A question for the DE blade gurus

**grampi** · 12-01-2011, 06:00 AM

I'm currently using Personna reds and I think I'd like to move up to a somewhat sharper blade. I have tried Feathers, and I don't know if my technique just isn't right for these blades, or if my face is just too sensitive, but whatever the reason, I just can't use them without nicks and/or irritation. Are there any blades that are in between these two in terms of sharpness?

**BoldJava** · 12-01-2011, 06:10 AM

Originally Posted by grampi

I'm currently using Personna reds and I think I'd like to move up to a somewhat sharper blade. I have tried Feathers, and I don't know if my technique just isn't right for these blades, or if my face is just too sensitive, but whatever the reason, I just can't use them without nicks and/or irritation. Are there any blades that are in between these two in terms of sharpness?

Not a guru but a relative newcomer to the DE experience. My use with Personna and Feathers mirrors yours. I have used about 15 samples and these were the shining 3-4 among them for me, using an Edwin Jagger 87:

Wilkinson Sword, German made - Brit company. Excellent shaves. Provides right amount of noise and feel. A keeper, 6 shaves before retirement. 8.5/10
Derby Extra, made in Turkey from Swedish steel. Probably could have gone another day. I give it an 8.5/10.
Merkur Platinum, made in Germany. Excellent shaves, never any tugging. When it quit, it just quit. 8.5/10. Right up there with Derby Extra.
Rainbow (Lord subsidiary), 8.0/10.

**Thott** · 12-01-2011, 06:24 AM

I'm no guru either. But from my limited experience, which includes the Personna Reds as well as Feathers, I'd say that Astra SPs or Gillette 7 O'Clock Yellows might be what you're looking for. Both blades are as smooth as but sharper than the Reds, but a tad less sharp than Feathers, IMHO. (YMMV.)

**bladegap** · 12-01-2011, 06:25 AM

Not a guru either, though I've been wet shaving for a while (only recently found this board, however). If you like the Personna Reds but want a sharper blade, one option would be to try the Personna Lab Blues or Med Preps, which I find to be sharper and smoother. Another good option is to try a range of the Gillette 7 o'clocks: I think you will find the blues, blacks, and yellows all sharper than the Peronna Reds and perhaps easier on your face than the Feathers.

By the way, what razor are you shaving with? I find that the Feather blades in a relatively mild razor (I use a 46-47 Aristocrat) with a light touch gives a close shave efficiently (2 passes plus touch up). The problem with Feathers is often that it is easy to cross the line into too much pressure, particularly with an aggressive razor, which will give you burn. But if you are looking for a nice sharp blade, a light, mild touch will give a wonderful shave (and the sound of shaving with a sharp blade like a Feather is a nice bonus).

**Sledgehammer39** · 12-01-2011, 06:27 AM

Give the Astra SP or SS a shot!

**coyotewhisper** · 12-01-2011, 06:30 AM

+1 for the Astra SP, also any of the 7o'clocks especially the blues, blacks, Rapira, Voskhod.
Try a Russian sampler from West Coast.

**vegaskid74** · 12-01-2011, 06:32 AM

Most of the blades from the St. Petersburg Russia plant (Astra SP, Perma-Sharp Super, 7'Oclock Sharpedge, Iridium (no longer in production unfortunately)) are nearly Feather-sharp but much more mild mannered.

**texbilly** · 12-01-2011, 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by Sledgehammer39

Give the Astra SP or SS a shot!

Ditto.

**bkfist** · 12-01-2011, 07:11 AM

Give a Shark or Personna Med Prep a shot. To me the Meds are far sharper than any of the Russian blades, yet very smooth and forgiving. The Sharks give me much better shaves than the red IPs, almost as sharp as Meds, and even more gentle on the face. (plus there are not glue dots to gunk up the razor on either of those.)

**CharlieFoxtrot** · 12-01-2011, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by Thott

I'm no guru either. But from my limited experience, which includes the Personna Reds as well as Feathers, I'd say that Astra SPs or Gillette 7 O'Clock Yellows might be what you're looking for. Both blades are as smooth as but sharper than the Reds, but a tad less sharp than Feathers, IMHO. (YMMV.)

+1

**Gordy2** · 12-01-2011, 11:26 AM

Gillette 7 O'clocks, yellow or blue OR Persona Lab Preps.

**man00ver** · 12-01-2011, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by bkfist

Give a Shark or Personna Med Prep a shot. To me the Meds are far sharper than any of the Russian blades, yet very smooth and forgiving. The Sharks give me much better shaves than the red IPs, almost as sharp as Meds, and even more gentle on the face. (plus there are not glue dots to gunk up the razor on either of those.)

+1. The Sharks will come cheaper than the Meds, but I echo everything said here. Both are probably in the zone you're looking for, OP.

**Alphonse** · 12-01-2011, 04:05 PM

Grampi, try the Gillette Blacks and Sputnik Teflons!! Sputniks are very smooth and yet sharp. Blacks are very sharp and yet smooth. Also gotta love Personna Barber blades for sharpness and closeness and longevity.

**phil-d** · 12-01-2011, 04:25 PM

I haven't used Personna reds so I don't know if these are sharper, but I have found Bluebirds to be a step below Feathers in sharpness while causing less irritation, and still sharper than most other blades. A pack of Gillette 7 O'Clock yellows arrived at my doorstep this morning, so I'm eager to compare these to Bluebirds as another possible option of "sharp but forgiving".

**Red Horn** · 12-01-2011, 05:18 PM

Soon to try the Red's. Shark SP gave me good results. Most forgiving so far was Crystal SP's. The Crystal also gave me more than a close enough shave. Unfortunately the Astra SP's eat me up after many times trying :~(

**Gammon** · 12-01-2011, 05:23 PM

I'd recommend a different razor if Feathers give you trouble. I doubt the blades are the culprit. But, I'm no guru either. Also, I don't know if I've used Personnas. But, based on my experience, I'd have to recommend the Chinese Gillette blades that are intended for the Vietnamese market. See the thread on Chinese Blades.

What razor do you use?

**grampi** · 12-02-2011, 04:44 AM

My razor is a Gillette Speed. I've tried the 7 O'Clock yellows, and they pretty much tore up my face too. I think I've also tried the blacks with the same results. Does westcoastshaving.com sell all, or most of these recommended blades?

**raisindot** · 12-02-2011, 05:22 AM

Grampi, PM me and I can send you a PIF with a Gillette Yellow, Black, and Green to try out.

**bladegap** · 12-02-2011, 05:37 AM

Originally Posted by grampi

My razor is a Gillette Speed. I've tried the 7 O'Clock yellows, and they pretty much tore up my face too. I think I've also tried the blacks with the same results. Does westcoastshaving.com sell all, or most of these recommended blades?

Grampi, what do you mean when you say that the blades tore up your face? Do you mean you got a lot of nicks and weepers or that you got a lot of burn and irritation? If it's latter, it may be a matter of applying too much pressure when shaving. If it's the former, I wonder if the head of your razor is slighly out of alignment, giving you uneven blade angle and exposure. You shouldn't be having that much trouble with so many different blades.

**Chester** · 12-02-2011, 10:34 AM

I'd suggest taking a tour of the seven o'clocks, like mentioned below, but Astra SPs are nice, too.
I'd also like to suggest souplex. It's on the top of my favorite current-production blades.
If you get stuck trying to find them, I can hook you up with a box, at modest cost. Shoot me a PM if you want.
-- Chet