How did you pick your "blade" or "blades"

**pipskicks** · 04-23-2012, 09:08 AM

So I've been going through blades, sort of forming opinions and then sometimes questioning them due to not having amazing technique, but I seem to at least be able to tell some difference.

I'm curious if you have got your technique down and are settled on a blade or a few select ones, how did you make up your mind? Did you have some sort of ritual where you could test everything equally but the blade? Was it just the overall satisfaction/lack of razor burn? Just curious since it seems very hard to put my finger on the issue of poor blade vs. poor technique many times.

Do you try it in multiple razors? I was thinking that but for technique purposes it seems to make more sense to stick with a lather I know works and the same razor to see which just seems to agree with me the most, it's just tough when you are so unstable with your technique as a newbie.

**rxonmymind** · 04-23-2012, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by pipskicks

So I've been going through blades, sort of forming opinions and then sometimes questioning them due to not having amazing technique, but I seem to at least be able to tell some difference.

I'm curious if you have got your technique down and are settled on a blade or a few select ones, how did you make up your mind? Did you have some sort of ritual where you could test everything equally but the blade? Was it just the overall satisfaction/lack of razor burn? Just curious since it seems very hard to put my finger on the issue of poor blade vs. poor technique many times.

Do you try it in multiple razors? I was thinking that but for technique purposes it seems to make more sense to stick with a lather I know works and the same razor to see which just seems to agree with me the most, it's just tough when you are so unstable with your technique as a newbie.

That^. Fact is the blade choose me. I mitigated any prejudices and variables by sticking with one prep/soap/razor/brush etc when testing out new blades. In the end, the blades really shown their color this way as some were butter smooth and others felt like I was shaving with the lid off a fresh open tomato can. Ouch. One, one, one with everything till you get "it" down. Good luck

**pipskicks** · 04-23-2012, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by rxonmymind

That^. Fact is the blade choose me. I mitigated any prejudices and variables by sticking with one prep/soap/razor/brush etc when testing out new blades. In the end, the blades really shown their color this way as some were butter smooth and others felt like I was shaving with the lid off a fresh open tomato can. Ouch. One, one, one with everything till you get "it" down. Good luck

I guess this is the way I've been going, I just can't help but second guess myself sometimes and wonder if I'm causing the razor burn or the blade is. I do a lot of times notice another blade giving me less razor burn, but then I still find myself sometimes questioning if it was the blade or I shaved better that day!

**jwilock** · 04-23-2012, 09:41 AM

I absolutely agree a blade can feel completely different if the lather is not the same. And razor matters too. If you want some variety, but still have a relatively standard set of variables you can get a few different scents of the same soap or cream. I liked TOBS and so ended up with full tubs of Jermyn St, Sandalwood, and Lavender. Then I traded about a third of each tub for TOBS Eton College, St. James and Mr. Taylor. That gave me six varieties of TOBS to switch around and yet they all lather the same so my techniques didn't have to change from day to day.

**pipskicks** · 04-23-2012, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by jwilock

I absolutely agree a blade can feel completely different if the lather is not the same. And razor matters too. If you want some variety, but still have a relatively standard set of variables you can get a few different scents of the same soap or cream. I liked TOBS and so ended up with full tubs of Jermyn St, Sandalwood, and Lavender. Then I traded about a third of each tub for TOBS Eton College, St. James and Mr. Taylor. That gave me six varieties of TOBS to switch around and yet they all lather the same so my techniques didn't have to change from day to day.

The razor is a tough one because even though I know it can help with the overall shave I feel like if I swapped razors now I'd completely have to re-learn my technique.

I've actually found if you can lather something up well, some soaps are interchangeable (like say a glycerin puck like VDH is not much different than a Col. Conk puck). But when you swap from something as different as a glycerin puck to a heavy tallow-based soap, you do get into a whole different lather game.

**The Count of Merkur Cristo** · 04-23-2012, 11:10 AM

I tried at least 5 blades or more before moving on to the next blade (my one & only 'go-to' blade is Shark Super Chrome

).

Also, long ago when I received my Sampler, I started a Thread entitled "In what Order should I test these Sampler Razor Blades?", and the best advice was from member Optometrist a.k.a David who stated;

"I say jump straight in with the Feathers [and then the KAI's]. Yes, they are sharp, but you learn very quickly to let the weight of the razor do the work for you. If you can get the feather right, then it's plain sailing with the others. A few nicks and cuts early on are nothing to worry about and stand you in good stead. Start with a lesser blade and it's a continual learning process as you step up the level of sharpness".

Also, member Npsarros stated, "Keep a spreadsheet with every shave [you], have taken, rating each blade as [you], go along". My spread data ratings reads in columns as follows;

a) Razor Blade / Country / Type

b) Sharpness? (aggressive, moderate sharpness, mild sharpness, tugging or pulling, ect...).

c) Closeness of Shave? (DFS, CCS, BBS, ect...).

d) Smoothness/Roughness of Shave? (moderately smooth, very smooth, very,very smooth, ect...).

e) Comfort of Shave? (no irratation, slight irratation, touch of burn, itching, ect...).

f) Overall Rating? (awesome, great, passable or unpleasant).

g) Compatible with your Razor(s)? (yes or no).

PM me with your e-mail address and I will send you my workable spread sheet example.

"A razor [blade] can't be sharpened on a piece of velvet." Author Unknown

**Lephturn** · 04-23-2012, 11:52 AM

I stuck with my Futur on about 3 and the same soap/cream combo face lathered for about 6 months - and I have been working my way through blades.

