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Eco Goddess

July 7, 2016 Uncategorized

how to use a safety razor | zero waste shaving

Oh, the joys of having body hair! I remember all too well the feeling of terror in junior high school when I was rushing to get ready for school in the morning, quickly putting on a cute outfit, and arriving at school only to discover that my outfit exposed my hairy legs. The HORROR. I would find any clever way to hide my legs while talking to people, especially boys. There’s the nonchalant hand over the leg technique. There’s the papers in hand, resting against the legs while sitting down technique. Then there’s the (my personal fav) ants in the pants dance technique: basically moving around frequently yet swiftly so that there is NO chance another soul can take a good look at the legs of a terrified hairy Marina.

Fast forward 10 years, and I have actually grown fond of my body hair. Yet, there are times every now and then that I like to shave my pits and legs. So here we are, in eco fab fashion, to learn how to shave like an Eco Goddess with a safety razor (men + women edition!).

Why Make the Switch?

The EPA estimates that 2 billion razors are thrown away each year. That’s startling, considering all of the other common bathroom products being sent to landfill every single day worldwide such as plastic toothbrushes and plastic floss. Disposable razors are not recyclable in the U.S, nor are they manufactured to last you a lifetime– making it even more important for consumers to adopt a more sustainable alternative.

Will I Save Money?

This may be the coolest perk of investing in a safety razor. The Parker handle ($30) and a box of 100 Shark blades ($7.28) will cost you a total of $37.28. Assuming the handle will last a lifetime, the only investment I personally make moving forward is for blades. If I use an average of 1 blade per month, which is at most 12 blades per year– meaning a box of 100 blades will last me 8 years. My old razors heads from Gillette Venus are $18 for a box of 4 heads, or $4.50 a blade– meaning that using 12 blades per year costs me $54. By switching to a safety razor, I will save $1,535.50 in blades in a span of 37 years (assuming I will continue shaving until I am 60). Best of all? I am preventing THOUSANDS of disposable razors from going to a landfill. Win-win.

How Long Will It Take Me to Adjust?

Like adopting anything new, using your safety razor will take some time to adjust. Have patience with yourself and remember to go slow. Aim not to put as much pressure on your skin as your are accustomed to with your disposable razor. Watch my YouTube video shaving demo or follow the directions below to see how I shave without creating razor bumps or cuts.

How Do I Recycle My Old Blades?

Saving money with a product switch is great. Saving the planet while doing so, even better! Be sure to research if your city or town accepts scrap metal in their curbside recycling program. Most do, but unfortunately there are still some out there that do no. Google “Waste Management _______” and fill in the blank with your city or town. Browse their website or simply call them to explore the options you have.

Collect your used blades in a safe container like an upcycled bottle or a blade bank. Just discarding them as is could injure workers, and because of how small they are, they risk the chance of getting sorted out of the items that will get properly recycled in your recycling center. See how to make your own blade bank here. Once your container or blade bank is full, proceed responsibly with recycling. To the readers who do not have access curbside recycling options, send your used razor blades to Albatross Shave Shop in California. Albatross recycles any and all the steel blades they receive. Visit the link here to learn how to send in your blades.

Can I Take My Razor With Me on the Plane?

It depends. The safest way to bring your safety razor with you is to pack your razor in a checked bag. If you are like me however, you do whatever it takes to avoid checking a bag because of the added on travel expenses and the waste that comes with printing out tracking stickers.

When only pursuing carry-on travel options, pack your razor without the blades. Next, research places to buy razor heads where you land. Ultimately, shaving is up to you. For me personally, if it is a quick trip I will not bring my razor. If I know it is doing to be a longer trip, I will pack it and look for the best options when I arrive. I do not risk packing my razor blades because if security flags it, they will throw them away and this defeats the purpose of adopting a less wasteful shaving option (ya feel me?).

HOW TO SHAVE LIKE A #ZEROWASTEBADASS

YOU WILL NEED

  • A safety razor
  • Soap (my choice: Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Bar Soap – Baby Unscented)

POST-SHAVE

  • Organic body lotion (my choice: bulk organic Griffin Remedy lotion)
  • Almond oil (my choice: organic, packed in glass by FLORA)

*Affiliate links above & below. If you make a purchase through these links, I will receive a small commission. This is at no extra cost to you.

DIRECTIONS

  1. Introduce water to the desired area of shaving.
  2. Add a generous amount of soap.
  3. Take your razor to your skin and with minimal pressure, gently begin shaving your desired area. Go in the direction of your hair. Take your time, especially if you are a beginner.
  4. Keep a water dish beside you to clean off your razor as you go. This will help you conserve water. Be sure to feed your plants with the water post-shave for Eco Goddess brownie points.
  5. Give your skin a final rinse and walla!
  6. Lastly, apply moisturizer to the area(s) you just shaved. I have found my under arm areas are more sensitive than other parts of my body; thus, I use a thicker moisturizer.

