How Often Should You Change Your Razor?

We all hear about regularly changing our razor blades but how often should you change your razor?

Knowing when to change your razor blades may seem tricky but fortunately, it’s pretty easy to gauge whether you need to bin your blade or keep it around for a couple more shaves.

Modern razors can last anywhere from 5 to 10 shaves before they go blunt. Each time you shave, the delicate cutting edge of your razor will become slightly duller, reducing its capability to provide you with a close shave.

As the blades blunt they will start to pull at the hairs, rather than slicing straight through them, which can result in a painful shave and an irritated face.

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Razor

There are some simple steps you can take to get more value from your blades and make them last longer.

Cleaning your razor is a sure-fire way to make your razor last a little longer. Rinse it before and after as leftover debris such as dead skin and body hair will speed up the blunting process of your razor blade.

Don’t neglect shaving cream and soap both for your face and the blade. The better lubricated the surface of the skin, the less resistance there is as the blade passes over, meaning the sharp edge won’t dull so quickly.

A razor blade sharpener could also do the trick as they use high friction silicon to refresh your blades and some even have the potential to keep them sharp for six times as long. These sharpeners are very inconsistent in terms of quality, however, so we wouldn’t personally recommend getting one as it’s easier to just replace your razor blades.

How To Avoid Skin Irritation

When your razor blades start to dull you’re much more likely to encounter razor burn and razor bumps. Other than the obvious method to change your blade we thought it may be useful to list some other ways you can avoid any nasty irritation.

1. Exfoliation can also help prepare your skin for shaving by removing any dead skin cells.
2. Use shaving gel to preserve moisture and help your razor blade glide more easily.
3. Hydrate your skin with hot water via a bath or shower for a few minutes before you shave.
4. Apply moisturizer, preferably alcohol-free, after you shave to help keep skin hydrated.
5. And, of course, always use a sharp, clean razor blade.

How Long Do Razor Blades Last?

This all comes down to common sense and how often you find yourself shaving. Ideally, you want to change your razor blade after 5-10 shaves and this is the general consensus amongst companies and experts.

The thickness and density of your facial hair also have a key role to play in frequency too. The thicker and denser your hair, the faster your blade will wear out and need replacing.

When considering how often you should change the blade on a razor bear in mind things such as having to pull harder than normal or the blade gets caught and nicks more when dragging it across your skin, that is a sure sign that the blade has gone or is about to.

Dragging is what occurs when blades aren’t changed often enough. Remember, your razor should glide effortlessly. Here’s a rough outline to replacing your blades:

If you shave every day, replace your blade every 1 to 2 weeks.

If you shave every other day, replace your blade every 2 to 3 weeks.

If you shave twice a week, replace your blade every 4 to 6 weeks.

Cleaning Your Razor

While you may think a quick rinse will suffice there are some extra steps you can implement into the process so your blade can squeeze a few extra uses out of it.

1. Run some hot water, this will work better when it comes to removing any hair buildup. Then hold the blade under the sink and allow the hair to wash away. You can also gently tap the side of the razor against the edge of the sink to help dislodge any hair or product.
2. Use some antibacterial soap on your razor. Then, hold it under the running water again and tap it lightly again if there’s any debris stuck in there.
3. Leave your razor to air dry. In fact, this should always be the case. This will prevent bacteria from growing on it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should you change your razor?

This answer depends on how often you shave. If you shave every day then you may find yourself needing to change your razor on a weekly basis.

Is it bad to shave every day?

You probably don’t need to shave every day. Razors don’t just cut off your hair, they take a layer of skin cells with it every time you run the blade across your skin. Unless you’re looking to achieve a completely hairless look, you can skip at least a day or two between shaving sessions to allow your skin to heal.

What happens if you don’t change your razor?

Your razor will eventually get clogged with debris and it will become harder to dislodge. The longer you hold on to your old razor, the more bacteria, dead skin cells, shaving cream, and hair crops up in there. That goes double if you’re also not rinsing well in between strokes. This leads to the blade getting blunt which leads to side effects such as razor burn.