DE Blades

Well, haven't been here in awhile and still switching back and forth between straight and DE. While I have enough confidence to get a good shave with either, the DE is definitely faster, and I have no fear of shaving my head with it. :cool:

Anyway, I just ran out of blades and ordered a sampler from SRD. I'm wondering if this is the best way to go, or if everybody seems to have settled on a "best" DE blade? I started with Wilkinson, then went to Merkur, then went to whatever I could find in the store. Now it seems nobody around here sells DE blades, and I have no idea what the blades are that are hanging up at the grocery store in the "big city."

The grocery store blades seem to cut me a lot more (especially on my head), while the Merkur blades give me a good shave with no cuts but don't last very long. I've never tried the Feathers, only because I heard they are "too" sharp, but they come in the assortment.

Any thoughts on the "best" blade, or is it just trial and error? BTW, I'm using a Merkur razor with the long handle.

It seems like when it comes to blades, it really is a matter of trial and error and individual preference. I think the sampler pack was definitely a good move. However, rather than jumping rapidly from one blade to the next, which is tempting, I recommend sticking with each blade for at least a week at a time so you can really get a feel for each one. I, at least, found this to be a good approach. As for feathers, while they are very sharp, there is nothing to fear. My experience has been that they don't require any special treatment. They are, in fact, my favorite DE blades.

FWIW --

I've been experimenting with Astra blades in an EJ89 razor. They're much more forgiving than the Feathers (that is, less likelihood for razor burn), and give a shave almost as good. But they don't last as long.

I put a Feather blade into the same razor, and did two passes this morning with no razor burn at all, and one small nick (my own fault). The Feather blades require care -- read "no pressure" -- but they're perfectly usable by _this_ shaver, in _that_ razor. They're a little trickier in a Gillette Tech, and no problem at all in a (very mild) Weishi.

The "sample pack" is a good way to go. You'll find something you like, eventually. There is no "standard blade" for everyone and all razors.

Charles

I do agree with cpcohen1945. I have tried numerous blades, including Feathers, and I have fallen for the Astra. They are the best for me. I really don't mind replacing them after a few shaves, usually 3, because they are so cheap. You can get 100 of them on Amazon for around $10-12. I do shave with my straight as a rule, but I do still break out the DE on occasion. My wife also loves it when I lather up her legs and shave them for her. I don't have the confidence to do that with my straight yet.

+1 on the Astras. Very good blades.

IMHO just about any other blade (other than Shark) will be an improvement over what you have been using, so I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the blades in your sampler. I wouldn't worry too much about using Feather blades - as long as you have experience with a DE you'll be just fine. I think the Fear of the Feather is vastly overstated.