Welp, I was working through some multi blade plastic fantastics I traded a $10 bottle of vodka for, from a black guy in a trench coat who had a variety of grooming aids he'd just lifted from CVS so .....
I was fortunate to run into this video soon after my first DE razor arrived and ordered a couple sample packs. I'll never forget my first shave with the Kai blade. It was "where have you been my entire shave life?!" just perfect. You really do provide great wet shaving information and offer great products. Thanks Matt and all the good folks at Razor Emporium!
I wish someone would do an actual analysis with an electron microscope etc of the edge sharpness and smoothness of all the brand's of blades. I'm suspicious that a lot of the comments by people in seemingly authorative positions is simply lore. No one ever attempts to explain why a blade would be made sharp but not smooth, or vice versa. Any blade is plenty sharp enough to easily cut your skin, say under a micro wide at the edge. I'm guessing that it comes down to refinement at the edge: sharp with minimal jaggedness. It would also be nice to understand variability with blades of the same brand. And like rifling in gun barrels, it's probably possible to tell which brands come off the same machinery.
Not sure if you've ever stumbled on it but the site refined shave has tested blade sharpness and durability using standard test media to test the sharpness.
After single edge injector razor, double edge razor, triple edge disposable razor, and electric triple head razor(and quite a few dollars), I’ve gone to DE razor and brush and found just what a great shave really is. I’ll never go back. Now I look forward to my daily Zen “me-time”. FYI, got a Merkur 34c, multiple trial blades pack, and a few packs of Feathers. Now it’s BBS face every day, all day.
I've tried most of these blades. I come back to Perma-Sharp for the smoothness. Personna blue is made in the USA and can come in a 100 pack that's easier to store in a cabinet. They are also good.
I would like to see a "most popular" pack. like personna lab blue, astra green, treet, gillette silver blue, feather and maybe derby. something like that.
Very good advice! Thank you! Tomorrow, I’m going to have my 76th shave with my current persona blade which cost about $.15 and which I discovered through a variety pack.
Feather all the way. Note that shaving prep is extra important (do it after shower or apply good amount of very warm water to your face). I highly recommend "Kent" shaving soap for Feathers, of all the soaps that one somehow works the best (and it's not even that expensive).
I just made a color coded spreadsheet based on the info label of the Razor Emporium giant sampler pack. I was amazed to see how much I was wrong about the relative sharpness of blades I've tried in the past. I'll be replacing my own dubious experience with this new evaluation. I have crazy coarse facial hair but oddly I get the closest and most comfortable shaves from mild blades and mild razors, and only ever going With-The-Grain on each and every pass.
Totally agree. I bought an ATT slant closed comb, my first DE razor. It came with a pack of Astras that left my face a bloody mess. Surprised since the blade has so many stellar reviews. Almost returned the razor and went back to my electric. But tried a couple sample packs, finally finding a match made in heaven for a dense thick beard and sensitive skin - the KAI blade. Patience and trial & error pays off.
Astras are god awful, I hear that a whole lot actually either people swear by them or they hate them but I'll tell you what I don't hear people hating on Gillette Platinum Kai and feather.. so I'll say the people who think Astras are the best are just flat-out bad at judging or haven't tried anything better enough times to know
Good video, great information for beginners. I would like to say "BEWARE OF BEGINNER PACKAGES!!" These are the razors sold with a sample packet of 5 or 10 blades, often times the same brand as the razor you are buying. The Blade - Razor and your Skin - Beard may not be compatible. Buy the razor of your choice (I suggest a mild razor for beginners) and as the video says invest in the sample packes of 10 so you can find out which razor blade works for you. It can mean the difference of shaveing torture and the worlds greatest shave.
I thought I would like the Feather blades due to their sharpness. They don't irritate my skin, but their sharpness seems short lived. On the third day, my face feels like a high number sandpaper. When I switched to the Astras, I kept getting BBS shave results for a week with the same strokes.
the best blade is the one that cuts the stubble and not you. What I have done was buy about 4 brands - Derby, Supermax(back in India), Astra Green / 7'oClock stainless and Super Platinum (all three are more or less similar) and Feather. Derby was too mild for me, so, I raised it a notch. Supermax was good, but would be blunt after a single shave. Astra Green / 7'oClock Stainless / Super Platinum all three were very similar. The Super Platinum would last the longest though. I then tried out Feather to see if choosing an even sharper blade would change anything - well, it was sharp, no doubt, but I ended up cutting myself a lot. So, the choice is pretty clear for me - 7'oClock Super Platinum. However, these days I buy Astra Green 100 pack as it works out more economical for the same shave experience.
I wish I had seen this video before I started DE shaving. I was surprised how much the razor matters as well. For example, I bought Astra Greens as my first razor blades and used them in my Rockwell 6c. I thought the shave felt a little rough but thought it was the razor. Why did the shave feel so bad to me? The Rockwell 6c had VERY good reviews and so did the Astra Green. Well I bought the Heritage razor and it came with Gillette Platinum blades. The Heritage shave was so good that I tried the Gillette Platinum in the Rockwell 6c and it shaved like a DREAM. So, I simply stopped using the Astra Green until recently. I bought a Henson razor and it came with the Astra Green, so I tried the Astra blades again. This was the best shave I ever had, just incredible. So the resulting shave with the Astra Green was fantastic. I learned that the razor and blade combo makes a huge difference.
I bought two different sample packs and IMHO that is the best way to test blades. I've been Journaling my wet shaving experiences and testing of blades in Badger & Blade to give my take on the different blades using a mul.titude of different razors..
That is an excellent breakdown of DE blades. I’ll be suggesting your site for all new DE shavers for their blade selection process. I really like the way that you rate each blade and include that information in the package.
