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Oui Shave Razor Review

Marne Orenich
ByMarne OrenichSep 2, 2020 | 22 comments

Oui Shave Women's Safety Razor Review 2019

What is Oui Shave?

Oui Shave ($75.00) is a female-founded single-blade safety razor brand that promises a simpler way to shave with less irritation and zero plastic waste. The rose-gold razor also happens to look positively luxurious! (It's bathroom shelfie ready!)

But is this pricey razor worth it, especially when there are so many other razor clubs to choose from? I've tried talked-about razor subscriptions like Harry's, Billie, Flamingo, and Dollar Shave Club, and now, I'm breaking down the pros and cons of Oui Shave. Find out if this luxe razor is right for you!

Oui Shave Quick Facts

The Razor: Oui Shave

The Cost: Choose the bundle that fits your needs:

  • $75.00 for the stainless-steel safety razor and 10 blades
  • $95.00 for the stainless-steel safety razor, 10 blades, and Oui Shave Neroli Shave Oil (2 oz.)
  • $105 for the stainless-steel safety razor, 10 blades, and Oui Shave Shave Creme (6 oz.)

Sign up here!

The Products: In addition to their razor and blades, Oui Shave offers shave cream, shave oil, ingrown relief pads, and brightening balm. 

Ships to: US and Canada

The Oui Shave Safety Razor

Oui Shave Rose Gold Single-Blade Razor - Retail Value $75.00

My Oui Shave razor arrived inside an elegant box with a faux-marble look and rose-gold lettering. The blades for the razor were packaged inside the box, too.

Oui Shave razor is a thing to behold. The rose-gold finish is beautiful, and there's just a bit of classy branding at the end of the handle. It has a fantastic weight (3.2 oz) that lands it on the heavier side of razors I've tried. The handle is cross-hatched for just enough grip, even while wet.

You'll notice that the blade only just barely peeks out of the razor head (on both sides)—it's exposed just enough to do its job. The lip on the base also ensures you're not dragging the blade across your skin at a harsh angle.

What is a safety razor, anyway?

At first glance, a "safety razor" might actually seem more dangerous than the disposable or cartridge razors you tend to see at the store. Safety razors started as a safer alternative to the far more precarious straight razors that were popular back in the day. The blades in safety razors are surrounded by a protective metal housing, which ensures just enough of the blade is exposed. While the first safety razor blades had just one edge, most of the modern day models (including Oui Shave's blades) feature a double-edged design.

Safety razors tend to use less plastic than cartridge or disposable razors, making them generally more eco-friendly. Some safety razors, like Oui Shave, promise a closer, less-irritating shave, too.

If you're used to cartridge razors, safety razors may seem intimidating, but using these kinds of razors is simpler than you'd think. Check out my tips to get started!

Oui Shave Razor Blades

Oui Shave Single-Blade Razor Refills, 10 count - Retail Value $11.00

When you purchase a Oui Shave razor, you'll also receive a pack of ten German-made stainless steel blades. Each paper-thin, double-edged blade is individually wrapped for your safety, and the set is packaged in a disposable plastic container. Since the blades remain quite sharp, even after using them in your razor, it's a good idea to drop the blades back into the plastic container before tossing them into your bathroom trash can.

Given the plastic container, it doesn't appear that these blades are recyclable on a household level, but you can place the blades in a metal container to recycle with other metals. (See if your local pharmacy or recycling center recycles sharp items like these.) Other razor companies have mail-back programs for razor blades, but Oui Shave does not currently offer one.

Oui Shave suggests swapping out your blade every five to six shaves, so this set of  ten could potentially last quite a while. Buy new blades as needed ($11.00 per pack), or save 10% by subscribing to recurring shipments of Oui Shave blades (which drops the cost to $9.90 per pack).

Why German blades?

You may notice that Oui Shave razor blades (and the Oui Shave handle) say "Made in Germany". Why is this important? Because of the highly specialized equipment required to make them, there are only a handful of factories in the world that actually produce razor blades, and Germany happens to have some of the oldest. Germans have been notoriously regarded as leaders in engineering (as this article talks about) for centuries. Plus, there's this great song by the band Maritime.

Oui Shave Shave Creme

Oui Shave Shave Creme, 6 oz. - Retail Value $32.00

Oui Shave offers their razor and 10-pack of blades alone or bundled with one or more of their grooming products. I decided to try the Oui Shave Shave Creme, which promises to help prevent irritation.

