Electric razor brings lots of benefits for men around the world when compared with a traditional razor. They are much easier to use, which can save precious time when trimming off some hair on your body.
However, an electric razor is usually more expensive than the traditional version and needs to be maintained frequently. Among those requirements, oiling your electric razors plays a vital role.
If you’re wondering how to oil electric razors, this article will provide valuable instructions and tips for you to relinquish all worries.
Preparation: Choosing Your Electric Razor Oil
How to choose a good electric razor lubricant?
To make your electric shaver last as long as expected and always perform its best, cleaning and lubricating are crucial.
There are many types of lubricant for your electric shaver available. However, you should buy the ones that can satisfy the following standards:
- They don’t contain any chemicals that are toxic to your skin or your body. If you’re unsure how to check it, refer to the material safety data sheet (MSDS) to find more information. There, you should find more details about the safety information of a particular product.
- They should withstand various environmental temperatures or conditions. For example, some vegetable oils (like olive oil) might be oxidized or transformed into a solid-state after a period.
- The suitable lubricant must be light and have minimal thickness. High-viscosity oil can gunk up your electric shaver.
Vegetable vs mineral oil: Which is better?
Mineral oil is the most effective shaver lubricant. It checked all the tick boxes for a good shaver lubricant.
First, it coats the moving parts with a protective coating to reduce friction and wear. When your shaver is running, it does not attract stubble or debris, which can clog your razor. Additionally, the fact that it is gentle on sensitive skin will lower the risk of irritation or ingrown hairs.
Although vegetable oil is a safe option, it may cause the motor inside a shaver to malfunction. They are thicker, which promotes dirt buildup. It is also unstable at various temperatures and prone to oxidation.
How To Oil Electric Razors Properly: A Step-by-step Guide
First and foremost, keep in mind that the process of oiling your electric shaver is simple and does not need a lot of time.
Electric shaver has two main types: foil shavers and rotary shavers. We will provide you with detailed instructions for each type to ensure that you achieve the best results.
How to oil rotary shavers
- Step 1: Make sure that your electric shaver is completely dry before putting some oil in. If you want to lubricate it after use, you can use a hairdryer to vaporize all the water in your rotary shaver.
- Step 2: Put some drops of oil in the center of each blade from the outside. You don’t need to spread it to all rotation blades, just turn it on after you have done it.
- Step 3: Repeat the previous step by adding some drops to other rotation blades.
- Step 4: Turn on your rotary shaver for about 10 seconds, then turn it off.
- Step 5: Use cotton or some paper tissue to wipe off any excess oil from your rotary shaver.
How to oil foil shavers
In general, there are no differences between the oiling processes for rotary and foil shavers. Therefore, feel free to repeat the above procedures by applying 1-3 drops on each foil from the outside and run the shaver.
If you’re wondering which type of electric shaver is better for you, this Rotary vs Foil Electric Shavers article can be a great source of knowledge and advice.
Why Did You Need To Oil Your Electric Razor?
Electric razor oil or lubricants can help you restore the smooth operation as if you have just bought a brand new shaver. Not only can it bring a pleasant shaving experience, but it also saves you a significant amount of money.
To be more specific, lubricating your razors with oil should create a protective barrier among the razor parts, which reduces the friction and heat between the blades and foil. Hence, you won’t encounter any problems regarding skin irritation or razor bumps.
As mentioned above, oiling your electric shaver can extend the life of the blades and foils. Besides, it protects your electric shaver from corrosion between foils and blades. As a result, the foils will last much longer and not require a replacement soon.
What’s more? Less friction is generated during use will enhance the shaver battery life, better your overall experience.
In the worst-case scenario, some part of the motor may be stuck due to the friction/resistance between the gears, causing malfunctions. Again, using lubricants to oil your razors will ensure that you avoid these frustrating issues.
FAQs
When is it time to oil your electric razor?
To keep your electric shaver runs with optimal performance, you should oil it after every use or at least twice every week.
If you usually use wet shaving or clean your blade with soap, you should lubricate it with oil regularly because cleaning your shaver with soap strips away the oil from the foils and blades.
Can I use sewing machine oil to lubricate my electric razor?
No. Sewing machine oil is a mixture of paraffin oil, Teflon (PTFE), and kerosene. Although paraffin oil is the only material used for lubricating, the safety data sheet of sewing machine oil suggests avoiding contact because it’s not safe for your skin.
Therefore, sewing machine oil may seem a great lubricant, but never should you think about using it to lubricate your shaver.
Is coconut oil a good lubricant for electric razors?
No, coconut oil is vegetable oil with high viscosity. It can not stand the heat and become solid if the temperature is below 78 degrees F (26 degrees C), which may gum up your razor and worsen its performance.
Using WD40 to lubricate my electric razor is a good idea?
Not a good idea at all! You can not use WD40 to spray on your electric shaver.
Hydrocarbon from this product can deform your shaver materials; it will irritate your skin and dermatitis, not to mention the uncomfortably stinky smell from petroleum.
Conclusion
Lubrication is essential for your electric shaver. It increases the speed of the motor and protects the blades from abrasion, and improves the razor’s performance. Furthermore, it will make you feel more comfortable and extend the lifespan of foils and blades.
By the end of this article, hope that you have grasped some valuable tips and pieces of advice on how to oil electric razors.