For my first DE razor, I got the Pearl L-55 (OC+CC). It's locally available, inexpensive (there are other locally made razors that cost half of this and have a decent reputation e.g. a few razors from Romer-7 but I didn't consider it at that point). At that time, I didn't know how much OC vs CC mattered, so I wanted to try both and I got this L-55 combo with both OC and CC. From what I understand, I got the "new" version of the L-55. The one without the Pearl logo on the top plate.
I've completed about 20 shaves with this razor, mostly using OC and few using CC. I am doing my best to refine my technique with each shave. However, I am not progressively getting better shaves even by small amounts.
OC vs CC:
The CC version is quite horrible, IMHO. The edges on the base plate are very sharp, the blade gap is significant enough to cut my mole near my mustache area and the blade exposure is similar to the OC. I find, the CC is way more aggressive than the OC which used to be the other way around with the old version the L-55. This is confusing enough as this razor is still being recommended to beginners in certain circles. The OC has a smaller blade gap and blade exposure seems identical. Overall, I find the OC usable and the CC almost unusable.
Blade alignment:
Some people say you can get good shaves with any razor, but I have had to manually adjust the blade alignment almost every time and then eye ball it to see if it correct. How much this matters to the overall result, I can't say for sure. Sometimes the alignment looks accurate on the first try, other times I have to adjust it by loosening the top cap, moving the blade manually and re-tighten it. This is a bit annoying and I have to be rather careful not to cut myself while shifting the blade in this manner. I don't have other DE razors, so I cannot tell if it is the blade itself causing the misalignment. I did try with 3 different blade manufacturers and from what I remember it didn't seem to be the blades that were the problem.
Weight:
The Pearl L-55 weighs ~105 grams. It's not a light-weight razor, it's perhaps average for a metal razor.
I know a lot of people prefer heavier handles. I've heard claims like "let gravity do the work". I don't know if I agree or understood this statement because by that logic the heavy handles should be worse when doing ATG from bottom to top as you have to work "against" gravity. Nonetheless, I don't think the weight is what that is unsuitable but perhaps the balance isn't ideal for me.
Shaves:
I've tried more pressure, less pressure, little pressure, big pressure, tried shallower angles, steeper angles... None of them resulted in a smooth, irritation free shave so far. In almost every shave, I would have some little stubble left somewhere after finishing what I would consider a good pass. I recently found that I'm not the only one who experienced this with the Pearl L-55. YouTuber SinatraLennon in this video (~time stamp 10:50) also finds such stubble and I'm sure he has way more experience than me. Another YouTuber, Better Every Shave, also finds the L-55 aggressive with considerable blade feel but not a close shave. So this is what makes me think perhaps it is not entirely my technique to blame... To be fair, there are reviewers who found this razor pretty good so I do not want to give the impression that this razor is outright unsuitable to most people.
I've tried three different blades. None of them made a noticeable difference to the overall result. The Gillette 7 o' clock PermaSharp felt sharper but I also only tried it with the CC head. I really don't feel like shaving with the CC using this razor anymore. OC is okay-ish enough already.
Conclusion:
Well, what can I conclude from 20 shaves? I don't think I want to stick with this razor for 6 months until I finally achieve a DFS++/BBS irritation, free shave. Maybe if I was lucky enough to have had a GameChanger/BlackBird/Yates/Rocca as my first razor I might... but not with this razor. One thing I feel strongly is that OC vs CC does not matter as much as blade gap, exposure, shaving angle and clamping. The other thing is, from one noob to another.
Pearl have better offerings with their fully CNC razors — Blaze, Hammer and their adjustable Flexi. Maybe, I could give one of these a try but the cost gets a bit close to importing more well known CNC razors.
Either way, I know Pearl L-55 is not my "works well enough" razor. I am approaching the point where I can declare it is not my noobness that is the problem. I will still be using it and slowly trying more blades out, until I figure out what to do next being more careful with each shave and trying my best to learn from each shave. When I get a better (and probably more expensive) razor I want to make sure I am confident my technique is decent.
