How often do you rotate razors ?

[Iridian]

My skin is better than it has been in years, since I have been wet shaving. In my opinion, what I have spent on wet shaving has more than paid for itself.

Seconded. Not even cuts from overshaving I sometimes fabricate in my quest for a BBS ruin my skin, it's super healthy.
I very rarely suffer irritation, it seems to me a much cleaner shave than running several times them any blades of a Gillette Fusion over the same place, which is not hard to imagine to cause lots and lots of micro injuries.

 

[DesertIguana]

No rhyme or reason when i fell like using another Gillette Vintage, would like to find a Fatboy to add to stable, and dump two others.

 

[Phoenixkh]

Well, I have 15 and get great shaves from all of them. I use a different razor every time I shave. Now when I get a new razor I like to use it exclusively for at least 5 shaves, maybe more just to acquaint myself with it. I really don't need that much because if I cant figure it out after 5 swings I tend to move on and so does the razor.

That's what I do. All my top razors are in the same efficiency zone. They got there because I used them for a while when I first received them... 4 or 5 shaves in a row like you. After they make it into my Top Razor List, I can select any of them on a whim and get the same great shaves I expect.

That said, when I was starting out, I used the same AC razor for over 5 months as I developed my shaving technique which included mastering my face whisker map. I think there is a huge benefit to starting out with a good razor and sticking with it for a while. I didn't know that at the time. I just got lucky.

 

[Anchovie666]

I go through a rotation of razor types. All pretty much SE. And then different razors within the type by date of last use.
I keep a spreadsheet of my shaves (date, razor, blade, # passes, brush, soap, and my thoughts/comments)

Rotation now is:

Wilkinson Sword Empires (3)
GEM/EverSharp Razors (25)
Valet Autostrop (13)
Injector (5)
Modern AC Razors (6)
Various SE Razors (8)

I also rotate my Soaps and Brushes this way - by date of last use.

 

[muzichead]

I found I disliked that when I had a rotation not all shaves were created equal and found myself reaching for the razor that gave me the most efficient shave all the time. In the last 5yrs I have only owned 2 razors, Timeless Ti95DC and the Ti Blackbird, and the Ti BB made me sell the Ti95DC because it was lacking the efficiency the Ti BB offered. Granted it was only by a few hours but still, it was less efficient and found I picked the Ti BB up 99.9% of the time. I shave every other day because the efficiency is on such a high level and find I simply don't have enough stubble at the 24hr mark and what that feels like is still probably better than most consider a great shave when they shave daily!!

 

[Tinmantoo]

2 shaves (per blade). Then the razor gets a serious cleaning (Dawn dish soap) and I’ll come back to it after I rotate through a few.

Same here, I rotate through 7 razors currently. I also change the soap, brush and AS, I like the variety.

 

[BigJ]

Once upon a time I used a great variety of razors. Then, I settled on only two. My ‘daily driver’ is a Wolfman WR1 and my ‘travel razor’ is a Lord L6. This allows me to rotate blades, brushes and software to my heart’s content!

 

[BudgetShaverGuy]

Never.

Sometimes I’ll try a new razor or circle back to one that didn’t quite work for me, but I don’t see the appeal in “rotating” razors.

The razor that’s been the best for me, although not perfect, is the lowly Gillette Guard. Refills cost a quarter apiece, and I get five shaves out of one with the right lather and consistency.

 

[Goblin]

As I often only use a blade once or twice, I tend to rotate razors rather often - almost every shave is a different razor, especially as I also like to mix it up between formats.

However, after some initial RAD a the beginning of my wet-shaving career I settled into using first a 34c and then a Fatip Grande as my only razors for the best part of a decade - I wasn't always so inconstant in my razor affections as I am today!

 

[Old Hippie]

So, what should it be ? A week is a minimum. Two weeks ? Three weeks ? A month ? How often do you rotate your razors ?

I try to shave the dome three times a week. It's been my long-standing routine to do that on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. My favourite blade is the Russian Astra SP, from which I get six good shaves. At three a week that's two weeks worth of shaves, and so I use a razor for at least two weeks and switch it out when I bin the blade. I'm conceptually flexible enough to vary that on occasion; change a razor early that isn't working well (or works too well), or extending my play with a razor that I'm enjoying.

