Am I the only one getting 7 shaves out of a blade?

[wwoof]

I can get seven days out of a single Russian Yeller. Lately I've gotten to where I'm taking a day of the weekend off--depending on schedule.

Being redheaded I probably have less whiskers but they have the thickest follicle of any hair color. So, I'm going to say it is the equivalence to everyone else.

 

[ShavelockFoams]

Depends on the blade. Generally 3-5 shaves per blade, but I have gotten as many as 8-10.

 

[gearhead]

I switched to DE shaving to avoid having to milk every last semi-comfortable shave out of a $3.50 cartridge in order to feel like I got my money's worth.

So... I switch blades after 3-4 shaves, which is the point where most blades start to show slight pulling for me. Lord Plats, Sharks, and Red IP's are all 15 cents or less per blade, give me 3-4 great shaves, and are so cheap that I have no compulsion to use them beyond their comfort point.

 

[noahpictures]

3 tops for me. So far I've tried Personna (Red), Astra SP, Feathers, Gillette Yellow, Derbys (1 great shave only), Merkurs (none). I will be trying Iridium, and Bic among others. Personnas have been the best so far.

 

[Cubits]

Yep, 3-4 here too from my astras. I've tried to push it further a couple of times, but the fifth shave usually goes wrong. I tried five from a IP red, but it got messy.

I'm only doing two pass shaves with a teeny touch up. I go diagonal WTG/XTG, then diagonal ATG/XTG with a slide. I have NO idea how people get so many shaves out of these blades... I'm relatively young, so i should have the benefit!

 

[apino]

I just realized I've never even tried how long a DE blade can last. Must be the excitement of going through my sampler pack.

Does it depend on the brand or are there "universal" signs the blade is at its end? Tugging & pulling, more nicks, whiskers just don't get cut?

I have a medium-light beard. On the cheeks, it's growing very patchily and hardly at all on the sides of my neck. I've also grown a mustache and some sort of goatee so there's not that much left to shave really. I usually do 2 passes + possible touch ups so I think I could easily go for a full week on one blade. May even with a Feather!

 

[SteveGoTex]

I started getting a lot more shaves out of a blade, after I began hitting my rinsed off razor with a blast from the wife's hair dryer (which is always out on the counter) before putting it away.

I recently read some material that claims that moisture left on the blade causes micro-corrosion, which is more to blame for blade dullness than chopping down whiskers. That seems to be true for me.

I get at least 7 shaves out of a blade; and just finished the 9th one on a Merkur blade, DFS plus quality.

My beard is "medium" IMO, not super heavy, but always looking back at me each morning.

 

[Dave Deluxe]

I can get 7 shaves from my SE blades, although I generally change them after 4 shaves, since I prefer a very sharp blade.

I generally get 3 shaves from my DE blades (Astra SP's), although I could probably push it to 4 shaves. But again, I prefer a sharp blade so I change a little more often than needed.

This also works well with my rotation which is 3 days of the week with the DE razor and 4 days of the week with the SE razor for a complete week.

DD

 

[Too Tall]

I've got to say, interesting thread. Now I know I'm squarely in the middle of a bell curve. A first for me

 

[AnB_Daddy]

3 shaves with Derby's, 3 passes on my face and 2 passes on my head, and I toss the blade. I probably could get a 4th shave out of a blade, but why chance it with such a low cost. I figure I am covering a lot of area doing my face and head that it would be like a person who shaves only their face to get 5 good shaves from the blade.

 

[demaro]

I can get 6, 3 pass shaves , probably could get another , but never tried to.

 

[cbrigstocke]

I replace my blade on Monday. If the blade isn't very good, Saturday and Sunday will take a bit more work. I've found that Iridiums just want to keep going. They do get duller, but for me they don't get rougher. Every once in a while I get a magic Derby that even after a week is better than most fresh Derby's. Also every once in a while I get a magic Feather that stays super smooth all week long. They usually get rough about half way through the week.

 

[Neuromancer]

I guess I have hard whiskers...even after extensive prep I can only get one shave per blade.

+1...and I'm lucky to get even one shave per blade as my whiskers are so tough...

 

[Jim]

I get 3, 6 pass shaves per blade.

 

[DE Shaver]

I get 3, 6 pass shaves per blade.

You do a six pass shave? That's serious beard reduction or you have a very fast growing beard.

 

[BrianL]

I get 7 shaves per blade with Derby's and Wal-Mart Wilk's. I use 3 or 4 passes per shave.

 

[Xman74]

...or you have a very fast growing beard.

It must be growing like an eighth of an inch per minute!

 

[40boy]

All of the currently available blades I use, I go for 3, 3 pass shaves then toss them.
If I try for 4 days, I always regret it. Feathers, RPIP and Yellow & O'Clocks are my main ones in rotation.

The only blades I've ever got more than 3 out of were some vintage Schick Platinum Plus (7) and UK Wilkinson Sword(6). For me, longevity is the main difference between NOS and new. I don't think they are sharper, but they definitely last longer. I still haven't decided if they're "worth it". YMMV