Thread: newbie question: How long can I use a DE blade for?

All the above advice is spot on as usual! I will add that with my beard type, I am able to get 5 close comfortable shaves with a Merkur, my personal favorite blade. It's all about your individual circumstances and the quality of the blades you use.

anywere between 2-5shaves for myself but I shave EVERY night so sometimes there's not much to shave.
I also just change when the shave becomes uncomfortable, but I work outside so sometimes a little sunburn can influence an early blade change.

When I get to the DE in my rotation I only do two passes WTG on one side and XTG on the other

Until you can't. The blade will let you know. I can get anywhere from 3 to 8 shaves on a blade depending on the brand. The NOS blades from the 1970's and 1980's yield the best results for me. I can consistently get 7 or more shaves from a Schick Plus Platinum blade. Feather on the other hand only yield 2 shaves for me.

With hand stropping prior to each shave I've gotten as many as 10 shaves out of a DE blade. However, generally even with hand stropping they get pretty shady after 6 or 7 shaves

With vintage stainless blades I also seem to get around 7-10 shaves. Pella's, Perma sharp and merkur blades also give me 7-10 shaves. Other blades give around 3 shaves before they deteriorate. Feathers only 2, then done. I also hand strop my blades. The thing I've noticed on the blades that last the longest, is that none of them are super smooth.

I can get 7 shaves out of a quality blade--the last two are maybe a bit questionable, but decent at any rate. In the past I've changed blades every Sunday. I have what could be called a medium thick beard and I mostly use the Israeli Persona blades.

Sounds like a pretty varied by circumstance thing, everyone has diff beards and faces as well as pep and usage technique so I would figure it is a shave, experience and figure it out type of thing. Shave till it no longer feels comfortable or as smooth as the first 2-3 shaves, or if rust begins and change out preferably far before rust rofl.

I figure I will change out when I feel it is not cutting as smoothly as before and grab for a new blade, I have yet to find out my pattern of needing to change out blades so I'm finding my own niche.

I bought a big sample pack and I like a sharp blade. Lately I have been keeping the wrapper for the blade next to the razor. If I have several DEs out I can see which razor is in each handle. I make a tear in each wrapper as I use it and swap them out after 3 shaves each.

--Shoki

This is a great idea. Thank you.

Originally Posted by Shoki

I bought a big sample pack and I like a sharp blade. Lately I have been keeping the wrapper for the blade next to the razor. If I have several DEs out I can see which razor is in each handle. I make a tear in each wrapper as I use it and swap them out after 3 shaves each.

--Shoki