Five minutes, then stop
How Often to Replace a Razor
When it tugs, it is done. For most cartridge users that is 5–10 shaves, not the fifth week of a ‘last blade.’
Updated 27 Aug 2026 · 6 min read · how often to replace a razor
Tug is the test
A calendar is a start; the face is the judge. Coarse hair and big areas kill blades faster. Rinsing well and drying the cartridge (blot, not on the rim of a wet cup) adds shaves. Soaking it in a shower puddle subtracts them.
Rust or a bent guard: done, even if the marketing said 12 shaves.
False economies
One more week on a £2 cartridge that is scraping a neck is how you buy aftershave balsam and a bad Monday. A $1 safety blade you swap twice a week can be cheaper than a $6 five-blade you love too long.
- Face: ~5–10 cartridge shaves
- Legs: maybe more, until tug
- Underarm / bikini: fewer
- Never someone else’s blade
Disposal without theatre
Blade bank or a taped cardboard for the bin, not loose in a bag. Recycle programs exist for some brands; they are optional, not a reason to hoard dull metal in a drawer for a year.
Questions, answered
- Can I sharpen a cartridge with jeans?
- You can strop a little. You cannot make a rounded edge new. Replace.
- Why does a new blade cut me?
- Angle, pressure, or dry skin — not a reason to go back to a dull one. Less pressure, more slip.
- Electric heads?
- Follow the maker, often every 12–18 months. If it pulls, it is late.
