I try to change my cheap, disposable razor every year. Sometimes I forget and change it after 2 or 3 years.
The secret?
Whiskers are not tougher than a steel blade, but dirt (small particles of rock) is harder than steel, so you must thoroughly wash your face before shaving to remove dirt from the skin. I shave in the shower using face soap as a lubricant. Since the soap is a surfactant it will keep any dirt from adhering to the skin and damaging the blade.
And this may be more important, you must remove water from the blade. As water dries it leaves behind minerals that will form crystals on the edge of the blade. You can only see these crystals with extreme magnification, but they are much larger than the sharp edge of the blade. There are several ways to prevent the crystal formations:
- WD-40. Remember WD stands for Water Displacement
- Leave the blade in water. Change the water at least weekly to prevent algae growth.
- Towel dry the blade followed by blowing the last of the water off the blade. I do this. But the first few times I did it I managed to cut my lips with the blade. Compressed air would work but few of us have it in the house.
Every once in a while I get a sample of a 'NEW' blade in the mail. I throw them in my pile of throwaway blades to be used later. It has been 10+ years since I had to buy a razor.
Mike
The secret?
Whiskers are not tougher than a steel blade, but dirt (small particles of rock) is harder than steel, so you must thoroughly wash your face before shaving to remove dirt from the skin. I shave in the shower using face soap as a lubricant. Since the soap is a surfactant it will keep any dirt from adhering to the skin and damaging the blade.
And this may be more important, you must remove water from the blade. As water dries it leaves behind minerals that will form crystals on the edge of the blade. You can only see these crystals with extreme magnification, but they are much larger than the sharp edge of the blade. There are several ways to prevent the crystal formations:
- WD-40. Remember WD stands for Water Displacement
- Leave the blade in water. Change the water at least weekly to prevent algae growth.
- Towel dry the blade followed by blowing the last of the water off the blade. I do this. But the first few times I did it I managed to cut my lips with the blade. Compressed air would work but few of us have it in the house.
Every once in a while I get a sample of a 'NEW' blade in the mail. I throw them in my pile of throwaway blades to be used later. It has been 10+ years since I had to buy a razor.
Mike
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