Two part question so I apologize, first I’ve got a real mixed bag in terms of growth pattern and thickness along with super sensitive skin (redness and bumps even after the most delicate shave) what level would you suggest? Next, any thoughts on Wilkinson products? As a military history nerd it’s a name I’m familiar with, but no experience in the shaving world.
@@RazorEmporium I’m actually just in the research stage, still using a cartridge razor, when I do shave that is, I’m trying a beard and looking for something to keep the lines clean.
Very good advice. I tried the sample packs when I started DE Shaving around 2011. I settled on the Astra’s and Persona’s. I can use either one and they both work great for me.
Matt is great for wet shaving and very knowledgeable. People making crazy comments are definitely watching the wrong videos. Sorry guys but I really enjoy wet shaving and I hate negative trolls.
Hey great review. Where I brought my sample pack from.They have the Wilkinson sword platinum (Germany) as a very mild shaver #8. And the Rockwell Razor also #8. At the present time these are as sharp as I can go, with a 2 pass shave. Anything sharper gives me red dots and shaver rash. Where I live all razors are online only, supermarkets and chemists do not stock them anymore. Are the German Wilkinson Sword and Rockwell both on par? As I would. Most probably order 200 blades. Rockwells are half the price of the German counterpart. Thanks
I’m returning to wet shaving after a few years away. I found my original Fat Handle Tech after I’d purchased a new Van Der Hagen and a new King C. Gillette. As for blades, I’d tried a sampler pack back in the day and liked Feather, but I really liked the blades that came with the new Gillette and how they work with that razor. I’m not really a fan of the Van Der Hagen it their blades. I’ve got a bunch more different blades to try out new and I’m having great fun 😎
This was the most intuitive rating of DE blades on UA-cam! After suffering my own trial and error, you have summed up blade aggression / mildness superbly!! Excellent video :))
I didn't realize Gillette Platinum was considered to be quite that sharp. I've been using one from a sampler pack all week and haven't had any problem with nicks. I personally only need moderate sharpness to get down to the skin. Voskhod seems to have the perfect balance of smoothness and sharpness for my facial hair and skin. Most of the very sharp to sharpest blades I've used tended to cause some irritation for me after repeated daily use with the exception of Polsilver and Gillette Platinum.
I've always been prone to having crazy amounts of razor bumps and ingrown hairs. So last year I decided to buy a DE razor, got the absolute cheapest one I could find and started shaving with Astra Platinums. Everything was going fine, the bumps were mostly gone, but I did really regret buying that cheap ass stamped razor instead of one with some weight to it. Eventually I ran out of Astra blades and I bought some Van Der Haag (?) blades from Walmart, first time I shaved I almost ripped my face off. Watching this video I realize now that those are probably some super mild blades. So I'm gonna buy a Merkur and your sensitive skin pack and see what happens.
Supertomiman I'm six months into the DE razors. I had the problem and have fixed the bumps. Here is a small list that helped. 1. Look and study how your hairs grow, and shave with the grain only. 2. Pay attention to the amount of pressure you push down on your razer. 3. Apply porraso cream to your face and brush it on for a good 3 - 4 minutes until the texture looks like whipped cream. 4. Stretch your skin with your hands. 5. Hold the razor with balance. 6. Shave after getting out of the shower.
I find that it's also important to try out the best DE razor and which blade(s) work best with them. Some blades work well in a Merkur but not in an Edwin Jaeger, etc. Best to experiment. I use blades from all over and I have 8 different DE razors. I'm always experimenting.
I use a Rockwell T2. Nice razor. But make sure you close it all the way, until the close twisty knob stops and you can't turn it anymore. First use I didn't close it all the way and that caused. problems.
I have a thick growing beard I have to shave at least 3 times a day I'm interested in a double edge safety razor but I have sensitive skin but I'm wanting a very close shave that is to my skin that gets even the gray shadow off and no facial hair at all what blade would I need because I have a gillette safty razor blade that's a wilkinson sword from gillette but in some areas it gets it smooth but in other areas it's worse then my normal cartridge razar I still feel the ruff hair grains and that's very irritating any help would be great because I shaved 4 time last night with the safty razar and it still is not that smooth do I need a more aggressive approach blade because I'm using a sensitive mild razar blade?
Hi Matt, I am glad I found your store and you for shaving must haves and service. Thanks for making it easy to understand blades and putting together the like comfort/sharpness in packs.
Feather is my favorite. They perform excellent in my Rooney safety razor. After Gillette falsely accused me of being a toxic male, I haven't purchased any of their products.
Hahaha I had forgotten about that, ngl I recently bought a pack of Gillette reds. They work really well, but they can’t hold sharpness honestly. Dorcos are cheap af and work fine. Im set for blades for the rest of the year.
I use a shavette and I’ve been wet shaving for about 2 months now but do most of the better known DE blades also come in half blades? I preferred them and seen that when u brake them there’s a slight bend in the razor
Personally I like the Feather as I have a coarse and multi directional beard especially under my jaw lines Gillette and Wilkinison I would never recommend only because they slash my face to ribbons and as some commented a while back get rid of that chin fungus mate it does nothing for you :D
The Shark Super Chrome is the 100ct blade pack that i got. i also shave with the parker 96r safety razor and i still got some parker premium platinum blades to use. i feel like parker blades don't last more than 3 shaves for me so I'm gonna see how the shark blades feel i am also gonna use the Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream Bowl cause well 20k 5 star reviews on amazon must mean its a good product no? anyways I'm excited for my next shave
I bought 100 blades like a year ago when I started and have been fine; do different blades make that much of a difference ? ( bought Montreal made shaverboy blades )
Yes, makes a difference. Good luck like yours is not too rare, so maybe most people have no worry. Still a good idea to start using samples of different blades and pick the one or ones which work well for you.
