In this wooden box is a Safety Razor from Well Kept. A safety razor is a reusable razor. When the blade is dull, you recycle and replace the blade.

I've had the Safety Razor on my list of Zero Waste swaps since 2015. Why did it take me so long to get one? For one thing, I wasn't sure what I wanted my razor to look like. But most of all, I still had plastic disposable razors to use first.

When you invest in products for Zero Waste living, you make a choice that will be with you for your lifetime, or at least the item's lifetime.

When I decided to switch to a reusable razor in 2015, I looked into both second hand and new options. But because I still had disposables to use up (part of living with less waste is to use what you already have), I stopped looking and got on with using my plastic razors.

But what happened is that I eventually ran out, and I used my last disposable razor head for an entire year, literally until it wouldn't shave a single hair. (yes, I know that shaving is a choice). Then when those were gone, I found some pink plastic disposable razors from the 90’s at my parents house and used those. But when one snapped right in half while I was using it, I knew I’d have to make the switch soon.

So, when Well Kept, approached me to help give feedback on their razor, I really had to think about it. Because until now I haven’t done a work- for product exchange. I generally don’t like being approached by brands or asked to advertise stuff I don’t need or want. But this feels really different, and I want to talk about why.

What's different, in this case, is that there was no pressure to share my experience publicly. I don’t have to write this post. I’m choosing to, because I think Well Kept is awesome and that their razor is awesome. Over the next few months I'll be writing more about this process, including my experience of using the razor and how to use one, as well as my thoughts on advertising products. This post is part one. If a safety razor has been on your swap list and you're interested in the Well Kept razor, you can send me a message through the Life Made Light contact form and I can send it to you.