Content

• Method 2 of 3: Sharpening Blade Razors
• Method 3 of 3: Keeping your razors sharp
• Tips

1 Clean your razor. A little soap and water is all you need.You can even soak the razor in a cup of water for a few minutes. Then rinse it out to remove any remaining dirt.

2 Dry the shaver. Shave the water off the razor, then pat dry with a soft towel. You can also use a hairdryer or a fan, or just hang it upside down to let the water glass itself.

3 Take a pair of jeans. The easiest way to sharpen a disposable razor and extend its life cycle is to use a pair of jeans. The jeans will even out the notches on the blade for a smoother cut and also extend the life of your disposable razor.

• Lay out a pair of jeans on a flat surface. Do not try to put on jeans and do this procedure on yourself.
• Run the razor over your jeans. Run the blade along the leg. Move in the opposite direction to shaving. After you run the razor over your jeans 10-20 times, the blade will be sharpened.
• The denim threads in the pants run obliquely, so to evenly sharpen the blade, move the razor up and down the leg, not as when shaving, but in the opposite direction.

4 Use your forearm. The leather on the arm has a more rigid structure, much like a strap, so it can be used for the same purpose. Run the razor along your arm from elbow to wrist about 10 to 20 times. Just do it not as if you are actually shaving, but by turning the sharp part of the razor away from you. Repeat the same, but in the opposite direction (from the wrist to the elbow), while keeping the blade away from you.

5 Sharpen the razor using the strap. A razor strap is a thick piece of leather that is used to sharpen the blades of a razor blade. However, some of them can help disposable razors too. Using the suede side of the strap, run the razor over it several times to sharpen the edges.

Method 2 of 3: Sharpening Blade Razors

1. 1 Clean your razor. A little soap and water is all you need. You can even soak the razor in a cup of water for a few minutes. Then rinse it out to remove any remaining dirt.
2. 2 Dry the shaver. Shave the water off the razor, then dry it off with a soft towel. You can also use a hairdryer or a fan, or just hang it upside down to let the water glass itself.
3. 3 Use a straightening strap. A razor strap is a thick piece of leather that is used to sharpen the blades of a razor blade. This can be either a regular hanging strap (leather with handles at both ends) or machine sharpening (leather is attached to a piece of wood, forming a flat surface).
   • When using the suspension strap, secure one end to a stationary object and tighten firmly.
   • Hold the razor in your dominant hand with the back facing you and the strap in your other hand. Using light pressure on the razor, quickly slide the blade along the strap. Ten reps should be enough.
   • Flip the blade over to the other side and slide it in the opposite direction.
   • Leave the shaver alone. Razor strap evens out blade defects. Set the blade aside for 24 to 48 hours to allow it to straighten before using again. To keep the blade sharp and as effective as possible, it should be sharpened at least once a month.
4. 4 Use a whetstone. It is also called a "sharpener" or "grinding block". This flat stone is usually used to sharpen straight-edged blades. These stones differ in the degree of grit, force applied to sharpen knives of various sizes and thicknesses. You will need a fine grit stone (# 4000-8000) for your razor.
   • Place the stone on a flat surface. Place it where it will remain stationary, such as on a table or countertop.
   • Wet the stone. Add some water, oil, or shaving cream. This is to prevent the stone from heating up and deforming the blade, and so that it can be cleaned before use.
   • Run the blade over the stone. Place one side of the razor on a rock and pull it diagonally towards you. Sweep the knife in an arc so that all parts of the blade are in contact with the stone. Flip the shaver over and repeat the process.
   • Unlike a belt, a whetstone should not be used more often than every six to eight weeks. More frequent use can lead to faster wear of the razor blade.

Method 3 of 3: Keeping your razors sharp

1. 1 Shave properly. As with any tool, using the shaver correctly will keep it in good working order for a while. Use water or moisturizer to loosen facial hair and rinse the blade while shaving to wash away hair and dead skin.
2. 2 When you're done shaving, rinse the razor. Shave off excess water, then pat dry with a soft towel. You can also use a hair dryer or fan, or just hang it upside down to let the water glass itself. Make sure the shaver is completely dry.
3. 3 After shaving, apply some oil to the blade. After drying the razor blades, rub a small amount of an anti-corrosive oil (mineral oil or petroleum jelly) into the blade to repel moisture.
   • This doesn't mean you have to dip your razor in oil. A thin layer of oil will suffice.
   • This step is only necessary for a blade razor. If your disposable razor starts to rust, throw it away and use a new one.
4. 4 Store your shaver in a dry place. Dampness leads to rust formation, and after a hot shower, your bathroom will be very damp. Make sure your bathroom is well ventilated, or store the shaver in a drawer or some other place away from humid air.

Tips

• You can use a special device or use a blade sharpening service. In this case, you only need to pay for the cost of the service and follow the instructions.
• While these methods, especially with jeans, can extend the life of a disposable razor, they should not be overused. Extending the blade's longevity by a month can save you money, but remember that these razors were originally designed to be discarded eventually.
• If you've never sharpened a razor blade before, take personal protective equipment. Durable leather gloves and long sleeves protect your hands and wrists from possible cuts while sharpening the blade.