I buy 100 packs of Personna Lab Blues. I am in the U.K. so I have to get them shipped from the USA because they are not available in the U.K. They are the only DE blade my sensitive skin will tolerate. They are so smooth. 👍
Hello there. I am from Brazil and congratulations for the content. Do you know the wilkson sword blade? I am very curious about the grade of sharpness that you gave for this blade. Thanks for your attention.
Fabulous video Matt. What a fantastic way to introduce the packs of DE blades. I said it before and will say I again You are a great Grand Master of knowledge in regards to DE shaving. Thank You very much. Three Cheers to Razor Emporium!!!!!!
Definitely include the Gillette Nacet in the Gillette pack. It's at the sharper end of the scale, but is very smooth shaving and it keeps it's edge for longer than most blades I've tried. Thanks for the help you provided (via email) me the other day Matt with regards to caring for the Rex Ambassador.
I agree... I haven't found anything better for me than the Nacet blade and I have tried many different blades. They are butter smooth on any amount of days growth.
Shocked at how poor Wilkinson Swords were in my sample pack. Feather, Personna and Astra by far the best so far. Not sure why Big Ben and Lords are included. Not very comfortable or competitive.
If you swap the Platinums for a tuck of 7oc black blades then that Gillette sampler has the best blades available. Can't go wrong with the St Pete Gillette portfolio, I've always got GSB and Astra SP in my drawer.
I have a beginner pack of razors on the way with some general maintenance/everyday items for shaving and a Parker razor, so I'll have some time to get accustomed to a new razor as well as seeing how well my Wilkinson Sword handles other blades. I don't think this Parker razor comes with its own blades and I didn't see them listed on the website, so I looked at various reviews on Amazon about them. Is it true that the Parker blades are somewhere between an Astra Green and a Feather?
I have coarse (very coarse) facial hair. I have used Astra Blue and Green, as well as a couple others (Derby, Shark, Vanderhagen etc...). I'm still looking for sharp enough blade that I can get through those really coarse hairs in a couple of passes and no more. I rarely cut myself and only get a scrape when I have to make. a few passes. Do you have any recommendations for blades that work best coarse hair? Thank you
I currently use a Gillette Sensor III cartridge but am strongly considering trying a DE. Someone suggested to me that I should try the Gillette Astra Super platinum. It looked like that blade was included in your beginner pack. How much is the beginner pack?
Hi mark,I just purchased the beginner sample, are you sure it won't be a better idea to start from the sharpest blade and then all the way up to the top?
Where would voskhod blades fall on this one through five scale? Whenever I have tried them, they feel tuggy whereas Astra blues which I prefer, feel very smooth and comfortable so I would guess that voskhod blades might be less sharp than Astra blues?
I just got my first safety razor: a Rimei for 49Baht here in Thailand. I have corse thick beard but sensitive skin, especially throat area. I also shave my head, or about half of it as I am quite bald. What blades would you recommend that I try first? Cheers
I bought the beginners pack and got it on April 28th but now it's been sitting there collecting dust cause i'm a little nervous to get back to wet shaving. Yes i know,I feel like a wieney for saying this. Wish me luck and have the ambulance on speed dial.
FYI Razor Emporium, a lot of guys are boycotting Gillette, for good reason. You probably see a lot of your other brands being sold, as they switch from Gillette. I know I have been using a couple old Gillette’s (1955-59)from my grandfather (I am 48 been using them since 1990). They are great, but I will not put another Gillette blade in the handle.
Might as well just sell your vintage razors as well then.. I get the ad was distasteful, but if you have a blade you enjoy from Gillette then why stop buying it? Gillette is going no where, even with the bad ad, so even if you decide to stop purchasing from them they’re still going to be in your local grocery store. Just saying. People get too hurt over the littlest things imo.
ok I am actively choosing to keep my "toxic masculinity" and trying to avoid all gillette products. That being said, I am using a straight razor and LOVING it. My biggest problem is that while I have very coarse beard, the hair on my neck grows in 3 directions on both sides, and my skin on my neck is extremely sensitive. While I could easily do 5 and 6 passes on my neck with the straight razor with little irritation, it is very hard for me to get a clean shave on my neck without the aid of a safety or de razor. I hope I gave you enough information that you may have some advice for a razor and blade (non gillette) recommendation for me? Thank you in advance.
Is the softest bed the best to sleep in? Is the most rigid shoe the best to run in? No. The best of something is what works best for an individual. The sharpest blade can be too sharp for some and cause irritation to the skin. Experiment and find what works best through trial and error.
Voskhod seems to have the perfect balance of sharpness and smoothness for my facial hair and skin. It seems I need moderate sharpness, right in the middle. Derby and Shark were just too dull for the goatee area. Some of the sharper blades tended to cause irritation. But Voskhod has had zero negatives for me, gets down to the skin in 3 passes with no nicks or burn, and costs around 7 cents per blade. I also was very impressed by Polsilver, but that's more sharpness than I actually need (I can get down to the skin/ BBS with less sharp blades) and they cost over 5x more per blade than Voskhod.
No Supermax blades? For example, the Super Platinums are very good-sharp, but comfortable, like a Gillette Platinum, the Super Stainless that are very mild and the Blue Diamond (the platinum coated version) that are sharp but also a bit harsh.
I shave my head bald as well as my face. But I also have very sensitive skid and I am looking for the blade that is perfect for my skin type. What do you recommend?
