How Long Does Shaving Soap Last? 

When you are searching for an answer to, “How long does shaving soap last?” you either want to know or how long you can let it sit on your shelf before it goes bad or how many shaves you can get from a single container

With that in mind, we have written this article, featuring both pieces of information. All you need to do is read everything we have put together until the end! 

How Long Does Shaving Soap Last?

Do shaving soaps expire? Does shaving soap go bad? 

Yes. But… 

Most shaving soaps are not imprinted with an expiration date, as they can generally last for a lot of years, with the condition that they are cared for and stored properly. 

However, over time, the scents of shaving soaps can lose their potency and fade away.  Even if your soap is dry or losing its scent, if it does not have visible signs of fungus or mold, it is still generally safe to use. 

In addition, note that soaps that are made from animal or vegetable fats and/or do not include preservatives have a higher chance of going bad. They will only last for about 6 months to a few years. 

When they do, they would have a nasty smell and dark brown spots because of mold and fungus growth. These signs are easy to notice, so when they appear, make sure you toss it away immediately. 

5 Factors That Affect The Number of Shaves You Can Get From a Single Container 

How long a particular shaving soap lasts depends on many factors, including the shaving soap puck size, how frequently you shave, the lathering brush size, the loading amount, and whether you use the soap down to the scraps.  

Size of the Shaving Soap Puck 

Most shaving soap products sold in the market are packaged in 3 or 4-ounce containers, which are roughly equivalent to 85 to 115 grams. These would last about 100 shaves. So if you shave once every day, your shaving soap will last for 100 days or 3.288 months. 

In general, the rule of thumb is the larger the size of the shaving soap puck, the longer it lasts. 

How Frequently You Shave 

If your shaving soap puck is around 3 to 4 ounces and you shave once every day, you can go through your shaving soap in about 3 months.

But for most people, shaving is not a daily thing. Nevertheless, when it comes to shaving frequency, there are a lot of factors to consider.

People with light-colored hair and are not high-maintenance usually shave every 2 days. As such, their shaving soap puck may last up to or even over 6 months. 

People with slow hair growth also have shaving sessions that are more spaced out. Thus, they can go longer before having to purchase a new shaving soap puck. Usually, a puck can last up to 6 months. 

On the other hand, if you have high levels of testosterone, and your diet is exceptionally nutritious, then your hair growth is quicker, you are compelled to shave more often, and your shaving soap puck will not last as long. A puck can run out after 3 to 4 months. 

Size of the Lathering Brush 

There are different brushes sold in the market for the purpose of lathering shaving soap, and they are sold in a range of sizes. A large brush, as opposed to a medium one or small one, will pick up more of the shaving soap. As a result, you will use up your shaving soap a lot quicker.

A brush size takes into account the knot and loft. 

• “Knot” refers to the bundle of hairs. The diameter of the whole “knot” base is the knot size. There are knots from 20mm to 26mm. 
• The loft height is the total height of the knot from the handle’s top to the tip. The higher the loft height, the more lather carried. In general, loft heights can range from 40mm to 60mm. 

Amount of Loading 

How much you load on your brush during a shave also plays a role. 

The less you load, the longer the shaving soap (as a whole) lasts. So, if you load heavily/a lot, you will quickly run out of shaving soap, and vice versa. 

Most of the time, a load is between 0.017 and 0.026 ounces (Knowing that an ounce is around 28 grams, this is equivalent to ~0.5 to ~0.75 grams).

Estimate as follows: 

• If you have a 3-ounce shaving soap puck and load 0.017 oz (~0.5 grams) each time you shave, you will be able to get about 170 shaves and 113 shaves if your load is 0.026 ounces (~0.75 grams). 
• If you have a 4-ounce shaving soap puck and your load is 0.017 oz (~0.5 grams) every shave, your shaving soap will last for about 227 shaves and 151 shaves if you load 0.026 ounces (~0.75 grams). 
• If you are more frugal and load only about 0.008 ounces (~0.25 grams) when you shave, your shaving soap will last:
  • For about 340 shaves if the shaving soap puck is 3 oz 
  • For about 470 shaves if the shaving soap puck is 4 oz 
• Adversely, if you use a generous amount every time you shave, your puck will last:
  • For about 85 shaves if the shaving soap puck is 3 oz 
  • For about 113 shaves if the shaving soap puck is 4 oz 

How much you load on your brush also depends on whether you have mastered the act. If you are a first-time user or are still a novice, you may load more than necessary. Then, your shaving soap will run out faster. With that said, it is the opposite if you are adept at loading and exactly how to do it just get a just enough amount for a good shave.

