What is Oui Shave?
Oui Shave ($75.00) is a female-founded single-blade safety razor brand that promises a simpler way to shave with less irritation and zero plastic waste. The rose-gold razor also happens to look positively luxurious! (It's bathroom shelfie ready!)
But is this pricey razor worth it, especially when there are so many other razor clubs to choose from? I've tried talked-about razor subscriptions like Harry's, Billie, Flamingo, and Dollar Shave Club, and now, I'm breaking down the pros and cons of Oui Shave. Find out if this luxe razor is right for you!
Oui Shave Quick Facts
The Razor: Oui Shave
The Cost: Choose the bundle that fits your needs:
- $75.00 for the stainless-steel safety razor and 10 blades
- $95.00 for the stainless-steel safety razor, 10 blades, and Oui Shave Neroli Shave Oil (2 oz.)
- $105 for the stainless-steel safety razor, 10 blades, and Oui Shave Shave Creme (6 oz.)
The Products: In addition to their razor and blades, Oui Shave offers shave cream, shave oil, ingrown relief pads, and brightening balm.
Ships to: US and Canada
The Oui Shave Safety Razor
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Oui Shave Rose Gold Single-Blade Razor - Retail Value $75.00
My Oui Shave razor arrived inside an elegant box with a faux-marble look and rose-gold lettering. The blades for the razor were packaged inside the box, too.
Oui Shave razor is a thing to behold. The rose-gold finish is beautiful, and there's just a bit of classy branding at the end of the handle. It has a fantastic weight (3.2 oz) that lands it on the heavier side of razors I've tried. The handle is cross-hatched for just enough grip, even while wet.
You'll notice that the blade only just barely peeks out of the razor head (on both sides)—it's exposed just enough to do its job. The lip on the base also ensures you're not dragging the blade across your skin at a harsh angle.
What is a safety razor, anyway?
At first glance, a "safety razor" might actually seem more dangerous than the disposable or cartridge razors you tend to see at the store. Safety razors started as a safer alternative to the far more precarious straight razors that were popular back in the day. The blades in safety razors are surrounded by a protective metal housing, which ensures just enough of the blade is exposed. While the first safety razor blades had just one edge, most of the modern day models (including Oui Shave's blades) feature a double-edged design.
Safety razors tend to use less plastic than cartridge or disposable razors, making them generally more eco-friendly. Some safety razors, like Oui Shave, promise a closer, less-irritating shave, too.
If you're used to cartridge razors, safety razors may seem intimidating, but using these kinds of razors is simpler than you'd think. Check out my tips to get started!
Oui Shave Razor Blades
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Oui Shave Single-Blade Razor Refills, 10 count - Retail Value $11.00
When you purchase a Oui Shave razor, you'll also receive a pack of ten German-made stainless steel blades. Each paper-thin, double-edged blade is individually wrapped for your safety, and the set is packaged in a disposable plastic container. Since the blades remain quite sharp, even after using them in your razor, it's a good idea to drop the blades back into the plastic container before tossing them into your bathroom trash can.
Given the plastic container, it doesn't appear that these blades are recyclable on a household level, but you can place the blades in a metal container to recycle with other metals. (See if your local pharmacy or recycling center recycles sharp items like these.) Other razor companies have mail-back programs for razor blades, but Oui Shave does not currently offer one.
Oui Shave suggests swapping out your blade every five to six shaves, so this set of ten could potentially last quite a while. Buy new blades as needed ($11.00 per pack), or save 10% by subscribing to recurring shipments of Oui Shave blades (which drops the cost to $9.90 per pack).
Why German blades?
You may notice that Oui Shave razor blades (and the Oui Shave handle) say "Made in Germany". Why is this important? Because of the highly specialized equipment required to make them, there are only a handful of factories in the world that actually produce razor blades, and Germany happens to have some of the oldest. Germans have been notoriously regarded as leaders in engineering (as this article talks about) for centuries. Plus, there's this great song by the band Maritime.
Oui Shave Shave Creme
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Oui Shave Shave Creme, 6 oz. - Retail Value $32.00
Oui Shave offers their razor and 10-pack of blades alone or bundled with one or more of their grooming products. I decided to try the Oui Shave Shave Creme, which promises to help prevent irritation.