But for now,
Sorry Pearl, it's you, not me...
I've completed about 20 shaves with this razor, mostly using OC and few using CC. I am doing my best to refine my technique with each shave. However, I am not progressively getting better shaves even by small amounts.
OC vs CC:
The CC version is quite horrible, IMHO. The edges on the base plate are very sharp, the blade gap is significant enough to cut my mole near my mustache area and the blade exposure is similar to the OC. I find, the CC is way more aggressive than the OC which used to be the other way around with the old version the L-55. This is confusing enough as this razor is still being recommended to beginners in certain circles. The OC has a smaller blade gap and blade exposure seems identical. Overall, I find the OC usable and the CC almost unusable.
Blade alignment:
Some people say you can get good shaves with any razor, but I have had to manually adjust the blade alignment almost every time and then eye ball it to see if it correct. How much this matters to the overall result, I can't say for sure. Sometimes the alignment looks accurate on the first try, other times I have to adjust it by loosening the top cap, moving the blade manually and re-tighten it. This is a bit annoying and I have to be rather careful not to cut myself while shifting the blade in this manner. I don't have other DE razors, so I cannot tell if it is the blade itself causing the misalignment. I did try with 3 different blade manufacturers and from what I remember it didn't seem to be the blades that were the problem.
Weight:
The Pearl L-55 weighs ~105 grams. It's not a light-weight razor, it's perhaps average for a metal razor.
I know a lot of people prefer heavier handles. I've heard claims like "let gravity do the work". I don't know if I agree or understood this statement because by that logic the heavy handles should be worse when doing ATG from bottom to top as you have to work "against" gravity. Nonetheless, I don't think the weight is what that is unsuitable but perhaps the balance isn't ideal for me.
Shaves:
I've tried more pressure, less pressure, little pressure, big pressure, tried shallower angles, steeper angles... None of them resulted in a smooth, irritation free shave so far. In almost every shave, I would have some little stubble left somewhere after finishing what I would consider a good pass. I recently found that I'm not the only one who experienced this with the Pearl L-55. YouTuber SinatraLennon in this video (~time stamp 10:50) also finds such stubble and I'm sure he has way more experience than me. Another YouTuber, Better Every Shave, also finds the L-55 aggressive with considerable blade feel but not a close shave. So this is what makes me think perhaps it is not entirely my technique to blame... To be fair, there are reviewers who found this razor pretty good so I do not want to give the impression that this razor is outright unsuitable to most people.
I've tried three different blades. None of them made a noticeable difference to the overall result. The Gillette 7 o' clock PermaSharp felt sharper but I also only tried it with the CC head. I really don't feel like shaving with the CC using this razor anymore. OC is okay-ish enough already.
Conclusion:
Well, what can I conclude from 20 shaves? I don't think I want to stick with this razor for 6 months until I finally achieve a DFS++/BBS irritation, free shave. Maybe if I was lucky enough to have had a GameChanger/BlackBird/Yates/Rocca as my first razor I might... but not with this razor. One thing I feel strongly is that OC vs CC does not matter as much as blade gap, exposure, shaving angle and clamping. The other thing is, from one noob to another.
Pearl have better offerings with their fully CNC razors — Blaze, Hammer and their adjustable Flexi. Maybe, I could give one of these a try but the cost gets a bit close to importing more well known CNC razors.
Either way, I know Pearl L-55 is not my "works well enough" razor. I am approaching the point where I can declare it is not my noobness that is the problem. I will still be using it and slowly trying more blades out, until I figure out what to do next being more careful with each shave and trying my best to learn from each shave. When I get a better (and probably more expensive) razor I want to make sure I am confident my technique is decent.
But for now,
Sorry Pearl, it's you, not me...
happy shaving 