At the moment I'm taking an extended run with the ATT S2. When I totted up the year end usage stats I realized I'd only used the S2 once in 2023, during SLANTember. Such a wonderful razor needs a bit more use, hence I'm doing that.

O.H.

 

[Salty_Shaver]

Using a different razor every day is fun but it doesn't allow me to really learn to use them right. I think I need to set all of my razors aside and just do one for a while, then switch to another etc. This will also allow me to clear up the top shelf.

So, what should it be ? A week is a minimum. Two weeks ? Three weeks ? A month ? How often do you rotate your razors ?

How about one year or for me it was nearly 10 years before I switched from my Gillette fat boy to a cartridge razor then back to my safety razor. In the 40 plus years of wet shaving I have only used three different safety razors. My fat boy now retired, a piece of junk Viking blade emperor Agusta and my Rockwell T2s. And all I will ever use unless I get my fat boy repaired is my T2s. Use one razor one brand of blade for a long time. If you want to spend a whole lot of money on razors knock yourself out. I have one that I use and will only ever use. That’s me. Now when it comes to creams and soaps stand back I will buy just about any shave cream or soap just to try. In the last fifteen years before my beard and post beard I have a plethora of shave soaps and creams. One thing that I did find out is they would work very well as a beard shampoo so no money wasted there with growing facial hair.

 

[cyberdog]

Guilty of sometimes rotating daily, one day with the Rex, next with the R41, Razor Meister GEM, Gillette New, or whatever. I do favor the R41 and Rex, as they with the Razor Meister Prime (R89 Clone) seem to shave the closest. Once or twice mid-shave when the blade is just done, and its easier to just grab the other than to bother to stand there and swap blades when I'm in a hurry.

 

[Salty_Shaver]

I go through a rotation of razor types. All pretty much SE. And then different razors within the type by date of last use.
I keep a spreadsheet of my shaves (date, razor, blade, # passes, brush, soap, and my thoughts/comments)

Rotation now is:

Wilkinson Sword Empires (3)
GEM/EverSharp Razors (25)
Valet Autostrop (13)
Injector (5)
Modern AC Razors (6)
Various SE Razors (8)

I also rotate my Soaps and Brushes this way - by date of last use.

Why? That just sounds painful to even do.

 

[Anchovie666]

Why? That just sounds painful to even do.

It's really not. LOL I know already that tomorrow it's my Hawk V3A with an 8th use Kai blade, a vintage boar brush, and MDC Rose soap. My splash, aftershave, and balms do not rotate but rather I try to match the soap scents if possible.

 

[JimL911]

I work every other Sun, W-F and every other Mon-Tue, Sat. 7 days over 14. I set up 4 razors for the 2 weeks, 2 for work 2 for days off. Change blades, clean and change at least 2-3 razors. Never change my Ikon Tech.

 

[kingfisher]

I have 7 replaceable blade straights and I rotate through them over and over, one shave for each. I also use DE for the second pass. I have a ton of DEs, and like just use whatever I feel like using. Lately, though, I have been using the Chiseled Face Legacy all the time. I just haven't felt the urge to use any of my other DEs.

I will keep using it until I feel like changing it. Maybe I will just stick with it forever. Who knows?

 

[SharpieB]

I keep 5 razors in my bathroom and rotate those and generally change one or two out every couple of weeks.

I have about a dozen razors I love and make sure they all get used. Keeps it fun and interesting!

 

[Alexland]

I just pickup the one I want in the morning. This can mean I am using the same razor for a few weeks but then I eventually get bored and pick up another. I sometimes have a specific reason for picking a razor like if I am in a hurry or tired and want a quick easy shave or need to clear several days of growth. I'm down to just 5 safety razors now so it's auto pilot which I use - my hand seems to land on the right one.

 

[dotKomo]

Once a week. That way, I get through my stable of razors. If I don't like, or use a razor, I get rid of it.

 

[Ratso]

I rotate both razor and blade weekly. I start Monday morning with a razor and a blade and I use them until Sunday morning. Some blades feel done after three or four shaves and others could go past seven shaves. Out here in Australia we pay more than $1.00 per blade so I like to get some mileage from my blades.

Ouch! Now I know why Crocodile Dundee shaved with his knife.