How often do you switch out your razor blades?

[Raiders Army]

Just curious since I heard somewhere recently that the Gilette Fusion blades only cost $50 a year. Wouldn't you have to switch them out after two weeks of use for it to cost $50 a year?

Anyhow, I normally switch mine out after every haircut (about a week to ten days).

Poll coming.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

I only shave generally twice a week, so it reduces razor cost and bumps on my neck.

Gillette Sensor Excel, by the way.

[MJ4H]

It's usually at least 2 months for me.

[Kodos]

I only shave every 4 or 5 days or so. Too lazy to do it more often. And I only switch out the blade after probably a month or more.

[CleBrownsfan]

My Mach usually last a good month and a half... I'm growing my winter beard so it will last a lot longer now ;)

[Lathum]

I don't really pay attention. My wife works for P&G, who owns Gillette, specificly in blades and razors, so I always get all my shaving stuff for free.

[JeeberD]

Electric FTW

[PackerFanatic]

Electric FTW

Is it weird that I thought this exact same thing when I read the thread title? I am on the internet far too much...

[MikeVic]

I shave every second day, and wait until I'm bleeding in multiple cuts and it hurts like hell before I switch out my razor.

[Marc Vaughan]

My fusion blades last next to no time, I tend to swap them around in around 3-4 days if not before ... then again I'm a hairy git and I hate the feeling of dragging a half-blunt blade over my face.

[Butter]

I shave with an electric Tuesday-Friday, but Monday I have to use a manual to shave all the stuff off that I was too lazy to shave off all weekend. So, I shave with a manual about once a week, and probably switch my blades every 2-3 months. So, 10-15 shaves or so.

[SFL Cat]

You can change out razor blades?!!!

[Maple Leafs]

I shave every second day, and wait until I'm bleeding in multiple cuts and it hurts like hell before I switch out my razor.
I like to wait until the razor yanks out of my hand and sticks to my face. That's usually my cue that it's time to switch.

[Edward64]

After shaving, I blow-dry my razor to prolong its life ... it works for me.

clarkhoward.com - Save more, spend less and avoid rip-offs (http://clarkhoward.com/shownotes/2007/08/31/)


In February 2006, a gentleman called the show and spoke about using the same razor for a year. He revealed that blades don't degrade from shaving, but rather they corrode from the moisture that collects on them once you're done shaving.

He went on to explain his ritual of using a blow dryer to dry his razor after use. His call prompted others to speak up and share their tricks and tips for maximizing a razor's life.

Clark got inspired by the whole discussion (and the expense of shaving blades!) and decided to take a single 17-cent razor and make it last for one year.

He didn't dry his razor with a hair dryer, but instead took the lazy man's approach of just blotting it dry on a towel. It lasted for a whole year and he was very pleased to not have to throw money away on blades anymore.

[Fidatelo]

I use an electric, and have never once in my 30 years of life used a 'real' razor.

I shave 2-3 times a week. On my electric I change the blades every year or so, and am always amazed at how much of a difference it makes.

[gstelmack]

Electric here as well. But a haircut every week? I'm lucky if I get mine done every 2 months!

[hoopsguy]

Just changed out blades this week. I would guess I change out about 3-4 times per year.

Figuring that I shave about 1.5x per week, I'm guessing that means I'm changing them out after about 20 uses. So the equivalent of every three weeks for someone who shaves daily.

[lordscarlet]

It's usually at least 2 months for me.

You must not grow facial hair.

I shave every second day, and wait until I'm bleeding in multiple cuts and it hurts like hell before I switch out my razor.

That does not sound healthy. :)

I change mine either every third shave or when I cut myself. There is no reason to continually use a blade that is cutting you, that's just... stupid.

[MikeVic]

You must not grow facial hair.



That does not sound healthy. :)

I change mine either every third shave or when I cut myself. There is no reason to continually use a blade that is cutting you, that's just... stupid.


Blades are expensive, and I don't care about the minor pain and bleeding. I do the thing that someone above just posted about. I blot a piece of toilet paper after I shave. I use the one that has five blades and one on the back.

[flere-imsaho]

I shave every weekday and change blades once a week. I could probably make each blade last a bit longer, but... meh.

[lordscarlet]

I use a Sensor Excel, btw. And my "three shaves" means I shave once or twice a week.

[samifan24]

I was just thinking about this the other day. I'd say I switch blades every three or four weeks. I use an electric sometimes, too, but I find that it doesn't give as close of a shave. I've been thinking of picking up a quality electric like the Remington MS2-390 because I saw it Consumer Reports gave it a good score. Can anyone recommend a good electric in that price range ($40-$100)?

