Change the blade if it grabs the whiskers - wont slide along smoothly

[mark3d]

well it looks like 2-3 shaves.. not 4.. before i have to change the blade. i was too lazy and over-confident to change during the 4th shave and paid the price with neck irritation (and a generally poor shave). i'm annoyed because i was up to 4 bloodless shaves in a row! (up to about my 20th DE shave)

lesson learnt

at least now i will always be clear on what a blunt blade feels like

[wchnu]

Glad we got that sorted out. Well all learn these little lessons along the way.

Fuzzy

[infotech]

For some reason I still have a hard time changing a blade out in the middle of a shave.

[BroJohn]

well it looks like 2-3 shaves.. not 4.. before i have to change the blade. i was too lazy and over-confident to change during the 4th shave and paid the price with neck irritation (and a generally poor shave). i'm annoyed because i was up to 4 bloodless shaves in a row! (up to about my 20th DE shave)

lesson learnt

at least now i will always be clear on what a blunt blade feels like

If you only get 2~3 good shaves from a blade, then that's what you get. Always shave with a blade that's in its prime. I don't recommend trying to eek out extra shaves on blades that are inexpensive to begin with --it's a false economy. Just swap in a fresh blade.

Do NOT try to get 'just one more shave' from a blade as the Shave Gods will be offended and you will be ...punished.

-- John Gehman

[OldSaw]

For some reason I still have a hard time changing a blade out in the middle of a shave.

Not me. I have even changed brand new blades if they didn't perform. Although, I do admit is very annoying.

[Mr Mockett]

If I'm trying a new blade, and it grabs me even then, I'll can it without hesitation. No blade is so expensive that you can't bin it when it performs poorly.

[LastManStanding]

I have never thrown away a new blade. I have changed blades mid-shave several times. Sometimes I only get a sinlge shave before a change because I want a fresh blade on for my Sunday shave... :)

[TimmyBoston]

I couldn't agree more, I think many people (new and old shavers alike) push their blades too far. DE are cheap and disposable, one of my primary blades is an IP, I use it for 2 complete shaves, that's it and then I toss the blade, with the low, low prices of DE blades (especially compared to cartridges) I have no idea why people try to push blades so far. Because I know everytime I do that, I end up with razor burn for days.

[mankini]

I agree, I sometimes have to remind myself why I am doing what I am doing. For me it is the beauty of it all, and the results, oh man are the results worth it. Irritation in any form when I have a choice to change out a blade will not be tolerated. So go ahead and change out that blade at the first sign of trouble.

[DogHair]

I pretty much stick to the three shave rule no matter what. Some blades will do more but they vary so much it's easier to go with three. Reduces irritation.

[ColbyPants]

I pretty much stick to the three shave rule no matter what. Some blades will do more but they vary so much it's easier to go with three. Reduces irritation.

+1

That is pretty much my mantra as well, with generally positive results.

[Ammoseven]

If your first shave isn't that great do you guys go onto another? I've seen that more than a few people on this forum consider the second shave to be better than the first.

[Dennard]

well it looks like 2-3 shaves.. not 4.. before i have to change the blade. i was too lazy and over-confident to change during the 4th shave and paid the price with neck irritation (and a generally poor shave). i'm annoyed because i was up to 4 bloodless shaves in a row! (up to about my 20th DE shave)

lesson learnt

at least now i will always be clear on what a blunt blade feels like

Three shaves is not bad for a DE blade. They're so inexpensive compared to cartridges.

[mistervee123]

Yup, yup. Getting 2-3 shaves out of a blade isn't bad, particularly with any kind of a beard. At most, I go 4 shaves with a single blade. Hey, the most expensive DE blades are about 50¢ each, compared to Mach (whatever) cartridges which are almost $2.00 each.

[mspk1111]

for me this is why I like derbys. For some reasons derby will last 3-4 shaves for me but feather only 2-3. Not sure why cause feather starts out sharper you would think it could last longer.