Hail! The almighty Feather

**Rolo** · 03-01-2007, 12:29 PM

Wow, today I shaved for the 2nd time with a feather and it was the best shave since I started with a DE.

Until now I've been using mostly Personnas and Merkur blades with either a slim adjustable Gillette or a Merkur HD. I've gotten some pretty good shaves, but everytime that I try to go for the BBS I get weepers and usually razor burn in my neck or jaw line. So most of the time I just do 2 passes and settle for the not-so-smooth-but-face-feels-good shave. Sometimes I go back to my Sensor razor which is actually a Merkur handle that takes Sensor type cartridges.

A couple of days ago I shaved with a Feather that I got in the sample pack from Letterk(thanks John

). I did 2 passes, very carefully because of the reputation of this blade, and got a pretty good shave. Yesterday I was in a hurry so I used the Sensor.

This morning I tried the Feather again. I used my HD, Muhle-Pinsel badger and B&B Bay Rum with a Twist (Thanks Sue!!

). I did 2 passes, carefully with no pressure as the first time. My face felt good so I went for a 3rd and then a 4th

which I've never done without paying for it later.

I got a BBS shave, no razor burn and not a single nick or weeper. I finnished off with Proraso A/S balm. Didn't need alum, styptic, or witch hazel which usually are part of my routine. It's been a few hours and it still feels great.
And I believe I owe it all to the Feathers, what an amazing blade.

There is only one problem. It took me about 1/2 and hour. I gotta find a way to cut that time to 10 or 15 minutes max. Half hour is just too long in the morning rush.

**Bob Dobbs** · 03-01-2007, 12:59 PM

I love Feathers too. I don't have a lot of facial hair but what the ones I've got are tough as nails!

As for the time it takes, I just get up 15 minutes earlier. The way I feel the rest of the day more than makes up for those lost minutes.

Plus, as your technique improves, your shaves will become quicker.

**Hawkeye5** · 03-01-2007, 05:55 PM

That was my experience also. Although the Gillette Swede was close to the same, the Feather was just better. What I noticed with both these blades is that the need for touch-up was gone. Three passes and I'm done, no touch-up necessary.

**Denis** · 03-01-2007, 08:51 PM

Actually, I've gotten the kind of super results that you speak of with the Israeli blades. It is still a whole lot kinder to my gentle skin than the Feather. Perhaps it is simply more tolerant of my occasional errors, but the Israeli blade is currently my number one. With it, I was able to get BBS shaves when shaving EVERY day, which I never thought would be a reality for me. In fact, that only started happening recently. I'm out of Feathers right now, otherwise I may pop one in at some point and see if my improved technique will let me enjoy it more than in the past.

**Groundhog** · 03-01-2007, 09:03 PM

To my surprise, the Feather's have really been my favorites from LetterK's sampler....so much so, I ordered the 100-blade/$25 special from Cotton Blossom last week. I've tried them w/ 3 different razors, and they've excelled w/ all 3. After reading of their fearsome rep, I was hesitant, but I've been very pleased.

**Rolo** · 03-01-2007, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by Denis

Actually, I've gotten the kind of super results that you speak of with the Israeli blades. It is still a whole lot kinder to my gentle skin than the Feather. Perhaps it is simply more tolerant of my occasional errors, but the Israeli blade is currently my number one. With it, I was able to get BBS shaves when shaving EVERY day, which I never thought would be a reality for me. In fact, that only started happening recently. I'm out of Feathers right now, otherwise I may pop one in at some point and see if my improved technique will let me enjoy it more than in the past.

I guess this will be the true test. I shouldn't cry victory because of one great shave. It remains to be seen if the feather will perfom just as well in the next few shaves. After that I'll try de Derbys.

For those of you who get BBS shaves on a regular basis, how long does it take you?

**Leisureguy** · 03-02-2007, 09:31 AM

After much practice and honing of technique, it takes me 8.5 minutes. But that's pretty fast. I imagine the average is closer to 10-15 minutes for a good unhurried, unharried shave.

**norman931** · 03-02-2007, 02:31 PM

The Feathers work great for those of us with really tough beards. It's nothing to be afraid of. If I hadn't tried the Feather, I probably would have gone back to the Fusion quickly. Great shaves!

**Leisureguy** · 03-02-2007, 04:54 PM

And for really tough beards, there's nothing like Merkur Slant Bar with a Feather, once you have good technique down pat. IMHO. YMMV.

**Rolo** · 03-02-2007, 06:14 PM

8.5 minutes is quite fast. I'll be happy when I get it down to 12 give or take.
I'm one of those guys with a very tough beard. Eventually I'll get a slant.
In the mean time I'll just stick to the HD and Feather.
BTW, today I also had a BBS shave. But my neck is a little sensitive. Oh well, tomorrow I'll either do just 2 passes or maybe give my face the day off.

**Christoph** · 03-03-2007, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by Rolo

Wow, today I shaved for the 2nd time with a feather and it was the best shave since I started with a DE.

Until now I've been using mostly Personnas and Merkur blades with either a slim adjustable Gillette or a Merkur HD. I've gotten some pretty good shaves, but everytime that I try to go for the BBS I get weepers and usually razor burn in my neck or jaw line. So most of the time I just do 2 passes and settle for the not-so-smooth-but-face-feels-good shave. Sometimes I go back to my Sensor razor which is actually a Merkur handle that takes Sensor type cartridges.

A couple of days ago I shaved with a Feather that I got in the sample pack from Letterk(thanks John

). I did 2 passes, very carefully because of the reputation of this blade, and got a pretty good shave. Yesterday I was in a hurry so I used the Sensor.

This morning I tried the Feather again. I used my HD, Muhle-Pinsel badger and B&B Bay Rum with a Twist (Thanks Sue!!

). I did 2 passes, carefully with no pressure as the first time. My face felt good so I went for a 3rd and then a 4th

which I've never done without paying for it later.

I got a BBS shave, no razor burn and not a single nick or weeper. I finnished off with Proraso A/S balm. Didn't need alum, styptic, or witch hazel which usually are part of my routine. It's been a few hours and it still feels great.
And I believe I owe it all to the Feathers, what an amazing blade.

There is only one problem. It took me about 1/2 and hour. I gotta find a way to cut that time to 10 or 15 minutes max. Half hour is just too long in the morning rush.

I have had almost exactly the same experience. I too can achieve the perfect shave, but often it takes me a long time. And like you, with some routines, I have paid for it when trying a third or fourth pass. But lately I have really been working on the prep, and finding what works for me. As I have mentioned in recent posts, I find that oils work for me. Lately I have been getting really fine shaves (not QUITE BBS) but really good, with no ciks or irritation. And that is just fune by me. Sounds like you are on to a good thing here. Good for you!

**jer1** · 03-03-2007, 04:38 PM

When I shave with feathers, BBS after the first pass!

**clarman** · 03-04-2007, 07:39 AM

glad to see you guys are geting into str8 razors...while feathers are ok, the shave doesn't compare to a shave from a properly honed and stroped str8 that doesnt use machine sharpened blades...take it to the next level...

**Frampton** · 03-04-2007, 09:13 AM

Does anyone else notice that they even sound different on the beard? I don't know exactly how to describe it, but there is, to me, a distinctly different cutting sound from other blades. I also got a great shave albeit with a few weepers.