Cartridge Razors Have A 10x Markup Problem. Here's The Math:

By Grooming & Style Desk

Last Updated July 2026

Estimated Read Time: 3 Minutes

Quick question: do you know what your razor actually costs you per shave?

Most guys don't , because cartridge razors are priced to make you not do the math. A pack of 4 replacement cartridges runs £14-18. Averaged across how long each one actually lasts, that works out to roughly 50-70p per shave.

Here's what nobody tells you: a safety razor works out to about 4p per shave.

Same job. Arguably a better shave. You're just no longer paying a 10x+ markup for the privilege of throwing plastic away every week or two.

We broke down the actual math below.

The Real Cost Comparison

The Build

The SL-1 is solid brass, built to outlast the blades many times over. There's no realistic wear-out point in normal home use. Shave 4 times a week and that's 200+ shaves a year, on the same handle, for as long as you own it.

Amortised over 5 years alone, that's already under a penny per shave for the razor itself.

The Blades

SL-1 blades cost roughly 20p each, and a single blade typically carries you through 5-7 shaves before it dulls.

Cost per shave: ~3-4p.

Total amortised cost per shave: ~4p

Compare that to a cartridge. A 4-pack of replacement cartridges runs £14-18, and most guys get 1-2 weeks per blade before switching. Averaged out, that's roughly 50-70p per shave — more than 10x what you're paying with the SL-1.

Over a year of daily shaving, that's the difference between ~£15 and ~£180-250.

"Okay, But Aren't Safety Razors Harder To Use?"

This is the objection that keeps most guys on cartridges longer than they should be and it's mostly outdated.

Safety razors got a reputation decades ago for being fussy, easy to nick yourself with, something your grandfather used. Modern designs like the SL-1 are built specifically to remove that learning curve: a weighted head that does the work for you (you're not pressing down, you're letting gravity guide it), and a guard that holds the blade at a fixed, safe angle so you can't over-angle into a cut the way people assume.

Most first-time users report the adjustment period is a few shaves, not weeks. After that, it's not "harder" — it's just a different motion, the same way switching from an electric toothbrush back to a manual one takes a day to feel normal.

Why The Shave Itself Is Actually Better

Cartridge razors use a "lift and cut" mechanism: the first blade lifts the hair, the rest cut it below the skin line. That's marketed as a closer shave. What it actually does is set up ingrown hairs, since hair grows back at an angle after being cut below the surface.

A single blade cuts hair flush at the skin. No lift-and-cut, no hair snapping back inward, which is a big part of why razor bumps and irritation show up so often with multi-blade cartridges and much less with a single-blade safety razor.

The Verdict:

You're not choosing between "cheap and bad" or "expensive and good." The cartridge industry has spent decades convincing you that more blades and a recurring subscription equals a better shave.

The math and the skin irritation data says otherwise.

Over 300+ Verified Reviews

1x SL-1 Heavyweight Brass Safety Razor

1x Matching Heavy Metal Stand — FREE

1x 10-Pack Premium Platinum-Coated Steel Blades — FREE

1x Safe Blade Disposal Bank — FREE

1x Digital Grooming & Safety Guide — FREE

Lifetime (yes lifetime) Warranty

CLAIM YOUR 50% OFF BUNDLE arrow_right_alt

Try it risk-free for 60 days. If it's not a better shave than your cartridge razor smoother, less irritation, lower cost per year then send it back for a full refund. No questions asked.