought of scraping my cheeks and neck with 4-5-who knows how many blades scares me. Especially since I know what I can acheive with just 1 finely-honed blade.
One thing I noticed that nobody figured into their maths is how much cost inflation will add in. I doubt if you'll be able to buy 8 blades for $10 in the next decade.
I pay knowing that what I have will last, if properly cared for, the rest of my life and possibly well into the lives of my unborn children (I'm only 18...), just like I pay for Honda's knowing they'll go, and go, and go for hundreds of thousands of miles on the same engine (again if cared for).

It's all a matter of how you see "cost" and I see my pennies well spent. I'm overjoyed knowing that when I wake up in the morning I'm but an hour away from one of the highlights of my day whereas before I woke up dreading that cold feeling of goo being torn from my face.

Woo hoo! Mark one for the B-ster!

(And I just noticed that FloridaBoy isn't too far from me...)

I actualy worked it out yesterday for a friend who was curiosu about straights ( another convert as of next week when I finish renovating the razor he's picked out of my collection)


anyway back to the point, I used Wilinson sword 'extreme 3' disposables , used 2 a week.

working on that being approx 8 per month, and as they cost £4.95 for 4, I was spending approx £120 ( $225.60) per year on razors;

If I carry shaving and live until the average age for men here in england of 85 I still have 42 years of shaving left

which is at current prices for razors is £5040 ,

then shaving foam at £3.95 per can per month is £1990

a grand total of £7030 or $13217.90 I would spend in my lifetime at current prices.

At the moment I use L'occitane shaving soap @ £7.90 and use 3 per year , which would be over my life time £995.40, plus a decent razor, lets say a dovo @ £95, plus a strop for £45 and a hone for £ 45.

so my straight costs would be £1180 in total

so the comparison for me is :
cartridge shaving £7030 or $13217.90
Straight shaving £1180 or $ 2218

total savings £5850 or $10999.90

thats' a big difference folks!

so when your good lady complains your razors cost too much then show her the figures and point out that your still saving money even after you've bought that fancy razor you want

and last but not least you also are being more friendly to the environment with less razors and empty shaving cans going into landfills!

I'm only just getting started, having just ordered a prearranged gift set, but I did a little math to put the cost thing into perspective for me.

I buy generic, lowest cost, bag o disposable razors typically because, well, of the cost. Even then assuming I get 2 weeks worth of shaving out of that bag, and that's dubious, that's 78 bucks a year without considering shaving cream or the costs associated with driving to walmart to get the things and the alcohol it takes to not go insane while waiting in the ungodly lines in said walmart. I figure that, barring those who purchase truly expensive sets, it really is cheaper in the long run.

That said, i agree with some of the others here, it wasn't cost savings or even the environmental aspect that got me interested. It was having my great great grandfathers razor and accessories combined with my love of neat old things and history in general.

Besides, what woman would be impressed by saying "I shave with a bic quattro pro."

~L

I got into straights hoping to get great shaves, then got into collecting razors and hones. I have gradually come to realize that if I were to do it all over again knowing what I know now, I could get by quite happily for the rest of my life with:

$52 Dovo-made C-Mon (new, Appleton's Barber Supply)
$15 Dubl Duck barber hone (new old stock, tilly aka redtrader99)
$20 Illinois #127 strop (new, Appleton's Barber Supply)
$50 Rooney small style 1 pure badger brush (new, www.ClassicShaving.com)
$ 5 Old Spice Shaving Mug (used, ebay)
Williams Mug Soap (Kroger)
-------
$142

Which is what, 10 refills of Fusion blades? Maybe a years worth of shaves?