I'm in the same boat. Well, I shave my head but grow a beard. So far Persona Red is pretty good for me. But I still have many brands I have not tried yet. I'm also liking Lucky Tiger shaving cream so far. I need a cream that will stay slick and not dry out as I'm getting the last few spots. I don't head shave against the grain yet. Just with the grain and across. What's been working for you?
I wish i knew about this before i bought 100 of the astra greens.luckily it worked out for me and they give me a good shave. But who knows, ignorance is bliss, maybe theres something better for me out there
i went back to DE after Thanksgiving and I thought i was gonna regret it immediately, but with my new. EJ & Merkur 34c and the correct blades - Gillette 7'Oclock - greens / Russian made not India - *important! And voila!!! Perfect close shave every single time! Wet shaving is a wiondeful time to myself and I enjoy the "goodies" and "toys" that also come along with the pampering and almost "ritual" of the self. 😁 There is nothing like the DE Wet Shave! It takes time to master, mapping your facial hair to see which way it grows and then your first pass should be in the direction of the hair growrh. Following passes of two and more can then start with a sideways pass, or a finishing pass going back against the grain and getting the ultimate close shave... Well, besides a straight-razor. It's very traditional to me now and I take great pleaaure from whipping the soap, laying it down thick, and then takimg great pleasue in knowing I'm goimg to feel amazumg amd confident when I'm done. 👍🏼 Not only that, but the grooming afterwards, followed by a few splashes of Creed-" Bois de Portugal" and a postive atitiude, and theres simply nothing you can not do! Any dude can be -Un-stoppable!!! Have fun / Live
I am from INDIA . Many com. Are manufacturing them in India because of cheap labour. 50% of population using DE blades. You have given good guidance . Feather co. Should manufacture in INDIA. I feel its best but costly. GILLETTE is max sold in india. Technology transfer cn make blades cheap, if manufactured in INDIA. INDIAN'S have best attitude to give best at compittive price. Not like china.
Great observation. I don't use colognes but I do use aftershave splashes. I don't buy any from department stores but rather the small artisan mom-and-pop operations that offer matching scents with their puck shaving soaps.
Thanks for the very informative video. I have a Gillette Slim Adjustable razor, which I normally set to 6 out of 9 on my routine (every other day) shave or to 9 if the last shave dates more than three days. Does the adjustability feature compensate for the blade aggressiveness or is it another factor in the shaving experience?
So I don’t even own a safety razor yet I want one but not sure where I am or what to get for razor or the blades need some help. I’m used to using the cartridge razors but I wanna switch
If you need to use sensitive skin products for shaving and after shave and still get irritation, you’ll want the sensitive pack. If you don’t really get irritation but don’t know where to start get the beginner pack and something like an edwin jagger or parker razors, those tend to be mild-mid aggressive. Yet either of those razor companies are extremely consistent so you’ll know which blades work for you using those razors as platforms
I wish the sample packs would've been around when I first started double edge shaving. It took about a year to narrow down what work best for me. I really like the Gillette 365 I order from India. You almost can't go wrong with any Gillette.
I shave with a broken piece of glass I stole from a homeless man.
So you stole broken glass?
May I suggest the feather blade for you then, sir?
Ah, I see you're a man of culture as well.
Cutting edge
Welp, I was working through some multi blade plastic fantastics I traded a $10 bottle of vodka for, from a black guy in a trench coat who had a variety of grooming aids he'd just lifted from CVS so .....
I was fortunate to run into this video soon after my first DE razor arrived and ordered a couple sample packs. I'll never forget my first shave with the Kai blade. It was "where have you been my entire shave life?!" just perfect. You really do provide great wet shaving information and offer great products. Thanks Matt and all the good folks at Razor Emporium!
I wish someone would do an actual analysis with an electron microscope etc of the edge sharpness and smoothness of all the brand's of blades. I'm suspicious that a lot of the comments by people in seemingly authorative positions is simply lore. No one ever attempts to explain why a blade would be made sharp but not smooth, or vice versa. Any blade is plenty sharp enough to easily cut your skin, say under a micro wide at the edge. I'm guessing that it comes down to refinement at the edge: sharp with minimal jaggedness. It would also be nice to understand variability with blades of the same brand. And like rifling in gun barrels, it's probably possible to tell which brands come off the same machinery.
Not sure if you've ever stumbled on it but the site refined shave has tested blade sharpness and durability using standard test media to test the sharpness.
After single edge injector razor, double edge razor, triple edge disposable razor, and electric triple head razor(and quite a few dollars), I’ve gone to DE razor and brush and found just what a great shave really is. I’ll never go back. Now I look forward to my daily Zen “me-time”.
FYI, got a Merkur 34c, multiple trial blades pack, and a few packs of Feathers. Now it’s BBS face every day, all day.
Me too I love my little 34c
I've tried most of these blades. I come back to Perma-Sharp for the smoothness. Personna blue is made in the USA and can come in a 100 pack that's easier to store in a cabinet. They are also good.
I would like to see a "most popular" pack. like personna lab blue, astra green, treet, gillette silver blue, feather and maybe derby. something like that.
you can have my idea for 100billion dollars!
They have it now
Gillette is good, for the first shave, after once use you get a lot of tug, but boy oh boy my skin is buttery amooth.
I’m pretty sure that Procter and Gamble owns Astra (p&g also owns Gillette)
Yep
Very good advice. I bought the full boat. As I used blades, I wrote on the package what my experience was. Then I went and bought the 100 pack.
Joe Jackson did something similar.But I wrote in a notepad.
So which one did you pick for the 100 pack?
I've shopped in the store razor emporium in Phoenix Arizona and met him before real tall nice guy.and a good selection.
Very good advice! Thank you! Tomorrow, I’m going to have my 76th shave with my current persona blade which cost about $.15 and which I discovered through a variety pack.
