One pass shaving = increased blade life?

[FarmerTan]

I agree blades are too cheap to try and extend the life of a blade. There are some blades I use once and out it goes. I also do not believe that I should need to wait until the second or third shave with a blade for the performance to improve.

But honestly, with the GSB, it just DOES. It really is worth it.

The same effect might be had by stropping it on the newspaper a few times, but the first shave isn't that bad.

And those little elves work so stinkin' HARD on hand sharpening those blades, INDIVIDUALLY mind you, that I feel bad if I don't get 15 shaves out of them!

 

[EclipseRedRing]

There are quite a few B&B members, of which I am not one, who try to extend the life of their blades and enjoy so doing. I doubt very much that they are motivated by reasons of saving money or being niggardly. Those who dismiss their efforts with throwaway words like 'blades are so cheap why bother?', and 'I have more important things to do', I respectfully suggest are missing the point.

 

[FarmerTan]

There are quite a few B&B members, of which I am not one, who try to extend the life of their blades and enjoy so doing. I doubt very much that they are motivated by reasons of saving money or being niggardly. Those who dismiss their efforts with throwaway words like 'blades are so cheap why bother?', and 'I have more important things to do', I respectfully suggest are missing the point.

No, I'm just cheap. I still straighten bent nails, and turn my underwear inside out to save on hot water.

 

[rmac]

@rmac If a one-pass shave gets you the comfort, closeness, and enjoyment you want out of the hobby, go for it!

With most “normal” DE razors I need at least a 3-pass shave but if I use the R41 and am careful about blade choice (usually Feather) I can get a presentable shave that would usually get me through the first half of a working day.

If I was socialising or getting close to others (like that’s happening anytime soon lol) then the 5pm shadow would be showing up at 1/2pm.

 

[BigJ]

There are quite a few B&B members, of which I am not one, who try to extend the life of their blades and enjoy so doing. I doubt very much that they are motivated by reasons of saving money or being niggardly. Those who dismiss their efforts with throwaway words like 'blades are so cheap why bother?', and 'I have more important things to do', I respectfully suggest are missing the point.

+1! Check out the Excalibur club: TONS of useful information!!

 

[Tanuki]

I did a run of one pass DE shaves. I say NO additional DE blade life.

 

[Badgerstate36]

Absolutely, the less you use a blade, the longer it will last. It goes without saying that our grandfathers and great grandfathers were a lot more frugal than most of us are today and looked at shaving as something they just did, instead of a hobby.
They did 1 pass and got on with their day. They didn't worry about BBS or even DFS and instead just went for a shave that was quick, easy and looked socially acceptable.
Ive lately been thinking about this and considering ditching the multi pass shave and instead just doing 1 pass and calling it a day. I shave at night anyways, so BBS is pretty pointless because no one other than my wife sees me for 10 hours anyways and by then my BBS is long gone anyways.

 

[TexOkie Shaver]

No, I'm just cheap. I still straighten bent nails, and turn my underwear inside out to save on hot water.

You sir, are a hoot and frequently crack me up.

 

[TexOkie Shaver]

A couple of weeks ago I discovered that I could get the same results of a three pass shave in only two passes by eliminating the WTG pass. I now do one pass XTG and one ATG. I then do cleanup where needed, usually below the right jawline. I use a Feather blade and with three passes it would last four or five shaves. I’m on a blade now that has 14 shaves on it and it still is smooth and delivers DFS shaves in two passes. This all started as a result of three passes plus cleanup leaving irritation below my problem area, below the right jawline. BTW, I stopped chasing BBS shaves several weeks ago and I’m much happier with the results.

 

[DougK]

A couple of weeks ago I discovered that I could get the same results of a three pass shave in only two passes by eliminating the WTG pass. I now do one pass XTG and one ATG. I then do cleanup where needed, usually below the right jawline. I use a Feather blade and with three passes it would last four or five shaves. I’m on a blade now that has 14 shaves on it and it still is smooth and delivers DFS shaves in two passes. This all started as a result of three passes plus cleanup leaving irritation below my problem area, below the right jawline. BTW, I stopped chasing BBS shaves several weeks ago and I’m much happier with the results.

Y'know, for whatever reason it never occurred to me to do this, so I may try it tomorrow. If I do too many three-pass shaves in a row, I'm definitely headed for irritation so it would be nice to get the same results without the burn.

 

[South Dakota Guy]

When my dad gave me my first razor (DE) as I began shaving at 16 during the late 70’s, he told me that people with lighter colored facial hair (us) didn’t need to shave every day but men with darker facial hair did. He also told me to shave with the grain. My recollections from that long ago time was that neither he nor I ever did more than one pass, and we used Barbasol shaving cream in a can applied with our fingers. I don’t recall changing blades very often.

