If you use disposable cartridge razor blades, then you are well aware of their prohibitive cost, especially if you buy them at your local big box retailer. Moreover, tossing those expensive bad boys into the trash every few weeks hurts the pocketbook, in addition to the environment. These 4 Tips to Make Your Razor Blades Last Longer will help you save money and keep more waste out of landfills.
It was 2008. Barack Obama had just clinched the Democratic Party presidential primary, and I was a college freshman, ready to invest in my first “real” razor. I’d never heard of DE safety razors, and Dollar Shave Club was nowhere on the horizon. How to make your razor blades last longer wasn’t a thought in my mind.
I was mesmerized by the Gillette Fusion, and the impeccable marketing for the five-bladed behemoth it was.
It even vibrated.
I remember buying the Fusion, surprised by its reasonable cost, and it even came with a few cartridge razor blades. Over the next several months, I made my way through the cartridges, until finally, I went through my last one. I went to Wal-Mart, ready to replenish the blades for my Fusion.
I stood in horror as I frantically looked up and down the rows of razor blades. Surely there must have been a mistake on the price tag. $20 for 4 blades? That was more than I paid for the entire razor!
Horrified and broke, I decided the orange, single bladed Bic’s would suffice in trimming my peach fuzz at $2 for a 12-pack.
I haven’t touched the Fusion since.
There are still staunch users of traditional, cartridge razor blades. Just the other day, I answered a question on a grooming forum where I laid out the pros of using a DE safety razor versus a cartridge razor.
This was the response from one user:
“The internet loves DE razors but basic logic will easily refute the hackneyed arguments that get trotted out in favour of them every time this topic comes up.”
As a general rule, I try to argue as little as possible. Instead, I tried to take it as a learning opportunity and decided to write this article on how to make your razor blades last longer if you decide to use cartridge razors.
1. Try Some Alcohol
Dull razor blades aren’t necessarily caused by the friction between the blade and hair.
Instead, it’s mainly caused by the oxidation of the metal as water dries on the blade’s surface. This oxidation causes micro-imperfections in the material, which leads to dull edges.
After shaving, rinse the blades thoroughly, front and back, making sure to get all the hair out from between the blades.
Pat dry the blades onto a towel, removing a majority of the water.
Then, rinse the blades in a small cup of isopropyl rubbing alcohol. The alcohol evaporates quickly, eradicating any extra water trapped within the blades.
2. Climate Controlled Storage
Although it’s easy to leave a razor next to the sink after shaving, bathrooms aren’t the ideal location to store razors.
As stated above, oxidation is the main nemesis of sharp razor blades. The humidity levels from showers can speed up the oxidation on blades.
It’s best to store a razor away from the bathroom, maybe on your nightstand, dresser or inside a drawer.
3. Oil-The Major Rust Prevention
If you don’t feel like storing your razor outside the bathroom, consider leaving the clean blades in a small cup of oil.
The oil will prevent oxidation from humidity, keeping them sharp. Plus, the oil will help with lubrication on your first few shaving passes.
You can use a variety of low-comedogenic oils: argan, castor, hemp seed, jojoba, or olive.
Keep in mind that the oil may dissolve the lubricating strip if you’ve got one on your blades.
4. Denim Strop
If you’ve ever seen an old western movie, you likely have seen a barber stropping a straight razor on a long strip of leather prior to shaving a client’s facial hair.
Contrary to popular belief, stropping is not sharpening.
Instead, stropping realigns and straightens the edge of the razor blade, preventing uncomfortable pulls and tugs when shaving.
You can strop with a long piece of denim, such as a pant leg, or even on your forearm…if you are careful.
To strop properly, make sure your blade is dry and forego the oil the last time you shave.
Lay your denim out flat on a hard surface. Then, with a little pressure, push the razor blade upward on the denim, quickly. Do this around 25 times or so.
Make sure you don’t pull down, as you don’t want to shave your jeans.
If you are a die-hard razor cartridge user, try these 4 tips to make your razor blades last longer!
I promise it will cut down on your expenses, and you’ll feel better about not tossing blades in the trash as often.
Thanks for reading!
-Chris
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