Feather all the way. Note that shaving prep is extra important (do it after shower or apply good amount of very warm water to your face). I highly recommend "Kent" shaving soap for Feathers, of all the soaps that one somehow works the best (and it's not even that expensive).
Noxema makes for an excellent pre-shave experience!
I just made a color coded spreadsheet based on the info label of the Razor Emporium giant sampler pack. I was amazed to see how much I was wrong about the relative sharpness of blades I've tried in the past. I'll be replacing my own dubious experience with this new evaluation. I have crazy coarse facial hair but oddly I get the closest and most comfortable shaves from mild blades and mild razors, and only ever going With-The-Grain on each and every pass.
Totally agree. I bought an ATT slant closed comb, my first DE razor. It came with a pack of Astras that left my face a bloody mess. Surprised since the blade has so many stellar reviews. Almost returned the razor and went back to my electric. But tried a couple sample packs, finally finding a match made in heaven for a dense thick beard and sensitive skin - the KAI blade. Patience and trial & error pays off.
Astras are god awful, I hear that a whole lot actually either people swear by them or they hate them but I'll tell you what I don't hear people hating on Gillette Platinum Kai and feather.. so I'll say the people who think Astras are the best are just flat-out bad at judging or haven't tried anything better enough times to know
Astra green for me. Love those blades.
Perfect point to the video...I hate them. Not every blade suits everyone :)
Good video, great information for beginners. I would like to say "BEWARE OF BEGINNER PACKAGES!!" These are the razors sold with a sample packet of 5 or 10 blades, often times the same brand as the razor you are buying. The Blade - Razor and your Skin - Beard may not be compatible. Buy the razor of your choice (I suggest a mild razor for beginners) and as the video says invest in the sample packes of 10 so you can find out which razor blade works for you. It can mean the difference of shaveing torture and the worlds greatest shave.
Can you guys pls list Gillette's other brands razor blades? Just trying to avoid paying such a company. Thank you.
I think everybody should get back to a DE razor! If you have found the right techniuqe you find the right blade for you. I love Feather. 👍🏻
That makes me think about that "Gillette one-blade" that they came out with like it was some kind of new idea.
I thought I would like the Feather blades due to their sharpness. They don't irritate my skin, but their sharpness seems short lived. On the third day, my face feels like a high number sandpaper. When I switched to the Astras, I kept getting BBS shave results for a week with the same strokes.
Couldn't agree more!
the best blade is the one that cuts the stubble and not you. What I have done was buy about 4 brands - Derby, Supermax(back in India), Astra Green / 7'oClock stainless and Super Platinum (all three are more or less similar) and Feather.
Derby was too mild for me, so, I raised it a notch. Supermax was good, but would be blunt after a single shave. Astra Green / 7'oClock Stainless / Super Platinum all three were very similar. The Super Platinum would last the longest though.
I then tried out Feather to see if choosing an even sharper blade would change anything - well, it was sharp, no doubt, but I ended up cutting myself a lot.
So, the choice is pretty clear for me - 7'oClock Super Platinum. However, these days I buy Astra Green 100 pack as it works out more economical for the same shave experience.
I wish I had seen this video before I started DE shaving. I was surprised how much the razor matters as well. For example, I bought Astra Greens as my first razor blades and used them in my Rockwell 6c. I thought the shave felt a little rough but thought it was the razor. Why did the shave feel so bad to me? The Rockwell 6c had VERY good reviews and so did the Astra Green. Well I bought the Heritage razor and it came with Gillette Platinum blades. The Heritage shave was so good that I tried the Gillette Platinum in the Rockwell 6c and it shaved like a DREAM. So, I simply stopped using the Astra Green until recently. I bought a Henson razor and it came with the Astra Green, so I tried the Astra blades again. This was the best shave I ever had, just incredible. So the resulting shave with the Astra Green was fantastic. I learned that the razor and blade combo makes a huge difference.
Enjoyed the clip. But RUSTY GLASS??
If you’re trying to avoid Gillette, as I am, be aware that it owns razor blade companies like Astra and Super Iridium.
Thank you for the info my good sir.
I bet you voted for the New York Democrat who ran as a republican in 2016 and won.
Nathan Explosion Nope
@@nathanexplosion743 I Did Big Deal what does that has to do with a (D E RAZOR?)
@@MRTLEW01 It's an NPC, just ignore it.
I bought two different sample packs and IMHO that is the best way to test blades. I've been Journaling my wet shaving experiences and testing of blades in Badger & Blade to give my take on the different blades using a mul.titude of different razors..
I love your videos, I am definitely ordering a sampler pack! I am a woman who has started using a DE razor, so far so good!
That is an excellent breakdown of DE blades. I’ll be suggesting your site for all new DE shavers for their blade selection process. I really like the way that you rate each blade and include that information in the package.
Two part question so I apologize, first I’ve got a real mixed bag in terms of growth pattern and thickness along with super sensitive skin (redness and bumps even after the most delicate shave) what level would you suggest? Next, any thoughts on Wilkinson products? As a military history nerd it’s a name I’m familiar with, but no experience in the shaving world.
Have you tried cold water shaving?
@@RazorEmporium I’m actually just in the research stage, still using a cartridge razor, when I do shave that is, I’m trying a beard and looking for something to keep the lines clean.
Very good advice. I tried the sample packs when I started DE Shaving around 2011. I settled on the Astra’s and Persona’s. I can use either one and they both work great for me.
