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How Long Do Safety Razor Blades Last?

You probably know that you should replace your razor blade when it starts to look dull or rusty. But before they reach the point of complete disrepair, how long DO safety razor blades last?

If you’ve been stretching the lifespan of your blades for too long, you’re probably not getting a great shave.

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How Long Do Safety Razor Blades Last?

Your safety razor blade should last about 6 shaves, or for 1-2 weeks depending on how often you shave.

You’ll know that your blade is getting old when it starts to take longer than normal to get a clean shave with your safety razor, or when it starts to tug at your hair and leave behind nics. A dull blade doesn’t cut nicely.

But the good news is that safety razor blades are extremely cheap. You shouldn’t spend more than 50 cents on a blade, and most come in bulk packs. You can buy almost a year’s supply for under $20.

How Often Should You Replace Blade On Safety Razor?

When you get into the nitty gritty details, there are a lot of factors that will determine how fast your safety razor blade gets dull. How often you need to replace your blade depends on:

  1. How Coarse Is Your Hair?

The coarser your hair is, the faster your blade will get dull. I know plenty of guys who only get one shave out of a safety razor blade because their beards are just so damn thick.

  1. How Often Do You Shave?

Or, the real question here is, how fast does your hair grow? If you’re a twice-a-day shaver, your safety razor blade probably won’t make it through the week. Plan to replace it at least every 2-3 days.

  1. What does your pre-shave routine look like?

Guys who wash their hair or beard, let it soak in oil, and lather it up with a moisturizing shaving cream have longer-lasting safety razor blades. All of those steps make your hair softer, which means your razor will have an easier time cutting.

That’s a life hack if you struggle with coarse hair – use softening methods, and your razor blades will last longer. Try a wet shave.

  1. How do you maintain a safety razor?

If you leave your blades in a puddle of shower water, they won’t last long.

Always store your razor outside the shower, and keep your unused blades somewhere dry (in a closet or bedroom, not the bathroom. They might rust before you even get to use them).

After you’re done shaving, rinse the blade with hot water and dry it thoroughly to get rid of soap scum. Some guys say running your thumb along the blade while it’s wet (without breaking skin) helps make it last longer too, but that doesn’t work for everyone.

Can You Sharpen A Safety Razor Blade?

You technically can’t sharpen a safety razor blade. Though, you can run it along a stone or strop to polish it.

Here’s the thing: I would argue that the extra maintenance effort is not a good investment. Safety razor blades are cheap. You can get a pack of 100 for $15. Even if you go through a blade a week, that’s a 2-year supply.

“Sharpening” your safety razor blade might give you an extra week with the blade, but it’s a lot of effort to put into a cheap blade. There are plenty of other things that you can sharpen – sharpening your hair clippers, kitchen knives, pocket knives, or display swords is a much better time investment.

Is Shaving With A Safety Razor Better?

Safety razors are making a huge comeback, and it’s clear why. They’re high-quality, give a cleaner shave, and replacing the blade is dirt cheap.

Lots of men prefer safety razors to straight razors and safety razors to shavettes.

Now, by technicality, most razors today are considered “safety razors” because they have some sort of mechanism to prevent the blade from cutting skin. But if you google safety razor, you’ll get pictures of that classic 1900s razor design with a double edge. That’s what I’m talking about when I say “safety razor,” and it’s what most guys are referring to when they talk about safety razors.

Classic safety razors win most razor debates because they’re affordable, effective, and they look like a medieval weapon (safe for your face!).

Do Safety Razors Last A Lifetime?

Your safety razor will last a lifetime – but the blade won’t.

So don’t forget to replace it at least weekly, if not sooner. Your skin and hair will thank you – and your shave will look clean as f*ck.

Frank Edwards is a men's grooming & style expert who is "internet famous" for being able to simplify complicated grooming routines into easy, yet effective rituals any man can do. As a professional analyst, he has spent years researching the biggest brands, products, experts, best practices, and breaking news in the space. He takes this analysis, tests it out on himself, and then documents everything in his writing. As a result, his experience-based articles are considered by some to be the gold standard in men's grooming and men's style.