Shaving is mostly an annoying (also painful) chore ladies have to get over with, and we’re used to it.
Because most women use disposable razors, their cartridges (especially if they’re a bit dull) often tug and pull on your hair, causing irritation and bumps.
So, shaving without getting razor bumps, rashes and burns probably sounds too good to be true. Well, it is true if you opt for traditional shaving.
OUI is a high-end shaving brand geared towards the women, which is trying to bring back old school double-edge safety razors.
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How does Oui Shave work?
The starter kit, which includes the safety razor and Neroli Shave Oil, can be restocked with razor refills. Or if you’d like, the Neroli Shave Oil as well. It only takes a couple of clicks to get started, and your first order gets free shipping on the house.
Now, while the razor itself might be expensive, it’s well worth the price because it has a stainless-steel construction (hint: extremely durable). If you don’t lose it, it can last you a decade, or with proper care, perhaps a lifetime.
Which brings me to my second point: environmental concern: how often do you change cartridges on your razor handle? Now think of the number you throw away in a year. How about a lifetime? That’s a lot of plastic waste. OUI is attempting to change that. Once your razor blade gets dull, you can switch it out for a new refill blade — zero plastic waste.
Speaking of blades, they’re German-engineered and manufactured, and you get a set of ten refill blades. Depending on the frequency of your shaving, a single blade can last you up to a week.
Although you can purchase individual items on your own, you also get the option to opt for a subscription service — the refills and supplies are delivered to your doorstep automatically, whether you forget to shop for them or not.
Not only is it more convenient to never run out of fresh refill blades—which alone is reason enough to subscribe—but you also save 10% off your every purchase, which brings down the price of a single refill set to $9.90. Almost the same you’d spend on a cartridge subscription model, except OUI gives you a closer shave while saving you from ingrown hair, bumps, and burns.
You can also cancel the subscription any time you want, and you can schedule the automation of deliveries to your preference.
Types of products available
Your safety razor will arrive in a lovely box with marble tile pattern on it. The design choice is very stylistic, tasteful, yet minimal. Here’s a quick rundown of everything you’ll be getting:
- A stainless-steel safety razor
- A pack of ten refill blades
- A cute travel pouch
And if you paid a little extra:
- Neroli Shave Oil
You can tell just by looking at the razor how much thought went into the design. The attention to detail is incredible. So is the finish. The rose-gold look looks absolutely majestic. It might take some getting used to if you’re switching from disposable plastic razors though.
First of all, it doesn’t have the same lightweight feel to it. It’s substantial. Weighty. Hefty. Whatever you’d like to call it. The extra weight serves an important function. You don’t have to apply any pressure at all while you’re gliding it over your skin. The weight of the razor itself does that work for you.
Secondly, the cartridge of a disposable razor follows the contours and curves of your body. So, you can get done with the whole thing in a relatively short amount of time, but there’s no pivot head here or a fancy flex bar which turns every which way.
You have to take your time. Use shorter strokes and take it slow. Although that makes shaving more time-consuming (something which is already time-consuming enough), your body will thank you for the closer and smoother shave.
As for the handle, there’s a bit of elegant branding towards the bottom. It doesn’t have any rubberized grips – the kind you’ll find in most disposable shaving handles, but it does have a cross-hatching pattern stamped on it, which makes for a pretty secure grip.
The razor blades are ultra-sharp and super thin, and they come safely tucked away in a plastic container. As I touched on above, they’re manufactured in Germany, in a factory that has been in operation for over a century. So, you can trust the quality of the blades.
The shaving crème has a fruity, mostly citrus and feminine fragrance to it, and it contains natural ingredients to moisturize and hydrate your skin. It softens your hair and lets the safety razor glide over your legs. Although it’s pricey, it’d be a good fit for you if you have sensitive skin, or if you simply prefer natural ingredients to synthetic ones.
Many women would balk at the idea of shaving with a double-edged safety razor, but it’s just as safe as your cartridge razors if you exercise a bit of care and get the technique down. Although I still wouldn’t recommend shaving with a safety razor…well, down there.
Pricing
Let’s talk price now. If you only want the starter kit with the stainless-steel razor and a set of blades, it’ll cost you $75. For an additional fee, you can add Neroli Shave Oil and OUI Shave Crème to your order. They’ll charge you $95 and $105 for these bundles.
If you don’t opt for a subscription, the refill blades will cost you $11 per set. But subscribing shaves (heh) 10% off it, so you’ll get it for $9.90 only.
Company History
Founded in 2014 by a previous textile business owner, Karen Young, OUI shave was born out of the fact that women need a more comfortable yet smoother shaving experience. Without all the bumps, ingrown hair, and discomfort.
Currently, they’re a team of five operating out of New York, and among very few traditional shaving brands which cater to women.
Alternatives
If you’re not a huge fan of traditional shaving but are fascinated by the idea of subscription services, I highly recommend you try either:
- Harry’s Razors offers affordable, budget razor subscriptions.
- Brickell provides an array of shaving products with individual item subscriptions.
- Bevel offers razors designed specifically for coarse, thick, curly hair.
Pros
- The design of the razor is simply outstanding. Rose gold finish with a substantial feel to it.
- Eco-friendly design
- Won’t irritate your skin or tug on your hair
Cons
- Will take you a while to shave
You have to shave at a strict 30-degree angle
