# Razor Blades **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 15, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366 "2011-09-15T03:47:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366/1 "2011-09-15T03:47:02Z")
Hello Everyone, I was shaving tonight and a thought crossed my mind. Because I am a hairy man-beast when I do shave the razor (a multi-blade arrangement) seems to get clogged with cut hair. Of course I shake the razor under the stream of water coming out of the faucet, but it never fails that the hair eventually becomes “wedged” in between the blades and no amount of rinsing will free it up. I then have to resort to manual clearing the blades. This happens wether the blade is a fresh one or not so fresh one. So my question is actually 2 parts: 1: How in the world can this be prevented or when it does happen what is the best way to clear the blades, besides running it under water. 2: I recall that back in the late '80s there used to be a razor blade that featured a small button on the back. When you pushed the button a small piece of plastic was forced between the blades and cleared out any debris that might have wedged there. Anyone recall the name of this blade and if it is still made? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366/2 "2011-09-15T04:01:07Z")
Switch to a double edged safety razor and this problem goes away. Remember those really old razors that use the super thin blades with two sharpened edges? If you do clog it up, simply unscrew the handle a bit and rinse it out. Retighten and continue shaving. There are a couple of good websites with forums that are dedicated to men’s shaving. The Badger and Blade forum is a really good one. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366/3 "2011-09-15T04:09:18Z")
> [@toofs](#): > > Switch to a double edged safety razor and this problem goes away. Remember those really old razors that use the super thin blades with two sharpened edges? If you do clog it up, simply unscrew the handle a bit and rinse it out. Retighten and continue shaving. > > There are a couple of good websites with forums that are dedicated to men’s shaving. The Badger and Blade forum is a really good one. Thanks for the reply. That might be worth looking into. I always wanted to use a straight razor, but haven’t summoned up the courage to do so yet. I used to have a barber give me a straight shave every once in a while and I was always amazed at how close the shave was. However it looked like without proper training on how to use it one could become either dead or scarred really easily. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366/4 "2011-09-15T04:26:38Z")
You’ll never get a straight razor as sharp as a blade and there’s a steep learning curve to using one. I use a safety razor like **toofs** mentioned and a quality shave soap (Tabac) and a badger brush. The initial investment will cost you a little but the quality of the shave is worth it and you’ll save money in the long run as double edged blades on the internet are super cheap. Merkur makes safety razors but I prefer old Gillette razors that are still available on eBay. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366/5 "2011-09-15T04:47:52Z")
I found out the best way to wash a razor from watching someone: use your fingers to stopper the tap until the water becomes a jet stream (like making a garden hose shoot further), and use that to blast the razor. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366/6 "2011-09-15T06:29:41Z")
Are badger brushes made out of real badgers? ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366/7 "2011-09-15T06:53:20Z")
If you mean the bristles are made from badger hair, then yes. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366/8 "2011-09-15T07:11:45Z")
I use a twin-blade razor and I find that tapping the head against the side of the sink dislodges the composite goo of bristle cuttings and shaving cream (actually hair conditioner in my case\*) I do this above the water line in the sink, then after shaving, drain the sink and wipe off most of the collected bristle residue with tissue and flush it in the toilet. If I just wash the bristle muck down the sink, it tends to build up and eventually clog the trap. \*I ran out of shaving gel one time and used hair conditioner as an impromptu alternative - it gave a superior shave, so I’ve never looked back. ---
**Author:** ![Khendrask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@Khendrask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khendrask)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366/9 "2011-09-15T07:12:20Z")
Another thing, if you hair gets so long between shaves that is clogs up the blades immediately, you might consider using a beard trimmer first to get the majority off before shaving. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366/10 "2011-09-15T08:48:22Z")
I use a needle to clear the blades. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366/11 "2011-09-15T08:53:59Z")
Switching to a different shaving gel solved it for me. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366/12 "2011-09-15T11:36:23Z")
The Schick ST2 has the cleaning button. Oddly, it’s packaging doesn’t mention this. Amazon carries them and presumably generally available in stores. I have a light beard so I don’t know how they work for heavy ones. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366/13 "2011-09-15T12:17:31Z")
