OT: Blade users - How many times do you use a blade before changing to a new one?

[MadDogRevival]

I have used Mach3 since I received a free one in the mail about 1997ish. Always was blown away that they sent me a free 8 dollar razor and blades in the mail, unsolicited.

About 1.5 years ago I discovered that Walmart sells an Equate brand. They advertise it as "sharper" than Mach3. They are about 1/4 of the price, as I recall, and they fit the Mach3 razor.
The reason that I have trouble recalling is because I bought about 20 and I still have most of them left. I have a fairly heavy beard and I shave 5 times a week, whole face.
They are blocky, and not sleek, but I'll be darned if they are not sharper - they are. I left my razor on a vacation and had to replace that 20 year old Mach3 razor. The Walmart equivalent was sold out, so I bought the Mach3, which came with 2 blades. First thought upon using - "daaamn, these blades don't feel sharp."

Use Barbasol. Inherited the can from my grandfather, who inherited it from his father before him (not my joke, but I love it).

 

[Fishy]

Safety razor.

You go throw about 20 blades a year which costs you about nothing.

Or just slap a little vodka on the ol’ stubble and give ‘er a pass or two with a blow torch.

Baby smooth.

 

[David 76]

If you rub shaving creme on your mirror, it won't fog up in the shower.

I get a good month out of my Quattro. And I love shaving in the shower.

Unlike Kramer, I don't wash my produce there.

 

[Deepster]

I shave whenever my wife starts telling me I look like a homeless man. As in if I don't start shaving I'm going to be homeless.

I buy the cheapest disposable razors I can find, somewhere in the under $5 category. I work each razor until my face starts to bleed from 5 or more places. My motto is if you can't hack the situation you don't belong in this world. I can go five or six months with one razor. I keep working those babies because I want to make sure landfills will be available in the future for you young whippersnappers.

I do use shaving cream. Foam. If the can costs more than two dollars I'm not buying it.

Why would you do this? Are you that cheap that you want to look bad and hack your face up? I don’t think shaving has to be this super expensive exercise. Why stick to the bloody, painful option?

 

[dennismenace]

Gillette double edge avg. once a week, sometimes an extra day or two. Buy them by the bag in Walmart.

 

[Marbles90]

Interesting thread. I went to a basic cordless norelco many many years ago. I keep telling myself I should get a new one because I’ve had it for so long (10 years maybe?). But it keeps working great so I’ve stuck with it. I’ve changed the blades on it couple of times over the years. Yeah, it is not as close as a blade but who cares? I shave every morning. It’s quick, easy, very comfortable, not messy, and inexpensive.

 

[UConn Do It4]

Shower shaving I can’t do bc of the mirror. I’ve yet to find a solid mirror for in the shower that works for me.

But I’ve always used a hot water/hot towel on my skin to open pores first. Then after you shave, use a little cold water to close em up and freshen.

Fogless Shower Mirror for Perfect Shaving, Tweezing and more

GF bought one as a xmas present a couple years ago after listening to me complain for several years how all fogless shower mirrors suck. I think she got it on Groupon for cheaper then above, but it works really well. It has a reservoir that you fill with your hot shower water which heats up the mirror and prevents fogging. I didn't bother affixing to the shower wall because it looks tacky IMO, so I just bring it into the shower when I need (I have a beard so I only trim up like twice a week). It's worked out really well.

 

[Danzz]

My barber is an 86 year old Italian guy who works a regular 40 hour week . He owns commercial and residential property with no mortgages so he doesn't have to work but like Fluedslipcon he is kind of cheap.
He makes his own shaving cream which he stores in a soapy looking gallon glass jug. The soapy liquid goes into one of those barber type electric dispensers which he bought used about 40 years ago. It seems to work pretty well.
Oh, the good thing is haircuts are only $10 but most of his customers are retired guys so he only knows how to cut grey hair.

 

[Mr. French]

I literally just rub my hands on my face to feel for when i miss spots.

I can’t handle that - it would take me longer to panic and fix any missed spots.

That weird little stuff is my OCD kryptonite.

I had a buddy in law school that missed chunks of hair every day and it drove / still drives me nuts.

