I kinda agree. The 10 blades pack cost even less than $1 around where I live. I live in Bangkok anyway, it’s extremely rare to see people using DE razor but luckily the barbers here love them so we got unlimited supply of blades. The same couldn’t be said for the DE handles though, they are extremely hard to ind and expensive here.
Derby for learning, Astra Superior Platinum for a while after that, and now Voskhod. Voskhod required me to learn a new technique-a very light touch with extra passes-even buffing in some areas. I now enjoy a very smooth shave with no irritation with the Voskhod.
I just want to thank you fine gentlemen for these shave videos. You literally changed my life! A couple of years ago I had such a horrible shave with a Harry's razor I couldn't take it anymore. I only shaved once a week, and I got tired of the razor clogging and tugging. I googled different shaving options and your videos came up on my search. I watched your videos why DE razors are better than cartridge, and how to shave with a DE razor. This was all I needed to get started, so thank you so much. I bought a Rockwell 6c, Astra blades, TOBs sandalwood, a synthetic brush, and nivea post shave cream. I never had clogging or tugging problems again, no matter how much hair growth I had. My face also felt amazing after each shave !
This is exactly what I did also. I am a confirmed Rockwell razor man….first the 6C….then a 6S…and finally a T2…..best money I have ever spent. My blades are Feather, Nacet, Astra SP Green, and Voskhod. My shave cream is Proraso and TOBS Sandalwood. Other items are PAA Cube (Ice menthol) pre shave, Nivea post shave, Clubman aftershave (many, many cause they are inexpensive), Fine Ceramics shave bowl, and Simpson T3 synthetic brush. It’s taken me 3 years to finally settle on each of these, but it sure works great for me. That’s what makes this hobby fun….researching various brands until you find your best setup.
@@billjohnsonseattle The Karve Overlander is one of my favorite razors, it is spectacular. For those of you that want a stainless steel razor like the Overlander, but don't like the price. you can buy the TRC stainless steel razor. The stainless steel TRC razor shaves like the Overlander but is much cheaper.
I got a cheap bambaw and im very happy with it. I just had my first shave with it and im smooth as silk. Thanks for the blade suggestions im going to try some Astra blades.
@@benjamingreer1660 yes, green Astra blades are amazing, I'm using them now, and still on my first blade from the pack, after it's 10th use it is still razor-sharp and shaves like new.
I like my Wilkinson Sword blades. They always last at least 4 shaves, at which point I replace them just because they are so cheap and I’d rather not have to worry about it. I think they do a pretty good job, although I haven’t tried any others
It did take me a minute to work out what “DE” stood for! Due to availability, I tend to use Wilkinson Sword. I’ve used BIC before, but didn’t find them to work for me
Very interesting and useful, though I am not old enough to have to shave yet. Once I’m old enough, I’ll have a bunch of great knowledge to start off with. Thank you!
Been using Astra Superior Platinum for 10+ years now. They are always sharp, and I can get 2-3 shaves out of them during the week, but if I go a few days without shaving, a fresh blade is a must. I cannot imagine using anything other than a DE razor anymore.
im throwing away my blade after EVERY shave. first off hygiene second, because i am sloppy with my shaving routine and as you said. dont shave for a week? reused astras wont do it.
A really good blade for coarse, hard facial hair is actually Shark Super Chrome, at least in my (long) experience with them. I switched to Sharks after the recommended Derby blades just didn't really hit the spot for me, and I've used them solely since about the age of 21. Glad you gave them a shout out in this video!
I use these too, love ‘em. But be warned anyone who wants to try them, shark stainless steel and shark chrome are two different things. The stainless are technically sharper but overall worse feeling
I've been using Wilkinson Sword for the last 3 years. I usually get 7 shaves out of the blade. I have sensitive skin and found that the blades works great for it.
With the popularity of Henson Razors, I'm surprised RK blades are not being reviewd. Would be intereisting to see where the RK's stand amongst the competitors.
The King C. Gillette DE blades (especially the made in russia ones) are really good. People have looked at them under a microscope and they appear to basically be the cream of the Gillette platinum blue DE blades, as in they are the first 10-20% of the blades that come off that line of machines and thus are the sharpest, most consistent, and closest to perfect spec. The regular packs are overpriced but you can get hundred packs online that are actually competitive with other premium but reasonably priced DE blades.
In my personal experience, the worst blades ever are Indian-made Topaz; they come dull out of the box, and don't shave at all. I was unable to shave my beard with a brand new Topaz blade I just took out lf a wrapper, and had to replace it with my old green Astra, which still did a better job after it's 9th use than a brand new Topaz.
Weird video. The advice of 1-2 shaves per blade is insane. anybody who DE shaves knows the first shave is breaking in the blade and 2nd-3rd is when it's at it's best. that's universal across all blades and all brands. after a couple decades of shaving and trying everything on the market the most consistent blade i've found is the gillette silver blue. full coverage growth, medium-coarse.
There are too many variables to try just a single brand. I agree that a sample pack is the best way to decide which bland gives the best shave. In fact, DE shaving is the one grooming task where YMMV best describes what works best. My experience with Feather blades is the first shave is okay while the second and third shaves are better. After the 3rd shave, I toss them. Durability is their weakness. In terms of performance and cost, my favorites are Astra Green, Gillette Nacet, Personna Comfort Coated, and Wilkinson Sword. They all provide 3-5 close shaves with no irritation.
Personally, I pair an aggressive razor blade with a forgiving safety razor i.e. the Kai Razor Blade (which in my opinion is the sharpest DE blades) + Merkur German Safety Razor 34C.
Thanks! I have a coarse beard and shave every 48-72 hours. Here is my experience: The great blades in order of efficiency, less irritation, no nicks: 1- Ladas, 2-Rapira Super Stainless, 3- Voskhod, 4- Crome (from Germany,) 5- Bic Chrome 6- Treet (only carbon coated or the black beauty.) 7- Big Ben (so cheap and great.) The worst for coarse beard: 1- Derby ( all of their line sucks,) 2- Astra, 3- 7'O'Clock (the orange) 4- Scikh, 5- RK ( Is a disastre lack of quality control) Last note: Vi-John so so not so efficient neither sharp for coarse beard. "Treet carbon" is great for two shaves only. Silver Treet, Platinum Treet, and Classic Treet is low in my books and I won't use them again. I will never use Astra neither Derby, RK
Blade is important, but I've found it's not nearly as important as the cream or soap you use. Anyway, put me down as a +1 for Feather, with Astra Blue (Surgical) as a close second. Paired with an open comb Merkur and my coarse hair just vanishes.