 

[Ron R]

2 pass shave with pickups gives me stellar shaves, WTG + ATG + pickups. DE blades I usually get 6 shaves & SE 10 shaves usually and tossed( I use averages). Some DE blades I can get a few more shaves it seems (KAI SS excellent blade IMO).
Gem, Schick & AC blades mimic straight razors and some of the first Star and Gem blades were wedge style that looked like a short straight. A SE edge is a stronger blade and will last a little longer, Gillette original blades were also thicker in the early 1900's.

......................................................Gem SE blade grind 3 facet.........Star first safety razor MFG in USA, wedge blade (Kampfe
..............................................................................................................................................brothers Brooklyn N.Y)

Have some great shaves! Stay & think safe in these times!

 

[santamariasteve]

It's reasonable to assume a daily one-pass shave will extend blade life over a daily three-pass shave.

But the real question is, by how much? Nobody knows, and it might not be as much as we would presume. I would guess, with zero scientific evidence, maybe blade life would be extended by 100%. My beard is coarse and tough, and the toughness or the softness of one's whiskers would play a major influence. Also I believe a DE blade vs. a multi-bladed cartridge would give different results. Then too, different brands of blades would contribute different findings. We need to remember the first pass arguably is more wearing on a blade than are the second and third passes. I do not believe (if one does a three-pass shave normally) that a one-pass shave would extend blade life by 200% as some might conclude using 8th grade arithmetic.

The answer, if there is one, is complicated, illusive, and would be controversial.

 

[Macduff]

It's reasonable to assume a daily one-pass shave will extend blade life over a daily three-pass shave.

But the real question is, by how much? Nobody knows, and it might not be as much as we would presume. I would guess, with zero scientific evidence, maybe blade life would be extended by 100%. My beard is coarse and tough, and the toughness or the softness of one's whiskers would play a major influence. Also I believe a DE blade vs. a multi-bladed cartridge would give different results. Then too, different brands of blades would contribute different findings. We need to remember the first pass arguably is more wearing on a blade than are the second and third passes. I do not believe (if one does a three-pass shave normally) that a one-pass shave would extend blade life by 200% as some might conclude using 8th grade arithmetic.

The answer, if there is one, is complicated, illusive, and would be controversial.

+1 I was going to post my thoughts but @santamariasteve pretty much summed them up.

 

[FarmerTan]

You sir, are a hoot and frequently crack me up.

I have a feeling that you also enjoy cracking your toe on the furniture in the middle of the night if you think I'm a hoot! My friend, you need to get out more!

 

[TexOkie Shaver]

I have a feeling that you also enjoy cracking your toe on the furniture in the middle of the night if you think I'm a hoot! My friend, you need to get out more!

I would if I could. My neuropathy and my sciatica make it difficult to go anywhere.

 

[Eben Stone]

Kudos to anyone that can get a close shave in one pass. If that's even possible, then I'm sure your blades would last sigficantly longer.

I use R41 daily. 3-4 passes. Assuming the closeness per pass stays the same, I would rather change my technique to get long lasting blades using the same number of passes, then to use less passes to get longer lasting blades.

 

[DougK]

Y'know, for whatever reason it never occurred to me to do this, so I may try it tomorrow. If I do too many three-pass shaves in a row, I'm definitely headed for irritation so it would be nice to get the same results without the burn.

Just an update, because I actually did try eliminating the WTG pass this morning. While it worked pretty, it was not as comfortable for me as a starting with WTG and it felt a little rougher on both passes. Now I know.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Kudos to anyone that can get a close shave in one pass. If that's even possible, then I'm sure your blades would last sigficantly longer.

I use R41 daily. 3-4 passes. Assuming the closeness per pass stays the same, I would rather change my technique to get long lasting blades using the same number of passes, then to use less passes to get longer lasting blades.

My cheeks are pretty much BBS with one WTG pass and Gillette Slide. I usually do a second ATG just to be a perfectionist, but I don't need to. My lower lip sections look fine with one pass and feel okay unless I stretch the skin -- but the curvature there is such that even a second pass doesn't net BBS and is more likely to yield a nick.

The throat is the area that takes 2-3 passes to get really close.

 

[Eben Stone]

My cheeks are pretty much BBS with one WTG pass and Gillette Slide. I usually do a second ATG just to be a perfectionist, but I don't need to. My lower lip sections look fine with one pass and feel okay unless I stretch the skin -- but the curvature there is such that even a second pass doesn't net BBS and is more likely to yield a nick.

The throat is the area that takes 2-3 passes to get really close.

Except for under the jawline and throat I'm the same. I have yet to achieve a close shave under the jaw and throat area. I've tried 5 passes with R41 + Feather (tried riding the comb, cap, and natural angle) and it's still rough if I scratch my nails AGT.