Can a harsh edge be overcome with a light touch?

I think it can!

About half a year ago, I bought some Feather blades to see what all the fuss was about. Their sharpness certainly impressed, but I did look a bit like a battlefield, or like someone sprayed red paint on my face, or... Anyway, I wasn't too happy.

Several days ago, I figured I would give them another go, alongside a razor I finished on a Shapton 8K and 16K with lather. Since my last try, I had definitely refined my technique, especially where it concerns a light touch. I can now manage such a light touch, my skin can barely register the razor and it feels similar to numbed/anaesthetised skin. It gave me my best shave to date in just over a year! :D

Now for the original question: Feather blades have the reputation of being rather harsh, especially new blades. I had the smoothest shave ever, not even a little sting of the aftershave, super skin feel, in other words, no harshness at all. Are there other people with a similar experience?

Yes,, but you are going to find few that will believe you :)

Using the Feather as a test bed is a new way of doing it, but yes this is an old and tired subject on here and many other forums... People tend to want to blame the Razor or the Hone rather then their own technique first :p



(This theory is based on a well honed wicked sharp edge, not a mis-honed fragile edge)

I too have found that very thing through the use of the Feather blades, but maybe not that very sharp is necessarily harsh, as I understand "harsh". Within the last few months, I purchased the Feather AC FX razor and the Feather Professional Blades. Having only heard of the sharpness of the Feather blades, I was a bit apprehensive which led to using a very, very light touch. The shaves have been superb! I thought I had been using a light touch, which I had, but not as light as with the Feathers.

I had found that a very light stroke with a very keen edge on a traditional straight really helped with the lower neck and Adam's apple area, but I've lightened up even more since the Feather experience.

Works great!! :)

Howard :)

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Originally Posted by Laurens

Now for the original question: Feather blades have the reputation of being rather harsh, especially new blades. I had the smoothest shave ever, not even a little sting of the aftershave, super skin feel, in other words, no harshness at all. Are there other people with a similar experience?

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I have had similar experience, but overall I would describe Feather AC blades as unforgiving when compared to a conventional straight razor. In other words, you pay with blood for anything less than excellent technique.
Personally, I do not find these blades to be unusually sharp. Feather blades are certainly sharp, but the Le Grelot I shaved with this morning was sharper and yet it delivered a close comfortable shave.

I guess these things are about point of origin (or maybe point of reference is the better expression). As Glen said, initially technique is the main issue for people, other things (edge related) being equal. But the debate often arises over the definition of "harsh", which will change and vary for people depending on where they are at in terms of experience.

Now that I have a few years experience, for example, if I felt a "harsh" edge on a straight I would take that to belie an actual issue with the edge that may perhaps need rectification on the hone (or maybe just the strop).

But yes, I agree that working on your technique and a lighter touch will help a lot in these early stages.

James.

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Originally Posted by Jimbo

.....the debate often arises over the definition of "harsh", which will change and vary for people depending on where they are at in terms of experience.

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+1. What are we talking about when we say "harsh", at least as far as the OP is concerned? A scary sharp blade that irritates skin and doesn't feel smooth, or a blade that tugs/pulls and feels like it's not very sharp?

I have tried Feathers blades in my DE shaving. They are the only razors that irritate my skin.

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

+1. What are we talking about when we say "harsh", at least as far as the OP is concerned? A scary sharp blade that irritates skin and doesn't feel smooth, or a blade that tugs/pulls and feels like it's not very sharp?

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I mean the first. While a tugging blade can be harsh because it encourages the user to apply more pressure, I was more interested in the difference between my Feather shaves: bloody and irritating at first, but super smooth with epic skin feel half a year later. The only remaining issue is the limited angle I can reach with my Blue Beard's Revenge shavette, as it is rather thick. Doesn't bother me much, as I prefer SRs.

Also, yesterday evening I finished a razor on my Shapton 8K with lather only. It is the first time I ever tried an 8K shave, as I figured I could not go wrong with a sharper blade on my tough beard. Turned out to be one of the best shaves I've ever had, on par with the Feather shave I described above. Lather it is for me, for such time as it takes me to get the same edge without its assistance.