I am curious if anyone uses a new fresh blade for each shave.
Besides a nice sharp blade, what are the benefits?
Besides a nice sharp blade, what are the benefits?
Anyone use a new blade for each shave?
- Thread starter CryptoDave
- Start date
Not me.
I find new blades to be harsh. I get my best results from shave 2-4 on a blade.
I find new blades to be harsh. I get my best results from shave 2-4 on a blade.
I find that my first and last shaves with any blade are the worst shaves. mostly I get better results on the second, third and sometimes the fourth shave, ymmv.
I don't but I gave a few blades to a co-worker who was interested in our hobby to try and a few days later he said he needed more, I said I gave you 4 blades what did you do with them? He was under the assumption he needed a new blade after every shave.
I do. but i'll say i used a Feather today for the 2nd time and promptly disposed of it afterward. but every blade before that has been one use and out.
i'm not sure there are any benefits to using a blade only once besides what you said...a new blade. The "benefits" to using it more than once are a matter of opinion.
i'm not sure there are any benefits to using a blade only once besides what you said...a new blade. The "benefits" to using it more than once are a matter of opinion.
Yup sometimes.
Biggest benefit is giving more money to the blade makers. You're building in all kinds of biases by reading what other people have to say (people who've done the same thing you're doing). You'll get no more useful data than if you carefully evaluate the situation yourself. I've been using up old blades. I just used a Red Personna and a Derby for two weeks each because I was too lazy to switch them after the end of the week. Great shaves. I typically use Feathers and once did some tests years ago to see how long they would give satisfactory shaves. Seemed to be around 9-10 days.
You can also use the Placebo Effect to your advantage. Believe the blade will last a long time giving great shaves, and it probably will....
Steve
I'm working through a 100 count of Derby Extra. Changing them out every third shave.
Thanks Steve, too many opinions can be a bit confusing in this subject for some of us noobs.
If you throw them out after the first shave, you'll never know if they shave better after you've stropped/burnished the blade on your face.
At least, try the blade to start the second shave and see if it's cutting any better. If it's worse, change it out. Of course, you can try the other side - depending on how you rotate the sides. You can flip the blade over too.
Nice thing is that blade are cheap enough that all this experimentation is cheap.
You'll know when they start going south on you - pulling, tugging, raw/burn, need more pressure to get it to cut, ingrown hairs. Also, no law that says you can't change the blade in the middle of a shave.
At least, try the blade to start the second shave and see if it's cutting any better. If it's worse, change it out. Of course, you can try the other side - depending on how you rotate the sides. You can flip the blade over too.
Nice thing is that blade are cheap enough that all this experimentation is cheap.
You'll know when they start going south on you - pulling, tugging, raw/burn, need more pressure to get it to cut, ingrown hairs. Also, no law that says you can't change the blade in the middle of a shave.
One shave per blade IMO is wasteful. We are in this to save money right? 
I have a coarse beard and use blades 4-5 times with all shaves being quite equal. A 1 and out approach is just to ridiculous for me.
I have a coarse beard and use blades 4-5 times with all shaves being quite equal. A 1 and out approach is just to ridiculous for me.
I agree with Turtle.
I personally dispose of a blade when I feel that the coating is not doing its job anymore, and I can feel the blade damaging my face. Unfortunately I couldn't find any blade that I can do more then 2 comfortable shaves with. Some blades give me bad results on shave no. 2, so I need to change those for every shave.
3 and out! I've tried to stretch blades and found that the irritation was not worth the few pennies... Best wishes to everyone who can get more than 3 shaves, just not me. Life's short... blades are cheap...
As previous poster, i try to get 3 shaves out of a blade. Using it only once would be wasteful despite the low price of the blade and the relatively small resources consumed.
I don't, in my opinion there's no benefit to it. Every reasonable quality blade will hold its edge for at least 2 to 3 shaves and many times, 6 up to 8 shaves is even possible.
Also, why would the makers of blades make stainless steel blades if they're supposed to be dumped after one shave? They might just as well produce non-stainless carbon steel blades because they won't start corroding within the time frame of a single shave anyway.
I don't think it's wasteful at all considering they are recyclable.
I usually keep a blade for 2 or 3 shaves, depending on the circumstances. The second shave is nearly always the best.
Yup, what he said.