[MJ4H]

You must not grow facial hair.





I actually have very thick and dark hair. I also shave every day. I just dry off the blade when finished. I was taught to do that when I learned to shave.

[DeToxRox]

Once my arms are all healed back up.

[Raiders Army]

Wow, I must change my blades out really often. I just can't stand not having a close shave and after about a week I can tell that it's not cutting as close.

I'll try out the hair dryer trick, Ed64.

FWIW, I have heard that it takes a while for an electric razor to cut as close as a traditional one, but it's just as good.

[Radii]

But a haircut every week? I'm lucky if I get mine done every 2 months!


Yeah that seemed odd to me too. I try to remember to get one every 4 weeks but often don't for 6-8 weeks at a time.

[flere-imsaho]

Isn't RA still in the Armed Forces? If so, I think that'd explain the regular haircuts.

I get a haircut whenever I start looking like Bozo the Clown (my hair is prone to afros).

[Raiders Army]

I'm out of the Army now, but still get a "military-style" haircut. I was just thinking to myself the other day that I don't have to shave every day either. Old habits die hard I guess.

[CamEdwards]

I shave every other day, but really should shave every day. Considering I shave my head as well, I think it's pretty good that my razors last about three weeks or so. I'm going to try the drying trick though and see if I can go longer.

[Subby]

Great idea on the drying trick - I still use the Mach III and shave every day. If it works it will save a decent amount of money...

[lordscarlet]

I get a haircut every 2-6 months. :)

[Jas_lov]

I change them every 2-4 weeks. Since you have to take out a loan just to buy 5 razors it's not worth it to change them less frequently.

[tarcone]

I use the gillette good news disposable and shave monday, wednesday and friday. They last me quite awhile.
I just bought the wal-mart off brand for 97 cents as ooposed to the $2.18 for the gillette.
Holy crap, that was a mistake. I felt like I was tearing my face off my head.
The burn was horrible.

[OldGiants]

Basically the first of every month, whether I need to or not.

[MrDNA]

I shave every second day, and wait until I'm bleeding in multiple cuts and it hurts like hell before I switch out my razor.

We share the same MO, good sir. This thread makes me see that shaving every other day is actually fairly frequent. I am feeling so very metrosexual right now.

[Cringer]

I would say on average in a year, I shave 15-20 times for the whole year. Times like this help that average. I went with shaving once a week for about 4 weeks straight and now haven't shaved for over a month.

[TimGuru]

I shave a lot in the summer, at least every other day, and often less than once a week once it starts getting cool out.

I am in the "when it wrenches out of my hand and is stuck in my cheek" school.

[Fidatelo]

I tried to grow a beard over the last 10 days or so, but had to end the experiment this morning. Even at 30 I still can't get decent coverage, and there are spaces 'missing' where my mustache should connect down beside my mouth (ie no goatees for me).

Maybe I'll try again in another 5 years.

[Neon_Chaos]

I haven't had a haircut since December, 2006, when I had my head shaved.

I also use disposables to shave, I throw away one after a week of use.

[BYU 14]

Have to shave the head daily, which burns blades pretty quickly, they start to nick me up once I get past a week.

[FrogMan]

I use the gillette good news disposable and shave monday, wednesday and friday. They last me quite awhile.
I just bought the wal-mart off brand for 97 cents as ooposed to the $2.18 for the gillette.
Holy crap, that was a mistake. I felt like I was tearing my face off my head.
The burn was horrible.

I have the same shave pattern and I use the green Mach 3 blades with the vibrating handle. Honestly have never paid attention to the frequency at which I change them, but it's whenever the orange strip on top has faded out quite a bit. Maybe once every couple of months?

FM

[FrogMan]

Anyhow, I normally switch mine out after every haircut (about a week to ten days).


silly question here: you get a haircut once a week?

It's at least a month to month and a half between haircuts for me...

FM

[Icy]

I used to shave twice per week and to replace the Gilette Fusion blades every 2 months or so, but then i bought a Braun electric razor that has a gadget to wear always a "Gasol like" beard. I still shave once per week or so with that gadget, to not to let the beard to grow over that size, as i have a full and strong face hair that grows so fast.

[CU Tiger]

Shave daily with a Mach 3.
Rinse the blade in alcohol after each use (same principal as the hair dryer but doesnt ruin the rubber strip) I can consistently get 3 months out of a blade.

Hair Cut every other Monday

[CU Tiger]

*DOLA*
Why the hell would anyone want a vibrating razor?
Ive never used one but it seems like a bad idea.