Matt is great for wet shaving and very knowledgeable. People making crazy comments are definitely watching the wrong videos. Sorry guys but I really enjoy wet shaving and I hate negative trolls.
thomas grim it’s all good I’ve always ignored the trolls and haters :)
damn just sparked some interest in the sensitive pack, right after buying some wilkinson classic 😅
Hey great review. Where I brought my sample pack from.They have the Wilkinson sword platinum (Germany) as a very mild shaver #8. And the Rockwell Razor also #8. At the present time these are as sharp as I can go, with a 2 pass shave. Anything sharper gives me red dots and shaver rash. Where I live all razors are online only, supermarkets and chemists do not stock them anymore. Are the German Wilkinson Sword and Rockwell both on par? As I would. Most probably order 200 blades. Rockwells are half the price of the German counterpart. Thanks
I’m returning to wet shaving after a few years away. I found my original Fat Handle Tech after I’d purchased a new Van Der Hagen and a new King C. Gillette.
As for blades, I’d tried a sampler pack back in the day and liked Feather, but I really liked the blades that came with the new Gillette and how they work with that razor. I’m not really a fan of the Van Der Hagen it their blades.
I’ve got a bunch more different blades to try out new and I’m having great fun 😎
Astra and permasharp were turkish companies. They have great quility.
This was the most intuitive rating of DE blades on UA-cam! After suffering my own trial and error, you have summed up blade aggression / mildness superbly!! Excellent video :))
I didn't realize Gillette Platinum was considered to be quite that sharp. I've been using one from a sampler pack all week and haven't had any problem with nicks. I personally only need moderate sharpness to get down to the skin. Voskhod seems to have the perfect balance of smoothness and sharpness for my facial hair and skin. Most of the very sharp to sharpest blades I've used tended to cause some irritation for me after repeated daily use with the exception of Polsilver and Gillette Platinum.
I've always been prone to having crazy amounts of razor bumps and ingrown hairs. So last year I decided to buy a DE razor, got the absolute cheapest one I could find and started shaving with Astra Platinums. Everything was going fine, the bumps were mostly gone, but I did really regret buying that cheap ass stamped razor instead of one with some weight to it. Eventually I ran out of Astra blades and I bought some Van Der Haag (?) blades from Walmart, first time I shaved I almost ripped my face off. Watching this video I realize now that those are probably some super mild blades. So I'm gonna buy a Merkur and your sensitive skin pack and see what happens.
Supertomiman I'm six months into the DE razors. I had the problem and have fixed the bumps. Here is a small list that helped.
1. Look and study how your hairs grow, and shave with the grain only.
2. Pay attention to the amount of pressure you push down on your razer.
3. Apply porraso cream to your face and brush it on for a good 3 - 4 minutes until the texture looks like whipped cream.
4. Stretch your skin with your hands.
5. Hold the razor with balance.
6. Shave after getting out of the shower.
You ever find a DE blade of choice
I find that it's also important to try out the best DE razor and which blade(s) work best with them. Some blades work well in a Merkur but not in an Edwin Jaeger, etc. Best to experiment. I use blades from all over and I have 8 different DE razors. I'm always experimenting.
I use a Rockwell T2. Nice razor. But make sure you close it all the way, until the close twisty knob stops and you can't turn it anymore.
First use I didn't close it all the way and that caused. problems.
My favorite blades is derby extra nice and smooth blades
Thank you
I just started wet shaving with DE safety razors and I’m in this phase. Thanks again
I have a thick growing beard I have to shave at least 3 times a day I'm interested in a double edge safety razor but I have sensitive skin but I'm wanting a very close shave that is to my skin that gets even the gray shadow off and no facial hair at all what blade would I need because I have a gillette safty razor blade that's a wilkinson sword from gillette but in some areas it gets it smooth but in other areas it's worse then my normal cartridge razar I still feel the ruff hair grains and that's very irritating any help would be great because I shaved 4 time last night with the safty razar and it still is not that smooth do I need a more aggressive approach blade because I'm using a sensitive mild razar blade?
Hi Matt, I am glad I found your store and you for shaving must haves and service. Thanks for making it easy to understand blades and putting together the like comfort/sharpness in packs.
Feather is my favorite. They perform excellent in my Rooney safety razor. After Gillette falsely accused me of being a toxic male, I haven't purchased any of their products.
Hahaha I had forgotten about that, ngl I recently bought a pack of Gillette reds. They work really well, but they can’t hold sharpness honestly. Dorcos are cheap af and work fine. Im set for blades for the rest of the year.
I'm new, I've only tried 2 Wilkington Sword cut my face a little and Shark no cuts yet. I wont be trying Feather for a long time
I need a really mild blade. I’ve just started this and have sensitive skin
So Feather is good for both beginners and aggressive :))
I use a shavette and I’ve been wet shaving for about 2 months now but do most of the better known DE blades also come in half blades? I preferred them and seen that when u brake them there’s a slight bend in the razor
Great info. It really helped me to understand blade sharpness and pairing based on different variables. Ever thought of a Russian blade pack?
Yes we had it for a while and it didn't sell.
I use 3 blades, vintage gillette blues (I got over 100 of them right now) astra greens, and feather.
How many handles do you have to have?
Personally I like the Feather as I have a coarse and multi directional beard especially under my jaw lines Gillette and Wilkinison I would never recommend only because they slash my face to ribbons and as some commented a while back get rid of that chin fungus mate it does nothing for you :D
The Shark Super Chrome is the 100ct blade pack that i got. i also shave with the parker 96r safety razor and i still got some parker premium platinum blades to use. i feel like parker blades don't last more than 3 shaves for me so I'm gonna see how the shark blades feel i am also gonna use the Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream Bowl cause well 20k 5 star reviews on amazon must mean its a good product no? anyways I'm excited for my next shave
Does the same thing exist for shaving soap sample packs?
Not yet :)
😉
depends on what the company offers. Or you could just ask the company about any samples.