What people do not realize is that often they don't have sensitive skin, but rather thick strong hair. They think they have sensitive skin because they get a lot of razor burn no matter what they do. They go buy a mild blade like sharks and the razor burn does not get any better. Frustrated they throw in the towel and move to electric shaving. Personally I gave feather a go just to see and would you know it I believed I had sensitive skin all my life but with a feather blade it cuts through my curly whiskers like butter, leaving me without razor burn for the first time in my life after trying literally anything under the sun including rubbing a stone on my face and dunking it in the hot bathtub for 5 minutes.
There are no bad blades. The one that is bad for you might be the perfect one for someone else. I like feathers and lords platinum blades. All the others I've tested (a lot of them) always give me a subpar shave, no matter the other factors (razor, lather etc.) The only way to find the best for you is to buy a bunch of different brands and try them out.
I’ve used Voskhod for years….with good shaves from them. I could buy them all day for $8.50/100. Now they are up to nearly $30/100. Not worth it at that price. So I switched to Polsilver/Wizamet on my last blade buy. So sad…like saying good bye to an old friend. The other blades in my rotation are Feather…Nacet…and Astra SP.
Feathers is the only blade I buy now and have tried most all. Gillette has a new shaving gel, (Rapid Foaming Shave Gel) an it's great, a little pricey though. Go to is still Taylor's of Old Bond Street. I still prefer Parkers short handle butterfly razor, much easier to handle with my course beard.
I definitely get more than two shaves out of my double-edge blades because what I do is I immediately clean them off, let them air-dry, and then flip it over and put it back inside of my handle and because I use oil instead of cream, the blade gets to remain slightly oiled
I'm a recent convert from cartridges thanks to you and a few other yt creators. So far, it's quite superior indeed! I was impressed with Henson's marketing and fine tolerances of manufacture-so far so good. They come with RK blades with are OK (sorry I'm just not to your punmaster standards, but hey...). I was hoping they'd be in here, but so far, with nothing to compare them to...I am happy with them.
When I first started with a DE I had an abundance of Wilkinsons. It ended up being my blade of choice, especially when I was in the Navy and had to shave frequently before getting my shave waiver. My hair is course but my skin is extremely sensitive, and I found even at my height of shaving I could get 4-6 shaves off one blade with usually one time causing irritation, and not always as the blade was getting duller. Now however I usually use what I can find at the store which is Van Der Hagen, which I would not recommend unless you are an extreme beginner. It's not sharp, rarely last more than one shave, and tugs my hair constantly. Yet these days I rarely shave, so I put up with it, because I would just use an electric razor first. If you shaved everyday non-stop, then Van Der Hagen may be a good choice for you.
Thanks for an interesting video! For a tough beard and sensitive skin I usually use a Mühle R89 razor with a BIC, Feather or Bolzano blade depending on growth. I generally shave every day or every other day and normally get 8 shaves or more per blade. A good tip for sensitive skin is to use hot water and products on your face but rinse the blade in cold water and try to keep it cold. Cheers! PS it was nice to see BIC getting a mention - they are sharp, smooth and long lasting.
In my times of wet-shaving obsession (I am one of the 3017-ers) for my combination of sensitive skin with coarse hair I came to the following conclusion: quality razor and 30 seconds of hot towel solves 99% of the problems. Henson Al13 mild is the go to razor head for me (and my wife's extremely sensitive legs) for more than 3 years now. All other DE heads - including notorious R41, which I've mastered using cap-riding - are now just collecting dust on the shelf. I have tried all of the blades mentioned in this video, and in my experience milder blades- like Derby or Lord - with hot compress would do the job perfectly fine and will even allow you some lazy mistakes in the DE shaving technique. Feather is a matter of taste, and the only bad experience for me was with Germans, both Mühle and Merkur (but it was prior to Henson head, though). Facit: do yourself a favour and get these extra 30 seconds of hot towel compress! And remember: your mileage may vary.
Very interesting comment about the hot towels. When you get a shave at a barber, a hot towel is part of the routine I guess for a reason. I sometimes put a damp face cloth in the microwave and then put that on my face, making sure of course that it has sufficiently cooled down so as not to burn.
Feather blade with Mühle R89 are totally bad for me too (coarse facial hair and very sensitive neck). Astra SP with the R89 are usable. Feather are usable with the Gillette Slim Adjustable for me. I have ordered a Rockwell 6S because I think I need an adjustable razor, but the Gillette Slim positive blade reveal even in the mildest setting are scraping my face. I know, my technique are not the best, but trying to make it better.
I was surprised how much I agreed with your blade assessments in this video. I personally started off shaving with Derby Extra blades because they are easy and forgiving, but I also found them to be very INCONSISTENT. After trying every blade that I could, I now favor the green Astra blades as my go to blade. The quality is very consistent and I normally get 3 to 4 shaves per blade. I also like a brand not discussed here, the Minora blade, for the same reason I like the Astra. One caveat here though. The Astra and Minora blades I like were made in Russia and I believe P & G is shutting down that factory and moving production elsewhere. I recently received a new shipment of Astra blades that were made in India. I can't express how disappointed I was with this. So I bit the bullet and paid extra to get Russian made Astras (I ordered 1000) from Razor Emporium. It was definitely worth it. It is so sad that the world political situation means we won't be able to get the good blades from Russia anymore.
Thank you for your slow, careful diction and delivery. You’re perfectly easy to understand. Your advice to get a sampler assortment is the best! I’ve been DE having for 15 years, and I own a Feather All Stainless, a Pils 101NE, and a Merkur Futur adjustable razors. I usually shave every two weeks or so, and the Merkur Futur clears better than the others. The only blades that ever gave me problems were Merkur, Derby, and Dorco blades. I like the Feathers a lot, but their price is more than I need to spend to get a comfortable, close shave. I usually use Treet blades, but I also like Astra. With good preparation, any competently made blade will do, as long as it’s a fresh one (and for me, not a Merkur, Derby, or Dorco blade)!
