How to Make Razor Blades Last Longer

Co-authored by Woody Lovell

Last Updated: August 7, 2022 Approved

Shaving can be a hassle for a lot of reasons, including the never-ending costs of replacing razors and blades. When used daily, a typical disposable razor blade will only provide a close, smooth shave for 10 days to 14 days, a fact that greatly influences how manufacturer's price razors. They compete with one another by taking a loss on the razors so they can mark up and profit off of replacement blades.^{[1]
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Research source} But consumers can save money and make their razor blades last longer by keeping them clean, rust-free and sharp. Implementing a few quick fixes will protect your blades for longer.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning and Drying Your Razor

1
Clean the razor after each use. Don't stop at simply rinsing the blade, give it a good scrubbing with soapy water.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Woody Lovell
Professional Barber
Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.} Using an old toothbrush, simply scrub across the blade a few times to clean away any leftover skin and hair, before rinsing it in water again.
2
Dry your razor thoroughly after each use.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Woody Lovell
Professional Barber
Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.} The quickest way to wear a razor blade is to let it rust. When water causes the metal blade to oxidize, tiny particles of rust form on it. You may not be able to see them, but those particles corrode the blade, dulling it. Additionally, in hard water areas, letting the water dry onto the blade leaves behind scratchy crystals which prevent you getting a close shave.
- Pat the razor dry on a towel to remove loose water droplets. Be sure you don't wipe it with the towel, because the blade will likely catch on the threads, dulling the blade.^{[4]
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- Dip the razor into a dish of rubbing alcohol. The alcohol will cause any remaining water to evaporate when it hits the air. As an added bonus, it also sanitizes the blade.^{[5]
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3
Store the razor in a dry place. You will defeat the purpose of drying your razor if you then stick it back in the humid shower or next to the sink where it will be splashed with water.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Woody Lovell
Professional Barber
Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.} Store the razor in a dry location away from either possibility or keep it in a resealable plastic bag. You can even set it in a cup with leftover beads of silicon gel - the kind that come in those little square packages - in the bottom or store it in your freezer between uses.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Coating Your Razor

1
Prevent your razor blade from rusting by coating it in oil. Even oxygen in the air can lead to rust on your razor blade. Coating it in oil will provide a barrier between the metal blade and the surrounding air. Choose from a variety of household oils, including olive oil, baby oil, vegetable oil or mineral oil.^{[7]
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Pour some oil on a rag or cotton ball and wipe it across your razor blade. Ensure the blade is completely coated. Don't rub the film off or it will defeat the exercise.
3
Soak the razor in a bath of oil. If you prefer, you can also pour some of your chosen oil into a small saucer. After you're sure the blade is completely coated, just remove the razor and set it down to dry on a paper towel.
4
Store the razor in oil. Some people even choose to store their razor in oil between uses. Partially fill a cup with oil. Each time after you use your razor, dry it and set it blade-first into the cup of oil. Keep the blade submerged there until you're ready to use the razor again.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Strop Your Razor

1
Strop your razor blades in between uses. You can make you blades last even longer with a quick strop. While you can't use a traditional sharpening tool on most modern razor blades, the tips of the blades still tend to get bent over which makes them seem blunt, but you can easily buff them straight again with simple materials such as denim.
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Push the razor along a denim surface such as blue jeans for 10 or 20 strokes in the reverse direction that you shave. The cross-fibers of the jeans do a bang-up job of both drying and straightening the blades, keeping them sharp for longer.^{[8]
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Expert Q&A

Question

Do razor blades get dull over time?

Woody Lovell
Professional Barber
Woody Lovell is the Founder of The Barbershop Club, a gentleman's barbershop-as-social club rooted in 1990's traditional barbering based in the Hotel Normandie in Los Angeles, California. He is also the Founder of his own line of quality grooming products. He has over 20 years of experience in the male grooming industry and has consulted clients including professional athletes, musicians, and A-list actors throughout the Los Angeles area.

Woody Lovell

Professional Barber

Expert Answer

All razor blades get dull and need to be replaced over time. But the cheaper the razor is, the sooner the metal will go dull, giving you razor burn sooner. And vice versa, the more expensive the razor is, the better is type of metal the razor is made out of, and you are able to get more shaves.

Warnings

Coating your razor in oil, especially if you soak it, can cause the moisture strip on many razors to dissolve. At the same time, an oil-soaked razor is less likely to need a moisture strip in the first place.

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