Is my experience with blades typical?

[elverdiblanco]

I keep reading on here how people can get as many as 7 good shaves from a blade. Of the blades I've tried so far in 6 weeks of DE shaving my stats seem to be averaging out as follows:
Feathers: 3 good shaves
7OC yellows: 2 good shaves
Astra SP: 1 good shave
Derby: Less said the better.
I can really feel the blades losing their edge after these averages and while I can get close shaves beyond that they sure as heck aren't comfortable.
The only razor I have is an EJ DE89 so it isn't the effect of different razors.

 

[Mick]

A lot depends on how well you prep your beard. A well hydrated beard will cut easier and closer than a dry stiff one which will wear the blade faster.

Your shaving technique has a lot to do with how you "think" a blade is performing.

For now just don't worry about it and if you feel you need to toss out a blade every day, do it. Do not take a blade past where it feels comfortable to YOU. They are too inexpensive to try to stretch them.

I am on save #28 with a DE blade today. I think 28 is an acceptable number of shaves on a blade but I will keep using it until it starts to feel dull.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/349341-So-How-far-would-YOU-go

 

[Wingnut]

From what I know and have read here, you're a bit on the low side, but still well within the norm. I'd say that most shavers get about 3-4 shaves from their blades. However, some use a new blade every shave and some only change their blade once a week.

Bottom line: do what works for you--after all, it's YOUR face and budget!

 

[elverdiblanco]

@turtle My prep is hot shower, Proraso pre-shave cream applied and leave it on while I whip up a lather. Software used so far; Proraso green soap, DR Harris Arlington cream, T&H No.10 cream. 28 shaves from a blade? What are you cutting off? What's the US equivalent of what we call "bum fluff" in the UK?

@wingnut I've quickly learned (the hard way) to not push a blade once it feels like it has lost its edge. They're too cheap to warrant making a mess of your face for the sake of a few pennies.

 

[Mick]

You may have an exceptionally coarse beard.

Are you using short rapid strokes? Using a rapid "cutting" stroke will cut more efficiently then long slow "mowing" strokes.

 

[elverdiblanco]

You may have an exceptionally coarse beard.

All the women I've ever dated have said as much.

Are you using short rapid strokes? Using a rapid "cutting" stroke will cut more efficiently then long slow "mowing" strokes.

Short, rapid strokes is exactly what I'm doing

 

[Niles]

From what I know and have read here, you're a bit on the low side, but still well within the norm. I'd say that most shavers get about 3-4 shaves from their blades. However, some use a new blade every shave and some only change their blade once a week.

Bottom line: do what works for you--after all, it's YOUR face and budget!

+1

 

[Mick]

From what you have said your longevity experience is normal...

Don't worry about what others get out of a blade, use a blade until it feels uncomfortable then replace it, even in mid shave.

If you want blades that last longer, try some single edge razors and injector razors. Those blades seem to last double the shaves that standard DE razor blades.

 

[elverdiblanco]

I'm not that bothered about having blades that last longer, I was just wondering if I was doing anything wrong or different to get relatively few good shaves from a blade compared with many others on here. As has been said often enough, they're cheap enough that you really don't have to worry about tossing them as soon as they start to go off.

 

[John Von Wuggz]

Don't worry about it. Your experience is similar to mine. I get 2 DFS-BBS before the blade begins to suffer. Most of the "better" blades will give me a CCS-DFS 3rd shave but I have to really slow down to achieve it. I haven't found a blade that gives me better than SAS on the 4th shave regardless of how slow and focused my shave is.

 

[Ducati Scotty]

They may last longer as your technique improves but probably not much. As already mentioned, single efge and injectable razors may work better and last longer. You may also want to consider a slant or more aggressive razor.

Scott

 

[Chadao]

Mick pointed me toward injectors and I loved them. I still mainly shave with a DE because I enjoy the rituals including checking out all the different blades. But if DEs disappeared tomorrow, I could live my life shaving with an injector.
I am not so frugal with my DE blades. i rarely count shaves. Just when I feel I need a new blade is all that is required. I have recently become enamored of Crystals. I had a perfectly good Feather in my Weber this morning, but I decided to go back to the Crystal.

