A clean, green shave

Despite the convictions of the unabashedly unshaven minority in our country, most of us are still hooked on a good, clean shave. Whether it’s a woman’s legs or a man’s face, we just seem to be suckers for smooth skin. Right or wrong, society sees shaving as signs of professionalism, tidiness and pride in one’s appearance. And it’s neither a new trend nor a passing fancy. People have been nipping hair in the bud for darn near forever — since the advent of clamshell “tweezers” some time back in the Stone Ages. The Ancient Egyptians upgraded to gold and copper razors, according to Britannica.com, and the rest is history. The latest innovations in shaving are emerging from an increasingly green conscience among consumers who want to ditch the disposables and chemical depilatories. (The Environmental Protection Agency estimated that 2 billion plastic razors end up in landfills each year! And that’s not to mention blade cartridges and packaging.) What’s interesting about this new chapter in the history of hair removal is that we’re taking a step forward, but also a couple steps back. You see, technology is always striving to make a greener gadget — like the newfangled recyclable and rechargeable razors on the market — but some of the “old school” shaving techniques are back in style. And they still work just as well, without leaving nasty nicks in the environment. Here’s a breakdown of some of the best options out there: BRAND NEW: Recycline Preserve Triple Razor Forget disposable — now it’s recyclable razors. Recycline’s Preserve Triple Razor has a recycled plastic handle (65 percent from Stonyfield yogurt cups) and titanium-coated triple blades that boast a natural lubricating strip. Even the packaging is eco-friendly. The plastic case is made from renewable wood sources and can also be used as a travel case. But here’s the best part: When you’re ready for new blades — or all new razors — print a prepaid postage label from Recycline’s Web site and send ‘em back, packaging and all, to the company to be recycled again. A four-pack of cheerfully colored razors sells for $7.25 at www.recycline.com. Wally Rubber Shower Razor This nifty looking razor may be included in The Smithsonian’s Permanent Design Collection! Molded out of nonslip solid rubber, the Wally can bend along with the contours of your body for a close, smooth shave. It even has its own suction-cup hanger for easy-to-find placement in the shower. The Wally razor is available in green or clear and comes equipped with one blade. It sells for $6.95 from www.veganessentials.com. A five-pack of platinum-edged replacement blades costs $7.99, sold separately. The Razor Saver With the Razor Saver, you can pinch pennies and extend the life of your disposable blades by sharpening them — up to 50 times. Just insert your razor in the Razor Saver and run the old blade across the sharpening surface several times to freshen the edge, time and again. It works on single, double and triple blades. $11.95 at www.sustainablevillage.com Solar-Powered Electric Shaver Most electric razors last longer than disposables, but they gobble up energy and often contain batteries made from dangerous metals. Enter the Solar Powered Shaver. It’s fully solar-powered and quite compact, so it’s great for tucking into a backpack while traveling. Requires eight hours to charge. It’s available at www.ecotopia.co.uk, where it sells for œ34.25 (about $55). TRIED AND TRUE: Old Fashioned Safety and Straight Razors You may remember your grandfather using one of these, and a number of “old school” barbers still do. A straight razor looks a little scary, but it has been used for ages, and it’s making a comeback. Why? The blade can be resharpened and reused for a lifetime or more, and it hearkens back to a bygone era. In fact, many people prefer to seek out the antique originals for top-quality construction, either from grandpa’s dresser drawer or from flea markets. They’re not expensive, and they are ready to be sharpened and used anew. With a bit of practice, shaving with a straight blade is easy to do and virtually danger-free. There’s a great how-to article called “How to Use a Straight Razor” available online at www.motherearthnews.com. If you’re still nervous about the thought of that blade at your throat, though, you might consider another oldie but goodie, the safety razor. Its blades are tucked into a cartridge protected by plastic casing and mounted atop a metal handle, much like the design of disposables today. But when you need a new safety razor blade, you simply replace the metal blade itself, not the whole cartridge. Better yet, sharpen your old blade! A variety of straight and safety razors are available at www.classicshaving.com. WAIT! WHAT ABOUT WAXING? Most shaving waxes found in home waxing kits and salons contain petroleum-based ingredients and icky chemical additives. Wax naturally instead with Gigi Organic Milk and Honee Wax ($13.99 at www.enailsupply.com), Moom’s Organic Hair Removal ($19.95 at www.moom.com), or Parissa Body Sugar ($12 at www.parissa.com). PULL-OUT BOX: Shaving-cream alternatives From the Web: Elemental Soap Works (elementalsoapworks.com) Herbal Shave Bar, infused with a citrus scent and bentonite clay, which helps reduce friction (and nicks). Another shaving cream alternative is Pacific Shaving Company’s Shaving Oil (pacificshaving.com), made from a variety of natural oils, such as sunflower, avocado and kukui nut. The tiny bottle is good for about 100 shaves and is easy to tuck into a toiletry kit. Alba Botanicals and Tom’s of Maine also make natural shaving creams that are stored in easy-to-recycle tubes. For something more playful, try Herban Cowboy products (herbancowboy.com), available in stores nationwide.