But I’m getting a lot of good tips here...I’ve grown a beard since the end of the HS season and haven’t done more than trim, shaving wears me out. Maybe I’m scarred from having to shave every day in HS years back.

 

[Lefty2one]

I've been bearded for years so I only have to worry about my cheek lines and the bottom of my neck. I use Mach3 blades and the "sharpen your razor blades on an old pair of jeans" trick and usually get 6-8 weeks out of each blade.

I tried Harry's last summer on vacation. Threw it in the trash halfway through my shave. Maybe I got a lemon? It felt like your average disposable blade.

 

[MadDogRevival]

I didn't bother affixing to the shower wall because it looks tacky IMO

Lol. Dude, why do you care whether the inside of your shower looks tacky? Do you post lots of selfies.
Just kidding, but impressed by how different people are - makes the world more enjoyable.

 

[ctchamps]

Why would you do this? Are you that cheap that you want to look bad and hack your face up? I don’t think shaving has to be this super expensive exercise. Why stick to the bloody, painful option?

My barber is an 86 year old Italian guy who works a regular 40 hour week . He owns commercial and residential property with no mortgages so he doesn't have to work but like Fluedslipcon he is kind of cheap.
He makes his own shaving cream which he stores in a soapy looking gallon glass jug. The soapy liquid goes into one of those barber type electric dispensers which he bought used about 40 years ago. It seems to work pretty well.
Oh, the good thing is haircuts are only $10 but most of his customers are retired guys so he only knows how to cut grey hair.

What’s this cheap business? Did you ever hear the word frugal?

Funny thing is I went through several expensive razors including the Quattro and Mach 4. Original blades worked fine. Refills were a rip off both monetarily and physically. Out of frustration I chucked the lot of them and bought three brands of disposables.

First package tried one and threw out package before finishing. Second package the shave was better than the expensive stuff. I was surprised I got three to four weeks out of it with daily shaving.

Of course they stopped making the brand (name escapes me) so it was trial and error searching for a new one. Settled on Bic disposable single blade. Not as good but still on par with The expensive stuff. I bought a twelve pack three years ago and still have four left. Only need to shave once or twice a week.

Use Barbosol foam. Shave within minutes of a shower and the result is smooth shaving.

 

[jibsey]

These companies jut want you hooked to their product, sending free handles in the mail.

 

[sledog]

I've been doing a blade every 1-2 months right after shower. Use soap on face. Still use a Gillette 2 blade (Trac II?) (why do you really need 12 blades?) but getting hard to find, and when you do, $$$. Good thing I only need ~9-12 blades / yr.

 

[8893]

I dried my blades with care this morning after shaving.

Expecting big things tomorrow or you all will hear about it.

 

[CL82]

I dried my blades with care this morning after shaving.

Expecting big things tomorrow or you all will hear about it.

I'm starting the experiment Monday, with fresh blades. I did look at my blade this morning after tapping twice (double tap?) and it was still wet.

After I see how that goes, I may switch to shaving after showering. Not sure about that yet though. Shaving in the shower just seems to be a bridge too far.

 

[8893]

I'm starting the experiment Monday, with fresh blades. I did look at my blade this morning after tapping twice (double tap?) and it was still wet.

After I see how that goes, I may switch to shaving after showering. Not sure about that yet though. Shaving in the shower just seems to be a bridge too far.

Looked at my blades before shaving this morning and they looked dry but dull from dried water. Did the double tap after shaving and then towel dried and they already looked shinier than before shaving, so, like I said, I am expecting big things tomorrow. Or else.

 

[Husky25]

I'm starting the experiment Monday, with fresh blades. I did look at my blade this morning after tapping twice (double tap?) and it was still wet.

After I see how that goes, I may switch to shaving after showering. Not sure about that yet though. Shaving in the shower just seems to be a bridge too far.

Oh no, it's incredible liberating .

Brushing my teeth, on the other hand...

 

[Yardigan]

Prefer shave before shower...that way, if there's any blood-letting, it has time to stop before getting dressed...
Shaving in the shower...just seems like unnecessary extension of shower time and waste of hot water...not that I'm an environmentalist or conservationist (I'm not...unless it's easy/convenient...and this seems to be)

 

[8893]

Prefer shave before shower...that way, if there's any blood-letting, it has time to stop before getting dressed...
Shaving in the shower...just seems like unnecessary extension of shower time and waste of hot water.