This pricey creme has a rather thick consistency that doesn't run down my leg in the shower. The scent is a citrusy blend of blood orange and jasmine that I found to be rather delightful. The formula contains organic aloe juice, Argan oil, organic coconut oil, grapeseed oil, and Roman chamomile. The creme helped the Oui Shave blade glide without hesitation against my skin and left my legs feeling ultra-moisturized. That said, would I choose this cream over something less expensive? Probably not.

How to Use Your Safety Razor

So you've just received your gorgeous new rose gold safety razor from Oui Shave—but how the heck does it work? I know it seems a little scary, but it's not!

There are just three pieces to the razor (minus the blade), so disassembling and reassembling it is a cinch. I've had a little practice with other safety razors, so I was comfortable putting this one together as soon as I got it. (Oui Shave includes written instructions with your order, too.) If you're new to safety razors, read on for my tips!

First, I recommend watching Oui Shave's super handy video to get acquainted with the process:

Changing Your Blades

Your Oui Shave razor comes with a set of ten paper-wrapped, German-made blades in a protective plastic container. (According to Oui Shave, each blade should last you five to six shaves.)

Here's how to switch out your safety razor blade in four simple steps:

  1. Begin by unscrewing the handle from the base piece and separating the three parts of the razor.
  2. Carefully take out a fresh blade (heads up, they're very sharp), and drop it onto the top piece of the razor head (the piece with the three posts) so that it sits snugly. A note about handling: Make sure to gently touch only the short sides of the blade when picking it up. The short sides are not sharp, but the long sides are!
  3. Sandwich the blade between the top and base piece of the razor head.
  4. Screw the handle back into the head of the razor until it's tight.

Voila—you have just changed your blade!

How's the shave?

I decided to test my new razor out in the shower where I do all of my shaving. First, I spread a thin layer of shave cream on my leg. Then, holding the handle at a 30-degree angle, I proceeded to glide the razor up my leg against the grain of my hair.

I had a hard time imagining that 30-degree position at first, but I found this video from Oui Shave to be helpful!

I was a bit uncertain at first if the razor was working since I felt no tugging or snagging at all. But once I skimmed my hand against my leg, I felt nothing but complete smoothness.

Since I was still relatively new to this type of razor and the angle I should be using, I kept reminding myself to take my time and not rush it. I didn't want to get any knicks! After stepping out of the shower, I used my normal body lotion and didn't notice any irritation. I did notice that my shave didn't last more than a day or two, which seems a little less lasting than what I'm used to with multi-blade razors. I'm guessing that's because the Oui Shave razor cuts the hair once at skin level instead of going deeper, as multi-blade razors do. The upside is that this results in a lot less irritation and fewer ingrown hairs.

After using my Oui Shave razor on my legs a few times, I worked up the confidence to try it on my underarms. I was nervous about shaving that area since it's a little trickier to work with than my legs. But as long as I took my time, it worked just fine.

So, is Oui Shave worth it?

I'm not going to lie—trying the Oui Shave safety razor was a little nerve-racking since it requires a bit more finesse than your average multi-blade cartridge or disposable razor. But after a few shaves, I got the hang of it.

I personally didn't see a huge difference in the smoothness I achieved with this safety razor versus the multi-blade razors I've used in the past. But there's no doubt that Oui Shave's razor is gentler and will have much less of an impact on the earth in terms of waste. Every week or so, I toss a single paper-thin metal blade, rather than an entire disposable plastic razor. The weight, angle of the head, and blade exposure are all specifically made with sensitive skin in mind, so this razor is a smart choice for those who experience irritation when they shave. Oui Shave is also a great option if you want a razor that's going to last you years to come, if you dislike razors with messy soothing strips, or if you simply want something that will look darn good in your bathroom. I've never used a razor that's as green—or as classy—as Oui Shave!

If you're interested in learning about other shaving options, check out my comparison of leading shave clubs like Harry's, Dollar Shave Club, and Billie. Or, check out which services our readers named the best personal care subscriptions of 2019!

Would you pay $75.00 for a razor if it meant less irritation and less waste?

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Marne Orenich
Marne Orenich
Marne is a lipstick connoisseur, record collector, and twice over cat mom. She loves discovering new clean beauty brands and has quite the collection of beautifully packaged serums and moisturizers.