I used them Astra and they were really dull so then I tried gillette platinum and they are awesome, really smooth and sharp. I also recommend perma sharp and Wizamet
Superinox Bolzano are my personal favorites they're not as common or popular as all these other brands, but they are Italian blades and they offer a very close and smooth shave
I use Gillette Blues, Personnas and Wilkinson Swords. I may have to try Feathers. Blade longevity pro-tip: dry and flip your blade after each shave. I easily get six shaves per blade this way with a Henson head+handle.
Yes blades are definitely a case of your mileage may very. The razor you use can also be a factor. A sharper blade usually goes great with a milder razor and a less aggressive blade with a more aggressive razor. I use a Muhle R89 which is milder so I like sharp blades. My favorites in no order are Kai (almost as sharp as Feather but more comfortable), Rapira Platinum Lux, Gillette Nacets, Personna Comfort Coated. Even probably the most mild Derby blade gives less tugging than a cartridge.
While Feather blades don’t like my face, I found that Kai another Japanese brand really deliver a great 3 pass shave. You may want to include them in your next round of testing. Cheers!
After two shaves the Feather start pulling hair instead of cutting. The Astra after two shaves they are done. If you shave every day the Shark are great.
I use a Merkur 38C razor and Feather blades, but I have been shaving for 68 years, now age 80. Great shave and the razor, though short handled, works well in my hand.
Tried about half a dozen different ones, Astra Stainless is my favorite. Also dependant on razor. I had to get a new one and the Astra performed even better than the great shave I was already getting. 8-10 cents a blade on Amazon, can't beat it.
I really like Astra Platinum, Gillette Yellow 7 O’Clock, Derby Extra and Feather blades in my Rockwell 6C (setting 2) and Merkur Futur Style Adjustable between 1.5-2. I have a lot of thin hair and shave roughly every other day. For me I get a close shave with 2 passes and no nicks. I do have sensitive skin and use Poraso White line of shave soap and balm.
This is just a problem for a vegan mindset, the glue used on the envelopes for each blade, can be from animals or from plants, it's minimal, but can still matter to people.
Thank you for a very interesting video! For my 60 year old steel gray and very coarse stubble I get my best shaves with Lord Silver Star and Gillette Nacet. Astra Superior Stainless is another favorite
I love to play with different DE blades, but of course I have ones I prefer,those are KAI and Feather. KAI is a notch better for me, as efficient as Feather but a smoother shave. I keep a steady rotation of some 12 blades and various razors..... Like the idea of that Muhle handle and Henson head!
One I was glad that when I came to the similar conclusion and switched to DE years ago I stumbled on a good brand Derby, and while not anywhere as sharp as the Feathers they are still on the better side of average. And of course as DE blades are so cheap I have about 400 blades left from my first order made years ago. The other thing that is great to feature is a newer trend with shavers like Leaf Shave and Japanese shavers. They will use a split DE blade (so you break it in half). And you can put the half blades in a multi-blade holder. So as a bald man single DE blade shavers tend to have fixed position heads and are not ideal for head shaving. But with a 3 blade DE head on a spring angle pivot it helps get that easy constant change of angle you need to shave a scalp. In addition if anyone is interested in straight razors, Japanese Shibimi style razors have become big. They have a straight razor form factor but take a half-DE blade. These are also starting to be used professionally as well as many states have passed heavy sterilization laws on any re-usable blade. So barbers switching to single use straight razors has become an easy alternative.
Hello! I'm a huge fan of this channel and have been an avid follower for quite some time. I just have one slight issue; the map of India used in this video is incorrect. Would be grateful if you could address this using an annotation in the video, and use the correct map in this next video. Thank you!
19:39 Personna DE “Prep Blades” (used in hospitals for surgical prep) appx 33¢ each. Stainless steel DermaGardTM. I get 3 shaves per blade on my extremely course beard.
I've been using Dorco Prime Platinum, for me it's a high quality blade, sharp and forgiving, I don't shave more than once daily so each blade can last me a week. I love using DE razor and I'm glad I switched to it.
Geo, turned safetyrazor shaving into a hobby I look forward to!yes dump that cartridge for face shaving! I DO MANSCAPE WITH THEM! I have a round USB 1 THAT DOESN'TBITE!;-) Geo thanks for shaving 101 dad had the right Gillette, but wasn't a professor like you! Unlike me it was a chore to him;- ) But performing squirrels did cause nicks! A T.P.PATCH HE WAS OFF TO WORKW/A RED DOT ON THE T.P.;-)
Iam a DE razor collector ,just a pittty that I live in South Africa and Gillette will only supply the multi blade razors that cost a packet to be thrown away after a single shave ,maybe I need to look at import by razor blades ,again i say Gillette socks 💯
Considering 'Feather FHS10 Single Edge Blades' (I believe only useable with OneBlade and vintage Valet AutoStrop razors) were seen at various point in this video, perhaps you should have extended the scope of this video to include Feather (and Kai and Schick) 'Artist Club' single edge blades, plus injector and GEM single edge blades -- since some of these blades/razor types might be preferable for some types of beard growth. Years ago I started with standard double edge blades, but now prefer Feather 'Artist Club' blades, as these thicker and wider blades more comfortably, efficiently and quickly plow through my beard growth than double edge blades, though I do use the most aggressive double edge razor (with Feather Hi-Stainless double edge blades) to clear out any persistent beard growth (using the lightest touch). In other words, using a razor with thicker blades (i.e. Artist Club, injector or GEM) at the start of a shave and ending a shave with an aggressive double edge razor (with the lightest touch) might provide a more comfortable shave overall. At the very least, it would be nice to see various individuals with heavy beard growth compare their favorite aggressive double edge razors and blades against single edge razors using Feather Professional (or Professional Super) blades -- but only after getting comfortable with using the razor, as it can be aggressive if used without adequate respect.
My go to is Dorco ST300. You'd think razors are all the same, but some I get more re-use, while others dull after 2x, and some are crazy sharp. I started with Astra when I was learning, then Derby. Get a test or samples pack if you want to find your blade.
When I bought my actual razor, I got a free pack of 10 different packs of blades, there was a massive difference between each brand. Feather were by far the best - but if you are only shaving occasionally they are too sharp for me, you have to be super used to using them I found.
I would like to recommend staying away from derby blades. I shave with a shavette straight razor and I find that with derby I can't get anywhere near as close a shave as with other blades.
I’m a Parker Premium Platinum fan, the standard double edged blades not the half-blades. I have relatively fine whiskers. One pass with the direction of growth, one pass perpendicular and bingo!
