As summer approaches, I see myself spending countless hours at the park, the beach, the pool, and anywhere that involves me being out of the house. Of course, with shorts, skirts, bathing suits, and dresses being part of my rotation, that entails getting my skin silky smooth and ready to be shown off (not that you HAVE to shave in order to enjoy summer, it's just a preference). That being said, shaving was always my least favorite thing to do – the knicks, the missed spots, and let's not even talk about ingrown hairs.
But the recent uptick of subscription razors has made the process look a lot more appealing and less painful. So, as the weather heats up, I'm hunting for the best razor subscription out there. Having heard nothing but great things about Athena Club Shaving Kit and Dollar Shave Club, I've decided to put them to the test to see which one comes out on top.
So if you're looking to change up your shaving routine, you might want to read on:
PACKAGING
Dollar Shave Club's packaging was a bit drab and uninspiring. Everything comes in a small brown box stuffed with paper, including the blades, the handle wrapped in a plastic pouch, and the Shaving Butter. The packaging and look of the products were definitely a lot more utilitarian.
As for Athena Club, the packaging was more thoughtful and sleek. The branding was definitely on point from the color choice to the contents -- the razor, an extra blade, and a magnetic wall hook-- nestled inside a pretty pink box. Additionally, it came with Shaving Foam. The vibe was a lot more serene, which I loved.
The winner: Athena Club
COMFORT
To try out both razors, I used one under each underarm. Holding the products, I noticed that the Athena Club razor was a lot more comfortable and ergonomically superior to Dollar Shave Club.
The handle was completely straight compared to the Dollar Shave Club's which had grips on the handle. Sadly, this meant my hand couldn't quite find a comfortable spot to hold the Dollar Shave Club one, and therefore, it felt like my hand was cramping a lot of the time.
On the other hand, because Athena Club Razor was easier to hold, I felt like I had better control over it and that meant getting a closer shave and no knicks.
The winner: Athena Club
STORAGE
Keeping your razor clean and dry between uses is so important. Since too much water exposure will make it rust faster and dull the blades. That's why I appreciate a good wall hook or storage system. Dollar Shave Club, unfortunately, did not come with one so I had to make sure that it dried off or stayed in a spot where it wouldn't get wet when I wasn't using it.
On the other hand, Athena Club sent one that not only matched the color of the razor but was magnetic. All you had to do was peel the sticker on the back, put it on a dry shower wall, and voilá! When you're done shaving, you simply place your razor on the magnetic wall hook and it keeps it dry and handy. In this case, the little things make a huge difference.
The winner: Athena Club
SHAVING CREAM
This crucial first step can either make or break your experience with your razor and the starter kits for both brands came with their own shaving creams. Dollar Shave Club's was a gel that turns clear as you rub it on your skin, while Athena Club's was a foam. Although I liked the idea of a shaving gel because I can see if there are any stray hairs left behind, I preferred Athena's shaving foam. Not only was the packaging just stunning, but the texture was also super bouncy and soft. It really felt like the foam was doing its job, which is to create a moisture barrier between the skin and the razor. After using it, my skin felt soft and nourished, and I actually looked forward to shaving.
The winner: Athena Club
THE VERDICT
Although pretty obvious, I preferred Athena Club over Dollar Shave Club after having used one on each underarm. Not only was the packaging the most stunning I had ever seen and right up my alley, but the products delivered like no other. The razor was comfortable to hold, which let me get a super clean and close shave, and the shaving foam didn't leave my skin feeling dry and flaky – just the opposite! I also appreciated that Athena Club thought of the little things like including a wall hook that was both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Overall, Athena Club knocked it out of the park.
