# Why are there no shaving razors with long lasting ceramic blades? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 12, 2014, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-shaving-razors-with-long-lasting-ceramic-blades/685968 "2014-04-12T22:46:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-shaving-razors-with-long-lasting-ceramic-blades/685968/41 "2014-04-24T04:29:02Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > if I were a Gillette employee, I’m not sure how I’d pitch, "here’s a razor whose only advantage to our current product is that customers will by blades much, much less often. That’s easy: “If we don’t launch it, a competitor will.” ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-shaving-razors-with-long-lasting-ceramic-blades/685968/42 "2014-04-25T06:36:24Z")
> [@Patch](#): > > Cripes. I get about 6 days with one at which point my face feels stubbly even after shaving and I get ingrown hairs. I get ingrown hair below the jaw line when I shave against the grain of the beard. I fixed this by shaving twice at the same time WITH the grain of the beard. I use a powered mach 3 so there is no irritation at all. As to the op, all I want it is a reduction in cost. I get the perfect shave but I feel like I’m getting ripped off because the blade can’t be any more expensive to make than a disposable yet it costs substantially more. They invented a better mouse trap and they know it. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-shaving-razors-with-long-lasting-ceramic-blades/685968/43 "2014-04-25T11:08:55Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > You are off by a factor of 10. I went to buy a 12-pack of Trac-II’s and they were $17! :eek: > > I ended up buying the cheapo plastic throwaways and am regretting it. Trac-II’s aren’t double edged razors. [this](http://www.amazon.com/Feather-Razor-Blades-Hi-stainless-Double/dp/B001G5FOLI/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1398424029&sr=1-2&keywords=double+edge+razor+blades) is a double edged razor, many of which cost on the order of 10-20 cents a piece. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e79b87/32.png) [@The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Joker_and_the_Thief)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-shaving-razors-with-long-lasting-ceramic-blades/685968/44 "2014-10-20T13:46:21Z")
Bumping this old thread to add that a [ceramic razor](http://www.zafirro.com/products/Zafirro-Titanium.html) has in fact been brought to market. The entry level model goes for a mere $2,000 (sorry, it’s sold out) and more expensive models in premium metals are also available, topping out at a cool 100k. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-shaving-razors-with-long-lasting-ceramic-blades/685968/45 "2014-10-20T13:51:16Z")
As a WAG, I’d say that a steel blade can be brought (very cheaply) to a finer edge, suitable for shaving, than a ceramic blade, and the steel blade is no longer useful for shaving when its edge is reduced to the best that a ceramic can offer. ---
**Author:** ![Lurking\_Quahog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lurking_quahog/32/21274_2.png) [@Lurking\_Quahog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lurking_Quahog)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-shaving-razors-with-long-lasting-ceramic-blades/685968/46 "2014-10-21T15:03:13Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I’ll pass on it. It’s sold by Acme Approved. If it’s good enough for Wile E. Coyote, it’s good enough for me! ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-shaving-razors-with-long-lasting-ceramic-blades/685968/47 "2014-10-21T16:55:29Z")
> [@tellyworth](#): > > Amazon has [everything](http://www.amazon.com/Non-Metallic-Zirconia-Ceramic-Wear-Resistant-Non-Dulling/dp/B003B4SV30). Perfect for undetectably removing black-ops stubble, apparently. The link has ‘frequently bought together’ this non-metalic razor along with a universal plastic concealable handcuff key, perhaps they should also suggest a inflight travel power adapter or inflatable travel pillow. ---
**Author:** ![o5rk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e495f1/32.png) [@o5rk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/o5rk)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2017, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-shaving-razors-with-long-lasting-ceramic-blades/685968/48 "2017-08-29T05:39:33Z")
:dubious: HHMMMMmmmm let me see…If you go to [alibaba.com](http://alibaba.com) you can get them from china in bulk. Also amazon sells a ladies ceramic multi-blade for $25. There is a warning on the back of the package that says if dropped in any fashion DO NOT reuse. get another blade!! I don’t care that it is pink. I now dry shave quite easily with no problems! To clear the blade simply use a soft hobby paint brush and GENTLY clear the gapps. HAPPY SHAVING!! Amazon also has a mens ceramic COATED set, but have not tried them yet. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Renz\_Medicinal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Renz\_Medicinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renz_Medicinal)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2017, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-shaving-razors-with-long-lasting-ceramic-blades/685968/49 "2017-08-29T10:26:28Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Here’s a story I read once upon a time: Some anthropologist wanted to prove that ancient pre-historic people _might_ have been capable of doing surgery better that we think. When he needed an operation himself, he arranged for some scalpels to be ground out of granite, and he convinced his doctors to use them. The doctors marveled at how magnificently sharp they were. But they wore down quickly, and could not keep their sharp edge very long. When you knap a piece of glass or obsidian, the knapped “shell” has an edge thinner than a micron. This is sharper than most of today’s edges. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-shaving-razors-with-long-lasting-ceramic-blades/685968/50 "2017-08-29T16:37:01Z")
Zombie thread. This thread is a bit old. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-shaving-razors-with-long-lasting-ceramic-blades/685968/51 "2017-08-29T19:24:25Z")
It’s not that old; and it’s only mostly dead. I do think a ceramic straight razor (or one from obsidian for that matter) might be interesting to try out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-shaving-razors-with-long-lasting-ceramic-blades/685968.md?page=2)