Shaving products are a huge business, and in a saturated market, brands like Gillette (owned by Procter & Gamble) and Schick (owned by Energizer) know the only way to grow is by increasing market share or by making products more expensive. Razor blades have evolved from single blades to 4+ blades cartridges, with price increases to match. Unfortunately, the increase in shaving performance did not increase by the same amount.

A typical Schick Quattro razor blade will cost about $10, with replacement blades costing about $2.50 each.

But there are other options. You just have to look beyond the drug store or department store. Shaving supplies can be found much cheaper at your specialty men’s grooming store.

For the past 2 years, I have been shaving using a double-edge safety razor with single blades. You can spend anywhere from about $25-$100 for the razor (or more if you really wanted). I purchased mine from Men Essentials, a great online store for men’s grooming products. But the secret is the replacement blades.

Double-edge safety razors use single razor blades. So you’re not getting the 4+ blades of the fancy commercial razors, but most of that is marketing hype. With a little practice using a double-edge razor, you’ll get the same quality shave at a fraction of the price. Why?

Double-edge razor blades cost as little as $0.15 each. Yes, that’s right. Less than 10% of the cost of Gillette or Schick replacement blades. Men Essentials sells blades in 5-packs for $1.25 (or $0.25 each), I recently purchased a package of 100 Derby razor blades for about $15 on eBay, and similar deals deals are always available.

So I urge all men to give double-edge razor shaving a try. For some, it takes a little getting used to. But you’ll save a ton of money, and at the same time, reduce waste. A single razor blade is a lot less to be throwing out than a multi-blade plastic cartridge.

Bonus: Here’s an article to get you started shaving with a double-edge safety razor.