# Guys: How Long Does a Razor Last You? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 3, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-long-does-a-razor-last-you/745088 "2016-02-03T19:59:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![CheapBastid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8baadc/32.png) [@CheapBastid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheapBastid)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-long-does-a-razor-last-you/745088/61 "2016-02-08T21:00:48Z")
I shave my cheeks 5x a week, neck 1x a week (have a goatee) with a Gillette Fusion and had the same blades for **a year+** until a fall broke the razor. I replaced it several months ago and do not expect to change it unless it breaks again. The trick? I shave in the shower and strop the blade by pushing the blade up the pinky side of my palm after every shave. ---
**Author:** ![BigDadWolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@BigDadWolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDadWolf)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2016, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-long-does-a-razor-last-you/745088/62 "2016-02-08T22:15:00Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Regardless of the razor you use, there are easy ways to extend their life. As I noted earlier, most of the problem is microscopic corrosion in between uses. Water causes that and you can combat it by storing them in a very small cup of mineral oil after you rinse them thoroughly (you only need to cover the blades so it doesn’t take much). It also has the benefit of adding lubrication. Alcohol works too but it evaporates much more easily. > > You can also restore blades to near pristine condition with a strip of denim. There are videos on Youtube that can show you exactly how to do it but all it really entails is a few reverse swipes along the fabric to restore the very fine edge. There are even products sold for that purpose that may or may not be economically beneficial to you. > > I used the mineral oil strategy for a while but, in my case, we are talking about razors that they are so cheap anyway that I am not willing to spend much time or energy on them. They just get tossed when their natural life is over. I will save that energy for my Swiss Army and kitchen knives. I almost always shave at the gym and found that air drying the razor under the hot air hand dryer also works great in extending the time between blade replacements - I was replacing every two weeks and now a cartridge lasts a month. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-long-does-a-razor-last-you/745088/63 "2016-02-09T01:40:41Z")
Every day, full face shaver (except my 'stache). Mach IIIs and I use the hell out of them. I’m estimating at least a month and have probably gone three months on one blade. I shave in the shower after I’ve washed. I think the time under the hot water may soften my beard quite a bit allowing for longer blade life. That’s my theory, anyhow. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-long-does-a-razor-last-you/745088/64 "2016-02-10T19:16:26Z")
I only use electric now, but I used to use the two-blade Gilette (Mach 2?) and they’d last about two weeks. When I was shaving my head every day during my 2015 Hair Crisis I was getting about 7 days out of each [Headblade](http://www.headblade.com/). ETA: Gilette _Fusion_, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Totenfeier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@Totenfeier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Totenfeier)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-long-does-a-razor-last-you/745088/65 "2016-02-10T22:33:07Z")
I went DE safety razor about a year ago. Shave about every other day, sometimes wait two days between, seldom on weekends. Blades are variable; some are sharp as hell right off and don’t really get broken in until the third shave; usually 3-4 on a blade, then next one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-long-does-a-razor-last-you/745088.md?page=3)