Thread: Thoughts on the OneBlade

Gentlemen,

I did not know what to expect from the OneBlade. It was a new concept in safety razors that borrowed some of the features of the old. It was a stainless steel razor with a pivoting shave head, which placed it halfway between the lowly cartridge razor and the single edge safety razor. So what to make of that?

After years of straight razor shaving, with a sprinkling of safety razors, double and single edge, I think I needed something different. By now, I have shaved with a big lineup of vintage safety razors —*Gillette, GEM, Ever-Ready — and a parade of modern razors — Merkur, Muhle, Edwin Jagger, Tradere, Pils, iKon, Joris, Fatip, Feather, Wolfman, BBS, Above the Tie, Timeless, Paradigm, and so on — liked some and some not all that much.

By the way, in the high end modern razors I mentioned, the Timeless stands above all others in efficiency coupled with comfort. For me, anyway.

As for the straight razor, physical limitations in my shoulders and hands pose some difficulties shaving with it. Not only that, but I think I am also tired of the straight razor, at least for now, and don't enjoy it as I once did.

So I think I was ripe for something different — the OneBlade — although I was ambivalent about the razor's concept, especially the pivoting head — would it last? Still, something drew me to the OneBlade, and gut feeling told me to go for it.

After couple weeks of shaving with the OneBlade, first with the mostly plastic Core model and then the stainless steel Genesis, I love the razor. It gives me an efficient shave that is also comfortable. My shaving motto has always been: comfort over perfect. The OneBlade gives me both equally well.

I use the same technique for the OneBlade as I have for all my other razors, straight and safety: skin stretching, short strokes and no pressure. I don't see any reason to break those habits. I am not sure how much of the pivoting I use in the razor, but that is of little concern to me. I probably use enough without feeling it. I just put the razor flat on my face and the two of us work perfectly well together for an efficient and comfortable shave.

The OneBlade uses the Feather FHS Hi-stainless single edge razors that come in packs of 10. I get two comfortable shaves from each blade. Three is a stretch. Why push it? For double edge safety razors, two shaves per blade do it for me. Sometimes one. Two shaves for the GEM single edge, two or three for the Feather Artist Club blades.

The OneBlade Genesis is a pricey razor at about $399, yes, but to me it's worth every penny, not only because it is efficient and comfortable, but I really enjoy shaving with it. The Core, mostly in plastic, is around $50, and that's worth every penny, too. I plan to use the Core for travel. The Feather FHS-10 Hi-Stainless blades cost more than most other blades, but I'm not complaining. I am not concerned with the price of gas for my Lamborghini or Rolls Royce.

My only complaint about the OneBlade razor — and it has nothing to do with the razor itself — is the heavy glue on the blades. It's glue on steroids. For heaven's sake, Feather people, ease up on the stuff. So I thoroughly wash and remove the glue from the blades before use.

Ah, but that's such a minor element of shaving with the OneBlade, a razor I truly love, a razor that I am sure was designed just for me.

Good stuff OneBlade.

Thank you so much Obie, I was really giving this razor a look see but was on the fence. I believe I,m over the top now. Tc

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.

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

Thank you so much Obie, I was really giving this razor a look see but was on the fence. I believe I,m over the top now. Tc

TC, for me, the razor is all about comfort. That it is also a good shaver is a bonus. I have read that it is a mild razor. I put it on the highest wrung of mild. Of course, it takes a few days to learn the razor, and I am still doing that. Thus far, I am really enjoying my shaves, and the post shave feel confirms that.

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.

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.