One shave per blade max.

**SKB** · 03-15-2009, 01:36 PM

I never could get an irritation free shave with an electric or cartridge. I got good shaves with a straight, but I got frustrated with the stones and decided to try a DE. I get good shaves, but if I try for a second shave with a blade the results are poor (irritation). I have tried Swedish Gillete, Feather, and Merkur and they all shave acceptably on the first shave and unacceptably on the second.

Comparing this to the straight, it makes perfect sense. No one shaves without stroping. If you do, it feels dull. On a few occasions I even stroped my straight in the middle a shave with noticeable improvement.
When I was using the straight, I wondered why the thing was so long. At any moment, you only shave with a fraction of the length and the length makes it more difficult to maneuver. Now it is clear. The length is so that the blade does not go dull during the middle of a shave.

I have also noticed that by the end of my shave with a fresh blade, the blade is duller than I would like. This slightly dull blade still works fairly well except for the chin where it pulls a bit which it does not do with a fresh blade if I shave the chin first. Whichever side of my face I shave first experiences less irritation and a closer shave. It makes sense. Double the length of the DE to correct for having two edges, and you still have less edge length than a straight.

I am going to try a cheaper blade, perhaps Derbys, and change the blade halfway through each shaves. ½ shaves per blade. And I read most of you are getting 3 or 4 from a blade. Yall must have less sensitive skin.
Anyone else throw the blade away after a single shave?

I do not mind throwing out the blade after one shave, particulary considering that that I get my best results with Aveeno canned goo which is relatively difficult to clean from the blade compared to the soaps and creams popular here.

**GardenWeasel** · 03-15-2009, 01:40 PM

Have you tried using a tallow soap or SC like Speick?

**MikeLip** · 03-15-2009, 01:52 PM

I had the same problem with Swedes and Feathers. The Merkurs are just lousy blades. You should absolutely get more shaves than one. Try other blades. My favorite - and they last a week - are red pack Personnas. Much cheaper than Feathers, Swedes and Merkurs too. Westcoastshaving.com.

**jrcrow79** · 03-15-2009, 01:54 PM

www.westcoastshaving.com

Astras just as good as Swedes..$20 for 100

**RoyalKooparillo** · 03-15-2009, 01:54 PM

I, like you, have trouble with blade longevity. I rarely am able to get more than 9 passes out of a blade.

If you have a really tough beard, the only way to really extend blade life IMO is to do proper beard prep. It's crucial to soften your beard as much as possible if you want to get the most out of your blades. There are quite a few threads around here on how to do proper prep...even if you don't have time for a hot towel, it's pretty easy to put some pre-lather on in the shower and let it soak in to soften up your beard.

If that isn't doing enough, you can always get your blades cryogenically treated.

Good luck!

**Stubblefield** · 03-15-2009, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by SKB

I am going to try a cheaper blade, perhaps Derbys, and change the blade halfway through each shaves. ½ shaves per blade. And I read most of you are getting 3 or 4 from a blade. Yall must have less sensitive skin.
Anyone else throw the blade away after a single shave?

I toss mine after 2 shaves. So far, the blades that seem to have the longest life are the RP Personnas (they give a really decent shave) and the Platinum Astras. I like the Derbys also, but feel the Personnas are a slightly better all round blade. I do 2 passes per shave so I get a total of 6 passes most of the time.

I can't get 2 full shaves from a Feather, wish I could. And my prep is outstanding.

Originally Posted by jrcrow79

www.westcoastshaving.com
Astras just as good as Swedes..$20 for 100

John @WCS carries the Astra Platinum, which in my opinion is a better blade than the non-platinum version.

**tom myers** · 03-15-2009, 02:14 PM

Re-evaluate your beard prep. . . With a decent blade, you should get more than one shave. By the way, few here will argue that the Merkur blade fits the description of "decent blade".

Regards,
Tom

**amateriat** · 03-15-2009, 02:19 PM

As in the case of another thread here, I'm wondering about your total shave prep routine. This doesn't have to be a micromanaged affair (though Dog knows a lot of us here actually invite that

), but certain details really are important.

One of these details is hydration: I never knew what a difference shaving right after emerging from a shower could make until I did that on a regular basis. I got a far better shave overall and, interestingly, got more mileage from my blades (both the cartridge variety and DEs when I made the switch). Another trick (which I got from Corey Greenberg on his Shaveblog), was to use hair conditioner on my face/beard toward the end of my shower. I imagine this to be not entirely unlike the effect of using a pre-shave oil in its preparatory effect.

Everyone has (or at least thinks he has) a favorite shave soap or cream, but it takes trying a number of them out to see just how effective each one is. Some of us get lucky and happen upon something that works without going though half the catalog of options (I'd tried about five different soaps and creams before I hit on Taylor's creams as my standard), but until you hit something really good, you have to keep looking. (You mention using some stuff in a can as your fave; what else have you tried, and how?)

