The 2025: 1-Blade, 1-Week, *Daily Shaving Adventure

[m949]

Week 5: BIC Astor

Razor: Yaqi Vostok 1.05 DC on Razorock Superknurl handle
Blade: BIC Astor (4/5)(2)
Brush: Arno 26mm, G5 synthetic, Classic #12 handle
Soap: Fine Accroutements - Platinum (sample)
A/S: Twoface Brothers - Golden Supreme - Everest (sample)
Aftercare: Thayer's Witch Hazel Unscented
EdP: Le Goût De Peau - The Traveler Collection - Lei Gong Mountain (sample)

Wishing all B&B members a Happy Chinese New Year full of health, luck and prosperity !

The BIC Astor is the perfect blade for the Yaqi Vostok, as it feels less aggressive than other blades I've tried in this razor. This is true both for the OC and SB side of this head. I achieved a nice and easy DFS+ in two passes WTG (1x OC, 1x SB) with a few touchups (SB). I had two weepers on the neck, but my styptic pencil was more than sufficient to deal with those injuries.

 

[m949]

Week 5: BIC Astor

Razor: Yates Precision 921-EH solid bar, stainless steel
Blade: BIC Astor (4/5)(3)
Brush: Yaqi synthetic
Soap: Fine Accoutrements - Italian Citrus (sample)
A/S: Westman - Citrus Breeze Aftershave Emulsion Balm (sample)
EdP: Hermes - Le Jardin de Monsieur Li (sample)

Concluding week 5 with the BIC Astor in the Yates 921 with the EH plate. This is quite the efficient razor and Yates' most aggressive plate. As I mentioned before, I wanted to see whether the BIC Astor can provide a better shave on the third use with a highly efficient razor. Sadly, that is not the case.

For me, the Astor just loses performance after shave No. 2, but it doesn't start to deteriorate to the point where the shave would be uncomfortable in any way. In defense of the Astor I have to add that I skipped a full ATG pass today. I did some ATG cleanup though. With the 921-EH being a bit of a beast, a slightly higher rating than DFS+ wasn't worth any possible post-shave irritation. I had a small weeper on the jawline, where I needed the styptic pencil.

As the BIC Astor is a rather smooth blade, it matched quite well with the EH plate. Much sharper blades tend to dial up the aggression of the Yates 921-EH quite a bit.

 

[cranewarrior]

Week 5 Ends - BIC Chrome Platinum

Smooth, sharp, durable (4 shaves with no noticeable signs by me of dulling). A top blade for me.

 

[ShavingPrimate]

Week 5 Ends - BIC Chrome Platinum

Smooth, sharp, durable (4 shaves with no noticeable signs by me of dulling). A top blade for me.

View attachment 1986828

For most people, the BIC CP is everything a Feather is and for a whole lot less money!

 

[1e4]

2025 Week 05:
RazoRock Game Changer 1.05P
Gillette Silver Blue (no. 3 / 5)
D.R. Harris Lavender

2025 Week 04:
RazoRock Game Changer 0.84P
Gillette Silver Blue (no. 2 / 5)
Tabac

The GC 0.84P is a perfectly sufficient do-everything, everyday razor. However, as I often favor high blade gaps, we’ll put it to the test against the 1.05.

2025 Shave Count: 45

 

[m949]

Week 6: BIC Astor

Razor: Blackland Blackbird SB, stainless steel, machined
Blade: BIC Astor (5/5)(1)
Brush: Arno 26mm, Manchurian, 2-band badger, Jade Palace
Soap: Smoking Monster - Phoenix Mountain
A/S: Twoface Brothers - Original Aftershave Lotion
EdP: Armani Prive - The Yulong

The BIC Astor seems to be a great blade on the first and second shaves, especially if it is paired with a high-efficiency razor, such as the Blackbird. It is capable of delivering very smooth and very close shaves in the right razor, and it did so today in the Blackbird. BBS in three passes, with no nicks, weepers or irritation. Amazingly, the shave itself felt very smooth with little blade feel. I didn't even pay close attention to my shave angle - I just went by feeling and I could find it intuitively. I'm mighty impressed with this blade.

