It's been a while since I have done a blog post and it has also been a while since I have done a cost versus cost type of blog post as well. So I figured why not do this in a blog post. I will be doing a YouTube video about this on a later date after I purchase the Leaf razor which shaves like a cartridge but uses half DE blades. Sadly, I can no longer use straight razors due to the lingering side effects from a medically induced coma I was put in nearly 7 years ago. I also get cut way too easy with DE safety razors and I'm a free bleeder so as a result of these factors combined with sensitive skin, I am forced to purchase the Leaf razor So with that being said, lets get started:
First I must say that I'm totally disappointed and shocked at how high priced the Gillette Fusion cartridges are. This photograph was taken at my local Wal-Mart and there are other places that charge even more for them which is past being ridiculous:
Sam's Club isn't any better in fact they are worse. So don't be surprised if you walk in there and see a $55 U.S. Dollar or more price tag. Here's what the bulk pack costs you:
^ By the time you add sales taxes, you are looking at a $33 U.S. Dollar price tag for 8 blades that may or may not shave. So lets do some math here. $33 dollars divided by 8 blades = $4.13 per blade (rounded up from $4.125). That my friends is retarded. Being on disability benefits means that you are now on a fixed income and from experience, I can tell you that no one can afford these prices especially us that are on a fixed income. The last package of these that I bought went directly into the trash because every single one of them was a dud blade. In nearly 5 years of wet shaving, I've gotten maybe 3 or 4 DE blades that were duds. Schick was a little better in the price tag but the shave quality was far worse than Gillette hands down:
^ That was for a pack of 4 blades. The bulk pack is roughly about $3 U.S. Dollars less than Gillette's blades. These break down to $2.97 per blade before taxes are calculated in. No wonder the DE safety razor market is taking off like a rocket. These cartridge blades are just too expensive. Now lets take a look at the costs of Harry's cartridges:
^ These were the lowest priced cartridges outside of getting the dirt cheap disposable razors. These break down to about $2.00 U.S. Dollars per blade. I have never shaved with Harry's blades or products before so I can't comment on the shave quality or longevity of these specific blades. Their bulk pack wasn't too bad but they are still too expensive:
^ Once again it's about the same in the price give or take a little. Now let me explain how the Leaf razor works and what exactly it uses. The Leaf razor uses Half of a DE or double edge blade as seen below and the costs of the blades are dirt cheap as well:
You can also customize your shave as well. For example lets say you just want to use just 1 half of a blade instead of 3 and you want it to be mild. You can do that with the Leaf razor as seen below:
Just simply choose how many half blades you want to use and if you just want to use 1, simply decide which slot to install the half blade in. The bottom slot is the most aggressive while the top slot is the mildest. You can even take it further by choosing either a mild, medium or aggressive blade to split in half. So the combinations alone destroy the cartridge razors. Now here's the final nail in the coffin for cartridge razors. The costs of DE blades are almost nothing:
^ This is just one brand of many and the costs of these Personna Lab Blue blades which is an extremely popular blade starts at $13 U.S. Dollars for 100 blades depending on where you go online to purchase them. This specific website is Maggard Razors and right now they are out of these specific blades and they have other brands that priced lower than these and are equally as popular. So lets do some more math here. $13 dollars divided by 100 blades = $.13 cents per blade. I'll take that price over the $5 dollar per cartridge price tag any day. And since you split these in half for the Leaf razor, that's really 200 blades if you just use 1 half of a blade per shave. Now this is where things get even better. The factory split blades are even cheaper as seen below:
^ $6 U.S. Dollars for 100 half blades. There are some that's about the same price maybe a shade higher. So let's do some more math ladies and gentlemen. $6 dollars divided by 100 blades = $.06 cents per blade. It's been a really long time since I've used a Shark blade but some people do like them and this will be a completely different shaving experience because the Leaf razor has NO LEARNING CURVE. So if you have been using a Gillette Fusion, then this is your razor minus the extremely expensive blades. Here's the blades that got my attention just recently:
^ These are just $6.50 per 100 half blades. I recently just used one of these in my Doc razor and it was extremely comfortable in that razor. They do have a premium version which costs $8 dollars for 100 half DE blades:
Plus there are some other extremely popular blades out there as well:
I see the Rapira Platinum Lux and Voskhod blades in a ton of shave of the day photos and videos. In addition to the Astra green labeled blades. I also see these Gillette Wilkinson Sword blades a lot as well. The Gillette Silver Blue DE blades have been a personal favorite of mine:
I've not tried the Parker blades yet but someone is sending me some to try out. All in all, the double edge or DE blades wins hands down. Even the vintage cartridges are too expensive and to be honest, they aren't very good in terms of shave quality. That is one of the reasons why I no longer use my Col. Conk Track 2 razor, poor shave quality during and afterward. So once I purchase the Leaf razor and it arrives, I will be doing blade reviews left and right and the ONLY razor you will be seeing in these reviews it indeed the Leaf razor.
