Shaving Waste From A Landfill with a Razor Sharpener?

Here in the United States there are several large companies that provide tools for hair removal through a blade of some sort -- Gillette, Norelco, Bic and Schick are some of the best known to provide disposable or electric shaving implements. Electric razors are a good environmental choice as they help reduce waste from landfills since the heads or foils will be used many more times than a disposable blade but they are also a draw on electricity as they recharge through a base unit. Since the base can be unplugged while not in use however a moderate offset can be achieved. As a gal who prefers to take care of this particular activity while showering, an electric solution is not feasible for me so I have been interested to find something that would extend the life of the razors I do use if at all possible.

While watching television I was introduced to a product called Save A Blade which claims to resharpen the blades of disposable style razors, therefore extending their life to approximately 200 shaves from a single blade. I was intrigued and decided to look into reviews of users who had tried the product to see if others think it is as great as it claims to be.

The first place I went was Amazon because I have never found the reviews to be held back -- if a user loves or hates the item they share their opinion freely. Save A Blade received nine reviews for a mix of two with five stars, one with two stars but six with one star. The most commonly stated fact was that the unit will destroy the blades, not sharpen them and that it will actually cause more cuts than before it was used. Ouch!

While doing my research however I came across some information for a way to extend the life of a blade that was so simple I almost yelled “well, duh”! Dry off the blade after use. The blade of a razor will oxidize and rust when introduced to moisture for lengthy periods of time which causes pitting, the main offender for killing a blade. Simply drying it off with a towel by patting lightly or using a hair dryer is said to lengthen the life by 122%. But be cautious of using a hair dryer only if it is already in use as otherwise it is a definite waste of electricity. Nothing like a free solution to saving a little money and the environment as well as a few band-aids since there will be far fewer nicks or cuts to heal.