How to care for your razor to make it last as long as possible?

Before shaving

Start by rinsing the blades under hot water to remove any dust and residue from the previous shave.

How to shave?

With the correct routine in a few simple steps, you will avoid unpleasant irritations and pimples after shaving .

The following three points form the basis:

1. Before shaving, exfoliate – preferably the day before! This will remove excess dead skin, which in turn will lift the hair and allow for more effective removal.
2. Never shave "dry" - shaving cream will not only protect your skin from the blades, but will also show you the places the razor has missed. Care and functionality in one!
3. Moisturize your skin immediately after shaving – it is then the most delicate and most susceptible to micro-injuries. Treat it tenderly with your favorite balm or oil .

After shave

After removing the hair, just as before, rinse the razor under hot water. This will remove any remnants of hair, skin, and the product you used (e.g. cream ).

After that, it's time to put the razor away - preferably in a place where it won't be exposed to accidental encounters with water. In the bathroom, this can be problematic - but there's a solution for that too.

You can store a completely dry razor in a drawer or on a cabinet, away from sources of running water. Razor stands or hangers with suction cups are also a great option!

You can also put the razor away, first putting a special cover on the blades, but remember that it must be completely dry and cleaned before doing so (so as not to accumulate moisture in the blades). Such covers are therefore useful not only when traveling.

How often should you replace your razor?

Assuming you clean your blades properly, you should replace them after approximately 5 to 7 uses.

Even the most well-maintained razor wears out quite quickly – the blades become blunt, rust may appear on them, and this increases the risk of skin irritation and the penetration of bacteria living on your tool.

What NOT to do?

Do not share the razor with other household members!

Just like with towels – the polite rule of sharing does not apply here ;)

When you shave, you are damaging the epidermal barrier (involuntarily stripping it away), and open and contaminant-prone pores are a direct route for various types of bacteria – in this case (if you use a razor after someone else), bacteria originally present on the other person's skin can penetrate from the blades into your skin. This is a quick way to skin irritation or superinfection!

Don't keep razors in the shower!

Just a reminder – we know it's tempting!

If you shavein the shower , you probably involuntarily put the razor on the shower shelf or leave it in the shower tray.

Rust causes razor blades to become blunt and exposes your skin to irritation!

Do not wipe the razor with a towel!

The blades should dry on their own – when you wipe the razor with a towel, you inadvertently transfer the bacteria that live on it to it. You also shave off the fibers of the material, which can later accumulate on the tool.

BONUS: Don't store your razor near the toilet!

Remember: always close the toilet seat before flushing!

If you don’t, the bacteria in the toilet can spread outside the toilet area (and spray everywhere). When a razor is lying around, fecal bacteria will get on the blades and handle.

Better be careful – especially if you have a bathroom connected to the toilet!

Is it necessary to disinfect the razor?

According to Dr. Katarzyna Pyrkosz , in a home environment, if the razor is used by one person, disinfection of the blades is not necessary.

You may come across information on the Internet that you should disinfect your razor before using it – for example, by wiping the blades with alcohol or an antiseptic.

Remember, however, that these types of preparations are intended for disinfecting the skin, not equipment!

Professional disinfection is an essential element of the operation of, for example, hairdressing or beauty salons – they use special liquids or at least 70% alcohol in which blades or razors are soaked.

At home, we wash, dry and replace razors or blades.

Hair removal: How to shave , "American Academy of Dermatology Association", https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/hair/how-to-shave [accessed on 08/06/2023].