Thread: Feather question

Aloha!

I'm trying to think back to the very first time I shaved with Feather.... many many many moons ago.

If I recall correctly, the first pass was not too terribly bad. Actually pretty darn good as I recall. I made a 2nd pass and it was nick and cut and razor burn city. Took a few days for my red face to calm down. And I'm sure it was an "Applied Pressure" issue. And possibly too agressive a cut, but if that were the case the first pass would have been bad as well. Unless it was because I had shaving oil on the first pass and it was gone by the time I got to the 2nd lather app and pass. But it was probably because subconciously, I was on that 2nd pass and wanted to get the ultimate clean shave with the ultimate sharp blade. Subconsiously I applied too much pressure on the 2nd pass. Guessing here.

Whatever the case, as I posted, YMMV. Greatly. Lots of different styles, razors, skin and beards out there. My face was raw in places and cut up a bit from my first use of Feather. 2nd use (days later after my face calmed down and healed) was not too bad. by the 3rd shave, I had it "mostly" mastered.

Mahalo!

-ZipZop

Feathers are just like any other blade in that they work great for some people, and not so great for others. For me they are terrific, especially in a mild razor like my Pre-War Tech. But if I use them in a razor with more blade-gap. then I can suffer much more if my technique slips and I end up looking shredded.

So true.

Of all the subjectivity in the art and hobby of wet shaving, I don't know if there is anything more subjective than which blade you prefer in a DE razor. And you are correct, I have to dial the Merkur way down on agressiveness when I shave with a Feather. But that's me. I've read that others like an agressive bite on their adjustables with Feather blades. Again, its highly subjective.

-ZipZop

I belong to the population that cuts themselves every time while using a Feather blade. They mean business. While I enjoy Shark and Astra, I find Derby blades to be the most forgiving.

Feathers are great AFAIC. I also like Gillette 7O'clock yellow, Nacets, AstraSP, among others. I hated the Derby when I first tried them out of a sampler pack in '07. I returned to them after my DE technique had improved and found they were very good in a mild shaver like a '47 Super Speed. They are not in the same league as Feather, but kind of like a good straight razor edge off a coticule. Mild and pleasant. IMHO ......... YMMV.

Originally Posted by Firefighter2

I belong to the population that cuts themselves every time while using a Feather blade. They mean business. While I enjoy Shark and Astra, I find Derby blades to be the most forgiving.

Aloha!

Indeed. Me too. I really had a cut festival with Feather for a while. I almost gave up. After a few years, I put them in my Merkur and dialed down to 1 and used ULTRA light pressure letting the razor do all the work and they were 100 percent better. You typically either love them or hate them. But a few are tweeners and find them "OK".

So now they are probably my #2 blade... probably. A few others may be tied for #2, but in any event, they are WAY behind my #1. I'm a Voskhod fan - big time. They are by far my #1 blade. Voshkhod to my skin is what Ambrosia was to Greek gods!

Mahalo!

-ZipZop

Feathers are like shaving with a spike razor with an extreme spike. You just need to take your time and be careful and you will be fine. Use sloppy technique and, well....