Question on Usage of a Blade Sampler Pack

**michiganlover** · 06-23-2009, 03:30 AM

This will seem to be a silly question, but I figured if I have it, then others will too:

After purchasing a blade sampler pack, and embarking on using it, which is better form:

1) Use the full 5 blades of each pack before moving on to a new pack?

2) Simply try a new blade each time you replace the current one, so that you work through the pack in a some what random fashion?

I would like the know the merits, and disadvantages of each method.

**whatrymes** · 06-23-2009, 03:45 AM

This works great for me.

"Borrowed from: http://leisureguy.wordpress.com/2007...sampler-packs/ "

---If you try a new brand and get a terrible shave, discard that blade and try another blade of the same brand—it may have just been a bad blade. (Rare, but it does happen.) If the second blade of the brand also gives you a terrible shave, discard it and mark that brand off the list: it’s obviously not for you.

EXCEPTION: If you have more than one razor, try the blade in another razor before you give up on it. A blade that’s terrible in the HD might be wonderful in a Gillette Super Speed and vice versa.

Call the blade that so far works best for you the “best blade.”

1. Shave for a week with the current “best blade.” This sets the baseline for comparison.
2. Shave for a week with a new brand of blade (unless it fails the test of two terrible shaves).
3. If the new brand is the better of the two, it is now your new “best blade”: go to 2 to try another new brand.
4. If the new brand is not the better, go to 1.
By using this approach you’re always comparing just two brands: your best so far and a new brand. That makes the comparison easy, and by always starting the comparison with a week shaving with the “best,” you not only get a break from testing, you get a fresh reminder of what a blade that’s good for you feels like before you try the next new brand.

One experienced shaver discovered that sometimes two different brands are almost equal in quality, and that for those, using each brand on alternate days allows for a closer comparison. ---

Good luck!

**DGS** · 06-23-2009, 05:59 AM

Originally Posted by whatrymes

This works great for me.

"Borrowed from: http://leisureguy.wordpress.com/2007...sampler-packs/ "

---If you try a new brand and get a terrible shave, discard that blade and try another blade of the same brand—it may have just been a bad blade. (Rare, but it does happen.) If the second blade of the brand also gives you a terrible shave, discard it and mark that brand off the list: it’s obviously not for you.

EXCEPTION: If you have more than one razor, try the blade in another razor before you give up on it. A blade that’s terrible in the HD might be wonderful in a Gillette Super Speed and vice versa.

Call the blade that so far works best for you the “best blade.”

1. Shave for a week with the current “best blade.” This sets the baseline for comparison.
2. Shave for a week with a new brand of blade (unless it fails the test of two terrible shaves).
3. If the new brand is the better of the two, it is now your new “best blade”: go to 2 to try another new brand.
4. If the new brand is not the better, go to 1.
By using this approach you’re always comparing just two brands: your best so far and a new brand. That makes the comparison easy, and by always starting the comparison with a week shaving with the “best,” you not only get a break from testing, you get a fresh reminder of what a blade that’s good for you feels like before you try the next new brand.

One experienced shaver discovered that sometimes two different brands are almost equal in quality, and that for those, using each brand on alternate days allows for a closer comparison. ---

Good luck!

Excellent suggestion. However, I have a silly question. By "shave for a week with the current best blade," do you mean to actually use the same exact blade (as opposed to the same brand of blade)? In other words, if you like the brand of blade but it only gives you a decent result through four days of shaving, are you supposed to then pop a new one in for the final 3 days? Or is the test meant to include blade longevity as a criterion?

**BullGoose** · 06-23-2009, 06:06 AM

Originally Posted by DGS

Excellent suggestion. However, I have a silly question. By "shave for a week with the current best blade," do you mean to actually use the same exact blade (as opposed to the same brand of blade)? In other words, if you like the brand of blade but it only gives you a decent result through four days of shaving, are you supposed to then pop a new one in for the final 3 days? Or is the test meant to include blade longevity as a criterion?

I change blades after three shaves. Some blades such as the Super Iridium will give me a 4th good shave but there is no reason to push your luck. There is nothing enjoyable about shaving with a dull blade...it just is not worth it to save $.05

**MajorBurnz** · 06-23-2009, 06:07 AM

Originally Posted by DGS

Excellent suggestion. However, I have a silly question. By "shave for a week with the current best blade," do you mean to actually use the same exact blade (as opposed to the same brand of blade)? In other words, if you like the brand of blade but it only gives you a decent result through four days of shaving, are you supposed to then pop a new one in for the final 3 days? Or is the test meant to include blade longevity as a criterion?

You could get 5 shaves or more out of a blade, depending on your hair type and the blade involved. However, to be on the safe side change the blade every three shaves, or so. So you'll be using more than one blade for a week of shaving.
If you have thinner hair, you'll be able to get more shaves from a single blade. Thick, tough hair requires you to change blades more often.
I'm lucky if I can get three shaves per blade.

**SiBurning** · 06-23-2009, 06:07 AM

Definitely pop in a new one. A blade won't last seven shaves. I usually toss mine when they start to lose their edge, way before they start to pull. That's usually after two or three shaves. YMMV.

**whatrymes** · 06-23-2009, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by DGS

Excellent suggestion. However, I have a silly question. By "shave for a week with the current best blade," do you mean to actually use the same exact blade (as opposed to the same brand of blade)? In other words, if you like the brand of blade but it only gives you a decent result through four days of shaving, are you supposed to then pop a new one in for the final 3 days? Or is the test meant to include blade longevity as a criterion?

Being new, I want to keep variables to a minimum, so I never use a blade for more than two days at this time. I figure if I have a bad shave, being on the nth day of a blade, just adds another question as to why the shave was difficult. So I use a blade for two days and then try the next blade. I don't wait a week in between, I'm just too impatient.