 

[m949]

Week 6: BIC Astor

Pre-Shave: Pears Pure & Gentle Transparent Soap (Amber)
Razor: Yaqi Harlequin on Razorock UFO handle
Blade: BIC Astor (5/5)(2)
Brush: Mühle Liscio Black Fiber
Soap: Barrister and Mann - Spice
A/S: Old Spice - Classic
Aftercare: Thayers Witch Hazel Unscented
EdT: Zino Davidoff

Great mid-week shave with the BIC Astor in the Harlequin. I was able to achieve a BBS shave, something I only attained twice before with a BIC Astor on its second use (Blackbird & Yintal Brass V2). The Astor is for me a very good match in more aggressive razors, such as the Harlequin. Sharper and less smooth blades in high efficiency razors tend to cause me a bit more irritation, especially when I'm aiming for that elusive close shave. I think the Astor is a good middle ground. It's sufficiently sharp to be able to shave close, but not too sharp as to cause lots of post-shave irritation. For me, it is an excellent blade to be paired with some of my higher gap/exposure razors.

 

[blethenstrom]

Let me try this again. I posted in the 2024 thread, dummy me.

Finished up the last of my Treet TJAX blades. Nice solid blade that I would not mind using again. Here is my opinion of the blade.

• Medium sharpness blade
• Seems to be a bit razor dependent. It does better in medium to aggressive razors. Not quite sharp enough in mild razors.
• Good for full week (6 shaves) worth of shaves. It does loose some of it's sharpness, but not enough to not make it through a week.
• Smooth shaving blade

Next up is the Dorco Titan. I have three blades left of these so it will be a three week endeavor.

 

[m949]

Week 6: BIC Astor

Pre-Shave: Pears Pure & Gentle Transparent Soap (Amber)
Razor: Gillette Tech Gold NDC
Blade: BIC Astor
Brush: Zenith synthetic
Soap: Razorock - Black Bay
A/S: Pinaud Clubman - Special Reserve (decant)
EdP: Terre d'Hermès - Eau Intense Vétiver

Concluding this week's shaves with the last BIC Astor in the tuck.

This is such a great blade which works well in more aggressive razors and less well in medium/mild razors. It's not an extremely sharp blade, but sharp enough to get very good results.

It is quite the smooth shave though. It did best in the Blackbird, the Yates-921 and the Yaqi Harlequin, but only on a blade's first and second shave. By the third shave results declined markedly, no matter the razor. I have to add though that by the third shave a BBS result wasn't achievable for me - DFS+ was as far as I could push the blades on their third outing. It's still one of my most favorite blades, probably reaching 2nd place after the Perma-Sharp. If you haven't tried the BIC Astor yet, I do highly recommend them.

 

[1e4]

2025 Shave Log

2025 Week 06:
Karve Overlander
Gillette Silver Blue (no. 4 / 5)
Martin de Candre Absinthe

2025 Week 05:
RazoRock Game Changer 1.05P
Gillette Silver Blue (no. 3 / 5)
D.R. Harris Lavender

Blissful shaves with the GC 1.05P, Silver Blue and DRH Lavender, after figuring the right hydration level for the soap. This morning also rounds out two weeks testing the Henson AL13+ and ++ on head shaves. The Henson really works for some people, but it doesn’t suit me.

2025 Shave Count: 55

 

[ShavingPrimate]

Week 5 Ends: Blade and razor are the Gillette PII. This is an authorized reproduction of the original Gillette Trac II from the early 70's, now made in India.

Actually, the blade is a Personna cartridge with two blades.

These twin blade cartridges, which fit the early 70's Trac II razor are available on Amazon for $17.90/hundred. Which translates to 18¢ each.

I find it incredible that you can buy a quality cartridge blade for the price of a single mid range DE blade.

I would recommend these for head shavers. Sharp and foolproof.

Used a single cartridge successfully for the entire week.

 

[ShavingPrimate]

Week 6 Begins: Blade is the Personna cartridge for the Gillette PII razor. This is an authorized reproduction of the original Gillette Trac II razor from the early 70's, now made in India.

Being that this is a twin blade cartridge, priced like a DE blade, I am going to try this cartridge for a 2nd week.

 

[blethenstrom]

Wrapped up a week with the Dorco Titan and it was a fantastic week. I used the Greencult GC 1.1 razor which made the blade sing. I had not one bad shave.

Continuing this week with a fresh Dorco Titan in the Yaqi Single Edge razor. Much more assertive razor, which forces you to pay attention to what you are doing. First shave last night was spectacular and I am looking forward to anther with with the Titan.

 

[cranewarrior]

I spent the last week with a Kai Stainless as port of the current participation pif run by @Grundi. The first few shaves were fantastic, the last two not great, but I did switch around razors, so I don't rightfully know whether it is the blade dulling or the razor not being a good fit. Still I got 5 shaves just fine from the Kai.

I will be on this Kai for the rest of February, so my next post in this thread won't be until March.

