Thread: "Forgiving" blades

I am afraid I am a little confused about this. I have read a razor being described as forgiving because it was less stiff, and some others because they were less flexible. What exactly makes a razor more forgiving?

I think you need to look for the razor wearing a mitre and rosary beads.

Originally Posted by Bruce

I think you need to look for the razor wearing a miter and rosary beads.

Anyway, In my rotation I have blades that I have to be wery, wery careful when I use them. They tend nick any anomalies. My TI's for instance will nick. I have a Solingen Bismarck that is one that I get a consistently great shave and it is extremely rare for me to catch a nick. I'm not too sure blade grind would make that much difference as opposed to design and geometry. I think it will depend on your facial structure and technique. It will probably mean some experimentation to find those that are good for you. I will say this, I nick myself a lot less with razors that are freshly honed. The sharper the better for me.

My understanding of when the term "forgiving" is used, it is when comparing feather blades to traditional straight blades. A feather blade is very sharp, specifically the professional ones and they are unforgiving or zits and moles and scars etc. A feather blade doesn't need to be stropped of course and some say it can give as many as 10 shaves before the sharpness is equivalent to a normal straight. Traditional straights on the other hand, will more often go over zits, moles and scars etc rather than through them.

To me a 'forgiving' blade is one where I can shave a bit more aggressively and not get any razor burn or nicks.

I have a sta-sharp, Genco and Bengall that meet the above criteria.

I am, of course, a total newbie, but I thought this meant full hollow razors because they flex a bit, as the OP mentioned. Seems like he has also seem stiffer razors mentioned as more forgiving and like him, I am confused by that!

Dan