Ditch the Cartridges: Embrace the Blade

For years, I was a slave to the multi-blade razor. Gillette, Wilkinson Sword, supermarket own brands – I tried them all. Remember those early electric shavers? Yeah, the less said about those skin-irritation nightmares, the better. I even dabbled with a humble Bic, which, surprisingly, did the job just fine. But then the razor manufacturers went mad.

More blades! They screamed. Five blades! Seven blades! It was a marketing frenzy, and my wallet has been suffering. Frankly, it all felt like nonsense. Shaving is ridiculously expensive. The sheer volume of choices is overwhelming.

Something had to change. That's when I decided to go old school. I decided to try a safety razor. Now, for those of you who only know shaving through the lens of plastic cartridges, a safety razor is what your grandad probably used. It's a classic tool, a beautifully simple instrument with a handle and a head that holds a single, replaceable blade.

I chose a reasonably priced model called the Yaqi Se Katana. Apparently, the company behind it used to manufacture shaving gear for other brands before deciding to create their own line. Smart move, in my opinion. The Katana uses a single blade – other safety razors use a double-edged blade, but I decided to keep it simple.

The Katana is made from Stainless Steel and is well balanced. The protruding blade is scary looking, but the well-designed head helps to produce a very smooth shave.

I paired the Katana with Derby Premium single edge blades, and let me tell you, the results were a revelation. My shaves are now incredibly smooth, and the cost? Forget about it!

I can get 100 Derby Premium single-edge blades for just over a fiver. That's a fraction of the cost of those fancy multi-blade cartridges, and the shave is far superior. For example, a pack of 4 Gillette Fusion blades will cost you around £13. Its a no brainier!

Seriously, I urge you to give a safety razor a try. You might be surprised.

Think about it: the first safety razor was invented way back in the 1700s! They were even issued to soldiers during World War I, solidifying their reputation as the go-to tool for a clean shave. Then, in the 1970s, the disposable cartridge razor appeared, and the multi-blade madness began.

But here's the truth: you don't need multiple blades. It's a marketing gimmick. Ditch the cartridges, embrace the single blade, and rediscover the joy of a truly great shave.

You might just thank me later.