This pricey creme has a rather thick consistency that doesn't run down my leg in the shower. The scent is a citrusy blend of blood orange and jasmine that I found to be rather delightful. The formula contains organic aloe juice, Argan oil, organic coconut oil, grapeseed oil, and Roman chamomile. The creme helped the Oui Shave blade glide without hesitation against my skin and left my legs feeling ultra-moisturized. That said, would I choose this cream over something less expensive? Probably not.
How to Use Your Safety Razor
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So you've just received your gorgeous new rose gold safety razor from Oui Shave—but how the heck does it work? I know it seems a little scary, but it's not!
There are just three pieces to the razor (minus the blade), so disassembling and reassembling it is a cinch. I've had a little practice with other safety razors, so I was comfortable putting this one together as soon as I got it. (Oui Shave includes written instructions with your order, too.) If you're new to safety razors, read on for my tips!
First, I recommend watching Oui Shave's super handy video to get acquainted with the process:
Changing Your Blades
Your Oui Shave razor comes with a set of ten paper-wrapped, German-made blades in a protective plastic container. (According to Oui Shave, each blade should last you five to six shaves.)
Here's how to switch out your safety razor blade in four simple steps:
1 of 5 | 1. Unscrew the handle
- Begin by unscrewing the handle from the base piece and separating the three parts of the razor.
- Carefully take out a fresh blade (heads up, they're very sharp), and drop it onto the top piece of the razor head (the piece with the three posts) so that it sits snugly. A note about handling: Make sure to gently touch only the short sides of the blade when picking it up. The short sides are not sharp, but the long sides are!
- Sandwich the blade between the top and base piece of the razor head.
- Screw the handle back into the head of the razor until it's tight.
Voila—you have just changed your blade!
How's the shave?
I decided to test my new razor out in the shower where I do all of my shaving. First, I spread a thin layer of shave cream on my leg. Then, holding the handle at a 30-degree angle, I proceeded to glide the razor up my leg against the grain of my hair.
I had a hard time imagining that 30-degree position at first, but I found this video from Oui Shave to be helpful!
I was a bit uncertain at first if the razor was working since I felt no tugging or snagging at all. But once I skimmed my hand against my leg, I felt nothing but complete smoothness.
Since I was still relatively new to this type of razor and the angle I should be using, I kept reminding myself to take my time and not rush it. I didn't want to get any knicks! After stepping out of the shower, I used my normal body lotion and didn't notice any irritation. I did notice that my shave didn't last more than a day or two, which seems a little less lasting than what I'm used to with multi-blade razors. I'm guessing that's because the Oui Shave razor cuts the hair once at skin level instead of going deeper, as multi-blade razors do. The upside is that this results in a lot less irritation and fewer ingrown hairs.
After using my Oui Shave razor on my legs a few times, I worked up the confidence to try it on my underarms. I was nervous about shaving that area since it's a little trickier to work with than my legs. But as long as I took my time, it worked just fine.
So, is Oui Shave worth it?
I'm not going to lie—trying the Oui Shave safety razor was a little nerve-racking since it requires a bit more finesse than your average multi-blade cartridge or disposable razor. But after a few shaves, I got the hang of it.
I personally didn't see a huge difference in the smoothness I achieved with this safety razor versus the multi-blade razors I've used in the past. But there's no doubt that Oui Shave's razor is gentler and will have much less of an impact on the earth in terms of waste. Every week or so, I toss a single paper-thin metal blade, rather than an entire disposable plastic razor. The weight, angle of the head, and blade exposure are all specifically made with sensitive skin in mind, so this razor is a smart choice for those who experience irritation when they shave. Oui Shave is also a great option if you want a razor that's going to last you years to come, if you dislike razors with messy soothing strips, or if you simply want something that will look darn good in your bathroom. I've never used a razor that's as green—or as classy—as Oui Shave!
If you're interested in learning about other shaving options, check out my comparison of leading shave clubs like Harry's, Dollar Shave Club, and Billie. Or, check out which services our readers named the best personal care subscriptions of 2019!
Would you pay $75.00 for a razor if it meant less irritation and less waste?
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