From what you have said your longevity experience is normal...

Don't worry about what others get out of a blade, use a blade until it feels uncomfortable then replace it, even in mid shave.

If you want blades that last longer, try some single edge razors and injector razors. Those blades seem to last double the shaves that standard DE razor blades.

 

[Cerbul13]

If you are asking if the small amount of shaves is normal, I can confirm you that I got a pretty much same experience as you do, so is nothing something out of this world to have so very few shaves. However, even if your preparing is PERFECT is not enough to have a perfect shave that will make the life of the blade longer. Having a cushioning and well hydrated lather is maybe almost as important as preparing. It will let the blade glide better without getting damaged, increasing the life time of a blade.

If you are asking if the amount of shaves you get from different blades are proportional with other ppl experiences, then I can say that I get less shaves from feather, which leads me to the conclusion that you either don't aim at a close shave or you maybe don't shave ATG, or simply the razor that you use works better with this particular blade?
Also, razors can dictate if particular blades will loose their coatings faster then on other razors, increasing the YMMV factor.

What I did learn over time, is that is needed to stick for a while with a particular blade that you find pleasing enough, and after you are certain that you get consistent shaves and become aware of the small differences from shave to shave, then you can start going out on many different blades, in the search of the perfect one.

I started with about 7 blades, I picked Astra SP and Super Iridium out of them for learning to do it better, and when I finished them, I went out full on other 30 types of blades in search of the perfect one.
And I am definitely happy I did. That is how I found Personna LAB.

 

[CGW409]

I keep reading on here how people can get as many as 7 good shaves from a blade. Of the blades I've tried so far in 6 weeks of DE shaving my stats seem to be averaging out as follows:
Feathers: 3 good shaves
7OC yellows: 2 good shaves
Astra SP: 1 good shave
Derby: Less said the better.
I can really feel the blades losing their edge after these averages and while I can get close shaves beyond that they sure as heck aren't comfortable.
The only razor I have is an EJ DE89 so it isn't the effect of different razors.

I thought my diamond coated bailing wire whiskers were rough on blades, sounds like you've got diamond coated titanium alloy bailing wire.
I can get 4 shaves from Feathers or Super Iridium (cheaper than Feathers) and your others give me 3 shaves.
Derby's should be melted down and reformed into whatever was cut up for scrap to make the Derby's.

 

[f86sabjf]

I get 6-9 shaves out of my Merkur blades

 

[cb91710]

From what I know and have read here, you're a bit on the low side, but still well within the norm. I'd say that most shavers get about 3-4 shaves from their blades. However, some use a new blade every shave and some only change their blade once a week.

Bottom line: do what works for you--after all, it's YOUR face and budget!

This.

Some claim 7, some only get 3. Some also claim a month or two on a Mach-3 or Fusion cart.
Some claims are exaggerated, others are the result of youth and a Northern European heritage.

If you get 5:00 shadow by noon, you are not likely to be one to get more than 3-4 shaves on a blade.

 

[Maximum Closeness]

I go 3 with my Derbys.

 

[Rasage_Perfecto]

Shick super chromium gives me 3 shaves, the second shave is the best
Bic gives me also 3 shaves and the second also seems to be the best shave.

 

[graysonhenryrussell]

I use Gillette blacks,med preps, astra sp & I toss them after two or three at the most. To me its not worth not having a fresh blade . There would be no way I could get a week out of any blade unless its a straight.

 

[elverdiblanco]

If you are asking if the amount of shaves you get from different blades are proportional with other ppl experiences, then I can say that I get less shaves from feather, which leads me to the conclusion that you either don't aim at a close shave or you maybe don't shave ATG, or simply the razor that you use works better with this particular blade?

I aim for at least a DFS and the only way I can get that is by going ATG, so I do that every day with every shave.