Why You Should Never Share Your Razor

You shouldn’t share a razor with anyone, female or male. Men’s razors are usually designed with facial hair in mind; but women may shave up to 10 times more surface area then men — for instance, legs, underarms and the bikini area — so women’s razors are designed to shave these large areas in a single session.

Many women’s razor heads are more oval shaped vs. square to easily shave tighter areas like underarms. While they come with the same sharp blades as male razors, they may have additional lubrication to better protect the skin when shaving larger areas like legs. And, since body-shaving often requires gripping the handle in multiple positions, razor handles made for women are typically easier to grip in a variety of positions.

You shouldn’t share a razor with someone else due to hygiene concerns. You can get nicked or cut while shaving, and if you use someone else’s razor you are putting yourself at risk for infection — and vice versa. What’s more, you may not know how long someone else’s razor has been used. His or her razor could be older than you think, and shaving with a blunt blade increases chances of scratches, skin irritation, razor burn and bumps.

If you use a refillable razor, consider stocking up on blade cartridges so you don’t reach for someone else’s razor if your blade is too blunt. Having extra blades readily available will also come in handy if someone else accidentally uses your razor, so you can simply swap the used blade with a new one to avoid cross contamination. If you use disposable razors, keep a few extras nearby. And, consider placing an extra razor in your travel toiletry bag as well, so you don’t forget one when travelling.

Make sure your razor is also easily recognisable, especially if you live with someone else who uses a woman’s razor. Having a distinct razor can help prevent sharing with someone else on accident.