Pretty pointless really. You admitted that everyone's experience is different and it is. And of course the razor itself you team the blade with will have a big effect. So really people need to try different blades out for themselves. And I don't know why we'd want to listen to Raphael since he's one of the few people in the world that uses both an electric and a double edge blade in the same shave not really having confidence in or getting the best out of either method! 😉
Thank you for your shaving videos. While most of the content you make is decidedly not for me (I'm really into fashion, but I'm an aging punk rocker so it's mostly weird DIY fashion, not the more traditional fashion you might see here), the stuff on double edged razors has been incredibly helpful
Thank you for your shaving videos. While most of the content you make is decidedly not for me (I'm really into fashion, but I'm an aging punk rocker so it's mostly weird DIY fashion, not the more traditional fashion you might see here), the stuff on double edged razors has been incredibly helpful
I picked up a whole bunch of different blades when I first got my DE razor. My absolute favourite were a brand called Polsilver. Smooth shave, no cuts, no rash. They were discontinued about 5 years ago, and I used my last one maybe 2 years ago. Probably the main reason I have a goatee now.
Personna is one of the most popular and best blades out there. Just goes to show you everyone’s face, hair, razor, and technique are different. Not all blades work the same with everyone. Parker and Derby blades are not sharp and are harsh. Can’t go wrong with Astra, Personna, Gillette Platinum, Voskhod, and Wilkinson. Will just depend on your razor match and technique
DE shaving is wildly different for every man. I've been wet shaving for decades and have an obscene number of blades and several heads. I found journaling on the razor, the blade used, shaving cream, aftershave, etc. helpful. Over the years, some of my go to blade / head combination fell out of favor. I find if I'm just doing daily shave I'm always going to my Merkur razor with a Wilkinson or Astra a good combo. If I skip a day or two, my R41 with a Feather Wilkinson or Astra P prove to be a great combo. The R41 + Feather needs a good thick cream to take some of the agressiveness off. But the results are very good for me. I found my Boker + Nacet combo to also be a good daily driver. Just picked up some Personna P, to try in the R41 and others.
For a couple years now I've settled into two formats for shaving. Blades are either the Astra Superior Platinum or Gillette Nacet on either the Rockwell 6S plate 6 or the Razorock Lupo Aluminum. Both great shavers though the Lupo is a more high skilled razor being so light weight while the 6S is very easy and beginner friendly. Both my blade picks are just middle of the road comfort shaves, nothing overly sharp or long lasting. Just picks that have worked for me. When I first started out I had the DE89 with a Feather blade and cut myself to pieces with that. Learnt really fast all the ins and outs of shaving after that. Joined a local facebook group who taught me a lot and since then I've been in that comfort area of shaving. Not wanting to change much. Though I would love to buy a new razor again, something about that first experience is always fun.
I have found that Gillette Wilkinson Sword Saloon Pack blades made in India are the perfect all-around blades for use in different razors or if I’m testing a razor I’ve never used before.
Have used something great like feather and something horrible like the bundni branded one (Hamburg cosmetics store). But when I have to shave often (like Mon to Fri) even a fresh blade every time would have my skin feeling funny. With electric shaver although not having as good results as DE is much nicer to the skin (if shaven daily)
Feather for pro? But why? I'm, as beginner, only cut myself a couple of times in my first attempts at shaving, but after that I almost never cut myself. And sharp blades are a must-have if you have sensitive skin.
1-2 shaves per blade??? I've been using my green Astra Superior Platinum blade for the 9th time today, and it still shaves like new, even though I have a thick beard. In my personal experience, green Astra and Gillette Minora blades are the best.
Merkur blades are phenomenal, if you get the ones actually made in Germany. Their Czech counterparts are absolutely horrible. Seriously, it's night and day. Don't outsource your productions.
Feather blades are super cheap if you know where to get them. I spent about $100 but I haven't bought blades again in 3 years so far.
I kinda agree. The 10 blades pack cost even less than $1 around where I live.
I live in Bangkok anyway, it’s extremely rare to see people using DE razor but luckily the barbers here love them so we got unlimited supply of blades.
The same couldn’t be said for the DE handles though, they are extremely hard to ind and expensive here.
@@thinaphonpetsiri9907try antique stores
@@thinaphonpetsiri9907 there is a risk for fakes, but with Gillette moving production to India and China it could make moves for the fakes to change.
They’re 60 cents per blade if you buy them in a pack of 100. at least in Germany.
I bought 100 Astra superior blades and I honestly can't remember when I bought them and still using that same box 😂
For my sensitive skin I use Rapira blades. Since I use them I don't bleed anymore and I get an excellent shave everytime.
Derby for learning, Astra Superior Platinum for a while after that, and now Voskhod. Voskhod required me to learn a new technique-a very light touch with extra passes-even buffing in some areas. I now enjoy a very smooth shave with no irritation with the Voskhod.
I just want to thank you fine gentlemen for these shave videos. You literally changed my life! A couple of years ago I had such a horrible shave with a Harry's razor I couldn't take it anymore. I only shaved once a week, and I got tired of the razor clogging and tugging. I googled different shaving options and your videos came up on my search. I watched your videos why DE razors are better than cartridge, and how to shave with a DE razor. This was all I needed to get started, so thank you so much. I bought a Rockwell 6c, Astra blades, TOBs sandalwood, a synthetic brush, and nivea post shave cream. I never had clogging or tugging problems again, no matter how much hair growth I had. My face also felt amazing after each shave !
This is exactly what I did also. I am a confirmed Rockwell razor man….first the 6C….then a 6S…and finally a T2…..best money I have ever spent. My blades are Feather, Nacet, Astra SP Green, and Voskhod. My shave cream is Proraso and TOBS Sandalwood. Other items are PAA Cube (Ice menthol) pre shave, Nivea post shave, Clubman aftershave (many, many cause they are inexpensive), Fine Ceramics shave bowl, and Simpson T3 synthetic brush. It’s taken me 3 years to finally settle on each of these, but it sure works great for me. That’s what makes this hobby fun….researching various brands until you find your best setup.
If you like the Rockwells, you’ll love the Karve Overlander. I liked it so much better that I ended up selling my Rockwell 6S. Its THAT much better.
@@billjohnsonseattle The Karve Overlander is one of my favorite razors, it is spectacular. For those of you that want a stainless steel razor like the Overlander, but don't like the price. you can buy the TRC stainless steel razor. The stainless steel TRC razor shaves like the Overlander but is much cheaper.
