When you are ready to shave and have soap on your face, you don’t want to drag a dull razor across your face. Worn-out razor blades not only make it hard to get a close, clean shave, but they can also cause razor burn. It’s important to change your razor blades often enough so that your razor doesn’t irritate your skin or, worse, cause cuts, nicks, ingrown hairs, and infections. Not sure how often you need to replace razor blades? Read on with Teeanime to find out.
How Often Should You Change Your Razor Blades?
According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, you should change your razor blades or toss away disposable razors every five to seven shaves, if not sooner. High-quality razor blades should last five to seven shaves if properly cared for and kept clean. Cheaper disposable razors, on the other hand, may wear out faster. Skin irritation after shaving, a less close shave, patchy areas or spots missed, skin that feels rough after shaving, dullness to the razor blades, a feeling that hairs are being pulled instead of cut as you shave, and excessive friction of the blades across your skin as you shave such that it feels like you have to drag it over your skin are all signs that it’s time to change your razor blades. Furthermore, a razor with a buildup of gunk that cannot be rinsed away should be thrown right away because it can create nicks and infections by dragging unevenly across your skin and introducing housed germs into your pores.
Factors that Affect How Often You Should Change Your Razor Blades
While the general rule of thumb is to replace your razor blades every five to seven shaves, there are four primary factors that ultimately influence the longevity of your razor blades.
The Quality of the Razor Blades
In general, you should replace your razor blades every five to seven shaves, but there are four main things that affect how long your razor blades last.
The Thickness and Density of Your Hair
Hair thickness and density affect razor blade longevity in addition to quality. If you have thicker, denser hair, you’ll need to replace your razor blade sooner. Your blade will wear out faster. Even if you have one but not the other—thick but soft hair or sparse but thick hair—your razor blades will wear out faster. Again, a dull razor will drag instead of glide across your face. R things that affect how long razor blades last.
The Surface Area You are Shaving
The more surface area you clean with each shave, the faster your razor blades will wear out. If you only shave small sections of your face to produce neat margins around a classy beard, your razor will likely last longer than if you shave your complete face and nether regions.
How Well You Clean Your Razor
How you care for your razor affects how often you should replace the blades. Shaving gel or cream should always be used. This prolongs the razor’s gel strip, promotes glide rather than dragging, and prevents razor burn. Shaving wet hair helps razor blades last longer. Wet compresses or showering before shaving soften skin and hair. This minimizes friction or resistance on the razor blades and makes hair simpler to cut. When your hair is soft and the razor glides effortlessly, the blades last longer.
Rinsing the blades after each swipe prevents dead skin buildup. After shaving, rinse and soap your razor. Rinse with hot water and let dry before storing. Bacteria and debris can build up between razor blades, blunting them. Keep your razor out of the sink or shower to preserve the blades’ life. For hygiene and to extend the life of your razor blades, use a separate razor for your face and body.
How Often Should You Change Your Razor Blades on an Electric Shaver?
If you use an electric razor, you won’t need to replace razor blades as often, although the foils and blades do wear out. Electric razor blades are more substantial and durable than those used for disposable razors, so they often last six months or so, depending on how often you shave, the quality of the razor, the coarseness and density of your hair, the surface area you’re shaving, and how well you care for the razor.
If you shave every day, change razor blades and foils every four months. High-quality electric razor blades used twice weekly may last a year. Wet shaving after a shower and using lubricating shaving gel will prolong razor blade life.
Electric razors with foils survive even longer if you take good care of them, shave with damp hair, and clean them after each use.
