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The key thing to recognize with modern Gillette cartridges is that the blades last a lot longer than the lubricating strips. For me, those lubricating strips la

The key thing to recognize with modern Gillette cartridges is that the blades last a lot longer than the lubricating strips. For me, those lubricating strips last a couple of shaves at most but I get 15-20 shaves out of the blades. When the strip wears off the shaves get a bit uncomfortable while that stuff peels off but then they start to feel better again after that. A friend of mine actually hates the strip so much that she scrapes it off brand new razor cartridges before using them for the first time! I think the discomfort caused by the worn out lubricating strip is a subtle push by Gillette to get people to toss the cartridge and start a new one before the blades have even begun to dull.

yial 5y ago
I don’t want to risk sounding disgusting, I use a Mach III to shave my face…daily. Now I have a beard, so I don’t shave my whole face. Neck, cheeks … but I get 6 months to a year out of one cartridge on these. Having just replaced, I agree 100% about the lubrication strip.
- tempest_ 5y ago
  You can get the cartridges to last quite a while if you strop them (as best you can) and keep them away from moisture when not in use. I have heard of some people just putting them in a tiny glass of mineral oil. That said for as often as I shave, a couple times a week, I switched to a safety razor and got a sampler of double sided blades years ago. I am just about out of blades now and you can get 100 for like 10$.
  - jasonhansel 5y ago
    Isn't mineral oil now considered carcinogenic?
    - tempest_ 5y ago
      I have no idea as I don't use the cartridges myself but I think the point is to keep them away from moisture so a closed container with ethanol or food grade oil or whatever would probably work as well.
      - namibj 5y ago
        Ethanol is hygroscopic.
    - notRobot 5y ago
      Oh wow, TIL. More info here: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/is-mineral-oil-bad-for-your-skin#cancer-risk https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/is-mineral-oil-bad... Relevant excerpt: > When highly refined, mineral oils do not cause any adverse effects. However, if the petroleum is not highly refined, it may include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are carcinogenic. This means it may increase the risk of cancer. > A 2019 article notes that in Europe, companies are only allowed to use mineral oils in cosmetics if they comply with specific purity regulations regarding PAHs. These regulations and safety requirements ensure that the mineral oils go through the refining process to remove any substances that may cause cancer and reduce the presence of PAHs. > However, according to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, the mineral oils used in the United States are not as refined as they are in Europe. > As a result, people should avoid buying products that contain mineral oil unless the label states that it is fully refined as white petrolatum or white mineral oil. White mineral oil is highly purified and meets specifications to ensure that it is safe to use in over-the-counter products.
  - asdff 5y ago
    I used mineral oil but it clogged the crap out of my sink constantly. Just leaving the razor out to air dry has been fine for me.
- i_like_waiting 5y ago
  I think as long as you find good blades (the ones that you can properly clean afterwards) it will last incredibly long. On the other hand I experienced blades that were unusable or even oxidized after 2-3 uses.
derbOac 5y ago
I usually shave with a DE but do use cartridges sometimes. I really wish you could purchase them without the lubricating strip. I have no proof but strongly suspect they encourage microbial growth and contribute to skin irritation.
maxerickson 5y ago
The razor blade doesn't really dull, it gets mineral deposits that make it rough. So water hardness can make a big difference in how long they last.
- stevesimmons 5y ago
  Does that mean soaking in say vinegar would revive them?
  - maxerickson 5y ago
    I dunno, it's not something I would bother with. I expect it would be difficult to consistently replicate the factory edge.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
- ulrikrasmussen 5y ago
  Can you put it in vinegar acid to essentially descale it then?

yial 5y ago

I don’t want to risk sounding disgusting, I use a Mach III to shave my face…daily. Now I have a beard, so I don’t shave my whole face. Neck, cheeks … but I get 6 months to a year out of one cartridge on these. Having just replaced, I agree 100% about the lubrication strip.

tempest_ 5y ago
You can get the cartridges to last quite a while if you strop them (as best you can) and keep them away from moisture when not in use. I have heard of some people just putting them in a tiny glass of mineral oil. That said for as often as I shave, a couple times a week, I switched to a safety razor and got a sampler of double sided blades years ago. I am just about out of blades now and you can get 100 for like 10$.
- jasonhansel 5y ago
  Isn't mineral oil now considered carcinogenic?
  - tempest_ 5y ago
    I have no idea as I don't use the cartridges myself but I think the point is to keep them away from moisture so a closed container with ethanol or food grade oil or whatever would probably work as well.
    - namibj 5y ago
      Ethanol is hygroscopic.
  - notRobot 5y ago
    Oh wow, TIL. More info here: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/is-mineral-oil-bad-for-your-skin#cancer-risk https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/is-mineral-oil-bad... Relevant excerpt: > When highly refined, mineral oils do not cause any adverse effects. However, if the petroleum is not highly refined, it may include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are carcinogenic. This means it may increase the risk of cancer. > A 2019 article notes that in Europe, companies are only allowed to use mineral oils in cosmetics if they comply with specific purity regulations regarding PAHs. These regulations and safety requirements ensure that the mineral oils go through the refining process to remove any substances that may cause cancer and reduce the presence of PAHs. > However, according to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, the mineral oils used in the United States are not as refined as they are in Europe. > As a result, people should avoid buying products that contain mineral oil unless the label states that it is fully refined as white petrolatum or white mineral oil. White mineral oil is highly purified and meets specifications to ensure that it is safe to use in over-the-counter products.
- asdff 5y ago
  I used mineral oil but it clogged the crap out of my sink constantly. Just leaving the razor out to air dry has been fine for me.
i_like_waiting 5y ago
I think as long as you find good blades (the ones that you can properly clean afterwards) it will last incredibly long. On the other hand I experienced blades that were unusable or even oxidized after 2-3 uses.

derbOac 5y ago

I usually shave with a DE but do use cartridges sometimes. I really wish you could purchase them without the lubricating strip. I have no proof but strongly suspect they encourage microbial growth and contribute to skin irritation.

maxerickson 5y ago

The razor blade doesn't really dull, it gets mineral deposits that make it rough. So water hardness can make a big difference in how long they last.

stevesimmons 5y ago
Does that mean soaking in say vinegar would revive them?
- maxerickson 5y ago
  I dunno, it's not something I would bother with. I expect it would be difficult to consistently replicate the factory edge.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
ulrikrasmussen 5y ago
Can you put it in vinegar acid to essentially descale it then?