I got a cheap bambaw and im very happy with it. I just had my first shave with it and im smooth as silk. Thanks for the blade suggestions im going to try some Astra blades.
@@benjamingreer1660 yes, green Astra blades are amazing, I'm using them now, and still on my first blade from the pack, after it's 10th use it is still razor-sharp and shaves like new.
I'd be interested in hearing an update on shaving creams, aftershaves, etc. used by the crew. For example, does Preston still use Proraso?
Stay tuned! 😉
I like my Wilkinson Sword blades. They always last at least 4 shaves, at which point I replace them just because they are so cheap and I’d rather not have to worry about it.
I think they do a pretty good job, although I haven’t tried any others
They are the best.
Just picked up a Wilkinson Sword Classic on a whim to try a DE. Good to know the included blades are decent.
It did take me a minute to work out what “DE” stood for!
Due to availability, I tend to use Wilkinson Sword. I’ve used BIC before, but didn’t find them to work for me
Very interesting and useful, though I am not old enough to have to shave yet. Once I’m old enough, I’ll have a bunch of great knowledge to start off with. Thank you!
You are in for a treat. Shaving is one of the pleasant joys of being a man.
Just have patience with the learning curve. It’s a real thing.
Been using Astra Superior Platinum for 10+ years now. They are always sharp, and I can get 2-3 shaves out of them during the week, but if I go a few days without shaving, a fresh blade is a must. I cannot imagine using anything other than a DE razor anymore.
im throwing away my blade after EVERY shave. first off hygiene second, because i am sloppy with my shaving routine and as you said. dont shave for a week? reused astras wont do it.
I can use each blade for up to 6 shaves, with 2-3 passes per shave per week. I might be able to use them a bit more, but I wouldn't risk it.
Astra is my go to blade marker, and yet I do get some irritation for some parts of my face. I think I will try feather.
I’m currently using Astra blades. I love them. I’ve also used Feather blades and they were great as well.
@@taylormuse-22Astra is now made in India. Have you tried them yet? I wonder how they compare
A really good blade for coarse, hard facial hair is actually Shark Super Chrome, at least in my (long) experience with them. I switched to Sharks after the recommended Derby blades just didn't really hit the spot for me, and I've used them solely since about the age of 21. Glad you gave them a shout out in this video!
I use DERBY extra
I use these too, love ‘em. But be warned anyone who wants to try them, shark stainless steel and shark chrome are two different things. The stainless are technically sharper but overall worse feeling
@@Barjack521
I find his opinions at times contradicting
I have been using Shark for a decade plus and for me there is a lot of tugging after 3 day shadow.
@@Jcc988
That’s because the length of hair is too thick that’s why it tugs
happens to me if I’ve used a blade for 3 weeks
I've been using Wilkinson Sword for the last 3 years. I usually get 7 shaves out of the blade. I have sensitive skin and found that the blades works great for it.
do you use the german ones or the gilette x wilkinson ones made in india?
Gentleman's Gazette does such a quality job of creating useful, tasteful and classy videos. Thanks guys.
I prefer the Persona Comfort Coated.
With the popularity of Henson Razors, I'm surprised RK blades are not being reviewd. Would be intereisting to see where the RK's stand amongst the competitors.
The King C. Gillette DE blades (especially the made in russia ones) are really good. People have looked at them under a microscope and they appear to basically be the cream of the Gillette platinum blue DE blades, as in they are the first 10-20% of the blades that come off that line of machines and thus are the sharpest, most consistent, and closest to perfect spec. The regular packs are overpriced but you can get hundred packs online that are actually competitive with other premium but reasonably priced DE blades.
Da, (yes) Voskhod
In my personal experience, the worst blades ever are Indian-made Topaz; they come dull out of the box, and don't shave at all. I was unable to shave my beard with a brand new Topaz blade I just took out lf a wrapper, and had to replace it with my old green Astra, which still did a better job after it's 9th use than a brand new Topaz.
Weird video. The advice of 1-2 shaves per blade is insane. anybody who DE shaves knows the first shave is breaking in the blade and 2nd-3rd is when it's at it's best. that's universal across all blades and all brands. after a couple decades of shaving and trying everything on the market the most consistent blade i've found is the gillette silver blue. full coverage growth, medium-coarse.
There are too many variables to try just a single brand. I agree that a sample pack is the best way to decide which bland gives the best shave. In fact, DE shaving is the one grooming task where YMMV best describes what works best. My experience with Feather blades is the first shave is okay while the second and third shaves are better. After the 3rd shave, I toss them. Durability is their weakness. In terms of performance and cost, my favorites are Astra Green, Gillette Nacet, Personna Comfort Coated, and Wilkinson Sword. They all provide 3-5 close shaves with no irritation.
His conclusion was : buy everything. 😂😂😂😂
Personally, I pair an aggressive razor blade with a forgiving safety razor i.e. the Kai Razor Blade (which in my opinion is the sharpest DE blades) + Merkur German Safety Razor 34C.
I love the Personna Comfort Coat blades. I also use Perma Sharp blades. 😊
Personna blades in general are great blades their right there with the Feather
Thanks!
I have a coarse beard and shave every 48-72 hours. Here is my experience:
The great blades in order of efficiency, less irritation, no nicks:
1- Ladas,
2-Rapira Super Stainless,
3- Voskhod,
4- Crome (from Germany,)
5- Bic Chrome
6- Treet (only carbon coated or the black beauty.)
7- Big Ben (so cheap and great.)
The worst for coarse beard:
1- Derby ( all of their line sucks,)
2- Astra,
3- 7'O'Clock (the orange)
4- Scikh,
5- RK ( Is a disastre lack of quality control)
Last note:
Vi-John so so not so efficient neither sharp for coarse beard.
"Treet carbon" is great for two shaves only. Silver Treet, Platinum Treet, and Classic Treet is low in my books and I won't use them again.
I will never use Astra neither Derby, RK
My favorite for quality and price is Dorco (Korea). After that Gillette.
Blade is important, but I've found it's not nearly as important as the cream or soap you use.
Anyway, put me down as a +1 for Feather, with Astra Blue (Surgical) as a close second. Paired with an open comb Merkur and my coarse hair just vanishes.
I swear by Trader Joe's shaving cream. It's very slippery, moisturising and nice. I'll never use anything else.
