Updated August 2026.
Quick answer: What is it really like to switch from a disposable razor to a reusable safety razor for shaving your legs? Three Biome staff members — Caroline, Michele and Nancy — found that after getting used to the different angle, weight and pressure, their safety razors were easy to use. They also reported less irritation, smoother skin and, for Michele and Nancy, longer between shaves.
At Biome, we love our safety razors. Less irritation, longer between shaves and smoother skin — who doesn't want that? Caroline, Michele and Nancy all use safety razors regularly, so we've asked them to share their real experiences, including what they love, what took some getting used to and their top tips.
This is their first-hand experience of switching to a safety razor for shaving their legs. If you're here because you're trying to work out which razor design is right for you, our How to Choose a Safety Razor guide covers the different razor types and what to look for.
What did our safety razor reviewers notice?
✓ Less disposable plastic and a razor designed to last
✓ Shaving became easier once they adjusted to the technique
✓ Less post-shave irritation compared with their previous razors
✓ Michele and Nancy could go longer between shaving their legs
Safety Razor Review: Why We Love Them & Top Tips
Zero Waste and Made to Last
Caroline says, and everyone agrees, that one of the best things about using a safety razor is being able to ditch plastic disposable razors.
At Biome, our reusable safety razors are plastic free, with a brass frame and chrome plating. Some of our handles are enamel-plated, or anodised and chrome-plated, but there's no plastic in the razors themselves. The packaging is recyclable too.
Completely metal, heavy duty and high quality, a safety razor is designed to be a long-term investment. With proper care, you shouldn't need to continually replace the whole razor, which can save money over time as well as reduce disposable plastic waste. At the end of their usable life, the metal razor and blades can also be recycled through an appropriate metal recycling service.
Prep and Shaving is a Breeze
All three women were nervous before using their safety razors because they feel so different from the generic plastic razors they were used to.
Nancy chose the 29L Women's Razor because of its light weight and twisting butterfly head, where the head opens up by twisting the handle. This means there are no loose head pieces to keep track of, but Nancy also says she simply finds the design "beautiful".
Nancy's choice is her personal experience rather than a recommendation that everyone should choose a butterfly razor. If you're comparing different head designs, weights and razor styles, see our Safety Razor Buying Guide.
What did they use to prepare their skin?
No matter what razor you choose, skin prep is very important.
Caroline opted for Dr. Bronner's Lavender Shaving Soap, which she found silky and smooth to apply. Michele used an olive oil Est Soap Ball, and found it produced a great lather.
Nancy used her trusty Dindi Shaving Soap.
Palm oil is an important consideration for Biome when choosing soaps and shaving products. All our soaps are 100% palm oil free. You can read more about our approach to palm oil free products here.
How did they approach their first shave?
The method each woman used was different, but all three agreed that using a safety razor became easier with some practice.
Caroline started shaving her calves first, as she felt there was less chance of cutting herself while she got used to the razor.
Michele started at her thighs and worked her way down. Her trick was to take her time while getting used to the new angle, weight and pressure of the razor.
Nancy shaved from her ankles and went upwards. She found getting the angle right tricky at first, but focused on what felt comfortable. On her first shave Nancy initially used a small amount of pressure, but after realising how sharp the blade was, she found she didn't need to push down at all.
Although Nancy did nick herself slightly a few times during that first shave, she said it was nothing painful or serious.
"You really just need to let the razor do all the work, you're just steering it."
— Nancy
If you'd like the full technique rather than just our reviewers' experiences, see our How to Use a Safety Razor guide.
No More Needless Irritation
All three women said they noticed less irritation compared with the generic razors they had previously used.
"Perhaps because it doesn't have a 'lubrication strip', my legs feel less itchy or irritated after shaving, which is great."
— Michele
Lubrication strips on disposable cartridge razors are designed to add slip and reduce friction as you shave, and polyethylene oxide is commonly used in these strips. Older safety data information for polyethylene oxide includes precautions around direct skin exposure in its raw chemical form. However, this isn't the same as showing that a finished razor lubrication strip will cause irritation during normal use.
Another difference is blade count. Traditional safety razors generally use a single blade, while many cartridge razors use several blades passing over the same area of skin. For some people, repeated passes and shaving technique can contribute to razor burn, itching or ingrown hairs.
There are several possible causes of post-shave irritation, so we've covered this in more detail in our dedicated Itchy Skin After Shaving guide, including what can cause itching and how to help prevent it.
Longer Between Shaves & Smoother Skin
Michele and Nancy say they can now go longer between shaving their legs. Both reported being able to go around three to four days between shaves, compared with around two days when using their previous razors.
Nancy also found that using her new razor left the skin on her legs feeling smoother and helped remove some of the little bumps she had previously noticed. Because she self-tans her legs, she particularly liked the smoother finish and found she didn't feel the same need to exfoliate beforehand.
These are Michele and Nancy's individual experiences, and everyone's skin, hair growth and shaving frequency will naturally be different.
Top tips from Caroline, Michele and Nancy
Caroline's top tip: Go slow and steady with the safety razor. Rinse the blade in water often and don't wipe the blade on anything, as this can damage it.
Michele's top tip: Exfoliate your legs beforehand to remove dead skin and uneven patches. Michele found this helped her achieve a smoother, easier shave with less chance of nicks.
Nancy's top tip: Rinse the safety razor thoroughly after each use and try not to leave residue on the blade. Keeping your razor dry, clean and polished helps look after it as a long-term investment.
We hope you've learned something useful from Caroline, Michele and Nancy's safety razor reviews. As Nancy says: "I love it! It's a winner!"
Thinking about making the switch?
Our safety razor buying guide explains the different razor designs and features so you can find the right option for your needs.
See our men's and women's safety razors, spare blades and shaving accessories →
Related Reads
How to Choose a Safety Razor: A Beginner's Buying Guide
Understand razor heads, handles, weight and aggressiveness to find the right safety razor for how and where you shave.
How to Use a Safety Razor
Learn how to load the blade, find the right angle and use a safety razor with less pressure and more control.
Itchy Skin After Shaving? Causes & How to Prevent It
Learn what can cause post-shave itching, razor burn and irritation, and how to make your shaving routine gentler.
Shave Soap vs Shave Oil vs Shave Cream
Compare the different ways to create slip and protect your skin while shaving, and find the option that suits your routine.
