We’ve all been there. You need a quick shave. You’ve rushed into the shops and grabbed a pack of Disposable razors.

Maybe a relative has gifted them to you. (Yes, this has happened to me. Thanks, Aunt Linda)

Maybe you’re planning a trip away and want to be able to be hair free, but you can’t pack your safety razor in your carry on, so you dig out some old disposables from the back of the bathroom cupboard.

Whatever the reason, you need to know how long you can use your disposable razor, and how to dispose of it in an environmental way.

We got you. Fasten your seatbelts, here’s a crash course in disposable razor wisdom.

How Long Do Disposable Razor Blades Last?

But how many times can we use them, really?

The answer is, not that many.

For men in particular this may be less than you think. If you’re shaving your face, you need a sharp blade, and so you’ll get as little as three good shaves out of a safety razor before it goes dull and needs to be replaced.

Ladies, for leg shaving, you can get more use out of your disposable razor, but you’re also covering a larger surface area, and so they’ll get dull quickly.

 A good disposable razor that’s cared for correctly, will survive for roughly ten uses.

But how can I tell? I hear you cry.

There are two main ways to tell when you need to change your disposable razor. 

1. How it looks. Is the blade shiny and clean? Then you’re likely good to keep using it. Is there a build-up of shaving cream and dirt? Or are the blades rusty? Time to get rid of it.

2. How it feels against the skin. Once a razor starts to pull tighter and feel uncomfortable, this is a sign it’s showing its age. If it’s no longer cutting the hair the way it did on first use, then that razor’s done for.

How to Recycle Your Disposable Razor?

Surprise! There are in fact ways that you can recycle your disposable razor. But it’s not always easy or practical. Or even available to everyone.

Most disposable razors have two parts. A plastic handle, and the razor blades. In order to have any chance at recycling, these need to be separated. Which is where the problems start.

Some disposable razors can be broken down easily and the plastic handle and blades can be recycled separately. Unfortunately, these types of disposable razors are few and far between. 

Usually, there’s no easy way to separate the handle from the blade, and so for your own safety, we don’t recommend it.

Some razor companies have started their own recycling programme for disposable razors, but these are generally localised to just a handful of areas.

The reality is that your disposable razor is headed for the landfill.

Can Disposable Razors Be Environmentally Friendly?

Surely there’s a solution?

Surely someone, somewhere, has invented a disposable razor that can be composted after use to help me feed my herb garden?

Sometimes, not every solution is that simple.

The reality is, that while many of us have some disposable razors at home, and there’s no doubt they’re useful for the frequent traveler, a disposable razor just isn’t environmentally friendly.

In fact, plastic razors have been called the new plastic straw.

If you are using disposable razors, the best thing that you can do is to look up a local recycling program in your area. You might get lucky and find one in your district that will accept difficult to recycle items like this.

By now you’ll have realised that disposable razors aren’t the best for the environment.

Don’t worry, there’s a solution.

Shaving with a Safety Razor vs. Disposable

Let’s face it, shaving with a disposable razor is, well, easy. You don’t have to think about it, you can do it while still half-asleep or before rushing out to meet friends. You don’t really need to maintain your razor either because after all, it’ll be going in the bin soon.

Yet when you realise that your convenience means more waste in the landfill, well, that makes you stop and think, doesn’t it?

Benefits of a Safety Razor

1. They give you a close shave. When you take the time to use a safety razor correctly, there’ll be no more patches that you’ve missed. It provides you with a smooth, clean shave.

2. Safety razors are better for sensitive skin. If your skin is prone to razor burn or breakouts, your disposable razor isn’t helping you. Having one clean blade is much kinder on your skin.

3. They are environmentally friendly. They aren’t designed to be thrown away. As well as the classic stainless steel, there are other safety razors with handles made of biodegradable material like bamboo. And when you have to change blades, these can be recycled. In fact, safety razors are ranking at the top of our sustainable razors guide.

Shaving in an Eco-Friendly Way

While we all end up using disposable razors at times, investing in a safety razor has a lot of benefits.

Making just this one small change can not only improve your shaving experience, but it’ll help to reduce the amount of waste on landfills.

You may wonder what one person changing to safety razors can really do for our planet, but every small action helps. Never underestimate the value of your spending power! Companies change according to trends, so when they see how important being eco-friendly is to their customers, they’ll make it a priority as well.

And don’t forget this: Almost everybody shaves. Adopting an eco-friendly shaving routine and sharing it with your friends can have a huge impact!

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