Which is more environmentally friendly, wet shaving with a blade or dry shaving with an electric razor?
—Marshall Welch, Salt Lake City, Utah To shave or not to shave, that is the question. Clearly, growing a beard and trimming it with scissors is the most sustainable option. But if you find a beard unbecoming, uncomfortable, or unprofessional, there are several factors to consider in choosing between old fashioned or electric. If you go old fashioned, rather than running the tap, fill a small bowl or basin with water to rinse your blade, as this will conserve water. To reduce waste, choose a razor that disposes only the blade and not the whole body, and use a good quality razor–—I get considerably more shaves with the more expensive blades. Finally, use a brush and soap instead of the cans of cream. This reduces waste and is much more elegant. If you go electric, find out where your electricity is coming from. Hydroelectric, while not benign because of dams and the flooding of canyons, is (whether you like it or not) a renewable resource and if used during off-peak hours is a good sust
