Make Your Shaving Blades Last Longer

Disposable shaving blades may be convenient, but they have gotten considerably more pricey and you might be thinking of ways to make each shave and blade last longer. Even just using one blade per month instead of two puts money in your pocket. Here are a few tips on making your shaving blades last longer to help you get the best from your razor over time and get a few more shaves from each cartridge.

Prepare your face for a clean smooth shave
When you want to make your shaving blades last longer, first place a hot towel over your face to loosen and soften your beard. This weakens the resistance your whiskers will have against the blades. Second, use a quality shave cream and apply it with a brush. You’ll actually use less shaving cream, and the brush works in the cream to further prepare your beard for the blades. OK, so you’ll have to lay out some cash for the brush when you first build your complete shaving kit, but you’ll be saving money in the long run with a better shave and less money spent on blades.

Rinse the razor and blades as you shave
To make your shaving blades last longer, it's important to rinse the excess cream and stubble from the blades more often than you usually do. Rinse under hot water to reheat the blades, and turn them over under the water to clean the back side of the cartridge as well. Hot blades slice through hairs faster, and rinsing the back side of the razor means more stubble and cream can pass through the cartridge on your next pass.

Clean and dry the blades
Just rinsing out the blades with hot water is not enough to make your shaving blades last longer. Sure, they're clean, but the excess water will cause oxidation on the blades, which will slowly break down the molecular content of the metal, which dulls the edges. You can dry the blades with a quick blot of a clean towel and then rinse them in a cup of alcohol, which purges the remaining moisture, sterilizes the blades and then evaporates quickly. You can also use a blow dryer for a moment or two and dry the blades immediately after rinsing with hot water.

Store the blades away from moisture
If you shave in the shower, you’ll want to clean and dry the blades and let them sit upright on the razor away from the shower to make your shaving blades last longer. If you shave at the sink, be sure to follow the above steps for cleaning and keep the blades well away from any areas where they may be splashed or knocked into a sink or tub of water.

Making these changes to your daily routine do not make you cheap, just smart. In tough times like these, often the small adjustments in spending and changes in how we care for ourselves are the things that make the biggest impact on our wallets. Best of all is the fact that you’ll also get a better shave each time because the blades will be clean and ready to do their job. However, cleaning your blades at home with a bit of alcohol and taking a few extra minutes to take proper care of them is safe and easy and will make your shaving blades last longer.