Feathers

**alumblock** · 07-01-2012, 04:52 AM

As I have now been DE shaving for a year I decided to treat myself to a new razor, a DE89 with the lined chrome handle. I've been using it for a week now and think it's great - the weight of the head means that it's really easy to shave with.

To go with the razor I plucked up the courage to try a Feather blade from a sample pack I bought last year. After the first couple of shaves my face felt pretty sore and there were quite a number of nicks on my neck and around my mouth. I knew that this meant that I was pressing on too hard so persevered for a few more days, making a conscious effort to adapt my technique.

By the end of the week the irritation had gone and I thought I had finally achieved Feather heaven. But once my face had dried I checked in the mirror and it looked as if I had measles! At that point I gave up and switched back to my regular blade. Not as sharp as the ninja warrior of course, but oh so much easier to live with.

Anyway, the point of posting this is to show how important it is to give a new blade a decent chance before deciding 'win or bin'. As for the Feather, I may dig out the Wilkinson Classic I bought as a starter razor and try again... just not yet.

**Bluebriz** · 07-01-2012, 04:57 AM

Did you use the same Feather blade for a week?

**ladykate** · 07-01-2012, 05:08 AM

Originally Posted by Bluebriz

Did you use the same Feather blade for a week?

Important point is that. Feathers don't last well in my experience. I use them to shave my head (or 7 O'clock Yellows) and also for touch up. I have to swap them out after a couple of shaves or a week or so. They give a rough shave if I don't. Wonderful shave if I do.

**alumblock** · 07-01-2012, 05:31 AM

Originally Posted by Bluebriz

Did you use the same Feather blade for a week?

Five days. I can normally keep a blade for four days, and I didn't feel any tugging with the Feathers even on the extra day. The last shave was the best of the five but I was still getting blood spots. I think they're basically too sharp for me.

**ladykate** · 07-01-2012, 05:56 AM

Originally Posted by alumblock

Five days. I can normally keep a blade for four days, and I didn't feel any tugging with the Feathers even on the extra day. The last shave was the best of the five but I was still getting blood spots. I think they're basically too sharp for me.

Might be that they are just not a good match for you in that razor, too. There are lots of variables - it sounds like you are thinking things through so, if they are too sharp for the current combination, then go with something else. Lots of people won't touch them and others think they are the bee's knees. I like them but other blades work well, too.

I know it sounds kinda snooty, but you might find that more experience with the blade will work out for you. Or... maybe not...

**whavens** · 07-01-2012, 06:00 AM

Once I started using Feathers my techinque improved immensley. Just stick with them, once you get them down all other blades you use will benefit from your better techinque. I started using mine in my R41 and I shave better now with all my razros.

**mmack66** · 07-01-2012, 06:44 AM

Feathers didn't do it for me. I moved on to blades that were awesome from the first stroke of the razor.

**Wildalaska** · 07-01-2012, 07:56 AM

I love Feathers, but I got lots of years behind the blade. YMMV

kratos*86* · 07-01-2012, 08:27 AM

i recently purchased the feather blades and i have used it for 2 time....the cut is deep and soft.
the first time feather cut anything that met....seeing my inexperience i have many point of blood but not razorburn..

**simpleguy** · 07-01-2012, 08:38 AM

I find it has a lot to do with the razor itself, for example if I use my Merkur Barber Pole with ??? blade and it irritates my face and use same ??? blade in my Gillette fat handle tech its as if I have found utopia. I know this is obvious do too the difference in aggressiveness with said razor, but I'm just sayin

**Mandina** · 07-01-2012, 10:45 AM

I've been DE shaving for 7 months, have a fairly coarse beard, and use an EJDE89L. During month #2 my first experience with a Feather was not so good: 1 harsh shave, 1 pretty good shave, and the blade was finished. Nearly 5 months later I tried another Feather and--a tribute to B&B coaching + lots more practice--I got 5 terrific shaves (2 passes + touch-up; I only try for CCS or DFS). True, I now routinely get 7 very nice shaves with Perma-sharp Supers and Gillette Yellows, but I plan to order a tuck of Feathers from dridiot to add to my blade rotation. Thanks to the B&B community for getting me up to speed!

**Cheapogit** · 07-01-2012, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by mmack66

Feathers didn't do it for me. I moved on to blades that were awesome from the first stroke of the razor.

+1...

I got masses of nicks and major burn+bumps each time i've tried feathers, and these are on first (new) and second shave of a feather blade (though the second shave with one wasn't quite as bad, the one time I kept it to a second shave). These were all in an EJ 86.

I'm going to leave it a bit, until my technique is A1+++ and then may try them again, and also try them in a milder razor (A Lord or similar).

**Mike_P** · 07-01-2012, 11:22 AM

Feathers just didn't work for me. Great blade and I can tell it's higher quality than many others I've tried... BUT with that said, I simply got a better shave from Astras. So my Feathers took a back seat and went with my lot of back up blades. Maybe I'll try them again in the future, but with the performance I have from my first preferred blade, no reason to do it just yet.

