Re: Dull Razors

[Rondo Jeffery <RJEFFERY@WEBER.EDU>]

I really had no intention of entering this, but here goes.  From two recent posts:

> > OK!  Now I gotta get in here.  WHY is it that you guys always claim that a
> > woman's using a razor dulls it more than if a man uses it???  I never have
> > understood that one.
> >
> > Lois
>
> My guess---simple area.  Shaving a pair of legs is probably equivalent to 3
> or 4 face shaves.  I'm really not sure that this is that much of a problem
> with today's blades that are good for a dozen or more shaves, but back when
> blades only lasted a few shaves (if that), then one use on legs would
> destroy the blade.
>
> Rick


Having never thought seriously about this obviously serious matter [ ;-) ],  let me throw in one factor that no one has mentioned yet.  That is the type of soap or cream used when shaving.  I know if I use just plain hand soap, the razor may last only a few days, if that.  One man I know claims that he needs a new razor every day, and he learned to expect that from his older brother (and/or father, it doesn't really matter), who taught him to shave with just hand soap because nothing else is any better.  Well, I have found that using  a shaving soap (canned variety) can extend the life of a razor to many weeks, at least.  I use twin-blade disposable razors, and they routinely last 3 months, or more.

Now, I don't know what Lois or any other woman uses in shaving her legs, but I suspect it is more likely to be just hand soap, not the shaving soap.  The life of a razor is definitely related to what's on the hair to aid the blade.  Any physics in that problem?

My $.02 worth.

Rondo Jeffery
Weber State University
Ogden, UT 84408-2508
rjeffery@weber.edu