We're planning a review of shaving creams, too! Stay tuned! 😉
@@gentlemansgazette Nice, looking forward.
What people do not realize is that often they don't have sensitive skin, but rather thick strong hair. They think they have sensitive skin because they get a lot of razor burn no matter what they do. They go buy a mild blade like sharks and the razor burn does not get any better. Frustrated they throw in the towel and move to electric shaving. Personally I gave feather a go just to see and would you know it I believed I had sensitive skin all my life but with a feather blade it cuts through my curly whiskers like butter, leaving me without razor burn for the first time in my life after trying literally anything under the sun including rubbing a stone on my face and dunking it in the hot bathtub for 5 minutes.
The Voskhod is favourite
Feather is my favorite but I got tired of trying to pry them out of the glued wrapper without getting cut so switched to Astra Green
Fundamentally try many different blades and find what works for you and enjoy all the lovely designs on the boxes.
There are no bad blades. The one that is bad for you might be the perfect one for someone else. I like feathers and lords platinum blades. All the others I've tested (a lot of them) always give me a subpar shave, no matter the other factors (razor, lather etc.) The only way to find the best for you is to buy a bunch of different brands and try them out.
I’ve used Voskhod for years….with good shaves from them. I could buy them all day for $8.50/100. Now they are up to nearly $30/100. Not worth it at that price. So I switched to Polsilver/Wizamet on my last blade buy. So sad…like saying good bye to an old friend. The other blades in my rotation are Feather…Nacet…and Astra SP.
Feathers is the only blade I buy now and have tried most all. Gillette has a new shaving gel, (Rapid Foaming Shave Gel) an it's great, a little pricey though. Go to is still Taylor's of Old Bond Street. I still prefer Parkers short handle butterfly razor, much easier to handle with my course beard.
Feather is my go-to, coarse hair, and it slices right through with no pulling. I've loved them for years now.
I definitely get more than two shaves out of my double-edge blades because what I do is I immediately clean them off, let them air-dry, and then flip it over and put it back inside of my handle and because I use oil instead of cream, the blade gets to remain slightly oiled
Cleaning the blade makes it last longer for sure! And it only takes a couple of minutes to do.
I'm a recent convert from cartridges thanks to you and a few other yt creators. So far, it's quite superior indeed! I was impressed with Henson's marketing and fine tolerances of manufacture-so far so good. They come with RK blades with are OK (sorry I'm just not to your punmaster standards, but hey...). I was hoping they'd be in here, but so far, with nothing to compare them to...I am happy with them.
When I first started with a DE I had an abundance of Wilkinsons. It ended up being my blade of choice, especially when I was in the Navy and had to shave frequently before getting my shave waiver. My hair is course but my skin is extremely sensitive, and I found even at my height of shaving I could get 4-6 shaves off one blade with usually one time causing irritation, and not always as the blade was getting duller. Now however I usually use what I can find at the store which is Van Der Hagen, which I would not recommend unless you are an extreme beginner. It's not sharp, rarely last more than one shave, and tugs my hair constantly. Yet these days I rarely shave, so I put up with it, because I would just use an electric razor first. If you shaved everyday non-stop, then Van Der Hagen may be a good choice for you.
Feather costs a bit more, but well worth it. By far the best blades for me!
Thanks for an interesting video!
For a tough beard and sensitive skin I usually use a Mühle R89 razor with a BIC, Feather or Bolzano blade depending on growth. I generally shave every day or every other day and normally get 8 shaves or more per blade.
A good tip for sensitive skin is to use hot water and products on your face but rinse the blade in cold water and try to keep it cold. Cheers!
PS it was nice to see BIC getting a mention - they are sharp, smooth and long lasting.
In my times of wet-shaving obsession (I am one of the 3017-ers) for my combination of sensitive skin with coarse hair I came to the following conclusion: quality razor and 30 seconds of hot towel solves 99% of the problems. Henson Al13 mild is the go to razor head for me (and my wife's extremely sensitive legs) for more than 3 years now. All other DE heads - including notorious R41, which I've mastered using cap-riding - are now just collecting dust on the shelf. I have tried all of the blades mentioned in this video, and in my experience milder blades- like Derby or Lord - with hot compress would do the job perfectly fine and will even allow you some lazy mistakes in the DE shaving technique. Feather is a matter of taste, and the only bad experience for me was with Germans, both Mühle and Merkur (but it was prior to Henson head, though). Facit: do yourself a favour and get these extra 30 seconds of hot towel compress! And remember: your mileage may vary.
Very interesting comment about the hot towels. When you get a shave at a barber, a hot towel is part of the routine I guess for a reason. I sometimes put a damp face cloth in the microwave and then put that on my face, making sure of course that it has sufficiently cooled down so as not to burn.
Feather blade with Mühle R89 are totally bad for me too (coarse facial hair and very sensitive neck). Astra SP with the R89 are usable. Feather are usable with the Gillette Slim Adjustable for me. I have ordered a Rockwell 6S because I think I need an adjustable razor, but the Gillette Slim positive blade reveal even in the mildest setting are scraping my face. I know, my technique are not the best, but trying to make it better.
Excellent timing! A true razor blade is next on my Gentleman's shopping list, thank you for the video!
I was surprised how much I agreed with your blade assessments in this video. I personally started off shaving with Derby Extra blades because they are easy and forgiving, but I also found them to be very INCONSISTENT. After trying every blade that I could, I now favor the green Astra blades as my go to blade. The quality is very consistent and I normally get 3 to 4 shaves per blade. I also like a brand not discussed here, the Minora blade, for the same reason I like the Astra. One caveat here though. The Astra and Minora blades I like were made in Russia and I believe P & G is shutting down that factory and moving production elsewhere. I recently received a new shipment of Astra blades that were made in India. I can't express how disappointed I was with this. So I bit the bullet and paid extra to get Russian made Astras (I ordered 1000) from Razor Emporium. It was definitely worth it. It is so sad that the world political situation means we won't be able to get the good blades from Russia anymore.
Do you have any reviews on the RK brand that Henson uses?
Wilkinson Sword and Gillettes are the most comfortable and efficient for me.
