# Number of shaves with a disposable razor **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 18, 2013, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830 "2013-07-18T11:01:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![booyah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@booyah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booyah)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830/1 "2013-07-18T11:01:28Z")
The question was asked: How long can a person shaves with a disposable razor? I shaved with the same disposable razor for 6 years, 5 months, and 16 days. Is there anyone that can top this time? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830/2 "2013-07-18T11:02:20Z")
Reported for forum change. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830/3 "2013-07-18T11:06:10Z")
That’s incredible. How did you accomplish this? Did you sharpen the blade(s) somehow? If so, I think that violates the spirit of the term “disposable” (but it’s still impressive). Did you only use it once or twice during that long period, and just maintain a beard the rest of the time? Did you use it regularly, but only for some bit of fine body hair (on your arm, for example)? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830/4 "2013-07-18T11:45:15Z")
> [@booyah](#): > > The question was asked: How long can a person shaves with a disposable razor? I shaved with the same disposable razor for 6 years, 5 months, and 16 days. Is there anyone that can top this time? Thank you. ma’am. And that is a magnificaent moustache you have cultivated. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830/5 "2013-07-18T13:12:20Z")
I’m struck by the fact that someone would know the date. _Feb 2nd. Cold, mostly cloudy. Started new disposable razor. Quiet day otherwise._ ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830/6 "2013-07-18T13:18:05Z")
I’d imagine the average would be something like 4-6 shaves per razor when we’re talking about face razors. If we’re talking about legs, I think women go longer than that- my wife’s leg razors seem to be in the shower for weeks on end. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830/7 "2013-07-18T14:52:39Z")
You can use the same razor as long as you want, but obviously it’s getting dull every time it’s used. Because it’s a gradual process, you don’t notice it. So perhaps the OP used the same razor for six years, but I’ll bet that had he/she picked up a new one, the difference would be obvious. There’s a myth about an ancient Greek named [Milo of Croton](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milo_of_Croton), famous for his strength. Supposedly one day he lifted and carried a newborn calf, and then repeated this each day until the calf was fully grown. As for the OP, I use Gillette Fusion razors to shave my face. Lately, I’ve been changing the blades after ten days. But I bought a package of a dozen Gillette Fusion ProGlide cartridges from Target last month and noticed that the package said that it offered a “year of shaves.” Presumably, Gillette thinks its ProGlide blade cartridges are good for a month. (I read somewhere that when Gillette introduced one of its new “razor systems”. I can’t remember if it was Atra, Mach3 or Fusion, but they were unhappy that the blades remained sharp for a long time so that customers wouldn’t need to buy new blades very enough. So they added the colored lubricating strip and encouraged the customer to change the cartridge when the color faded to white, and of course this would be before the blades dulled.) ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830/8 "2013-07-18T16:55:15Z")
I use the Schick Xtreme 3. While my beard cannot be called “heavy”, it does exist. I get many months out of each razor. How many? Enough that I really can’t be sure. I may still be on the same one I was on at Christmastime, or even Thanksgiving. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830/9 "2013-07-18T17:37:25Z")
Depends on the razor. With a good 3 blade cartrige I can get nearly a month. With a Bic safety razor about a week (I shave during the week, skip it on the weekend if we’re not doing anything). ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830/10 "2013-07-18T19:38:46Z")
Maybe the OP shaved one day, set the razor aside, decided to grow a beard, and 6 years 5 months and 16 days later, decided to shave it off, found his old razor and lathered up. He didn’t shave every day, but he shaved with the same razor every time he shaved for that length of time. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830/11 "2013-07-18T19:48:01Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > You can use the same razor as long as you want, but obviously it’s getting dull every time it’s used. Because it’s a gradual process, you don’t notice it. So perhaps the OP used the same razor for six years, but I’ll bet that had he/she picked up a new one, the difference would be obvious I am pretty sure that the blades don’t get dull. What happens is that they deform/bend. If they have a bow in them, they won’t cut evenly and you get a crappy shave or could nick yourself. If you’re very careful about cleaning them after ever use so that they don’t get gunked up, they’ll last for significantly longer. ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830/12 "2013-07-18T19:56:51Z")
Depends on the razor. With the cheap ones (like 25 cents a piece), I get one shave and one shave only. After that, you run the risk of razor burn or nicks. With a nice four or five blade with a moisturizing strip? I get 3-6 months (longer in the winter since I shave less in the winter). I am a girl and this razor will be shaving legs, pits and girl bits. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830/13 "2013-07-18T20:01:13Z")
Several sources say that if one physically dries off the blade rather than letting it air dry, the razor will stay sharp much longer. Anyone have any experience on this? I’d try it, but I quit shaving back in '97. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830/14 "2013-07-19T08:42:27Z")
> [@booyah](#): > > The question was asked: How long can a person shaves with a disposable razor? I shaved with the same disposable razor for 6 years, 5 months, and 16 days. Is there anyone that can top this time? I believe I could exceed your record if I limited my shaving to once every 18 months. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830/15 "2013-07-19T11:31:11Z")
I use the pro-guide and get about 4-6 weeks. Now, if somebody could figure out a way to reapply those lubricating strips, that would be great. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830/16 "2013-07-19T11:53:26Z")
Oh man, I thought the title said **slaves** ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830/17 "2013-07-19T13:32:35Z")
You guys who are using the razors for MONTHS(!?), are you shaving your faces every day? That seems crazy to me; even the spiffy 4-5 blade expensive cartridge razors get noticeably duller after a couple of weeks, and cheaper disposables are maybe good for half that with daily shaving. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830/18 "2013-07-19T14:03:02Z")
> [@perfectparanoia](#): > > Depends on the razor. With the cheap ones (like 25 cents a piece), I get one shave and one shave only. After that, you run the risk of razor burn or nicks. I do not get this. The only time I ever get razor burn or nicks is with a brand new blade. ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830/19 "2013-07-19T14:31:54Z")
> [@JKilez](#): > > I do not get this. The only time I ever get razor burn or nicks is with a brand new blade. Ever used a 25 cent razor? The experience is quite different. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830/20 "2013-07-19T14:56:21Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Several sources say that if one physically dries off the blade rather than letting it air dry, the razor will stay sharp much longer. Anyone have any experience on this? I’d try it, but I quit shaving back in '97. Thanks to this very MB I started trying it and it works for me. I used to get only 3-4 shaves per razor, and now I get 6-8. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-shaves-with-a-disposable-razor/663830.md?page=2)