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The origin of razor blades dates back to prehistoric times, during the Bronze Age, when any available sharp stone or object was used. Up until the 20th century men mostly shaved with straight razors, made of stainless steel with open steel blades, of the kind still used by barbers. The first safety razor, in which only a thin edge of the razor comes into contact with the skin, was invented in France in the late 18th century, but it wasn't until more than 100 years later, in 1901, that an American inventory and entrepreneur, King Camp Gillette, developed a safety razor with disposable blades.
Today's razor blades continue to be made of steel, generally stainless steel. The blade is first forged and then filed before being "exposed to a cherry-red heat and instantly quenched in cold water," writes Henry Chase in The Wonder Book of Knowledge. "The blade is then tempered by first brightening one side and then heating it over a fire free from flame and smoke, until the bright surface acquires a straw color (or it may be tempered differently). It is again quenched, and is then ready for being ground and polished." -
A razor blade's life span depends on the blade, the thickness of the hair it is called upon to remove and the frequency of use. An informal scan of Internet forums and chat rooms finds that on average a blade used each day on a normally clean-shaven individual can last up to two weeks before redness on the skin and scattered nicking indicate it's time to toss it out.
A blade that's being used to shave off a thick beard, on the other hand, is best discarded immediately after use. -
Officially, there are no manufacturer-recommended ways to prolong razor blade life. Gregory Karp, a personal finance writer for The Morning Call newspaper in Allentown, Penn., tried writing a story about razor blades but was frustrated in his quest for more information. "Gillette and Schick declined to allow interviews with executives or blade-research personnel to discuss them," Karp wrote in his story, posted on the Chicago Tribune website. "The most a Gillette spokeswoman would say by e-mail is that 'Gillette scientists have not seen any data to substantiate' methods of making blades last longer. Schick would not comment at all."
Still, veteran users of razor blades all have their own favorite techniques, including coating the blade with baby oil or petroleum jelly after each use, soaking blades in rubbing alcohol when not in use, storing blades in a magnetic holder to prevent warping and thoroughly drying them after each use--the premise being that water causes blades to rust, and rusting is the leading cause of blade dullness or corrosion. "A high-profile test of this happened when consumer-advocate radio host Clark Howard of Atlanta used a 17-cent disposable razor for an entire year," Karp wrote. " He said he extended blade life by blotting his razor dry with a towel after use."