Yeah I always shave before showering. I have tried shaving in the shower a few times and have done it when camping and get by with the shave-by-feel method but it's nothing I would prefer.

 

[Husky25]

Prefer shave before shower...that way, if there's any blood-letting, it has time to stop before getting dressed...
Shaving in the shower...just seems like unnecessary extension of shower time and waste of hot water...not that I'm an environmentalist or conservationist (I'm not...unless it's easy/convenient...and this seems to be)

The latter renders the former moot.

 

[TheChamps990411]

In the early 80's, I worked for Bic and was required to take part in their shaving experiments. I'd shave 1/2 my face with a Bic shaver and the other 1/2 with a competitors blade which was ALWAYS better. Now, I shave every other day with a Mach 3 in the shower with no shaving cream. I will use the same blade for 3 to 4 months. I'll go without shaving if given a Bic to use.

Bic is absolutely HORRRIBLE! Lol!

 

[geohusky]

Shave in the shower Schick ST2 disposal razors w/ Edge Ultra Sensitive gel (white color not blue) blades last one to two months shaving everyday

 

[sledog]

Prefer shave before shower...that way, if there's any blood-letting, it has time to stop before getting dressed...
Shaving in the shower...just seems like unnecessary extension of shower time and waste of hot water...not that I'm an environmentalist or conservationist (I'm not...unless it's easy/convenient...and this seems to be)

Just wondering - are you taking warfarin?

 

[Yardigan]

Just wondering - are you taking warfarin?

No. Desmopressin actually.

 

[Dogdeacon]

The latter renders the former moot.

I can't believe there's 5 pages about this. But I'll play:
1. I've got very thin growth, but HAVE to shave after shower when skin/beard is softer, way easier and less friction. If I shave before or without showering its rougher/drier than shaving after showering with no shaving cream.
2. Definitely need to dry blades after shaving and keep in drier cabinet space, also don't keep future blades in moist bathroom
3. Gillette Mach something, I get 1-2 months (shaving 5-6 x week), again very light beard but sensitive skin

 

[junglehusky]

My barber is an 86 year old Italian guy who works a regular 40 hour week . He owns commercial and residential property with no mortgages so he doesn't have to work but like Fluedslipcon he is kind of cheap.
He makes his own shaving cream which he stores in a soapy looking gallon glass jug. The soapy liquid goes into one of those barber type electric dispensers which he bought used about 40 years ago. It seems to work pretty well.
Oh, the good thing is haircuts are only $10 but most of his customers are retired guys so he only knows how to cut grey hair.

Spoiler alert - the home made shaving cream is his jizzzz

I had serious problems with in grown hairs and breakouts after shaving. Finally realizing (wish it wasn't until after college) that it was the triple blades I was using. The third blade pulls and doesn't really cut.

Was getting straight razor shaves for a while which solved the issue but time and money where just too much. Switched over to single blade safety razors and using the Astra Platinums right now. I switch after 2 fulls shaves usually or until I start noticing some pull. Huge advocate for the safety razor with single quality blades. Blades are cheap enough that you can just throw out if you get one that is pulling.

Switching to a quality shaving cream (Kiehls, Art of Shaving, etc.) was also big. Additionally, I started making my own pre-shave oil as I got the ingredients from my barber shop. 2/3 mineral oil, 1/3 olive oil, and then drop some eucalyptus or lavendar oil in there.

I went this route a few years ago and never looked back. I tend to go with Edwin Jaegger shave soap. You can get blade samplers on amazon, I settled on Feather brand blades. They last 4-6 shaves for me and just perform better.

 

[uconnfan68]

Spoiler alert - the home made shaving cream is his jizzzz


I went this route a few years ago and never looked back. I tend to go with Edwin Jaegger shave soap. You can get blade samplers on amazon, I settled on Feather brand blades. They last 4-6 shaves for me and just perform better.

Spoiler alert made me lol.

 

[Yardigan]

Spoiler alert made me lol.

Yeah, that was a spoiler...for sure...

 

[CL82]

I can't believe there's 5 pages about this.

The shaving thread is the new pizza thread.