Thread: Best blade New or used? Sensitive skin

I am at the point where I am wondering if I should try different vintage razors or just knuckle under and buy a brand new one or a restored vintage. If I am going too is there a blade that would be better for sensitive skin? I know the wonderedge supposedly is good for it. Just figuring if I am going to spend 150-250ish for one I should get one I wont be kicking myself for later. Obviously I will be going for a full hollow.

Thanks

I don't think new or vintage makes a difference if it is honed to shave ready by a competent professional. If you're a beginner an entry level Dovo at Straight Razor Designs will run you about $80, last I looked, comes shave ready, and you get a second honing free.

Not as much of a beginner with straight razor shaving. More that I want to buy one for every day use and not looking at. So its really hard to sift through all the comments when someones desire in a blade is different than the next guys.

Why do you say that obviously you will be going for a full hollow? Do you find that's best for your sensitive skin?

I'd suggest English steel honed on a coticule; that's the commonest gentle shaving edge I know of. If you use a pasted strop, avoid diamond pastes as they tend to make the edge a little harsher. CrOx will keep it keen and smooth/gentle.

If you don't know for sure what grind or blade type is best for you, I recommend cosmetically challenged vintages in a wide range of sizes and grinds until you discover what is best. Larry at whippeddog.com specializes in getting inexpensive, shave-ready, cosmetically challenged blades into folks' hands.

You might also PM pinklather, who occasionally has blades for sale. The most amazing gentle edge I ever shaved with was one of his, honed on his asagi.

Those are my thoughts. Those, and welcome to SRP. Good luck with your search.

What english do you recommend? I say that because a full hollow is going to be easier for me to hone longer term.

Any Sheffield blade is good. In my experience, anything less than a full wedge is equally easy to hone. Quarter hollow is no more difficult than extra hollow, as long as you start with a blade that doesn't have significant hone wear. English steel is softer, too, which means it hones a little easier. A heavier blade rides a little more smoothly on your face, the way a heavier car does on the road. Consider a 6/8 over a 5/8; that also smooths out the ride a bit, on hones and strops.

Originally Posted by roughkype

Any Sheffield blade is good. In my experience, anything less than a full wedge is equally easy to hone. Quarter hollow is no more difficult than extra hollow, as long as you start with a blade that doesn't have significant hone wear. English steel is softer, too, which means it hones a little easier. A heavier blade rides a little more smoothly on your face, the way a heavier car does on the road. Consider a 6/8 over a 5/8; that also smooths out the ride a bit, on hones and strops.

+1 to everything 'Roughkype' said...