I have a confession to make.
The first time I shaved, I stole my dad’s shaving cream and disposable (unused) razor. I didn’t see the point of buying my own when those were readily available for free.
They did a pretty good job, so I kept using them, much to my dad’s puzzlement. He couldn’t figure out why his shaving cream and razors were running out much faster than usual!
Fast forward a few years, and I am now buying my own shaving stuff. But, 9 times out of 10, I still shop in the men’s aisle. It’s just cheaper, you know. For some weird reason, beauty companies just slap a higher price tag on everything that’s pink… *sighs*
But, a shaving cream is a shaving cream, and a razor is a razor. Sure, there may be some differences between men’s and women’s shaving creams and razors, but hardly enough to justify the outrageous difference in price, right? Let’s investigate:
Men’s VS Women’s Shaving Cream
What’s the same?
FORMULAS
Men’s and women’s shaving creams do exactly the same thing, so it makes sense that they use the same ingredients. They are made with stearic acid, palmitic acid, and triethanolamine, all ingredients that can soften hair and lubricate skin, so you can shave much more easily. They also contain moisturizing ingredients to keep skin soft.
What’s different?
FRAGRANCE
Both men’s and women’s shaving creams are fragranced, but these are based on gender. Men enjoy aftershave scents, while women are stuck with floral fragrances (can you tell I’m not a fan?).
PACKAGING
This too is different based on gender. The packaging of shaving creams designed for men often feature dark bold colours. Shaving creams for women usually come in pink bottles. So, yeah, our bottles and tubes are prettier (can you tell I LOVE pink?), but that’s hardly a good reason to spend more for them, is it?
The Verdict
Men’s shaving creams win. They’re uglier, but get the job done at a much cheaper price.
Men’s VS Women’s Razors
What’s the same?
BLADES
Well, they both use blades to remove those pesky unwanted hairs. By the way, if the blades of women’s razors get duller faster is not because their quality is poorer. We just shave bigger areas, so of course, the go dull more quickly.
What’s different?
BELLS AND WHISTLES
I find that women’s razors usually have bells and whistles men’s razors lack, like moisturizing strips, and easier to hold handles. Women’s razors also tend to have a more curved shape that better fits and follows the contours of the body. But (maybe because of these features?) I never seem to get as close as shave with them, as I get with men’s razors. Hmmm….
PACKAGING
Again, women’s razors are much prettier. They usually come in pink or purple shades, which are much more appealing. Men’s razors only come in dark shades, which is a bit depressing, don’t you think?
The Verdict
Men’s razors win. They may be uglier, and have fewer bells and whistles, but I always get a much closer and precise shave with them.
The Bottom Line
If a pretty packaging or sweet scent is important to you, by all means, shop in the women’s aisle. But, if you just want something that gets the job done at a cheaper price, men’s shaving creams and razors are the way to go. I know I’ll stick to them.
Do you use men’s or women’s shaving products? Let me know in the comments below.
I’ve tried once and it works!!! 🙂 if you’re desperate, you’ll go for it but true about women’s razor being prettier and flowery 🙂
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I use men’s razor. I’ve tried women’s razor but it left me with stubbles >.< Mens' razor just gives a much closer shave. I'm using the Gilette one with Aloe Vera strips 🙂
.-= Connie´s last blog ..Tutorial: Red & Black Vampish – Alice Cullen? =-.
ah I’ve tried men shaving razor before and I don’t think there’s a lot of difference, besides it’s cheaper.. xD
.-= Shuu´s last blog ..I’ve been a good girl… =-.
I started off shaving using men’s razors, and have pretty much stuck to using them. I’ve tried a few women’s razors over the years, but the design always seems to be too bulky, etc. to get into the nooks and crannies like I need it to.
That, and with men’s razors, I can buy the blades bulk at Costco 😀
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I’m using the one from Gillette, which comes in pastel and flowery-looking packaging. I guess that makes it a woman’s razor? I don’t see any diff in terms of the price though. 😉
.-= HaNNa_HuLLaBaLoo´s last blog ..BOBBI BROWN Make up Workshop =-.
I steal my boyfriends stuff when I run out lol!
If you don’t like the men scents, most shaving creams for male have unscented versions as well. I find them to be the same and the male versions are cheaper.
.-= Dao´s last blog ..Cover Girl Outlast Lipstain: Pencil Me Pretty =-.
Nikki: I use them all the time lol Women’s ones are very pretty and I’d consider using them if they were cheaper, but for now men’s ones work just as well.
Connie: I agree with you. Men’s razors are much more precise than women’s. Women’s razors have never worked that well for me either.
Shuu: you’re right, they’re very similar. After all, a razor is always a razor. That’s why I don’t understand the huge difference in prices.. and the reason why I use men’s razors.
Shayla: me too, I started using men’s ones and stuck to them since. Women’s one don’t give such a precise shade like men’s and some of them are really bulky, I agree. I also can’t understand why women’s razors aren’t sold in big bulks, yet they’re much more expensive, it’s not fair..
Hannah: yeah, that’s a woman’s razor. Really? You’re lucky! Here there a few euros of difference between men’s and women’s razor. In addition, men’s disposable razors come in pack of 12 or more, while women’s ones only in packs of 3 or 4 and cost a lot more!!
Lydia: lol! I always stal my father’s haha.
Dao: I usually steal my dad’s shaving cream. I need to gt him to buy an unscented one lol. Apart from the scent, there really isn’t much difference so I use men’s ones, saves you a lot of money!
i was desperate when doing 24hr shift at work few weeks back so used one of the guys razors. not only no stubble for two day…get stuble next day with my razor… but legs much smoother. I’m converted. Lot cheaper too. Razor company’s ripping us off!
Jo, they’re wonderfful, aren’t they? They give such a close shave and are so cheap!
This is good to know! I’m living in Spain and having difficulty finding a shaving cream, as opposed to a depilatory cream, for women. I accidentally bought men’s shaving cream, but hey if it works then I don’t care! And it was very cheap.
Lidon, yes, it works just as well, but it is a lot cheaper! 😉
Hi, sorry I know, old topic. So really does a woman razor get dull faster? Yeah, usually a bigger area to shave, assuming one shaves only the beard (which even I don’t always anymore, lol, it depends on the time, but keep most of the beard) but generally the beard is much coarser or in any case faster growing than leg hair. Underarm hair is inbetween the two, I think, but closer to the beard speed. Beard is more or less like head hair, in some case slower in many cases, even a bit faster, dunno if it’s my case :), often a bit coarser too, still depends. Woman leg hair, except some cases usually gets the first hint of roughness the third day, talking about normal cases, just withing the hairie spectrum (nothing bad about it, I’d stress (: ) It also depends on wether one chooses or prefer/needs shaving the upper legs as well, which more than doubles the area, and arms too in fewer cases.
Dunno how that factors in dulling.
Antome, you make it a good point. The blades are pretty much the same. Dulling depends on how often you use the razor, how big the area is and how rough your hair is too. I guess part of that is genetically determined as some people are more hairy than others.