Thank you for your slow, careful diction and delivery. You’re perfectly easy to understand. Your advice to get a sampler assortment is the best! I’ve been DE having for 15 years, and I own a Feather All Stainless, a Pils 101NE, and a Merkur Futur adjustable razors. I usually shave every two weeks or so, and the Merkur Futur clears better than the others. The only blades that ever gave me problems were Merkur, Derby, and Dorco blades. I like the Feathers a lot, but their price is more than I need to spend to get a comfortable, close shave. I usually use Treet blades, but I also like Astra. With good preparation, any competently made blade will do, as long as it’s a fresh one (and for me, not a Merkur, Derby, or Dorco blade)!
I used them Astra and they were really dull so then I tried gillette platinum and they are awesome, really smooth and sharp. I also recommend perma sharp and Wizamet
Don’t ever use Van Der Hagen y’all
voskhod !!!
Superinox Bolzano are my personal favorites they're not as common or popular as all these other brands, but they are Italian blades and they offer a very close and smooth shave
Very good review thanks
I use Gillette Blues, Personnas and Wilkinson Swords. I may have to try Feathers. Blade longevity pro-tip: dry and flip your blade after each shave. I easily get six shaves per blade this way with a Henson head+handle.
Yes blades are definitely a case of your mileage may very. The razor you use can also be a factor. A sharper blade usually goes great with a milder razor and a less aggressive blade with a more aggressive razor. I use a Muhle R89 which is milder so I like sharp blades. My favorites in no order are Kai (almost as sharp as Feather but more comfortable), Rapira Platinum Lux, Gillette Nacets, Personna Comfort Coated. Even probably the most mild Derby blade gives less tugging than a cartridge.
Personally, I wouldn't recommend BIC Chrome Platinum to a beginner and I would advise him to try it out before Feather.
While Feather blades don’t like my face, I found that Kai another Japanese brand really deliver a great 3 pass shave. You may want to include them in your next round of testing. Cheers!
After two shaves the Feather start pulling hair instead of cutting. The Astra after two shaves they are done. If you shave every day the Shark are great.
This guy wasted 10 mins of time.. Talking about manufacturing process and sht. Skip to 11:00 mins. Annoying video
I use a Merkur 38C razor and Feather blades, but I have been shaving for 68 years, now age 80. Great shave and the razor, though short handled, works well in my hand.
My favorite blades are Personna and Feather I use the Merkur 23c the long handle version
Tried about half a dozen different ones, Astra Stainless is my favorite. Also dependant on razor. I had to get a new one and the Astra performed even better than the great shave I was already getting. 8-10 cents a blade on Amazon, can't beat it.
I really like Astra Platinum, Gillette Yellow 7 O’Clock, Derby Extra and Feather blades in my Rockwell 6C (setting 2) and Merkur Futur Style Adjustable between 1.5-2. I have a lot of thin hair and shave roughly every other day. For me I get a close shave with 2 passes and no nicks. I do have sensitive skin and use Poraso White line of shave soap and balm.
This is just a problem for a vegan mindset, the glue used on the envelopes for each blade, can be from animals or from plants, it's minimal, but can still matter to people.
I like the humor on your channel 😀 And I am a Feather man too.
For me the sharper the better as I do not have sensitive skin, and I like the shave to be as close as possible. So Feather is my go to blade brand.
I love the Personna Comfort Coat blades. I also use Perma Sharp blades. 😊
Thank you for a very interesting video!
For my 60 year old steel gray and very coarse stubble I get my best shaves with Lord Silver Star and Gillette Nacet.
Astra Superior Stainless is another favorite
I love to play with different DE blades,
but of course I have ones I prefer,those are KAI and Feather.
KAI is a notch better for me, as efficient as Feather but a smoother shave.
I keep a steady rotation of some 12 blades and various razors..... Like the idea of that Muhle handle and Henson head!
What razor did Preston use in this video?
Excellent video and very comprehensive. I have coarse, curly hair and sensitive skin and I use Feather blades.
Henson mild razor for every day shave .
One I was glad that when I came to the similar conclusion and switched to DE years ago I stumbled on a good brand Derby, and while not anywhere as sharp as the Feathers they are still on the better side of average. And of course as DE blades are so cheap I have about 400 blades left from my first order made years ago.
The other thing that is great to feature is a newer trend with shavers like Leaf Shave and Japanese shavers. They will use a split DE blade (so you break it in half). And you can put the half blades in a multi-blade holder. So as a bald man single DE blade shavers tend to have fixed position heads and are not ideal for head shaving. But with a 3 blade DE head on a spring angle pivot it helps get that easy constant change of angle you need to shave a scalp.
In addition if anyone is interested in straight razors, Japanese Shibimi style razors have become big. They have a straight razor form factor but take a half-DE blade. These are also starting to be used professionally as well as many states have passed heavy sterilization laws on any re-usable blade. So barbers switching to single use straight razors has become an easy alternative.
Hello! I'm a huge fan of this channel and have been an avid follower for quite some time. I just have one slight issue; the map of India used in this video is incorrect. Would be grateful if you could address this using an annotation in the video, and use the correct map in this next video. Thank you!
19:39 Personna DE “Prep Blades” (used in hospitals for surgical prep) appx 33¢ each. Stainless steel DermaGardTM. I get 3 shaves per blade on my extremely course beard.
I've been using Dorco Prime Platinum, for me it's a high quality blade, sharp and forgiving, I don't shave more than once daily so each blade can last me a week. I love using DE razor and I'm glad I switched to it.
Geo, turned safetyrazor shaving into a hobby I look forward to!yes dump that cartridge for face shaving! I DO MANSCAPE WITH THEM! I have a round USB 1 THAT DOESN'TBITE!;-) Geo thanks for shaving 101 dad had the right Gillette, but wasn't a professor like you! Unlike me it was a chore to him;- ) But performing squirrels did cause nicks! A T.P.PATCH HE WAS OFF TO WORKW/A RED DOT ON THE T.P.;-)
The intro was quick and seemless this time. Big improvement 👍
Also Preston kinda rocks that beard haha ❤
I personally prefer dovo blades. The work wwonderfuly in my merker razor. Never underestimate german quality steel
I started out with mühle blades and they were great to start out with! Once I got more comfortable shaving I moved on the Feathers
feathers tear my throat, I just switched to Astra, no problems so far.
easy fix for shaving problems: dont shave, just trim
Astra user here. Have tried Feather, but with finer hair, Astra has been perfect.
Personna is the best not aggressive
Aren't parker razors made in india?