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22 comments

Daphne

I have been using a safety razor for about 6 years after I had gotten one for my husband as a gift, and I love it as a greener and cheaper alternative. We bought a hundred blades on amazon and it has lasted soo long. We got ours from Art of Shaving so I know now I could have found the razor cheaper probably elsewhere but I find it’s worth purchasing a razor you love because it’s something you will use for a long long time. I bought myself a simple stainless steel one because I thought I may not use it and I had gotten him one that was steel and I think rose gold plated and I still have razor envy when I look over at his side of the sink where it sits on his razor stand. Either way though, there is a nice element IMO to feeling that shaving is special with a metal razor and I will never go back to disposables. One tip I have though is not to bring it through airport security in the carry on because I didn’t think about that and had to toss a blade out when going on a trip. At least the blades are super cheap by comparison 🙂

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Rebecca Gray

I think the blades used in a straight razor are recyclable. You just need to keep them in a sharps container.

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kim

Does anyone have a review of how shaving other “intimate” areas with this kind of razor works out?

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Kathy

I like the concept and to use a fancier tool than my disposable plastic ones is tempting and would surely make me feel like some rich mistress lol but the extra work, higher cost, and the fact that hair growth happened quicker for you is a little off putting.
Thanks for the review!! It was so informative!

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Marne Orenich

Hehe “rich mistress”! Happy to help!

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Razor Lady

I’ve been shaving with a safety razor for a decade and love it. Less waste, closer shave. But good quality razors are plentiful and can be purchased for $20-30. A box of ONE HUNDRED razor blades is $10. Holy moly please don’t spend $75 on this. It is in no way better than the razor I have (Maggard). I highly recommend safety razor shaving, but this is absolutely obnoxious.

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Beth

totally, totally agree! $75 is ludicrous.

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Marne Orenich

Thank you for your seasoned safety razor perspective. Nice to hear that you have been loving it after the long haul and have wisdom to share with us on cost! This one is definitely for a very specific customer.

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Kathy

I posted my comment before seeing yours…but now maybe safety razor shaving is something I’m gonna look into more knowing that it actually could be cheaper!

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Flora

I read somewhere that you can use conditioner as shave cream and that’s what I do and it works just fine. I don’t have to hassle with buying another product that will clutter up my shower either.

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Dani G.

Same here! I can’t remember where I read it but that’s what I’ve been using for a couple of years now. I just use some cheap drugstore conditioner, or any conditioner I buy or receive in a sub box that doesn’t work out for my hair, and it lasts forever.

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Marne Orenich

Oooh, nice “life hack”, Flora!

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Lydea

I cannot imagine spending $32 for shave cream, and the “blood orange” sent was enough to give me chills as I read your review! Interesting idea though. I once lived in a house that had a slot in the wall to dispose used safety razors! I always wondered what would happen when it was time to remodel.

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Marne Orenich

Lacey mentioned finding a bunch of blades when she did her bathroom remodel! So wild that that was a thing, right?!

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DawnS

I like the concept of less waste but the cost and the extra time I would need to take to shave carefully turn me off. I am more of the really quick run a razor over everything and go, I don’t even use soap or shave cream anymore lol. But I will say my legs do not get irritated like some folks.

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Twyla

Thank you for reviewing this one! I used DSC for about a year, and am now trying Billie while I try to find the best fit for me. I love Billie’s magnetic holder, but noticed I am getting a lot of ingrown hairs since changing from DSC. :S

This one is a bit out of my range, but it was great reading your experience with them. 🙂

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Shea

I tried dollar shave club & switched to Billie. With Billie I have been getting razor burn every time I shave.. even with a brand new cartridge! I’m going to finish the razors I have left & cancel!

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Marne Orenich

Thanks for reading, Twyla. Glad you liked it!

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Janie

Same! I love the magnetic holder with Billie but the razor isn’t that great. I also tried all girl shave club and that razor is a lot more like the dsc razors and their shave cream is FANTASTIC. You might like them better 🙂

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Twyla

Thank you Janie! 🙂 I’ll look into that one next. It is crazy how hard it is to find a good, reasonably priced razor for women!

Michele

Great review. Thank you. I have been curious about the different shave subs. I dont feel this one is for me. But I definitely appreciate your review.

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Marne Orenich

Happy to help, Michele! 🙂

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