In the last year, I've also gone to taking shorter razor strokes, and not trying to cover so much facial real estate in one go. My shaves have improved commensurably. This does mean taking a bit more time, even if time is aat a relative premium.

And, not to get too Zen on you, but this really is alchemical: a great blade won't entirely compensate for an inadequate soap/cream, and vice versa. And none of the above will make up for poor or inconsistent prep or technique; a bad morning could result in a lousy shave because of agitation or running late for something (although, oddly, some of my best shaves have been on mornings when I was in a mad hurry and/or in a foul mood).

This is just the stuff I can think of off the top of my head, and isn't meant to be comprehensive, but just something to try and kick off some ideas. I think you've come to the right place for lots of ideas from lots of people.

- Barrett

**GardenWeasel** · 03-15-2009, 02:32 PM

With proper preparation, I just had a Kai blade last for 8 days! Kinda an extreme case for just me experimenting. Normally 2 to 3 days is normal. But a good preparation is way too key to miss out on!

**Bertilak** · 03-15-2009, 04:29 PM

I second paying attention to thorough prep work. After a shower is the simplest way to be sure of that.

I also second the use of a good soap. I don't know what "Aveeno canned goo" is so can't say it is good or bad. I suggest using Tabac. In a recent poll of soaps here on B&B Tabac beat out all the other soaps combined. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...ight=soap+poll. As to creams -- they can be nice but in another recent poll here on B&B an even larger majority preferred soap to cream. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...ight=soap+poll. Learn from this aggregated wisdom!

Some day you may decide you are one of those who prefer cream to soap or one who prefers a different soap. No harm; there are many. But at least start with something you know is close to the bull's eye!

This means you will need to use a brush.

So it comes down to (a) proper prep is at least as important as what blade or razor you use -- probably more so, and (b) there are no shortcuts.

**D.Irving79** · 03-15-2009, 05:22 PM

look into treet blue specials.

or

strop your blades

**ClubmanRob** · 03-15-2009, 05:45 PM

Most DE blades I can get one or two shaves out of them. Two shaves if it's a good chrome blade, one shave out of a stainless steel blade. Usually I feel one edge starting to dull about midway through my second pass.

I have a fairly thick beard, but never had that problem with cartridges. It seems like I can seven or eight shaves out of my Trac II's. It used to take me two or three Bic disposables to complete a shave.

**Scorch** · 03-15-2009, 06:23 PM

I noticed more irritation with more than one shave per blade. My prep is much better than the last time I shaved more than once on a blade but I get nearly zero redness and a very comfortable shave now.

Good prep + 1 feather per one shave = best possible shave

**Stubblefield** · 03-15-2009, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by Robert Paulsen

I also second the use of a good soap. I don't know what "Aveeno canned goo" is so can't say it is good or bad. I suggest using Tabac. In a recent poll of soaps here on B&B Tabac beat out all the other soaps combined.

It is not the greatest stuff in a can. OP would be better off going to Trader Joes and getting some of their shave cream. (or some Tabac)

**amateriat** · 03-16-2009, 01:29 AM

One thing that entered my mind (it happens at four in the morning) is frequency-of-shave, which is probably worthy of its own thread (relax, guys, I'll start it myself in a few minutes). If you're shaving at least 4-5 days a week, how tough can the beard-whacking be, unless yours is a particularly hardy bit o' stubble? I know that when I skip two days, it can be a challenge, but I still get at least 3-4 shaves from a blade in that instance. Naturally, some guys' beards will kill a blade in two shaves or even one, so I should perhaps count myself fortunate (and I am picky: a Gillette "yellow-label" 7 O'Clock lasted me exactly one two-day-old shave before it started playing rough, while both a "no-name" IP and Dorco ST-300 would take that and go at least another three shaves.. For someone else, the opposite might be true. We can all offer advice, but you have to do the hard personal research to find your own True North.

- Barrett

**rikrdo** · 03-16-2009, 01:46 AM

Originally Posted by D.Irving79

look into treet blue specials.
or strop your blades

SShhhhhhhhhhh.......dont want the secret getting out

**Anton von Tripp** · 03-16-2009, 02:13 AM

I started a similar thread recently which attracted some interesting responses.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=76488

Cordially, AvT.

**Bobtrumpet** · 03-16-2009, 06:27 AM

When I first started DE shaving, I could only get one shave per blade (1-2 passes). Now I get ~3 shaves, depending on the blade, with 3-4 passes plus touch-up on each shave.

I my case it was obviously technique improvement (prep, razor, and lather) that helped. That may be the case for you, too.