How many times do you typically use a DE blade ?

I used to use the same blade 3-5 times before tossing it.  

Now I’m a one shave per blade guy. 

Feather blades tend to get better on the second shave, that’s why I don’t use Feather blades any longer. 

I’m a bit OCD and shall we say minor neurotic over bacteria, so take my post with a grain of salt 

I have thick coarse wiry stubbles - for a Scandinavian guy. I wish I had velvety soft stubbles. 
A Feather ASD2 on 4-5 days of my stubble with a brand new Feather or KAI blade doesn’t stand a chance. 
It simply can’t cut my stubble. I would need a 25+ pass shave to get it to cut it. The R41 will remove it in 3-4 minutes though and even with a duller blade. 

I typically only use my DE razor for my final pass plus touch ups (I shave beard area as well as my head/dome) - yet I still splurge and waste a DE blade per shave.

Reason being I want to avoid rinsing the blade after use risking to cut myself (it has happened a couple of times, when I shaved in the early morning and didn’t sleep so well).

I also want to avoid having old skin and bacteria sitting on the blade until next time I use the blade (I typically shave every 2-3 days). If you rinse the blade thoroughly you’ll not have any visible gunk left on the blade, but bacteria is not visible to the eye and if you clean the blade very thoroughly this takes me back to point number one about risking to cut yourself during cleaning of the blade.

Finally DE blades are cheap, I currently own 1200 Astra SP, (Astra SP is my go to blade) and also own 800 other blades (Gillette - Nacet, PermaSharp, Platinum, Personna Platinum, KAI and Treet Platinum) so I try to avoid using blades, where I feel they get better on the second shave as I toss the blade after the first shave.

BTW I never leave a blade in a razor. NEVER. It can lead to potential rust even in a stainless steel razor. And it’s just gross to leave a used blade in a razor, even a cleaned blade. That’s my opinion anyway.


How many times do you typically use a DE blade ?(yeahh I know it will vary depending on the blade type and what razor the blade has been used in)

I’m pretty much a 3-5 shave guy. Lately, though, it’s been 3 and I toss it. Trying to burn through some blades and also going with the quit while I’m ahead line of thought and tossing it before getting to the bad shave.

Darn. I never thought about the dead skin and bacteria. Hhhmmm....

Even i didn't know about this bacteria thing and tbh I would still skip this knowledge however scientific it may seem. Been shaving for nearly 27years without any inkling how hazardous this bacteria can or cannot be and my face likes my daily shaves..

Coming to the main question... I use a blade till the time I do not feel any dulling or tugging.

Personna Lab Blue in my Carbon razor gives my 5-6 shaves. SE blades give 8-10 shaves easily and since the blade is so expensive it doesn't make sense to drop it after first use. In some cases, I have tossed blade even after a second use since the blade was not that great...example Permasharp green.

Sent from my V2040 using Tapatalk

I used to use the same blade 3-5 times before tossing it.  

Now I’m a one shave per blade guy. 

Feather blades tend to get better on the second shave, that’s why I don’t use Feather blades any longer. 

I’m a bit OCD and shall we say minor neurotic over bacteria, so take my post with a grain of salt 

I have thick coarse wiry stubbles - for a Scandinavian guy. I wish I had velvety soft stubbles. 
A Feather ASD2 on 4-5 days of my stubble with a brand new Feather or KAI blade doesn’t stand a chance. 
It simply can’t cut my stubble. I would need a 25+ pass shave to get it to cut it. The R41 will remove it in 3-4 minutes though and even with a duller blade. 

I typically only use my DE razor for my final pass plus touch ups (I shave beard area as well as my head/dome) - yet I still splurge and waste a DE blade per shave.

Reason being I want to avoid rinsing the blade after use risking to cut myself (it has happened a couple of times, when I shaved in the early morning and didn’t sleep so well).

I also want to avoid having old skin and bacteria sitting on the blade until next time I use the blade (I typically shave every 2-3 days). If you rinse the blade thoroughly you’ll not have any visible gunk left on the blade, but bacteria is not visible to the eye and if you clean the blade very thoroughly this takes me back to point number one about risking to cut yourself during cleaning of the blade.

Finally DE blades are cheap, I currently own 1200 Astra SP, (Astra SP is my go to blade) and also own 800 other blades (Gillette - Nacet, PermaSharp, Platinum, Personna Platinum, KAI and Treet Platinum) so I try to avoid using blades, where I feel they get better on the second shave as I toss the blade after the first shave.

BTW I never leave a blade in a razor. NEVER. It can lead to potential rust even in a stainless steel razor. And it’s just gross to leave a used blade in a razor, even a cleaned blade. That’s my opinion anyway.


How many times do you typically use a DE blade ?(yeahh I know it will vary depending on the blade type and what razor the blade has been used in)

Due to acne when I was younger I disinfect my razor blade before I shave with rubbing alcohol, and I strop it on my Razor Pit. I usually get a month's worth of shaves out of my injector blade.

Sent from my SM-A526U using Tapatalk

I'm usually a Three And Out guy.
I can extend blade use longer, of course. But they're relatively inexpensive and I spent too many years with mediocre cartridge razor shaves to struggle with dull blades anymore.

4 times, 4 times only. I give the new blade a thorough cleaning with an alcohol wipe before loading which seems to eliminate the "first time" roughness I sometimes experience. There have been a few times where I have found a blade to be faulty, so I replace it immediately.

4 times, 4 times only. I give the new blade a thorough cleaning with an alcohol wipe before loading which seems to eliminate the "first time" roughness I sometimes experience. There have been a few times where I have found a blade to be faulty, so I replace it immediately.

Try spritzing your blade with alcohol from a spray bottle. Less of a chance to cut yourself. Try corking your blades on a wine cork, or a piece of Styrofoam to smooth out their edge. I myself don't like bleeding

Sent from my SM-A526U using Tapatalk

I started out with only 3, then later it became 2. I think that certain blades are slightly sharper on the second shave while others aren’t. I rather not take a blade out after starting my shave because it’s no longer sharp or smooth enough to be considered comfortable. Now I’m deciding that 1 and done makes more sense since each shave will be a fresh sharp blade thus providing consistency. Thanks for the inspiration Claus!

I unwrap a new blade every Sunday morning and then use it for a full week. I’m using Derby Extra blades. The first shave is a bit too sharp, but the rest of the week is wonderful. I could get more than seven shaves from each blade, but I change them just as a matter of routine. By the end of the week, each blade has done twenty-one passes.

I used to use Feather blades too, but with most of my razors I found the first shave was too sharp, while the third shave was too dull. Now I use them only when I’m shaving with a Feather razor. They give me a couple good shaves.

I clean and dismantle my razor after each use. I live on the sea. Corrosion is unavoidable in this salty environment. And don’t even get me started on bacterial growth. Rust and mold are just a part of life here. But careful cleaning, drying, and storage can keep most of the nasties at bay.