How Often Should You Change Safety Razor Blades?

The short answer: Most people change a double edge blade every three to seven shaves. Start at about four, then adjust. Change it sooner the moment it tugs, needs pressure to cut, or starts leaving irritation. At around ten cents a blade, there's no reason to push a dull one.

One of the best things about a safety razor is that blades are cheap. One of the most common beginner mistakes is treating them like expensive cartridges and using them far too long. Here's how to know when a blade is done.

The typical range

There's no single correct number. Retailer guides and long-running shaving communities land in roughly the same place: three to seven shaves per blade for most people. Some report more, some fewer. Three things decide where you land:

• Your beard. Coarse, dense hair dulls an edge faster than fine hair.
• Your passes. Three passes per shave wear a blade faster than one.
• The blade brand. Edges vary in sharpness and how long they hold up. The blade that suits a friend might not suit you.

Ranges drawn from Classic Shaving and the Badger & Blade wiki.

Signs it's time to change

• Tugging. The blade pulls at hair instead of slicing it.
• You feel yourself pressing. If you need pressure to get a clean result, the edge is gone.
• More nicks than usual. A dull blade skips and catches.
• Irritation that wasn't there before. Same technique, more redness, usually means the blade.
• Visible rust or damage. Replace it immediately.

A simple system

Pick a number and stick to it for a few weeks. Four shaves is a good start. Some people change every Sunday. Others change on the first of the month and again mid-month. The point is to make it a habit rather than a judgment call each morning.

If shave four still feels great, try five next time. If shave three already tugs, drop to three. Within a month you'll know your number.

How to get the most out of each blade

• Rinse well after every shave. Hot water, then a few taps to clear soap and hair.
• Let it dry. Shake off the water and store the razor somewhere it can air-dry, not in a closed drawer or a steamy shower.
• Use a good lather. Lather protects the edge as well as your skin.
• Never wipe the edge. Wiping a blade with a towel dulls it and is an easy way to cut yourself.

How to change the blade

1. Unscrew the handle a few turns until the top cap lifts off.
2. Lift the old blade by its short ends and drop it straight into a blade bank or tin.
3. Unwrap the new blade over a counter, never in your palm, and lay it on the posts.
4. Set the cap back on and tighten the handle until it's snug.

Our first-week guide covers loading in more detail. For what to do with used blades, see how to dispose of razor blades safely.

How many blades a year?

If you shave most days and change every four shaves, you'll use around 75 to 80 blades a year. At roughly ten cents a blade, that's about $8. We did the full comparison in safety razor vs. cartridges: what you actually spend.

Which blades fit CLOSE CALL?

Any standard double edge blade. CLOSE CALL 001 comes with five stainless steel blades, enough for your first few weeks, and CLOSE CALL refill packs are coming soon.