Health professionals recommend replacing your disposable razor after one week of use. Using them for a longer period puts you at a higher risk for minor infections from the bacteria that can lurk in an old clogged razor.
That adds up to an awful lot of plastic over a lifetime. There are alternatives. Being hairy is the most obvious one. For men, shaving with a straight razor is actually making a comeback. I guess in a World where extreme sports are all the rage, why not try extreme grooming?
Here is a community site and resource for straight razor enthusiasts.
There is the not so remote risk of killing yourself with a straight razor. Safety razors were invented in the 18th century and their virtual non lethality made them very popular. I just learned that Mr. Gillette is credited with inventing the loss leader business model. Razors like the one pictured were sold cheaply in an effort to get consumers hooked into buying the disposable blades. The blades had a fairly high profit margin. These days both the handles and the blades are a bit of a specialty item.
Edit: It took me a while to use up my old disposable razors after writing this post. Once I did I went out and bought a metal safety razor. Here is the post about my new old razor.