Tried my first Personna Med. Prep last week and I was completely blown away. I'm shocked it's that much better than an Astra SP, Feather, Polsilver Super Irridium, Gillete 7 O'Clock Black or any other blade I've tried. I'll work through at least 3 of these before I "decide" - but I was completely shocked that the Med. Prep. was that much better than anything else I've tried. I'll do a bit more testing first - but it seems like this blade/razor combo just completely suits me.

**bkfist** · 04-23-2012, 07:42 PM

Keep the razor constant while learning for the first few months. The issue you'll run into thought, is that different blades work better or worse in different razors, although you will find a few blades that seem to work well in almost anything.

A good example is Shark SC for me. Works great in Fatboy & Feather Popular, but is very much meh in Feather AS-D1, Gillette Old Type, or New Deluxe... (Basically any razor that benefits from a really low blade angle isn't a good match to the Shark SC - for me)

On the other hand Feathers work great in any razor I've tried, but have a limited life of about 3 shaves for me in Fatboy, Feather Popular, but last 7 to 12 shaves in a low-angle razor like the AS-D1, Old Type etc.

What I'm saying is, don't use up all your blades while learning... Keep a couple of each to try in different razors once you get your technique down.

**Uncle Brian** · 04-24-2012, 12:09 AM

I got a sample pack of 9 different blades. I put the same blade in each of my vintage razors and took them for a drive sometime using several during the same shave.
So far the Astra SP is the winner, not that fussed with Sharks and a Gillette blade i tried was ok but not as good as the Astra.
Only problem is the more variables to add in ... blade, razor, soap and hot or cold the more difficult it becomes.
So far the winner for me is my Gillette New and Astra SP blades with Palmolive Regular cream and lots of hot water. Fir the record I'm new at this after a 20 year break and have sensitive skin.

**pipskicks** · 04-24-2012, 06:13 AM

Originally Posted by bkfist

Keep the razor constant while learning for the first few months. The issue you'll run into thought, is that different blades work better or worse in different razors, although you will find a few blades that seem to work well in almost anything.

A good example is Shark SC for me. Works great in Fatboy & Feather Popular, but is very much meh in Feather AS-D1, Gillette Old Type, or New Deluxe... (Basically any razor that benefits from a really low blade angle isn't a good match to the Shark SC - for me)

On the other hand Feathers work great in any razor I've tried, but have a limited life of about 3 shaves for me in Fatboy, Feather Popular, but last 7 to 12 shaves in a low-angle razor like the AS-D1, Old Type etc.

What I'm saying is, don't use up all your blades while learning... Keep a couple of each to try in different razors once you get your technique down.

See this is hard because I've been keeping my razor constant and now am trying to find the best blade, I think changing the razor messes with my technique more, but I do plan to go back to some of the blades in other razors later on.

I also like the Astras, but I have a few more to test before I want to go out buying a ton, I also did like the Shark SS and want to try the Chrome ones to see if those would be another good choice.

**turtle** · 04-24-2012, 06:23 AM

I have only found 1 blade that I cannot use and it is not available in the US (or most of the world) so that one exception is a non issue.

I can get a BBS shave with every blade I have ever tried. I can put any blade in any razor and have an enjoyable shave, regardless of how mild or how aggressive the razor is (makes no difference in the finished shave I get).

It is not unusual for me to have a dozen or so different DE blades unwrapped and in use at any given time. Every day I use a different razor and different blade. I rotate between DE razors, SE razors, and straight razors without any problem what so ever.

BUT......

I have been shaving for 45 years so sort of got it figured out now....

Typically I will recommend Astra SP blades to a new shaver as they are sharp, smooth, and consistent. I try to tell new shavers to get one brand of blade and use it for at least 1 month every day (2 or 3 months is better). Once they can get a close, smooth, repeatable shave day after day, THEN they can go off and see what else is out there.

First thing to do is learn now to shave, and by that I mean get a perfect shave day after day. Then you can play with all of the toys that are available.

**pipskicks** · 04-24-2012, 06:30 AM

Originally Posted by turtle

I have only found 1 blade that I cannot use and it is not available in the US (or most of the world) so that one exception is a non issue.

I can get a BBS shave with every blade I have ever tried. I can put any blade in any razor and have an enjoyable shave, regardless of how mild or how aggressive the razor is (makes no difference in the finished shave I get).

It is not unusual for me to have a dozen or so different DE blades unwrapped and in use at any given time. Every day I use a different razor and different blade. I rotate between DE razors, SE razors, and straight razors without any problem what so ever.

BUT......

I have been shaving for 45 years so sort of got it figured out now....

Typically I will recommend Astra SP blades to a new shaver as they are sharp, smooth, and consistent. I try to tell new shavers to get one brand of blade and use it for at least 1 month every day (2 or 3 months is better). Once they can get a close, smooth, repeatable shave day after day, THEN they can go off and see what else is out there.

First thing to do is learn now to shave, and by that I mean get a perfect shave day after day. Then you can play with all of the toys that are available.

I definitely am not doing more than cleaning other razors, sticking to the Merkur 34C. I wanted to try Astra over the Sharks, but I do notice (maybe due to newbie technique?) that the Astras have give me less razor burn than all the blades, even the Sharks I thought it was technique, or maybe the Astra is more forgiving of poor technique? But I liked the Astras the best. I sort of want to rotate through maybe 2-3 more blades to just make a decision on which blade to buy for the first 2-3 months because I know if I picked Merkur or Crystal blades for 2 months it would be hell!