How to extend the life of your disposable razor blades

eddie — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:56:25 +0000

Razor blades are expensive. At an average cost of roughly $2.50 per “premium” blade (such as Schick Quattro or Gillette Fusion), a well-groomed man can easily spend hundreds of dollars on replacement blades each year. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to maximize the life of your razor blades. In fact, I think I’ve discovered the perfect solution.

First, a note: Don’t buy razor blades on eBay

Whatever you do, do NOT buy replacement blades from eBay! (Ever!) Razor blades are a popularly counterfeited item, and, more often that not, the blades that you get from eBay will be fakes. These fakes are of very poor quality and will tear the hair right out of your face. I’ve been burned by this one before; believe me, you’d be better of shaving with Fred Flintstone’s clam than you would a counterfeit razor blade. If you see a deal on blades that looks too good to be true, it almost certainly is.

Think about it – if Walmart and Target, two of the largest retailers in the world, don’t have the buying power to get blades at a rock-bottom price, how does some guy on eBay have that pull? The answer is, he doesn’t. He is selling counterfeit blades, either knowingly or unknowingly.

A number of sites have info on spotting fake blades. Save yourself the hassle and only buy blades from reputable retailers.

Razor blades get dull

All sharp edges dull with use. It’s science. That’s why expensive knife sets come with honing tools. With a disposable razor blade, however, it’s not possible to re-sharpen the blade. That’s why your course of action is to fight off a sharp edge’s other enemy – moisture.

Water rusts your blades

Water causes oxidation, or rust, to develop on your blade. This rust dulls the sharp edge of your razor. A blade left damp with water will slowly rust away, thus dulling the cutting edge. The single best method to extend the life of your blade is to never get it wet. Of course, that’s not practical, so you could instead try drying your blade after each use. Unfortunately, with today’s advanced four and five-blade designs, that’s often easier said than done. Fortunately, there’s an even better way.

The best anti-dulling tool in your keep-sharp arsenal: Rubbing alcohol

If you want to keep your blades sharp for as long as possible, keep a small jar of rubbing alcohol in your bathroom and wash the blade with the alcohol after each use. I use a high-percentage concentration (93%) and simply swish the blade around in the jar after each use. This helps to clean the blade, removes excess water, and allows the blade to dry much more quickly, free of those pesky water molecules.

I have seen some people recommend storing your blade in an alcohol solution, but I don’t recommend this approach. Today’s blades contain carefully positioned moisture strips with which the alcohol will interact, causing them to warp and distort the face of your blade, leading to a very shoddy shave. (Trust me, I’ve been there.) The best technique is to simply swish the blade around, then place it in a drawer, where it’ll be safe from water and water vapor, until your next use.

Using this technique I have extended the life of my razor blades a bit. (I think.)

Eddie On Everything » disposable razors

How to extend the life of your disposable razor blades

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