Astra SP, feeling blunt first shave in....

**Vivasanti** · 04-29-2012, 02:14 AM

I always find the Astras.... dull? i guess is the word when i first put them in, it tugs and pulls alot!

I love Astras, have used them for a while, but this seems to occur everytime i put them in fresh :|

Just ordered some feathers (never tried them) guess nows better than never.

**Vickers** · 04-29-2012, 02:24 AM

I don't find Astra SPs overly-sharp, but I do find them consistent from day 1.

Feathers I initially found "rough" the first time out and then good for 3 shaves; now I find them good out of the gate, but only for 2 shaves (well, 2.5 shaves).

Personna Blues are the best compromise for me so far. Sharp, smooth, and good for 4 shaves.

As always: your liters of fuel used per 100 kilometers driven will depend on many factors.

**Oblique Human** · 04-29-2012, 05:05 AM

Originally Posted by Vickers

Feathers I initially found "rough" the first time out and then good for 3 shaves; now I find them good out of the gate, but only for 2 shaves (well, 2.5 shaves).

As always: your liters of fuel used per 100 kilometers driven will depend on many factors.

+1

**Threeme2189** · 04-30-2012, 03:24 AM

I hate it when car manufacturers use "liter per 100km" instead of km per liter. It's just hard to do the math with the former!!!

/rant

**barrycv** · 04-30-2012, 06:29 AM

Originally Posted by Vickers

I don't find Astra SPs overly-sharp, but I do find them consistent from day 1.

I find this to be the case, too. Pretty consistent, but not overly sharp. I find Feather & 7 o'clock yellows to be much sharper.

**Useless shaver** · 04-30-2012, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by Vivasanti

I always find the Astras.... dull? i guess is the word when i first put them in, it tugs and pulls alot!

I love Astras, have used them for a while, but this seems to occur everytime i put them in fresh :|

Just ordered some feathers (never tried them) guess nows better than never.

For me "harsh" is the word. They irritated me man!

I use Feathers every day, seven days a week and like them. I get seven smooth shaves out of each blade. They are sharp and you have to have respect (as with any blade) but are my first (and these months) only blade.

IMHO, YMMV as always!

**man00ver** · 04-30-2012, 01:23 PM

I noticed "first shave roughness" when trialing the Astra SP, but I found that palm-stropping the fresh blade really works wonders. This doesn't work with every blade, but with the Astras it was magical for me. Just 4-5 light strokes per bevel on my dry palm did the trick.

**vegaskid74** · 04-30-2012, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by man00ver

I noticed "first shave roughness" when trialing the Astra SP, but I found that palm-stropping the fresh blade really works wonders. This doesn't work with every blade, but with the Astras it was magical for me. Just 4-5 light strokes per bevel on my dry palm did the trick.

+1. What you're feeling is an initial lack of smoothness, not dullness. With the Astra SP it only lasts about half of the first pass for me, so I don't bother with stropping. The second half of the first shave and shaves 2-4 are wonderful.

**Vivasanti** · 05-02-2012, 01:37 AM

OK GUYS.

This was a DUD blade, wouldnt shave me the 2nd time either!

it felt like it was RIPPING my hair out, i unwrapped another blade put it in a voila!

anyone else got a dud/defective blade?

**Mspec** · 05-02-2012, 02:01 AM

I use astra sp frequently and love them, agree with 2nd and 3rd shaves are better. But an always dependable blade

**pipskicks** · 05-02-2012, 05:14 AM

Originally Posted by Vivasanti

OK GUYS.

This was a DUD blade, wouldnt shave me the 2nd time either!

it felt like it was RIPPING my hair out, i unwrapped another blade put it in a voila!

anyone else got a dud/defective blade?

There have been posts regarding dull blades. That being said it's hard to figure out due to there being about 10 other factors that could also be causing irritation etc.

**InHotWater** · 05-03-2012, 07:52 PM

Every now and then I get a "dud", and I use the Astra SP blades often enough. Like the previous poster stated, plenty of variables in a wet shave.

**Parallax** · 05-04-2012, 07:29 AM

So far, Astra SPs are one of my best blades. Weird how everything is so idiosyncratic when it comes to shaving.

**COHunter** · 05-04-2012, 08:16 AM

I find sometimes shave 1 is a bit rougher than shaves 2 and 3, but it smooths out after the first pass and works great. Astra's are my everyday blade and I'm overall very satisfied, good results for a good price.

**Ruston** · 05-04-2012, 08:59 AM

I also find the second shave smoother but would not call the first rough by any means. Feathers are sharper, but Astra are sharp enough and allow me to be a little less careful with my shave

(a shave should be a relaxing, meditative experience, right?)

**Parallax** · 05-07-2012, 08:25 AM

I'm finding Astras great for all three passes. They are quick and smooth, particularly if I use the DE89l, a Tech, or something similarly mild but effective. Then I'll touch up very carefully with a Feather in my Fat Boy set to 9. The result are the best BBS shaves with almost no irritation (provided I don't rush the touching up).

**drocu** · 05-07-2012, 06:04 PM

In the EJ DE89 and R41, I find Astra SPs to be very smooth and consistent. They are my go-to blades.

I find Feathers to be too harsh. Plus, they cost much more than I'm willing to pay.

**holderp** · 05-09-2012, 07:07 AM

I have an EJ DE89 and find the Astra's to be a little rough. The IP's and Blues give me a nice comfortable shave but the Astra's give me burn on my neck from the first shave.

**mjclark** · 04-22-2013, 02:46 PM

I'm so pleased to have found this thread, cos I had my first shave with an Astra a couple of days ago.
I'm very new to DE shaving and have only used the Israeli Personna blades before so after all the hype I was expecting something super smooth but instead it was rough and patchy and noticeably a worse shave than from the IP.
This morning I had my second shave with that same Astra blade and surprise surprise it was much much smoother and, of course, closer- I was used to one shave only from my disposables and cartridges so I really like the idea that the DE blades need to settle in.

**El Judio Bravo** · 04-24-2013, 05:35 AM

Originally Posted by mjclark

I'm so pleased to have found this thread, cos I had my first shave with an Astra a couple of days ago.
I'm very new to DE shaving and have only used the Israeli Personna blades before so after all the hype I was expecting something super smooth but instead it was rough and patchy and noticeably a worse shave than from the IP.
This morning I had my second shave with that same Astra blade and surprise surprise it was much much smoother and, of course, closer- I was used to one shave only from my disposables and cartridges so I really like the idea that the DE blades need to settle in.

Seems like some blades are better after that first use. Many find Feathers to be this way. The AsSPlats in general have the reputation for being good straight OOB. They were my first bulk purchase and I've loaded a fresh one into my 38C this morning.