(and Im talking about the Mach 3 dildo model not the electrics)

[jeheinz72]

I change them every 2-4 weeks. Since you have to take out a loan just to buy 5 razors it's not worth it to change them less frequently.

Bingo.

[DaddyTorgo]

i'm going to try this rinsing with alcohol thing. i probably go about two months on a blade (shaving M, Thur usually) on my mach 3, but hey, anything to stretch a buck.

[Raiders Army]

silly question here: you get a haircut once a week?

It's at least a month to month and a half between haircuts for me...

FM

Yep. See above. Old habits die hard.

[FrogMan]

Yep. See above. Old habits die hard.

oh, sorry, I had missed the middle of the thread. Makes sense though.

FM

[Pumpy Tudors]

I only shave three or four times a month, and I only change the blade every three or four months, I guess. So I get 9-16 shaves out of a blade depending on my frequency. On the rare occasions that I shave the mustache off, I just hire a Brazilian named Luciano to light it on fire.

[JAG]

I was just thinking about this the other day. I'd say I switch blades every three or four weeks. I use an electric sometimes, too, but I find that it doesn't give as close of a shave. I've been thinking of picking up a quality electric like the Remington MS2-390 because I saw it Consumer Reports gave it a good score. Can anyone recommend a good electric in that price range ($40-$100)?

Can't recall exactly what the price was, but I'm pretty sure when I bought it it was within your above range:

hxxp://www.remington-products.com/mensshavers/fs_ms2-390.htm

Had it probably a year or so, best one I've ever had.

[Pumpy Tudors]

*DOLA*
Why the hell would anyone want a vibrating razor?
Ive never used one but it seems like a bad idea.

(and Im talking about the Mach 3 dildo model not the electrics)
Frankly, a dildo is better when it vibrates. I didn't know that until my wife exchanged my anniversary gift to her three years in a row.

[Senator]

Shave daily with a Mach 3.
Rinse the blade in alcohol after each use (same principal as the hair dryer but doesnt ruin the rubber strip) I can consistently get 3 months out of a blade.

Hair Cut every other Monday

Just normal rubbing alcohol?

I have to replace my Mach III blades every 3 days. I have to shave twice back to back each morning, and by 3pm I need to shave again. It is costing me thousands. Sad thing is, my skin hurts because it is so sensitive. Cursed.

[terpkristin]

I usually do every 2-3 weeks, at the same time I change my contact lenses (it's a convenient point to remember). I shave my legs ~3 times per week, using Skintimate shave gel.

/tk

[CU Tiger]

Just normal rubbing alcohol?

I have to replace my Mach III blades every 3 days. I have to shave twice back to back each morning, and by 3pm I need to shave again. It is costing me thousands. Sad thing is, my skin hurts because it is so sensitive. Cursed.


Yep...normal alcohol.
The principal is, supposedly the razor doesnt dull from hair but from water sitting on the exposed edge and causing rust/oxidation and pitting the metal. So you can blow your razor dry, but it messes up thee rubber strip and wakes the wife at 4AM, or you can just dump some alcohol on there to evaporate the H2O

[Groundhog]

I can sometimes go maybe a three weeks to a month before changing my mach 3 blades.

I tried the quatro the other day, man, for some reason it gave me a terrible shave - 30 minutes after finishing I could feel and see stubble, and I'm not really all that hairy.

[airulf]

I just read about a new product hitting the market in Denmark just now.

It is called a "Razorpit".

http://www.razorpit.com/images/main.jpg

It is invented by a Danish engineer. He wondered what made blades go dull so quick. He found out, that the blade was fine, but a layer of hair, skin and soap caused the blade to become dull.

He then invented this razorpit thing. Basically it is a piece of silicone. You put a little soap on in and then rub the razor on it, in the opposite direction of when you shave. The soft silicone then makes contact with the blade and remove the layers from it.

The razorpit is formed, so that it also can be used as the holder for your razor.

The razorpit should increase life of razorblades, so it would last for 150 shaves. The razorpit it self is also made of materials that you can recycle.

I haven't been able to find any articles in english, but it is hitting the market in Denmark right now.

When the product will be available in The US, Europe and the rest of the world is not known.

In Denmark it costs Dkr 169 $25-30.

http://www.razorpit.com/ (in Danish)

[MrDNA]

After shaving, I blow-dry my razor to prolong its life ... it works for me.

clarkhoward.com - Save more, spend less and avoid rip-offs (http://clarkhoward.com/shownotes/2007/08/31/)

I've been doing this since I read this post and it's been working really well. However, I see now that if I had read FURTHER, rubbing alcohol seems to work even better and w/o destroying the moisture strip.

