Thread: Thoughts on the OneBlade

I don't know about you Obie. I'm afraid you got the DE-SE fever. No hope for you now.

Isn't that the razor that came out some time ago and folks made all kinds of fun of it because of it's gimmicky pivoting head?

Thanks, Obie, for sharing your thoughts about the OneBlade.

When I was deep into DE/SE shaving, I got intrigued by the OneBlade because of the use of the Feather DHS Single Edge blade. I was a big fan of the Feather DE Platinum DE blade, and the Artist Club Pro blade for SEs.

I thought it was gimmicky, with the pivoting head, but I got intrigued by the story of how the company's founder had struggled with shaving, hated the irritation, etc., and then got a proper straight razor shave from a barber in Italy. The story goes that he resolved to make a razor to replicate that experience.

I got the original OneBlade, then the Genesis, and both iterations of the CORE razors. I absolutely hated how much I enjoyed the shaves. I had great pride in the technique I had developed over 40 plus years of wet shaving, and the original and Genesis OneBlades with the Feather DHS gave a completely technique-free, almost mindlessly easy, near BBS shaves every time. Now that I've embarked on straight razor shaving, and its requirement of great attention and technique, I realize the OneBlade and the ease of using it is a very different experience. Not better or worse, just completely different experiences.

I've gotten several men started on traditional wet shaving, two of whom really struggled with irritation, pressure, angle, all the beginners' typical issues. I got them OneBlades, and after a couple of shaves they were reporting that their shaves were the best they had ever had.

I found the same thing that you have-two shaves and done on the Feather FHS.

And as far as technique, goes, I'm sure your years of experience will produce a great shave. But just for fun, if you haven't tried this yet, you might want to try a technique-less shave with the OneBlade. Put the flat part of the head on the face, and apply just enough pressure to allow the pivot to engage. They claim that their research on the way the pivot works keeps the angle what they think is the optimal 31.5 degrees. The first time I did this, I wasn't sure I was shaving, and to my surprise, was near-BBS after two passes.

I've just finished my 5th month of exclusively straight razor shaving, about 145 shaves in, and completely enthralled by the whole process. Your good advice at the beginning of the journey was invaluable, by the way. I haven't used the OneBlade since, but after I complete a year of straight razor shaving, that will be the first non-straight razor I'll shave with.

Michael,
Thanks for your thoughts. Yes, I will experiment with your idea of letting the razor do the work. As I said, I am still learning the razor and it's most enjoyable.

Obie, I've been curious about how the OneBlade was working for you, since you have a tough beard. I have the Core, and although I get a very smooth shave, it's a little mild for me, but I've only used it a couple of times. I don't shave with a DE or SE frequently enough to justify the cost of the OneBlade, but I would if I shaved with one regularly. I do think that it's literally impossible to cut oneself with the Core, or to have anything other than an irritation free shave. Perhaps I'll pull it out from storage and give it another try tomorrow.

Richard,

The Genesis is a wee bit more efficient than the Core, I feel. Even with my tough beard and sensitive skin, though, both models give me an efficient and, more importantly, a comfortable shave.

I don't plan to give up my other safety razors, of course. In addition to the Gillettes, GEMS and Schicks, my current lineup of safety razors includes Timeless, Charcoal Goods, RazoRock Mamba, Alumigoose and Feather AS-D2.

Interesting razor. Thanks for the informative review about it, it kind of makes me want to buy one but the Wife is having none of that.

I've been looking at reviews on the web especially from experienced DE shavers. From what I can see they say it's a very expensive, mild razor and you can get closer shaves for way less money. It's being marketed to guys who are coming off an electric razor or use a Gillette cartridge and are flush with cash.

For my purposes, my Razorock Wunderbar gives me a shave essentially as close as a straight and very comfortable too. I'd hate to pay that kind of money for an inferior shave.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I don't know about you Obie. I'm afraid you got the DE-SE fever. No hope for you now.

Isn't that the razor that came out some time ago and folks made all kinds of fun of it because of it's gimmicky pivoting head?

Spendur,
Except that I don't consider the pivoting head a gimmick. As I noted in my initial post, I don't know how much of the pivoting I use, because I don't go looking for it, so to speak. I just lather up, load the blade in the razor and shave.