Mr. Dave, On Style! (Non-Food Post, Feel Free to Disregard)

I thought a non-food post might be a welcome change of pace, a weblog palate cleanser if you will. I will just throw this in the water and see if it floats. In any event, I usually write about the things I consider essential to the good life (mostly meat and beer), so I don't think a sort of style post is that out of place. Good grooming is equally essential to the life of a gentlemen.

Above is a picture of the safety razor that I recently purchased. If you aren't familiar, a safety razor is what people used prior to the mass prevalence of disposable and cartridge razors. With these bad boys you insert an actual double edged razor blade.

You see, I am a daily shaver. The absolutely outrageous cost and waste (think of all that plastic you are throwing out all the time) involved with regularly purchasing cartridge razors began to sicken me. I decided to throw off the bonds emplaced upon my person by the mighty shaving product conglomerates and harken back to a simpler time. I ordered a safety razor that I had read was a good entry level purchase. I also purchased a package of 100 razor hundred blades, everything included set me back about 32 smackers shipped. Here is what I got-



As you know, I love interesting packaging and this stuff is pretty neat. I believe the Shaving Factory brand is out of Turkey. The little package with the foamy faced gent is some shaving soap tablets. The actual razor blades come wrapped in wax paper inside a cunning little spring loaded dispenser. I get such a kick out of such simply functional design.



I was unaware of this, but there is a very active online discussion of shaving issues available (check out The Shave Den, for one). Read up if you are intimidated, there are a lot of good tips. Shaving with a lazer sharp piece of cold steel can be a little intimidating the first time. But let me tell you, it was a revelation. Even the first go gave me the closest and most comfortable shave that I have ever had. The trick is in the wrist, get the right angle and use short little downward strokes and you are good as gold. I forego the little tablets or shaving soap and use a standard gel, this is the one concession I will give to the benefits of certain aspects of modernity.

Just think about how much of your life you spend shaving. You might as well turn it into a pleasant little daily ritual in your repertoire of daily rituals. After shaving your face like our forefathers did in the days when men where men you will find yourself feeling quite the rakish raconteur. Plus, you can't beat the price. I hazard that a box of a 100 razors will last me the better part of a year. A box of 100 costs between 10 and 20 bucks depending on the brand. I don't really keep track, but I would think that I spend around 500 bucks a year on modern razors. Well no more! I, as in many aspects of my life, am adopting the old timey ways.