How often do you shave, and do you have sensitive skin? When considering a shaving subscription, consider these questions before taking the plunge. If you shave regularly and you don’t have sensitive skin, a quality subscription may enrich your shaving experience. If not, it might be better to stick with what you know and trust. Explore the pros and cons of a shaving subscription before you decide.
What Is a Shaving Subscription?
Like many Americans, you might prefer buying from physical retail stores where you can view your facial care products. If so, the concept of a shaving subscription club might be foreign.
With a shaving subscription, you’ll always have a fresh razor and enough shaving cream. Subscriptions can be budget-testers, though.
Once you pay your subscription, the club ships you a package filled with a range of products. Generally, these supplies vary monthly based on manufacturer or distributor promotions. You’ll likely get the basics like razors, face wash and shaving cream, but there could be other products you may be unfamiliar with or haven’t used. Typically, there is no firm guarantee regarding what you receive.
These subscription clubs are a popular source of shaving goods for many men seeking easy solutions. They’ve benefited from the steep rise in e-commerce since the COVID-19 pandemic, with online retail estimated to generate over $8 billion in revenue by 2026. Online subscriptions are convenient, especially if your lifestyle prevents you from visiting a store often.
While you’ll likely accumulate enough shaving stock over time to ensure you always have supplies, does this equipment accumulation warrant the price of the shaving subscription? Weigh these factors and decide for yourself.
1. Personalization
When you visit your local store’s men’s hygiene section, you choose the razors, creams and shaving accessories you prefer. You know from experience which razor works best for your skin and why you might prefer the more precise shave of a traditional razor over an electric one. You’re aware that certain creams and face washes cause allergic reactions, so you know what to choose and avoid.
While the best shaving subscriptions rely on shipping quality products to bolster customer loyalty, they don’t necessarily choose these products with your specific needs in mind. Before you receive your package, you won’t know whether it includes shaving products you’ve tried and discarded in the past for reasons applicable to you alone.
The best shaving clubs allow you to complete a quiz before subscribing. This gives them a clearer picture of which products to include in your packages, so personalization is involved. However, their knowledge is limited to your answers to a few broad questions.
You risk receiving items that don’t suit your skin. Maybe you’ll get lucky with the included products, but the next shipment may differ. In this case, it might benefit you to shop online for custom shaving kits that specify what you’ll receive in your bundle, down to brands and included accessories. Of course, if you can use any razor or cream when shaving, personalization is likely not as pertinent, and — with a subscription —- you’ll enjoy access to new supplies whenever you need them.
2. Wasted Equipment or Accessories
You might wear short stubble or a chinstrap regularly. If you’re not a constant shaver or receive items in your package that aren’t suited to your requirements, you run the risk of accumulating, throwing away or donating your subscription items. With good subscriptions, you choose how often you receive shipments — they could come monthly or every three months, for example.
Selecting a subscription service with a delivery frequency option can reduce the risk of wasted items. However, you could still pay premium rates for extra razors or aftershave that sit in your bathroom cabinet. Stocking up is one thing, but on-hand items only have positive investment value for a limited time before they become obsolete. Buying items when needed may make more financial sense than accumulating them indefinitely, meaning a shaving subscription may not be your best option.
3. Costs
The importance of cutting costs on shaving equipment depends on your budget constraints. Many people have to watch their budgets closely. Considering budget constraints means factoring in paying premium rates for a shaving subscription and assessing the chances of any unwanted or unused razors and accessories. Compare these factors to taking the time to stock up when needed. Ultimately, this decision lies with you.
Ask yourself whether you’ll benefit from the shaving supplies you receive in the mail. You’ll undoubtedly enjoy the novelty of the saved time. However, if this enjoyment subsides as your subscription no longer benefits you or your bank balance, it may no longer be worth its cost. In this instance, consider investing in the items you truly need for a positive shaving experience and less unnecessary costs.
If you’ve become unhappy with an existing shaving subscription, you can investigate other club options that may be more cost-effective. When doing so, consider the quality of the products they provide and whether the shipments carry any personalization.
4. Environmental Factors
Some shaving subscriptions supply reusable razor handles with recyclable blades, contributing to a more eco-friendly shaving experience. If a shaving club highlights environmentally friendly practices on its website, your supplies will likely arrive in more sustainable packaging, making any additional costs worthwhile for many consumers who prioritize sustainability.
Without a shaving club’s transparency around environmental intent, there is no telling how this factor affects your subscription products. If you lead a sustainable lifestyle, you might be better off purchasing your shaving supplies at your nearest store from eco-minded brands rather than subscribing to a club.
Shaving Subscriptions Carry Pros and Cons
Ultimately, whether a shaving subscription is worth the cost depends on you. If a recurring payment suits your habits and provides convenience and endless supplies, affording you a positive shaving experience, you won’t mind the cost.
Alternatively, absorbing extra costs may not suit you if you want quality products you trust that won’t gather dust in the cabinet or adversely affect your budget or the environment. What provides your most comfortable shaving experience should be the deciding factor.
