Whether you shave with the double edge blade in your safety razor or the modern high tech multi-blade blades from Gillette, Wilkinson or Raz*War, at some point they get dull. After days or weeks of faithful shaving service, you throw the blade in the trash. But when exactly should you stop using the blade?
Why do blades become dull?
The edge of every blade is super sharp, razor-thin, and therefore also fragile. Every shave takes its toll on the blade. The blade has to cleave through very tough beard stubble. In addition, a lot of dirt, soap residue, and lime stick to the razor-thin metal. This makes it duller and duller after each shave. When the blade is no longer sharp depends on the following factors:
- the quality or hardness of the metal alloy and coatings;
- how often the blade is used;
- the hardness of the water;
- the hardness of the beard hairs;
- whether or not shaving foam or soap is used.
In the case of multi-blade cartridges, you see a lot of gunk getting stuck between the blades. It becomes increasingly difficult to clean.
When should you stop using the blade?
At first, the blade effortlessly cuts the beard hair in half. Lightly scraping, it glides smoothly over the skin. Provided you have protected your skin well with shaving foam, you feel nothing at all. You only need to shave over the same spot a few times for a smooth shave. How often you have to shave back and forth naturally depends on the type of beard. The blade shaves your skin smoothly and comfortably.
What we often see with our customers is that they keep using the same blade too often. Especially with the expensive Gillette cartridge blades, people keep shaving too long against better judgment. Shaving eventually becomes a daily morning torture. Not pleasant and unnecessary. After a few shaves, you feel that the blade no longer cuts but rather pulls on the beard hairs. Around the sideburns and neck area, this feels uncomfortable. You also have to shave back and forth more often and push harder for a smooth shave. There is also a greater chance of shaving cuts and irritation, such as a raw burning sensation and red spots.
But when should you stop? According to Gillette, you can shave for a month with the same blade. Unfortunately, they don't say how many times. Our experience is that you can easily use a multi-blade cartridge about 8 times on average. After that, shaving becomes less comfortable. We regularly talk to customers who say they throw away the Gillette or Wilkinson blade after just 3 shaves. There are also men who say they can easily shave for a whole month with one blade. Depending on the quality of the double edge blades, you can shave well 2 to 7 times. The most affordable blades last for 2 shaves. The expensive and higher quality blades only become dull after 7 shaves.
Long ago I once kept track for myself of how many times you can shave well with a double edge blade. The following list of different brands is of course my personal experience:
- Timor: 3
- Dovo Merkur: 5
- Mühle: 5
- Personna: 6
- Feather: 8
What to do to keep shaving as long as possible with one razor blade
The question is of course how can you shave pleasantly and smoothly for as long as possible with one blade? Below are some tips:
- use only sharp blades;
- shower first and then shave;
- using a pre shave before shaving;
- wetting the face well with lukewarm water before shaving;
- applying and lathering a good shaving soap or cream with warm water and shaving brush on the skin for at least 1 minute;
- rinsing the razor blade well during use;
- thoroughly rinsing the blade after use and drying it by rubbing over a towel;
- hanging the razor in a holder;
- protecting the blade by means of a plastic protective cap.
With the help of the Razorpit (a Danish invention by clever commercial guys) you can keep the sharpness of the multi-blade cartridge blade longer. After each shave, you rub the blade over the rubber of the Razorpit. This cleans the edge and keeps the blade sharp longer. You can compare it to polishing the straight razor over the leather of the strop.
You can also rub the blade back and forth a few times over your palm after use. Be careful to rub away from you. Otherwise, the sharp blade will 'bite' into your skin.
Shaving tip
How do you keep track for yourself of how often you've shaved with 1 blade? Use a regular die (I didn't come up with this trick myself but it comes from a highly valued customer of ours) to keep track each time you use the blade. For example, after #3 or #6 you replace the blade. Or use a fixed day to replace the blade, for example Monday or the 1st of the month.
