This is How Often You Should Change Your Razor Blades

If you shave often, you also have to change the blades often. But what does that mean, and when will it happen at the latest?

Blades for modern system razors are manufactured so that they can be used around 5–10 times on average. So much for theory. For some, this may be exactly true. For others, this seems far too early or too late. Why? Here are the details:

How often can I use a razor blade?

How long you can use your razor blades depends largely on how thick your beard hair is and whether you shave everything every time or just clean the contours.

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The following applies: the thicker and denser the hair, the faster razor blades wear out. 8 times is the maximum here. If your beard grows rather finely or you only shave the contours, you will have to replace it less often. Then you can use the blades 10 times, if not longer. At the latest, when the lubricating strips dissolve, the razor head should go into the trash.

What if I cut myself more easily with fresh blades?

Fresh blades are the gentlest because they cut the hair the cleanest. But many men also find that a new head only gets really good after the second or third shave because they can easily cut themselves with very fresh, super-sharp blades. Is that the case with you too? It’s understandable if you want to delay changing for as long as possible. But you shouldn’t wait too long. Otherwise, you risk even more annoying skin irritations.

Tip: Try to reduce pressure when shaving. This also reduces the risk of cuts.

Why do I have to change the blades so often?

Every time you shave, the blades wear down a bit before eventually becoming dull. The problem is that if the blades are dull, the hair will eventually just get caught in between them. Instead of cutting them off cleanly, you pluck them out of the skin. Which often results in skin irritations such as ingrown hairs. Tips for ingrown beard hair can be found here.

How do razor blades stay sharper?

The problem is deposits between the blades: hair, shaving cream, and dead skin. Please do not remove the dirt with a towel! The lint also clogs the blades. It is much better to rinse the razor with hot (!) water again and again during and after shaving, and then let it dry with the head facing up. Under no circumstances should you leave the shaving head on the wet sink or in the damp shower; water will cause the lubricating strips to wear out even faster.

In addition, germs have optimal growth conditions in moist, warm conditions. To be on the safe side, you can also disinfect the razor before using it again. Be sure to let the disinfectant dry completely to avoid skin irritation. We recommend the quick-drying SOS disinfectant spray

Important: Use different razors for your face and intimate areas. Otherwise, the razor will quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria that you keep rubbing into your face. You can find out how to properly shave underneath in our intimate shaving guide after clicking.

Also important: Don’t buy the cheapest blades. The following applies: quality has its price. For sensitive skin, we recommend the SkinGuardSensitive from Gillette and the associated blades; for heavy beard growth and rather insensitive skin, the Wilkinson Sword Quattro razor blades are our undisputed favorites.

You should change your razor blades regularly. Even if it costs a lot of money, you’re not doing your skin any favors with dull blades, and you’ll end up having to deal with razor burns and ingrown hairs.