Zero Waste Safety Razor Review – Jungle Culture

I recently purchased a zero waste safety razor UK brand Jungle Culture. I went a long time without shaving but I realised that I actually wanted to make shaving a part of my routine for the future as I do prefer the look of my legs without hair.

It is estimated that 5.45 million people were using disposable razors in the UK in 2020. Source When you think about it that equates to a lot of disposable razors being thrown away every single year.

Switching to a zero waste safety razor would save so much of this waste. Safety razors do take a bit of practise to use however, so I will go through some tips below in case you haven’t used one before.

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All About Zero Waste Safety Razors

Some of the biggest waste that comes from bathroom routines is from using disposable razors or disposable razor heads. When you think about it that’s a lot of plastic waste for something that is only going to be used a few times and then disposed of.

All of this plastic will be on this earth long after we’re gone and even then it will turn into microplastic and continue on for many years.

Switching to a safety razor is such an important one to reduce waste from your daily and weekly routines.

Are Safety Razors Zero Waste

Most safety razors will be zero waste because you buy the main razor (sometimes they come with blades) you then buy some blades for your razor and majority of the time the razor and the blades will come plastic free.

A safety razor is more eco friendly because of all of these reasons. You only need to buy the razor once and then replace the blades as and when needed. The blades generally will be supplied in cardboard with paper casing so the packaging can also be recycled as well.

It’s actually a really cost effective way to shave as well because the razor should last you forever and the razor blades depending on where you live are generally under £5 for a pack of 10. The Shark blades that I bought along with the Jungle Culture safety razor are expected to last 16 shaves per blade because they’re double sided.

Do You Use Both Sides Of A Safety Razor

With a safety razor you do use both sides of the blade, normally they are designed with both sides exposed so that you can easily clean the hair out while you are using it. Both sides can also be used to shave as well which means that they will last a lot longer than a disposable razor.

To clarify this means that when you’re holding the razor you can use the left and the right side to shave, however this doesn’t mean you can turn the blade upside down as the bottom will likely be blunt. Safety razor blades will normally direct you as to which side faces up so that it’s clear how you should place the blade.

How Many Uses Can You Get Out Of Razor Blades

Depending on the brand you will be able to get between 5-16 uses out of each blade. I recommend checking the guidelines of the safety razor blades you buy. It will vary depending on how coarse or fine your hair is and the area that you’re shaving, for example if you’re only shaving your face the blades will likely last a lot longer than someone shaving their entire body.

Some people recommend changing your blade a little bit more often than what’s recommend on the blades and this is because you may find that a blade that has been used several times will not give you a very good shave. I think you need to experiment with this yourself and find out what the sweet spot is for you in terms of changing the blades.

How Do You Dispose Of Safety Razor Blades

Disposing of blades can be a bit complicated depending on where you live and what services you have in your area. Jungle Culture have a full guide on where safety razor blades can be recycled, however I will summarise the main parts from this article to give you an idea of where you can recycle the blades.

In the UK you can save your used blades in a container and take them to your local recycling centre. Check before you go there, for the material that your blades are made from as most have a coating of PTFE (polymer) even if they state stainless steel on them for example. If your local recycling centre accepts Teflon then you’ll be able to recycling the blades there.

If your local recycling centre doesn’t take Teflon then you can return the blades through Terracycle for recycling. visit their website for more information on this.

About Jungle Culture

Jungle Culture was originally called Jungle Straws as they created their bamboo straws to combat the 500 million plastic straws that are disposed of every year. Jungle Straws have partnered with National Geographic BBC Earth and Toms and are the best selling bamboo straw on Amazon.

When they expanded to create Jungle Culture they started stocking coconut bowls, bamboo cutlery and bamboo razors as well. Everything they stock is 100% organic and handmade.

“Jungle Culture is all about human culture. From the farmers and artisans we work with in rural Vietnam, to the restaurants, independent brands, shops and customers we serve. We put as much care into forging a unity with our loyal tribe of partners as we do creating our zero waste and sustainable products.”

Jungle Culture

If you’re a business, you can buy their products wholesale and they can even engrave their coconut bowls, bamboo straws and cutlery if you think that would be beneficial for your business. The Jungle Culture products design team is based in the UK as well, so that would be a good service for eco friendly and zero waste businesses in the UK.

What I Like About Them

• UK Based Company
• Organic production used
• Really good quality
• Handcrafted products
• Plastic free shipping

My Review Of This Zero Waste Safety Razor

Now to my review of the Jungle Culture zero waste safety razor. The razor was delivered completely plastic free in a box which was brilliant. Within the outer box was the box containing the coloured metal safety razor and organic cotton jute travel pouch and the blades.

I’m really pleased with the quality of this safety razor, it feels solid and a good weight when I hold it.

Putting the blade on was much easier than I expected as well. With this razor you untwist the handle from the top, the parts that make up the top of the razor will come apart so be careful when you do this. When you add the blade just make sure that it’s facing the correct way, it needs to be facing up when you hold the safety razor in your hand.

Actually using this razor I’m really impressed with how well it worked it does get a close shave but you do have to be careful when you use it. Especially if you’re not used to using safety razors, they don’t have the same protection as an ordinary disposable razor. I’ll go through some tips to help you out below.

Price currently £19.49 without stand

Shark Blades (you buy separately) priced at £3.99 for 10 blades.

My Best Tips For Using A Safety Razor

There is definitely a big learning curve with using a safety razor but it’s such a good zero waste swap that I would recommend that everyone invest in a safety razor if you shave regularly.

1. Use Shaving Soap – Shaving soap is the most zero waste option but whatever you use make sure you’ve got plenty of lather. If you use shaving soap bear in mind that it dries out so lather up bit by bit.
2. Take It Slow – When you’re using a safety razor just make sure that you’re not rushing because it does take a bit more time than a disposable. If you don’t take your time there’s more of a risk of you nicking yourself with the blade.
3. Gentle Pressure – Make sure that you don’t use too much pressure when you use the razor, just very light strokes work much better.
4. Shave In Straight Lines – It works better to shave in straight lines because it doesn’t have a movable head like some disposables do.
5. Try Not To Go Over Areas – Try to avoid going over the same areas too many times as that can irritate your skin, this is the same for any razor you use really.
6. Make Sure You Dry Between Uses – Before you put the razor away, make sure it’s fully clean and dry so that the blade doesn’t get rusty.
7. To Avoid Ingrown Hairs – If you’re prone to ingrowing hairs you can also exfoliate before shaving to help that.
8. Moisturise After – It also really helps to moisturise the shaved area afterwards either with aloe vera gel if the skin is irritated or just a general moisturiser.

I hope this zero waste safety razor review is useful, a safety razor is an amazing zero waste swap for the bathroom and you won’t regret making a purchase like this.

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