 

[m949]

Week 7: Perma-Sharp Super

Razor: Yates Precision 921-H scalloped bar
Blade: Perma-Sharp Super (1)
Brush: Arno 28mm, Silvertip Badger, Galactic Halberd
Soap: MacDuff's Soap Co. - Road Trippin'
A/S: POLA - Galantom II after shave lotion
EdT: Bleu De Chanel

I had to skip two shaves on Monday and Wednesday on account of cutting myself pretty badly with a Feather Kamisori on Sunday morning. I thought it was a good idea to hold the blade at a 50-60 degree angle just below the jawline and proceed to press the blade right into my skin. Needless to say, the blade bit immediately across its entire length. I looked like I've been fencing without a mask. In any case, shaving was off the table for the majority of the week, but luckily by Thursday the cut was all healed up and my face was ready to shave again.

I chose an efficient razor in the 921 with H-plate which could deal with 5-days of unfettered growth. I paired the Yates with a loose Perma-Sharp Super which I got together with a bunch of rare and in some cases unobtainable blades, courtesy of @megamac . Thanks, buddy...this blade is awesome.

The Perma-Sharp Super in the Yates had no problem whatsoever to mow down some pretty dense stubble. It would have been okay after the first pass for a DFS, but I made two more passes for an easy BBS finish. No irritation, no nicks, no weepers. Just perfect shaving bliss. I'm already a big fan of Perma-Sharp's and the Super is right up there as one fantastic blade. I like that it's double wrapped, but it had four rather large wax dots on one side of the blade. One dot extended across the edge. I removed a bit of the wax with a plastic decal remover, but that didn't work very well and I didn't want to chip the edges. I just submerged the razor with the loaded blade in warm water while I lathered up and that did the trick.

I'm looking forward to trying this blade all next week. I hope I can push it to four shaves.

 

[1e4]

2025 Week 06:
RazoRock Game Changer 1.05P
Gillette Silver Blue (no. 5 / 5)
Martin de Candre Original

2025 Week 06:
Karve Overlander
Gillette Silver Blue (no. 4 / 5)
Martin de Candre Absinthe

I’ve come to prefer high gap razors over the past six months or so, a trend started with the Edwin Jagger 3ONE6. At this point, it’s clear my tastes have moved beyond the super gentle Overlander. Back to the GC 1.05P this week, and breaking in a fresh jar of MdC Original.

2025 Shave Count: 65

 

[m949]

Week 7: Perma-Sharp Super

Razor: Gillette Ball-end Tech NDC
Blade: Perma-Sharp Super (2)
Brush: Trigodon - Fortitudinem a Leonis
Soap: LA Shaving Soap - Vert Noir / Aussie Tallow
A/S: Barrister and Mann - Seville
EDT: Zino Davidoff

I had to shave for an afternoon meeting today and just popped the Perma-Sharp Super in one of my Tech’s. I just had to be presentable today, so I went with a 2-pass WTG shave only as I want to have something to mow down with the Blackbird tomorrow. Plus, for a Sunday meeting I don’t really need that perfect shave.

The Perma-Sharp holds up well and was super comfortable in the Tech. I’m sure I could have achieved a BBS- instead of the DFS I got with more passes. But comfort was the goal today and that was easily achieved with this razor/blade combo.

 

[m949]

Week 7: Perma-Sharp Super

Razor: Blackland - Blackbird SB, stainless steel, machined
Blade: Perma-Sharp Super (3)
Brush: Mühle Purist, Silvertip Badger, Ebonite
Soap: Tcheon Fung Sing - Ciotola Rossa
Aftercare: Thayers Witch Hazel Rose
A/S: Old Spice - Classic
EdP: Byredo - Oud Immortel

This morning I aimed for that BBS shave and the tool of choice for such an endeavor was the Blackbird. The Perma-Sharp blade didn't disappoint and made for a smooth, comfortable BBS shave. It took me three passes, but four hours later I still don't feel any stubble coming in.

Even on its third use the Perma-Sharp maintained its comfort and sharpness, there wasn't any tugging, save for one little spot on my neck where keeping the skin taut was a bit challenging. Other than that the blade performed admirably.

Normally, this would be the point for me to bin a blade, but in this instance I will try to stretch the blade for five shaves to see if it holds up. I'm confident it will.

 

[ShavingPrimate]

Week 6 Ends: Blade is the Personna cartridge for the Gillette PII razor.

Being that this is a twin blade cartridge, priced like a DE blade, I am trying this cartridge for a 2nd week.

 

[ShavingPrimate]

Week 7 Begins: Blade is the Personna cartridge for the Gillette PII razor.

Being that this is a twin blade cartridge, priced like a DE blade, I am going to try this cartridge for a 3rd week.

My current schedule precludes my usual shaving with a DE blade. Still want to continue the thread...