I bought 100 blades like a year ago when I started and have been fine; do different blades make that much of a difference ? ( bought Montreal made shaverboy blades )
Yes, makes a difference. Good luck like yours is not too rare, so maybe most people have no worry. Still a good idea to start using samples of different blades and pick the one or ones which work well for you.
I buy 100 packs of Personna Lab Blues. I am in the U.K. so I have to get them shipped from the USA because they are not available in the U.K. They are the only DE blade my sensitive skin will tolerate. They are so smooth.
👍
What is the best blade to cut my hands?🙁
Hello there. I am from Brazil and congratulations for the content. Do you know the wilkson sword blade? I am very curious about the grade of sharpness that you gave for this blade. Thanks for your attention.
3.5
@@RazorEmporium thanks 👍
Matt, how do you determine the aggressiveness rating for a blade?
Experience. Starting with feather at 5 I work down :)
Fabulous video Matt. What a fantastic way to introduce the packs of DE blades. I said it before and will say I again You are a great Grand Master of knowledge in regards to DE shaving. Thank You very much. Three Cheers to Razor Emporium!!!!!!
What would a Gillette Nacet rank for sharpness?
maybe 2.5 or 3. similar to astra.
Feathers are nice and smooth but after a single shave they tug a lot, any recommendations??
Definitely include the Gillette Nacet in the Gillette pack. It's at the sharper end of the scale, but is very smooth shaving and it keeps it's edge for longer than most blades I've tried.
Thanks for the help you provided (via email) me the other day Matt with regards to caring for the Rex Ambassador.
thank you!
I agree... I haven't found anything better for me than the Nacet blade and I have tried many different blades. They are butter smooth on any amount of days growth.
@@kronomarine Yeah, you really can't go wrong with Gillette blades. Out of the various brands of my favourite blades, four of them are Gillette.
Shocked at how poor Wilkinson Swords were in my sample pack. Feather, Personna and Astra by far the best so far.
Not sure why Big Ben and Lords are included. Not very comfortable or competitive.
Is the gillette 7 oclock yellow not sharp? In the Video it hat had 2 points.
If you swap the Platinums for a tuck of 7oc black blades then that Gillette sampler has the best blades available. Can't go wrong with the St Pete Gillette portfolio, I've always got GSB and Astra SP in my drawer.
7 o'clock yellows .. my fav blade
I have a beginner pack of razors on the way with some general maintenance/everyday items for shaving and a Parker razor, so I'll have some time to get accustomed to a new razor as well as seeing how well my Wilkinson Sword handles other blades.
I don't think this Parker razor comes with its own blades and I didn't see them listed on the website, so I looked at various reviews on Amazon about them. Is it true that the Parker blades are somewhere between an Astra Green and a Feather?
I have coarse (very coarse) facial hair. I have used Astra Blue and Green, as well as a couple others (Derby, Shark, Vanderhagen etc...). I'm still looking for sharp enough blade that I can get through those really coarse hairs in a couple of passes and no more. I rarely cut myself and only get a scrape when I have to make. a few passes. Do you have any recommendations for blades that work best coarse hair? Thank you
Good video, sounds like a good idea for beginners like myself. Just ordered a beginner pack.
I currently use a Gillette Sensor III cartridge but am strongly considering trying a DE. Someone suggested to me that I should try the Gillette Astra Super platinum. It looked like that blade was included in your beginner pack. How much is the beginner pack?
$5
I was disappointed you didn't mention Muhle blades as I want to try some and it would have been good to get your opinion on them.
Hi mark,I just purchased the beginner sample, are you sure it won't be a better idea to start from the sharpest blade and then all the way up to the top?
woro boro unless you want a crime scene of a mess on your sink, itMs definitely recommended to start from the top and work your way down.
Where would voskhod blades fall on this one through five scale? Whenever I have tried them, they feel tuggy whereas Astra blues which I prefer, feel very smooth and comfortable so I would guess that voskhod blades might be less sharp than Astra blues?
Yes sir.I hade the same experience.Voskhod are tuggy blades.I tested them in 6 razoros.
I just got my first safety razor: a Rimei for 49Baht here in Thailand. I have corse thick beard but sensitive skin, especially throat area. I also shave my head, or about half of it as I am quite bald.
What blades would you recommend that I try first?
Cheers
our sensitive skin sample pack: www.razoremporium.com/double-edge-safety-razor-sample-pack-sensitive-skin/
@@RazorEmporium blade super max is good
Great video Matt! love the way you have the aggressiveness scale on your sample packs great idea!!
I bought the beginners pack and got it on April 28th but now it's been sitting there collecting dust cause i'm a little nervous to get back to wet shaving.
Yes i know,I feel like a wieney for saying this. Wish me luck and have the ambulance on speed dial.
Bic Chrome Platinum are the best. then Nacet, then Feather. Perma-Sharp looks promising but haven't tried them.
I'm going through a test pack. I have tried a bunch. So far my favorite is Gillette platinum with my turkey adjustable razor.
Im wondering is that beard natural or did u shave the sides of ur beard
I wish I had this when I first started off
FYI Razor Emporium, a lot of guys are boycotting Gillette, for good reason. You probably see a lot of your other brands being sold, as they switch from Gillette. I know I have been using a couple old Gillette’s (1955-59)from my grandfather (I am 48 been using them since 1990). They are great, but I will not put another Gillette blade in the handle.
