Thread: Sterilizing affect razor sharpness?

Never have sterilized a razor in my 50 years of shaving me. Back before we used disposables to shave tattoo customers I used to keep my straight razor (Weck replaceable blade) in a solution of barbacide. I would change it every couple of weeks whether it needed it or not, and no one ever got anything .......... Here is an old tattooer's setup from 1980. He tattooed from the 1930s up until the '80s when he passed away. Up in Virginia. Note the cold cream jars under the bowl dust cover. When the ink got stiff he would add a little Listerine and stir it with the Q-tip. Alway dip into the jar with the machine one customer after another.

The pitcher in the background held a sea sponge to wipe the tattoo area before, during, and after the tattoo was applied. This was the way most all tattoos were done ..... no changing needles or ink containers between customers, the whetstone in the photo with the eye loupe is to correct hooked needles. I was tattooed that way in the '60s and '70s before tattooers began wearing gloves, and using sterilization. Point is ........ I wouldn't sweat sterilizing my razor ....... unless it just makes you feel better.