Are We There Yet?

For those of you who don’t know, I received my first shaving razor blade during the Christmas of 2013.  Since then, I have completely moved away from electric shavers.  Through my experience, I’ve found the conventional (blade) razor to be a superior shaving tool over the electric shavers.  Although I’m sure this still remains a much debatable subject, I personally find the traditional device more nimble, versatile and often, a much closer experience - literally!

Before I overstep my boundaries and start a war between the practitioners of traditional craftsmanship and advocates of futuristic tech, let me be clear on today’s subject:  the purpose of Are We There Yet isn’t aimed at settling the age-old debate between the two rivals.  Instead, the main purpose of this article is for our lovely readers, you, to know when it’s time to switch your razor blade.

Let’s face it, we’ve all been there.  We’ve all had our fair share of moments where we pick up our razor and just go at it without much of a thought… let alone, remember the date you’ve last replaced your blades.  It’s great to know that this little fella can be easily accessible, but what we do lack (I am very much guilty of it myself) is the self-awareness of switching out the blades.  Aside from the obvious excuse of simply being forgetful, we suspect there are other reasons:

1.     Lazy – The difference between being lazy and being forgetful is a matter of choice.  When we are lazy, we voluntarily choose to do/not do some things.  In the case of shaving, because the act is so simple and seamless, we choose to replace the dull blade “Next Time”.

2.     Frugal – Let me be honest.  You guys cannot believe how many times I’ve heard people use this word to try and justify their actions.  Don’t get me wrong!  I am all for being frugal when it comes to strategically planning out efficient ways of saving money.  HOWEVER, using the same razor blade for 2 months (beyond the replacement date) will not yield an additional Big Mac Combo during your next McDonald’s visit.  Trust me, I know…

3.     Uneducated – Ok, uneducated is a harsh word.  Us guys think and act like we know everything. What we are trying to say is that we tend to misjudge or misunderstand our shaving razor.  On behalf of all men I’d like to clarify:  this is nobody’s fault.  [Guess what fellas, it’s kinda like sex… we think we know everything about it.  We also think we’re good at it.  Most guys are bad at “it”.  Ask your significant others, if they so dare tell you the truth.]  There are different factors that come into play when gauging the lifecycle of one’s razor blade:  usage duration, usage frequency, individual’s shaving habits, amount of facial hair, different razor brands, quality of the material, etc.  The list can go on and on, and it’s perfectly fine that you don’t know these factors; that’s what ManPossible is for.

With every action comes a reaction, or in this case multiple reactions:

Long-term usage of unsharpened razor blades can and will cause cuts, irritation, or worse, an infection.  With a dull blade, what used to be a single smooth wrist movement might result in multiple rounds/revisits or at times the facial hair can get stuck in-between the slivers of the multi-layered blades.  Going back to being uneducated, sometimes the products themselves can be very deceiving.  This is especially true in this day and age.  Technology and manufacturing have improved so much that most razors we use today are at another level compared to the ones your granddad had.  With lasers and other precision tools readily available, some razor blades are super thin and come in multitudes of layers to capture every stage of the shaving process.  In my case, I accidently ran the blade across my thumb and it took out the very top layer of the skin.  You would think that means the razor blades were in top shape right?  Wrong!  When I ran that shaving razor across my facial hair, the experience felt rigid as if you were shaving and pulling out the hairs all at the same time.  If you experience any of the above incidents, especially the “pull resistance” when shaving, it’s definitely time to purchase/order new razor blades.

Aside from the obvious “go out and get it now” solution, there are couple alternatives one can apply to help prolong the purchase process.  BUT, do keep in mind that these alternatives are brief solutions and not meant to be used as an excuse for putting off purchasing new blades.

1.     Lathering Agent – This goes without a saying, but it’s wise to always use a lathering agent (shaving cream, conditioner, if you have to – soap, etc.).  In the case of a dull blade, be sure to use extra lathering agent as an added layer of “cushion”.

2.     Change it up – This is a scenario where teamwork can result in a very desirable outcome.  To help accommodate the dull blade and still get a clean shave, it is recommended that you use the razor alongside an electric shaver.  You can have the razor go through the initial run and trim off all excessive and long facial hair.  Once that is out of the way, pick up the electric shaver and run it through the same path.  Finally, you take your razor and perform a thorough and detailed finishing sweep.

3.     Old School – If push came to a shove, you are always free to pick up a pair of scissors…. No don’t do that, just let it grow!

Now that we’ve enlightened you yet again on grooming and life, do not let us catch you fellas with cuts or razor burns without an appropriate explanation.

by ManPossible