Happy shavin’ my loves! See you soon.

~Marina

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Categories: Uncategorized Tags: how to shave using a safety razor, safety razor, zero waste shaving

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Hi, I’m Marina!

I am so happy that you found my blog, Eco Goddess. On here I share zero waste living tips, gluten-free vegan (GFV) recipes, and soulful wellness inspiration.

It is my hope that in sharing my journey to living a more vibrant, ecologically conscious lifestyle with you, you will feel inspired and supported to embark on your own journey.

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One month ago @TED reached out to me inquiring abo One month ago @TED reached out to me inquiring about a holiday gift collaboration with my tiny startup @zerowastekit. They wanted @zerowastekit to be the official gift given out to each TED employee to help them kickstart their low waste lifestyle journeys.
I read the email, screamed and danced around with joy, then ran back to my computer to read the email again and make sure I wasn’t dreaming. Well, their kits arrived safely this week so I think it’s finally safe to say with confidence that 1. this isn’t all a dream 🤣 and 2. the world is changing and waking up to our global waste crisis 🙌🏼
I founded ZWK in November of 2018 with the mission to empower people with the mindset, tools, and convenience they need to reduce their everyday waste and ecological footprint. I envisioned the kit as an ethically & sustainably made take-with-you-and-go-everywhere kit to help make daily choices such as ditching plastic spoons, straws, food containers, grocery bags, and other single-use plastic products, easy and convenient. 
While there is no silver bullet solution to our global waste crisis, one thing is for sure: nothing will change unless we begin taking small steps towards change. Our throw-away society has conditioned us to make convenience-driven choices that rarely take into account the whole picture 🌎 I believe you do not have to sacrifice convenience in your lifestyle to support a more just and thriving planet. It just takes reconditioning, patience (baby steps) and some badass tools 🚯
A HUGE thank you to my loved ones for helping me every step along the way, my suppliers for being awesome, and for all of you… this beautiful community that continues to grow, inspire the masses to make the shift and fight for the future of our common home.
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pc: @southern_california_crafting 💛
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Marina
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#zerowaste #fashion #ootd #shopsecondhand #secondhand #thrift #thriftstorefinds #zerowastebadass #mindbodygram #iamwellandgood #gogreen #wellnessblogger #sustainableliving #ecofriendly #eco #simplicity #simpleliving #slowliving #travel #wanderlust
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To celebrate this huge win, last year Tejidos Royo donated 1 million liters of water to UNICEF 🙌 This year, they will be donating to another project who is working to take water where it’s most needed proposed by YOU! Head to my stories to learn more and VOTE on your favorite social project for @tejidosroyo to support! 
#1millionliters #DryIndigo #FabricswithValues #Sponsored #JoinTheSustainableDenimRevolution @onemillionliters
📷: @domlabrecquephoto
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📷: @domlabrecquephoto
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First, a little back story. It was sophomore year of college when I first discovered not all shampoos and conditioners are safe for the body and environment. I came home from class one day and rather than doing homework I started researching the ingredients on the back of my personal care products. What inspired this search was my journey to eating a cleaner diet 🌱 I made a goal to cut out food products that had ingredients I couldn't pronounce or didn't recognize. Then I thought, why not do the same for my personal care products that I use daily?
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Have you tried out shampoo/conditioner bars yet? What has been your experience?
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photografairy: @avaah_east 
#sustainability #sustainableliving #zerowaste #zerowastelife #outdoorphotography #minimalism #zerowastemovement #vegan #plasticfree #wellness #outdooradventures
My rainy day secondhand ootd ⛈ I felt inspired t My rainy day secondhand ootd ⛈
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What was accepted by one of my parent’s culture was not by the other. This bred a very confused and insecure Marina. My internal dialogue when getting ready for the day used to go something like this:
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#fashion #ootd #shopsecondhand #secondhand #thrift #thriftstorefinds #zerowastebadass #mindbodygram #iamwellandgood #gogreen #wellnessblogger #gogreen #sustainability #sustainableliving #sustainability #ecofriendly #eco #gogreen #sustainable #simplicity #simpleliving #slowliving #gogreen
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But wait, there’s good news 😏 I am beyond excited to share with you an organization leading the change within the denim industry to a more sustainable and ethical world. Meet @tejidosroyo. They’ve created a new denim dyeing process called Dryindigo which uses 100% less water (yes, that means no water!), 89% less chemicals, 65% less energy and ZERO water discharge. To celebrate, last year Tejidos Royo donated 1 million liters of water to UNICEF 🙌 This year, they will be donating to another project who is working to take water where it’s most needed proposed by YOU! Head to my stories to learn more and VOTE on your favorite social project for @tejidosroyo to support! 
#1millionliters #DryIndigo #FabricswithValues #JoinTheSustainableDenimRevolution @onemillionliters
📷: @domlabrecquephoto
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