I’m a Male who doesn’t have a thick beard or much facial hair. At best, I get a small stubble on my cheeks, where my moustache can grow a bit more. I can easily shave my cheeks without any cream or prep, moustache I’d generally have to soften up the hairs for a good shave.
Generally, I use the razor for a few “shaves” which can last a few weeks. Since there isn’t much hair, it doesn’t dull as easily. I’ll change it out after I feel its getting slightly dull or when I realize that it’s been a while since I last changed it.
Curious as to what others do or if there are things I’m potentially overlooking (e.g. hygienic reasons to change more frequently).
Also - I recently switched to a single blade, straight razor.
A single razor blade for a safety razor costs like 20 cents, I see no reason why not change it for every shave.
Switching from that disposable expensive trash to a simple safety razor has been one of the best things I’ve done in my life. The blades are super cheap and really sharp, and using the shaving brush with a shaving soap also saves a lot of money compared to the overpriced shaving cream, while also smelling and feeling way better.
So, I really recommend getting a kit from something like https://maggardrazors.com/collections/kits . Their blade has lasted me for a few years by now, and it’s so much better. Cheaper, cleaner and way closer shave than I was ever able to do with disposables.
I’m a very hairy dude with a thick, thick beard. I use a new blade every other shave. Recommend using a safety razor, it’s much cheaper and better
Safety razor user; I change every one to two shaves. If I start on that second use and it’s too rough for the shave I’ve got in mind (mostly a problem for my neck) then I’ll toss it.
I use a double edge safety razor with feather blades, I shave my head but not my beard except for a little cleanup on the cheeks and such.
On average I shave about twice a week, and usually get about 2 weeks out of a blade, so about 4 shaves. I could probably squeeze another 1 or 2 out of them if I needed to, but I usually feel like they’re starting to get a bit dull by that point.
Same setup, a bit more shaves - I’d say 6 on average
There’s more of us than I thought lol. I use Astra blades though. I change mine out every two or three shaves.
double edge safety razor with feather blades
This is the way to do it. Before I grew my beard I shaved every day, maybe skipping a weekend day (I have a moderate, but not heavy beard). A Feather blade lasted me about three shaves comfortably, but I could make it go five if I were traveling for a week. Three was optimal.
Now I only trim my cheeks and the “neckbeard” area below my real beard every two or thee days, and the same Feather lasts about three weeks I’d say? Maybe four?
No matter what, ditch the cartridges! They were literally invented as a scam; they are worse for your skin; and they are far easier to operate than people make it out to be.
I use a safety razor with a Feather Blade, I replace it every 3-4 shaves.
I only use a razor once, but then I only shave my legs once a month or so, so it works out
When shaving starts to hurt, then I replace it
Inuse a DE with feather blades. I shave every other day and replace the blade every 2-3 weeks. (When I remember to replace them)
I bought a 20 pack of 10 blade boxes for €40 years ago, together wuth the Qshave that came with 50 blades (10 5 blade boxes). I have 14 boxes of 10 blades left, so at least 280 weeks of shaving.
I bought a Harry’s set when I was in the Army and used to change my blades about once a month with full shaves six days a week. I have a goatee now and just shave my cheeks and neck on Monday mornings. I haven’t changed a blade yet this year.
I have these too and only change the blades like twice a year. I use an electric shaver to get the main bulk, then Harry’s to get it clean. I’ve never changed the electric razor blade in over two years of owning it
I’ve used the same double edged safety razor for months thanks to stropping. After each shave I disassemble my razor, dry everything off, then carefully strop the blade along my forearm. It’s the same concept as barbers sharpening blades using leather. I’ve heard denim can be another option.
Retired and bearded now, so I don’t really shave, nor care, but mine is thick (and white), and a blade would last three days, maybe four. After that, it was too painful to use.
It’s been about twenty years since I last shaved but there’s still a razor with a fresh blade in the cabinet. So… twenty years ish?
I was using a straight razor towards the end and, while I loved it, it’s way more time consuming than a standard razor. Part of the reason I stopped shaving was laziness so I’m sure the straight razor hastened my transition into the wookie I am today.
I want to see twenty year beard please
I get those expensive 5 blade Gillette razors and they last me about 4-5 months each of shaving a few times a week with and against the grain of the face hair.
I’m more or less in your boat. My chin grows in a bit more, though still too scraggly to amount to anything, and otherwise I’m going on two decades of having a 15yo boy’s “beard”. While it’s annoying to have certain aesthetic options off the table, it’s kind of nice to have an easy routine that doesn’t even need to be daily.
Shaving cream is mostly pointless, so I don’t bother getting any. Shave dry if the old electric is charged, change blades once a year. If it’s not, or I’m travelling, or I am feeling like I want to be pretty, then while the whiskers are still fairly soft after showering, use a Harry’s 4-blade disposable (maybe ten-fifteen shaves before changing the cartridge).
I don’t use it much anymore, but I also have a safety razor, and I’d change those blades after five or six uses. I can count on one hands the number of times I’ve had any sort of razor burn I could feel after twenty minutes, and other than the first couple of times I used the safety, I’ve never had more than two nicks at a time in my life, including when I was a 15yo boy. In the end, the safety is still a lot less safe than a modern disposable, requires a more consistent angle, and is just a lot of ritual and futzing that never felt particularly satisfying for me. I’m there to scrape the scraggly garbage off my face once I start looking like a patchy hobo, not to pamper myself. If doing it “wrong” came with any sort of realistic consequences like razor burn, ingrown hairs, tons of cuts, or a 5 o’clock shadow at 2:30, then I’d probably be all-in on the hobby side, but for my face it just doesn’t matter. Anyway, I have fountain pens, woodworking, and mech keyboards to scratch my gleeful luddite itch.
Electric razor user here. As long as I keep them clean about 6 months before they start feeling dull.