Schick still makes disposables that are double-bladed razors with the little button. That button works! I have a very heavy beard, so it’s the only way I can shave. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366/14 "2011-09-15T13:13:15Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > You’ll never get a straight razor as sharp as a blade and there’s a steep learning curve to using one. I use a safety razor like **toofs** mentioned and a quality shave soap (Tabac) and a badger brush. The initial investment will cost you a little but the quality of the shave is worth it and you’ll save money in the long run as double edged blades on the internet are super cheap. Merkur makes safety razors but I prefer old Gillette razors that are still available on eBay. I used to use a traditional straight razor and that being said I’ll point out that the straight razors used in barber shops typically used disposible safty razor blades. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366/15 "2011-09-15T13:13:25Z")
I have this problem and I just rub my thumb across the blades (in the non-cutting direction, of course!) so that they flex in the plastic housing. That loosens the clog enough for it to rinse away. (Also, I usually shave in the shower, so that helps.) ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366/16 "2011-09-16T01:50:23Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > … \*I ran out of shaving gel one time and used hair conditioner as an impromptu alternative - it gave a superior shave, so I’ve never looked back. Interesting. I’ll have to give that a try. Have you tried out different brands, to see if one is more effective than the other? As for the OP… FWIW, I use the Gillette Fusion razor and think it’s the best of the lot. Granted, I have very light facial hair. (very little, actually) I was given a new one recently, so I gave my (still working) old one to my best friend, a man with a very heavy beard/coarse facial hair. He uses it to shave his neck (otherwise, all you would see is hair, from his jaw down to his shirt collar. :eek:) He _ **raves** _ about it. The cartridges for the Fusion are a little ‘_pricey_’ in some’s opinion, but the smooth shaving results and the fact that it very rarely nicks or cuts the skin, plus the extended use that is obtained from the design, (I normally get 8-10 shaves out of a single cartridge, my buddy gets 4-5. YMMV) kind of offsets the high price, IMHO. It’s also waterproof, I shave in the shower and have never had a problem with it. 😃 The battery (1 AAA) lasts a looong time, and I think the vibrations help prevent the hair from clogging between the blades. (At least, my buddy hasn’t mentioned it as being a problem.) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366/17 "2011-09-16T02:44:46Z")
Fusion is “a little” pricey? I use Gillette Good News – a twelve pack costs about $7. Fusion replacement blades are 5 for about $25. That’s nearly 10 times the price. I did try the Fusion and I liked it. I _think_ it gave me a closer shave. But the price is what really cut me. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366/18 "2011-09-16T03:30:45Z")
I’ve been using an old fashioned safety razor for a few years now. One thing that surprises me with these is that they seem to work best when pulled across the cheek at about a 120-degree angle of attack, so, nearly perpendicular. It’s a bit counter-intuitive because, after all, when you use the disposable cartridges, the cutting edges are nearly parallel to the area being shaved. I learned this by watching my barber, who sometimes uses a straight razor to finish off a haircut or beard-trim. He holds the blade almost perpendicular to the area being shaved. Before I adopted this technique at home, I used to cut myself at least once a week. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366/19 "2011-09-16T03:40:09Z")
My partner’s beard is just about as course as boar’s bristle. The ONLY thing that cuts through it is a well-honed straight razor. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366/20 "2011-09-16T14:09:09Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > I’ve been using an old fashioned safety razor for a few years now. One thing that surprises me with these is that they seem to work best when pulled across the cheek at about a 120-degree angle of attack, so, nearly perpendicular. It’s a bit counter-intuitive because, after all, when you use the disposable cartridges, the cutting edges are nearly parallel to the area being shaved. I learned this by watching my barber, who sometimes uses a straight razor to finish off a haircut or beard-trim. He holds the blade almost perpendicular to the area being shaved. > > Before I adopted this technique at home, I used to cut myself at least once a week. Weird- I have the best results with my Gillete Fatboy adjustable set to 7 (aggressive) and held as shallowly as I can manage. I haven’t cut myself in months. Honestly though, the modern 3 blade razors do a damn fine job for a single pass shave. They’re a bit much for a multiple pass shave, like is intended for single-blade safety razors. I do use Schick extreme 3 disposables when traveling, along with the Bic Sensitive disposables, which are not so very far off from an old-fashioned safety razor in terms of the blade angle, sharpness and technique required. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/razor-blades/596366.md?page=2)