Yes they are
Iam a DE razor collector ,just a pittty that I live in South Africa and Gillette will only supply the multi blade razors that cost a packet to be thrown away after a single shave ,maybe I need to look at import by razor blades ,again i say Gillette socks 💯
Considering 'Feather FHS10 Single Edge Blades' (I believe only useable with OneBlade and vintage Valet AutoStrop razors) were seen at various point in this video, perhaps you should have extended the scope of this video to include Feather (and Kai and Schick) 'Artist Club' single edge blades, plus injector and GEM single edge blades -- since some of these blades/razor types might be preferable for some types of beard growth. Years ago I started with standard double edge blades, but now prefer Feather 'Artist Club' blades, as these thicker and wider blades more comfortably, efficiently and quickly plow through my beard growth than double edge blades, though I do use the most aggressive double edge razor (with Feather Hi-Stainless double edge blades) to clear out any persistent beard growth (using the lightest touch). In other words, using a razor with thicker blades (i.e. Artist Club, injector or GEM) at the start of a shave and ending a shave with an aggressive double edge razor (with the lightest touch) might provide a more comfortable shave overall. At the very least, it would be nice to see various individuals with heavy beard growth compare their favorite aggressive double edge razors and blades against single edge razors using Feather Professional (or Professional Super) blades -- but only after getting comfortable with using the razor, as it can be aggressive if used without adequate respect.
My go to is Dorco ST300. You'd think razors are all the same, but some I get more re-use, while others dull after 2x, and some are crazy sharp. I started with Astra when I was learning, then Derby. Get a test or samples pack if you want to find your blade.
When I bought my actual razor, I got a free pack of 10 different packs of blades, there was a massive difference between each brand. Feather were by far the best - but if you are only shaving occasionally they are too sharp for me, you have to be super used to using them I found.
I would like to recommend staying away from derby blades. I shave with a shavette straight razor and I find that with derby I can't get anywhere near as close a shave as with other blades.
I’m a Parker Premium Platinum fan, the standard double edged blades not the half-blades. I have relatively fine whiskers. One pass with the direction of growth, one pass perpendicular and bingo!
Astra is a great blade but wildly inconsistent, sometimes they can be as blunt as a butter knife.
Pretty pointless really. You admitted that everyone's experience is different and it is. And of course the razor itself you team the blade with will have a big effect. So really people need to try different blades out for themselves. And I don't know why we'd want to listen to Raphael since he's one of the few people in the world that uses both an electric and a double edge blade in the same shave not really having confidence in or getting the best out of either method! 😉
Thank you for your shaving videos. While most of the content you make is decidedly not for me (I'm really into fashion, but I'm an aging punk rocker so it's mostly weird DIY fashion, not the more traditional fashion you might see here), the stuff on double edged razors has been incredibly helpful
Thank you for your shaving videos. While most of the content you make is decidedly not for me (I'm really into fashion, but I'm an aging punk rocker so it's mostly weird DIY fashion, not the more traditional fashion you might see here), the stuff on double edged razors has been incredibly helpful
I picked up a whole bunch of different blades when I first got my DE razor. My absolute favourite were a brand called Polsilver. Smooth shave, no cuts, no rash. They were discontinued about 5 years ago, and I used my last one maybe 2 years ago. Probably the main reason I have a goatee now.
Have you tried Wizamet Super Iridium blades? They are made on the same machines that made PolSilver blades. Great blades imo.
@@shavingwithpegleg3813was looking for this. The guy who knows what he’s talking about. Cheers.
3 excellent blades you neglected were Rapira, Wizamet (formerly Pol Silver) and Permasharp.
Personna is one of the most popular and best blades out there. Just goes to show you everyone’s face, hair, razor, and technique are different. Not all blades work the same with everyone. Parker and Derby blades are not sharp and are harsh.
Can’t go wrong with Astra, Personna, Gillette Platinum, Voskhod, and Wilkinson. Will just depend on your razor match and technique
DE shaving is wildly different for every man. I've been wet shaving for decades and have an obscene number of blades and several heads. I found journaling on the razor, the blade used, shaving cream, aftershave, etc. helpful. Over the years, some of my go to blade / head combination fell out of favor. I find if I'm just doing daily shave I'm always going to my Merkur razor with a Wilkinson or Astra a good combo. If I skip a day or two, my R41 with a Feather Wilkinson or Astra P prove to be a great combo. The R41 + Feather needs a good thick cream to take some of the agressiveness off. But the results are very good for me. I found my Boker + Nacet combo to also be a good daily driver. Just picked up some Personna P, to try in the R41 and others.
For a couple years now I've settled into two formats for shaving. Blades are either the Astra Superior Platinum or Gillette Nacet on either the Rockwell 6S plate 6 or the Razorock Lupo Aluminum. Both great shavers though the Lupo is a more high skilled razor being so light weight while the 6S is very easy and beginner friendly.
Both my blade picks are just middle of the road comfort shaves, nothing overly sharp or long lasting. Just picks that have worked for me.
When I first started out I had the DE89 with a Feather blade and cut myself to pieces with that. Learnt really fast all the ins and outs of shaving after that. Joined a local facebook group who taught me a lot and since then I've been in that comfort area of shaving. Not wanting to change much. Though I would love to buy a new razor again, something about that first experience is always fun.
I have found that Gillette Wilkinson Sword Saloon Pack blades made in India are the perfect all-around blades for use in different razors or if I’m testing a razor I’ve never used before.
Have used something great like feather and something horrible like the bundni branded one (Hamburg cosmetics store).
But when I have to shave often (like Mon to Fri) even a fresh blade every time would have my skin feeling funny.
With electric shaver although not having as good results as DE is much nicer to the skin (if shaven daily)
When I started shaving, I just went straight for feather blades, I've got a super thick beard, and I'm not that worried about cutting myself.
Feather for pro? But why? I'm, as beginner, only cut myself a couple of times in my first attempts at shaving, but after that I almost never cut myself. And sharp blades are a must-have if you have sensitive skin.
Wilkinson's sword is really bad for my average hair, so far Feather is the best I've tried
Henson with De 89 handle nice 😂
That works? I might try it
1-2 shaves per blade??? I've been using my green Astra Superior Platinum blade for the 9th time today, and it still shaves like new, even though I have a thick beard. In my personal experience, green Astra and Gillette Minora blades are the best.
Merkur blades are phenomenal, if you get the ones actually made in Germany. Their Czech counterparts are absolutely horrible. Seriously, it's night and day. Don't outsource your productions.