[DaddyTorgo]

i've been using the same fusion blade for like...maybe two months? it's phenomenal. but it's definately time to change it.

i got my dad a little $20 "razor sharpener" thing ("as seen on tv") for father's day that claims to get you 200 shaves with the same razor blade - he said he used it and it works well but i'm not sure...will try for myself

[DaddyTorgo]

I just read about a new product hitting the market in Denmark just now.

It is called a "Razorpit".

http://www.razorpit.com/images/main.jpg

It is invented by a Danish engineer. He wondered what made blades go dull so quick. He found out, that the blade was fine, but a layer of hair, skin and soap caused the blade to become dull.

He then invented this razorpit thing. Basically it is a piece of silicone. You put a little soap on in and then rub the razor on it, in the opposite direction of when you shave. The soft silicone then makes contact with the blade and remove the layers from it.

The razorpit is formed, so that it also can be used as the holder for your razor.

The razorpit should increase life of razorblades, so it would last for 150 shaves. The razorpit it self is also made of materials that you can recycle.

I haven't been able to find any articles in english, but it is hitting the market in Denmark right now.

When the product will be available in The US, Europe and the rest of the world is not known.

In Denmark it costs Dkr 169 $25-30.

RazorPit - Den patenterede verdensnyhed (http://www.razorpit.com/) (in Danish)

can't you buy a bunch and ship them over here to us? that'd be real helpful :)

ohhh - just noticed the date on this post. oh well...lol

[NoSkillz]

I use the Mach 3 as well and shave pretty much every day.

I get about two months out of each blade and just change it out when the white strip is gone.

[JeeberD]

can't you buy a bunch and ship them over here to us? that'd be real helpful :)

ohhh - just noticed the date on this post. oh well...lol

http://www.razorpit.com/shopping_cart.html

;)

[sterlingice]

i've been using the same fusion blade for like...maybe two months? it's phenomenal. but it's definately time to change it.

i got my dad a little $20 "razor sharpener" thing ("as seen on tv") for father's day that claims to get you 200 shaves with the same razor blade - he said he used it and it works well but i'm not sure...will try for myself

I'm curious now that we're a little after the fact or some mentions in this thread, if people have tried this or the alcohol trick or anything else to squeeze more life out of their razors. What has worked or what hasn't?

SI

[RomaGoth]

I shave twice a week and change the blade maybe once a month. My wife bought me a Gillette Fusion for Christmas but I have not opened it yet.

[lordscarlet]

I keep meaning to bump this thread as well -- I've been doing the alcohol trick mentioned earlier and it has dramatically increased the life of my blades.

[sterlingice]

Do you just pour it on there or use something like a q-trip to swab it?

SI

[DaddyTorgo]

I'm curious now that we're a little after the fact or some mentions in this thread, if people have tried this or the alcohol trick or anything else to squeeze more life out of their razors. What has worked or what hasn't?

SI

i haven't been using alcohol but i've been patting it dry. may pick up some rubbing alcohol but also want to try the sharpener thing

[lordscarlet]

Do you just pour it on there or use something like a q-trip to swab it?

SI

I just pour it over it, but I don't know what others do. A q-tip seems like an overly tedious process. The point of the alcohol, I believe, is to neatly dry off the water.

[Logan]

I Don't Shave Yet 1 1.14%

sup shorty!

[Schmidty]

The Quattro is the first razor that didn't tear my face to ribbons. I've been using it for like 3-4 years. I wouldn't even try anything else.

As far as electric razors- I tried one for a couple weeks years ago, and I got such a rash from the metal, I looked likean apple.

[MikeVic]

The Quattro is the first razor that didn't tear my face to ribbons. I've been using it for like 3-4 years. I wouldn't even try anything else.

As far as electric razors- I tried one for a couple weeks years ago, and I got such a rash from the metal, I looked likean apple.

I liked the Quattro, but I like the Fusion even better. Didn't like Mach 3. Apples have rashes...? Maybe you should ask your sister for some help?

[StLee]

I can't vote in this poll, either, since I haven't changed my razor blade in at least six months. It isn't as sharp as it once was, obviously, but I usually shave every 2-3 days, depending on what I have going on, and it works fine. Also to add, I have a mustache and goatee, so I don't have as big or rough of an area to shave.

[Grammaticus]

I use a Braun Pulsonic and it was the best shaving purchase I ever made. Use it every day and will change the cutting block at 18 months as suggested. It is the only electric that I have had where I don't EVER need a razor for spots the electrics don't get well.