Question from Lauren
Hi Debra, Thanks so much for your site. I have found helpful information here that I could not find elsewhere, and I really value your insight!
I have recently been reading about PTFE or Teflon coatings on razor blades, and I am having an extremely difficult time finding blades that don’t have a coating. Are you aware of any that don’t have a coating? Also, I have heard that PTFEs are only harmful at high temperatures, so would they be safe for a razor blade (used in the shower, and I do shower with pretty warm water)? Thanks so much!!!
Debra’s Answer
While I am in favor of eliminating Teflon in any way shape or form, if you need to use a razor and there are none available without, it’s not so toxic that it falls into the category that it could kill you on the spot. Use your Teflon-coated razors and cut back on some other chemical exposure or do more to support your health.
What about Feather “Hi-Stainless” Platinum Coated Safety Razor Blades?
Thank you.
As far as PTFE is concerned, it is used because without coating the stainless steel, the hair protein tends to adhere to the steel causing a pulling at the hair follicle. The PTFE results in a “remarkable increase in shaving efectiveness and decrease pull” as per Gillette’s 1959 patent application US3071856.
If you do not want to use PTFE coated blades, make sure any hair that you wish to shave has thoroughly absorbed water as this will decrease the cutting force necessary to shear the hair and therefore reduce the pulling at the follicle.
There are non-coated Single Edge blades available at surgical supply houses (tedpella.com) because in some cases PTFE coating is not warranted. You will need a special razor handle to accommodate these type of blades for hair shaving. Unfortunately it requires special skills to shave with these blades as they have square corners. On eBay the handles are/were manufactured by a company called GEM.
I am struggling to find a double-edged razor blade that does not have PTFE/ Teflon coating. Some forums say certain razors are PTFE-Free, while others contradict those assertions.
Have you found anything in your research?
If PTFE-free blades do not exist, do you have any recommendations?
Life Without Plastic has a page about razors, which I got to from reading a page from another plastic-free advocate Beth Terry.
Both are recommending old-fashioned safety razors, into which you install the blade, instead of the more modern disposable razors, which seem to be the ones with the Teflon blade.
And then of course there are electric razors/shavers. Most if not all are made from plastic, but I don’t think they would have Teflon. I haven’t researched this, just thinking of options.
Debra,
Thanks so much for your site…..Your mentioning of Teflon is of great importance as it seems to be in everything in our daily lives……You have done a wonderful thing to educate us into this toxin and others that can impact our quality of life…….I am trying to avoid this as much as possible…..Difficult Debra!
there are some Good News ones that don’t have it.
Ppl ready the article about the chemical company DuPont. An article in the New York times and you will know anything Teflon will surely kill you!!! It makes ppl sick and causes cancer. We need to be more informed on what the real cause of cancer is! It’s chemicals!! All types. That are not regulated!!!
Debra,
The teflon is supposed to come off the blade to lubricate your skin…I think it is a very toxic chemical….How can this not affect a man’s health if he shaves his neck and face everyday????
It does affect a man’s health.
Why would teflon affect anyone, man or woman? It is near chemically inert(read: does not react with anything). The only way teflon becomes toxic is if you heat it over 400 degrees where it starts releasing toxic gases.
Teflon/PTFE itself is commonly used in water hoses/etc. for the exact reason that very few things stick to it and very few things react chemically to it.
For a razor blade, this is perfectly safe. Unless you make a habit of heating razor blades with a blow torch or ingest the blades… in which case, the damage would come from the sharp razor and not the teflon.
You are correct that toxic gasses are relased about 400 degrees, which makes telfon not a wise choice for cooking.
I’m not sure a case could be made for toxicity at lower temperatures.
However, in this case the writer is someone with Multiple Chemical Sensitivies, and such persons are often sensitive to anything made from petroleum, even if it is not considered toxic in the field of toxicology. If you don’t have MCS, Teflon at room temperature is probably not a problem, to the best of my knowledge.
what is the use of Teflon coated blades for shaving?
I suppose so they slide more smoothly over the skin?
You can try looking into Feather, Astra and Merkur double edge blades. As for the Teflon on most blades. The Teflon should not be bad as long as it is not heated. Worry about the PFOA they use while processing it. PFOA is bad stuff and trace amounts of it are left in the completed product.