Might as well just sell your vintage razors as well then.. I get the ad was distasteful, but if you have a blade you enjoy from Gillette then why stop buying it? Gillette is going no where, even with the bad ad, so even if you decide to stop purchasing from them they’re still going to be in your local grocery store. Just saying. People get too hurt over the littlest things imo.
ok I am actively choosing to keep my "toxic masculinity" and trying to avoid all gillette products. That being said, I am using a straight razor and LOVING it. My biggest problem is that while I have very coarse beard, the hair on my neck grows in 3 directions on both sides, and my skin on my neck is extremely sensitive. While I could easily do 5 and 6 passes on my neck with the straight razor with little irritation, it is very hard for me to get a clean shave on my neck without the aid of a safety or de razor. I hope I gave you enough information that you may have some advice for a razor and blade (non gillette) recommendation for me? Thank you in advance.
Toxic masculinity lol nice I had forgot about that nonsense gillette did.
yep, we are quite toxic. How dear we have testosterone; For shame. I avoid them also. But, almost already did.
I was on the site what do I choose for the sensitive skin?
I’m new to DE razors, but I would think the sharpest blade you can find should provide the best shave. Is that not the case?
Is the softest bed the best to sleep in? Is the most rigid shoe the best to run in?
No.
The best of something is what works best for an individual.
The sharpest blade can be too sharp for some and cause irritation to the skin.
Experiment and find what works best through trial and error.
How many blades total are in the beginner and mild package?
I love Feather.
Where would voshkod stack up?
Yep....great blade ....I got a five years supply.... :)
In the garbage lol. I totally understand "YMMV" however I can't get through 1 single WTG pass with them in any razor without serious tugging.
Voskhod seems to have the perfect balance of sharpness and smoothness for my facial hair and skin. It seems I need moderate sharpness, right in the middle. Derby and Shark were just too dull for the goatee area. Some of the sharper blades tended to cause irritation. But Voskhod has had zero negatives for me, gets down to the skin in 3 passes with no nicks or burn, and costs around 7 cents per blade. I also was very impressed by Polsilver, but that's more sharpness than I actually need (I can get down to the skin/ BBS with less sharp blades) and they cost over 5x more per blade than Voskhod.
Just ordered a mild pack
No Supermax blades? For example, the Super Platinums are very good-sharp, but comfortable, like a Gillette Platinum, the Super Stainless that are very mild and the Blue Diamond (the platinum coated version) that are sharp but also a bit harsh.
I shave my head bald as well as my face. But I also have very sensitive skid and I am looking for the blade that is perfect for my skin type. What do you recommend?
I'm in the same boat. Well, I shave my head but grow a beard. So far Persona Red is pretty good for me. But I still have many brands I have not tried yet. I'm also liking Lucky Tiger shaving cream so far. I need a cream that will stay slick and not dry out as I'm getting the last few spots. I don't head shave against the grain yet. Just with the grain and across.
What's been working for you?
I wish i knew about this before i bought 100 of the astra greens.luckily it worked out for me and they give me a good shave. But who knows, ignorance is bliss, maybe theres something better for me out there
Does anyone here have experience with shaving your head? I'm mostly grey and its kind of thick
Where would you consider Derby Extra (which I have been using) blades fall into shaving level?
Merkur 34C + Feather + Arko/ La Toja
i went back to DE after Thanksgiving and I thought i was gonna regret it immediately, but with my new. EJ & Merkur 34c and the correct blades - Gillette 7'Oclock - greens / Russian made not India - *important!
And voila!!! Perfect close shave every single time! Wet shaving is a wiondeful time to myself and I enjoy the "goodies" and "toys" that also come along with the pampering and almost "ritual" of the self. 😁
There is nothing like the DE Wet Shave!
It takes time to master, mapping your facial hair to see which way it grows and then your first pass should be in the direction of the hair growrh. Following passes of two and more can then start with a sideways pass, or a finishing pass going back against the grain and getting the ultimate close shave... Well, besides a straight-razor.
It's very traditional to me now and I take great pleaaure from whipping the soap, laying it down thick, and then takimg great pleasue in knowing I'm goimg to feel amazumg amd confident when I'm done. 👍🏼
Not only that, but the grooming afterwards, followed by a few splashes of Creed-" Bois de Portugal" and a postive atitiude, and theres simply nothing you can not do!
Any dude can be -Un-stoppable!!!
Have fun / Live
I am from INDIA . Many com. Are manufacturing them in India because of cheap labour. 50% of population using DE blades. You have given good guidance . Feather co. Should manufacture in INDIA. I feel its best but costly. GILLETTE is max sold in india. Technology transfer cn make blades cheap, if manufactured in INDIA. INDIAN'S have best attitude to give best at compittive price. Not like china.
Great observation. I don't use colognes but I do use aftershave splashes. I don't buy any from department stores but rather the small artisan mom-and-pop operations that offer matching scents with their puck shaving soaps.
I like these sample packs you have. Thank You. For the review! 👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks for the very informative video. I have a Gillette Slim Adjustable razor, which I normally set to 6 out of 9 on my routine (every other day) shave or to 9 if the last shave dates more than three days. Does the adjustability feature compensate for the blade aggressiveness or is it another factor in the shaving experience?
What blade would you recommend for shaving the head as well as the face?
How long does a blade usually last?
What are your go to blades Matt?
So I don’t even own a safety razor yet I want one but not sure where I am or what to get for razor or the blades need some help. I’m used to using the cartridge razors but I wanna switch
If you need to use sensitive skin products for shaving and after shave and still get irritation, you’ll want the sensitive pack. If you don’t really get irritation but don’t know where to start get the beginner pack and something like an edwin jagger or parker razors, those tend to be mild-mid aggressive. Yet either of those razor companies are extremely consistent so you’ll know which blades work for you using those razors as platforms
I wish the sample packs would've been around when I first started double edge shaving. It took about a year to narrow down what work best for me. I really like the Gillette 365 I order from India. You almost can't go wrong with any Gillette.