SO, I've come to the conclusion after using the same Blade manufacturer (shark) in 3 different razors, I'm thinking it's time to change blades when the touch up leaves a bit of red behind. (Not blood) Neck has a smattering of red patches, BARELY noticeable but I feel em. I'm thinking 3 shaves is about what I can expect from a SHARK across the board. When I can apply pressure I'm thinking the blade's done...I didn't apply pressure but I did try to see what I could get away with, & I'm thinking that's a good indicator the blade is done....when there's a wider area for "touching up". Is this an accurate guess-timate?
When the shave becomes uncomfortable when applying NO pressure, that is a sign to change blades. I have actually been into 2 passes of a typical 4 pass shave, and stopped to load a new blade. Each blade has its own characteristic depending on your beard, thickness etc. When it starts to hurt, change it out.
so 2, maybe 3 shaves w. a shark....(kinda shabby.....) or is this par for the course? I got Treet Black Beauty Carbn Steel blades so I can try stropping them..... Seems sharpness, and durability are my next quest in the wet shaving deal, LOL!
I change the blade every two shaves, so 'I always cut a smooth and pleasant ... But excuse me, 'cause you change the blades after 4-5 shaves, having the ability' to pay the double blade with a very low price?
Looks like a translation screwup to me. I always get the best shaves on the third use of the blade. After that I toss it, because the fourth is always a little too rough. I've found hand-stropping makes no difference.
I normally change mine when the quality of the shave deteriorates. Most likely it will be when I have to do a third pass to match the results I normally get in two. Other then that, if I am bored and want to try a different blade, i'll change it. Shark blades are about $.15, it's not a great loss if you only get two shaves from a blade. It's just a hunch, but I have to think that the redness is probably a combination of technique and lather more then the blade. I think that you are using too much pressure to compensate for a used blade.
It depends on the blade. I use the blade until the shave quality deteriorates or it starts to feel less comfortable (tugging, etc..). Now with some blades, I can only get 2-3 three pass shaves. Shark, Derby, Red Personna are some of those blades. Now, others claim to get a lot more shaves out of them. That is fine, their beard and skin is different then mine. Other blades (Astra, 7 O'Clock Black...) I can use for a full work week. Those are the blades that I typically chose. Why would I chose to use the same blade for a week when I can replace them so cheaply? I get up, shower, and shave at about 4 AM. At 4 AM on a work day I don't want to be messing with changing blades. I set up a razor for the work week on Sunday afternoon and then I use that razor all work week.
I hand strop all my DE and SE blades before every use, even the first one. I put a fresh DE blade into my razor every Monday. After the shave, I take it out, hand strop it, and pop it into a different razor for Tuesday. After Tuesday's shave, I take it out, hand strop it, and pop it into a different razor for Wednesday. Repeat until after Friday's shave, then I toss the blade. All said and done, five 3-pass shaves. On the first Sunday of the month I put a fresh SE into my razor. I repeat the above process every Sunday until the last Sunday, then I toss the blade. All said and done, four or five 3-pass shaves. On Saturdays I use a str8. Honestly I've found I could actually get a couple more shaves out of each blade, regardless of the brand. But for my feeble mind and memory, it's just easier to know I change the blade on the first day of the week for DEs or first Sunday of the month for SEs. Doing it this way has also prevented me from saying, "Man, I shoulda changed the blade before this shave. It's tuggin' and pullin' like crazy."
:1respect....you are sooo blessed that you can use the same brand blade in all your Razors. I found each of my razors likes or dislikes certain blades though I only have four in my rotation so it's not too bad... But over all I swap my blade out every third shave regardless.
I get 7 2 pass shaves with the Shark Stainless, load on Sunday and take out Saturday. I agree with the above that the redness is from technique and lather rather than dulling blade.
I change blades on Sunday but I only shave about 4 times per week. The exception being Feathers which I only get 3 shaves from.
Feathers are my go to blade, for sharpness and longevity, 5-7 shaves. Derbys would be next lasting about 4-5 shaves. I am currently test driving some Voshod blades I got as a PIF from our friend, Stingraysrock, aka Jeff. I am into day 3 and so far so good. They may end up ousting the Derbys as my number 2 blade for longevity. Time will tell. Jason, I suggest a sampler pack of many varieties to find your go to blade(s).
The ritual goes like this: Sunday evening a new DE Blade of random choice goes into a Random Razor! Shave with said Random Razor and Blade for that week till I find it is dull or I'm left unimpressed... at which point I simply do not shave again till the Ritual begins anew. Using this technique I've narrowed which blades I can get 5-6 shaves from. Works for me, YMMV!
I get about 10 passes with most blades. This gives me 5 two pass shaves, or 3 three pass shaves. The 2nd or third shave is usually outstanding, then it goes downhill. I tend to change blades after 3 shaves unless I am doing some 2 pass shaves in between, then I may push a 4th. Hand stropping seems to make the last shave a little less marginal, but I rarely take the time to bother doing that. By then I am anxious to try another blade/razor combo.
New blade whenever the shave deteriorates. I can get six shaves from a Voskhod normally, usually three or four passes each shave. Any other blade that I have in stock as a regularly used blade I will use three times and throw it in the blade can. I can get more than three shaves from other blades, but rarely more than four so I just have developed the habit to toss after three shaves.
Depending on the brand of blade I do 3 and 4 pass shaves. I will normally get about 4 good shaves out of most blades. Feathers maybe a little bit more. I also hand strop my blades. Not that this makes them any sharper but it helps dry the edges off. Moisture dulls an edge. I change my blades as soon I notice any irratation on my face or if I have to compromise my shaving technique any to get a quality shave. Examples of this would be buffing or J hooking to get the job done.
you could be right.....that's an indicator I hadn't thought too much of.....so when I can use pressure, the blade's done. SO my guesstimate of 2-3 shaves is correct...more like 2 shaves....
I already have a sample pack...I got 2 actually, the second had brands the 1st didn't have. I'm in my 1st box of blades OTHER than CVS.....CVS are good for like 1 or 2 shaves....they STINK! They DRAG!!!! The sharks feel MUCH better than the CVS brand, but after about 2 or 3 shaves, I notice redness. I also notice I can apply pressure (because there are rough patches and I'm thinking my mach 3 bad habits are surfacing a bit). I'm going to wait til tomorrow to shave again to let the redness heal a bit, it's not sore or anything, but you can tell there's irritation. I think it's from applying pressure when I shouldn't have & shoulda just changed the blade. It wasn't that I was trying to milk the blade, I just didn't think to change it. NOW I know what to look for....