There's no doubt that Feathers are one of the highest quality and sharpest blades, but that doesn't mean they'll work that way for everyone.

**crfcom** · 07-01-2012, 11:26 AM

Personally, I'm not interested in proving whether I can "master" a blade or not. I'm interested in a quality shaving experience. I have Feather's in my blade bank, but I favor smooth blades over the sharpest available technology. I'm using 7 0'clock blacks a lot lately because they seem to be, at least IMHO, as sharp as the Feathers while being smooth too. When I'm using my FaTip I back down to Personna Reds or Timors. There are too many good blades out there to have to punish yourself with any one brand in the same way I don't want to be bound to any one razor. I enjoy variety. And comfort.

**gus1942** · 07-01-2012, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by alumblock

As I have now been DE shaving for a year I decided to treat myself to a new razor, a DE89 with the lined chrome handle. I've been using it for a week now and think it's great - the weight of the head means that it's really easy to shave with.

To go with the razor I plucked up the courage to try a Feather blade from a sample pack I bought last year. After the first couple of shaves my face felt pretty sore and there were quite a number of nicks on my neck and around my mouth. I knew that this meant that I was pressing on too hard so persevered for a few more days, making a conscious effort to adapt my technique.

By the end of the week the irritation had gone and I thought I had finally achieved Feather heaven. But once my face had dried I checked in the mirror and it looked as if I had measles! At that point I gave up and switched back to my regular blade. Not as sharp as the ninja warrior of course, but oh so much easier to live with.

Anyway, the point of posting this is to show how important it is to give a new blade a decent chance before deciding 'win or bin'. As for the Feather, I may dig out the Wilkinson Classic I bought as a starter razor and try again... just not yet.

I like and use Feathers. I just like Astra SPs better.

**Viseguy** · 07-01-2012, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by crfcom

Personally, I'm not interested in proving whether I can "master" a blade or not. I'm interested in a quality shaving experience. I have Feather's in my blade bank, but I favor smooth blades over the sharpest available technology. I'm using 7 0'clock blacks a lot lately because they seem to be, at least IMHO, as sharp as the Feathers while being smooth too. When I'm using my FaTip I back down to Personna Reds or Timors. There are too many good blades out there to have to punish yourself with any one brand in the same way I don't want to be bound to any one razor. I enjoy variety. And comfort.

Agree with this on all levels. It's about what works for you, and what works in the razor you're using. I went through my supply of Feathers and haven't felt a strong need to restock, though I probably will, eventually. For the time being, I have plenty of other blades that I'm happy with.

**BubbleBoy** · 07-01-2012, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by whavens

Once I started using Feathers my techinque improved immensley. Just stick with them, once you get them down all other blades you use will benefit from your better techinque.

Bad advice IMO - maybe he works for the Feather company. "YMMV" is the most important piece of advice ever posted in this forum. My advice, if the most expensive blade on the market isn't working for you, you don't need to keep using it. My blade of choice is Lord Platinum. $10 for a hundred blades. Smoothest one out there IMO. Of course, it probably isn't your favorite either, but that's okay. Find what you like and use it. You don't owe anything to any product out there.

**crfcom** · 07-01-2012, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by Viseguy

Agree with this on all levels. It's about what works for you, and what works in the razor you're using. I went through my supply of Feathers and haven't felt a strong need to restock, though I probably will, eventually. For the time being, I have plenty of other blades that I'm happy with.

This philosophy is also why I'm not married, another story for another thread.

**jman158** · 07-01-2012, 12:40 PM

Feathers are very sharp but just not very forgiving. Also, they barely last 3 shaves for me and for the price, not worth it. The Astra blades are cheap, forgiving, and easily last 3 shaves for me.

**whavens** · 07-01-2012, 06:20 PM

No I don't work for Feather and don't use that often. I use Super Iridiums and love them, just saying they force you to adjust your shaving technique and what you learn to get a comfortable shave from a feather translates to any other blade you use. I rarely get nicks, weepers or razor rash thanks to what I learned from using a very sharp blade. Of course as with any blade or combination you use, YMMV. All I was saying using a Feather in an R41 forces you to lighten your stroke and seek the proper angle. I still use athe R41 with SIs probably 4 or 5 days a week. I learned more in 1 week of shaving with Feathers than I did in 6 or 8 months of using other blades and razors. YMMV. Not bad advice if he wants to learn to lighten his stroke and achieve proper angle. Just saying, try it, it works.

Originally Posted by BubbleBoy

Bad advice IMO - maybe he works for the Feather company. "YMMV" is the most important piece of advice ever posted in this forum. My advice, if the most expensive blade on the market isn't working for you, you don't need to keep using it. My blade of choice is Lord Platinum. $10 for a hundred blades. Smoothest one out there IMO. Of course, it probably isn't your favorite either, but that's okay. Find what you like and use it. You don't owe anything to any product out there.