If you want to learn how to load properly, follow these steps here: 

1. Under running hot water, wet your brush. Your another option is to soak the brush in a sink filled with hot water for a few minutes. The specific number of minutes depends on the type of brush material. 
   1. A synthetic brush does not have to be soaked. 
   2. A horsehair, badger, or boar brush will need 3 to 4 minutes of soaking. However, also keep in mind that when you begin to load, the brush should not be dripping wet. Note: If your lathering brush is brand new, you need to break it in first. 
2. Swirl the soaked brush against the soap puck in circular motions to lather it up. Note: It is better to have more than less loaded soap, as too little loaded soap can make it very difficult to lather. 
3. Observe that bubbles appear and increase in number. 
4. Continuing swirling and lathering until the bubbles disappear. Typically, this is 25 seconds. But the time can vary based on the softness of the soap and the amount of residual water. 
5. Check that the lather you have achieved is paste-like, thick, and warm. 
6. Wet the skin area that you intend to shave. You can splatter water or shave right after coming out of a shower. Wetting the skin ensures that you have the optimal amount of saturation. Even if there is excess water, as you lather, the soap will take it up. 
7. Apply the lather across your face and massage in circular motions. Your whiskers should soften and stand up while the density of the lather increases.
8. As you go, load more soap to continue if you find that there is not enough on the brush.  
9. Shave as you would normally.

When you are done, make sure you pour out any water that remains in the shaving soap container. Then, let it air dry by leaving it open. 

Note: If you need soap for a second or third shaving round, you can re-lather by touching the brush with a bit of running hot water. You do not need to pick up more soap.  

Whether You Use Up The Shaving Soap (Down to the Scraps) 

In certain cases, you may still have scraps of shaving soap left in the container so you do not want to throw it out just yet. However, the scraps are not enough for you to pick up and lather as you normally would. 

Here is a solution: you can melt and add them to a new puck. 

But note that you should not melt shaving soaps with a tallow or triple-milled base. Only melt soaps with the following base ingredients: 

• Aloe Vera 
• Castile 
• Cocoa Butter 
• Glycerine 
• Goat Milk 
• Honey 
• Oatmeal
• Olive Oil 
• Shea Butter 
• White Coconut 

Here are two ways you can melt the shaving soap scraps:

Method 1: Melting with a Microwave 

1. Scrape the soap scraps from the puck.
2. Put the scraped scraps into a microwave-safe container. Note: If you can get a microwave-safe container and use it as the one you intend to stow your soap in, even better.   
3. Microwave the container with the scraps for 15 seconds. 
4. Take it out to see if it is melted fully. 
5. If it is still chunky or slid, put it back in the microwave for another 15 seconds. 
6. Only stop steps 3 and 4 when the mixture has completely liquified. 
7. Stir, then let it sit and cool at room temperature once it becomes a liquid. 
8. Pour the cooled liquid soap into a new puck. 
9. Use the soap after two days.

Method 2: Melting with a Stove 

1. Scrape the soap scraps from the puck.
2. Put the scraped scraps into a heat-safe container. 
3. Put the container with the scraped scraps in a pan. 
4. Put the saucepan on the stove and fill it with water to reach half the height of the container. 
5. Turn on the stove’s heat to bring the water to a boil. 
6. Turn off the heat once the soap melts on the sides. 
7. Stir, then let it sit and cool at room temperature once it becomes a liquid. 
8. Pour the cooled liquid soap into a new puck.
9. Wait for two days before using the soap. 

Your shaving soap will technically last longer if you use it down to the scraps. 

How To Maintain Shaving Soap 

As we mentioned briefly above, in order to get the most out of your shaving soap puck, you need to store it properly. Do this, by keeping the following tips in mind: 

• Keep your shaving soap in a place that is cool, dark, and dry. Thus, despite being a product you would use in the bathroom, try not to keep it in there. Bathrooms tend to be more humid.
• Do not leave it open for a lengthy period of time as it would lose its moisture and dry out, becoming less effective. 
• If you want to “re-hydrate” old and dry shaving soap, add distilled water, not hard water, and do not add a lot. After adding water, let it sit for a couple of minutes. This ensures that moisture is integrated back into the soap, making it ready for use. 

Conclusion 

Hopefully, you have picked up the information that you need from our article on, “how long does shaving soap last?” 

Shaving soaps can expire and go bad, but they usually last from 6 months to a few years. To keep them for a long time to make the most out of them, you need to be careful with how you store them. 

There are 5 factors that affect the number of shaves you can get from a single container: the size of the puck, how often you shave, the lathering brush size, the loading amount, and whether you use the soap down to the scraps.

If you still have questions that you want to ask or thoughts to share, leave them in the comments below. We would love to hear from you.