Blades are a very YMMV, those particular blades are excellent but right now the Permsharp & Nacet work the best with my growth and my Techs, but tomorrow I might suggest a completely different thing!Save yourself money, trouble & shoe leather and get the Gillette Platinum and the Gillette Rubie. The best out of St. Pete.
I guess I'm extraterrestrial. (lives on another planet)I'm envious of someone who can just about use any blade.
Feathers, Kai, Personna, Polsilver & Gillette Super Platinums are all great for me.
Most others are a nightmare, including many people's favourites like Astra SP, Voskhod, Nacet & German Wilkinson's. All these really tug and most cause irritation to my skin. Anyone who can last more than 10 seconds using a Derby lives on another planet as far as I'm concerned!
I don't think my technique is lacking at all, but to say that everyone should be able to get on with any DE blade is, in my opinion, nonsense.
Anything that you tried awhile ago and didn't like you should definitely try again.Skin and hair is different for everyone.
I have always had some small degree of difficulty with either shaving rash or irritation. I think my shaving prep / technique has improved over the years and moving to DE shaving has certainly helped, but am still amazed that some days it is an effortless smooth BBS and other days i get a few nicks or irritation for no apparent reason.
I would actually agree with the statement that anyone could actually use any blade, and that most of the result you get is down to preparation, taking your time, going lightly and concentrating on finding and keeping the correct angle for that razor.
I know absolutely, for instance, that i could muster a reasonable shave with a Straight if i chose to, even tho i have never used one, but I am confident if i took my time and went very carefully, i could manage an acceptable shave with one, even if it took several hours....
However, it is equally true that everyone will find a combo of razor and blade that will suit them particularly well.
For me it seems to be Merkur 20c + Astra SP, it just works well every time - but is it because that particular combo is outstanding ? or does it just suit the way i go about it and naturally mask the deficiencies in how i go about shaving ? Who knows ?
The only thing i disagree with (in many areas of life) is the sentiment "tried it once and it was garbage"
I would accept "tried it several times and it doesn't seem to work well for me"
Shaving is definitely a micro-science and the difference between ok shave and great shave is tiny details + concentration i think
...The only thing i disagree with (in many areas of life) is the sentiment "tried it once and it was garbage"
I would accept "tried it several times and it doesn't seem to work well for me" ...
You will enjoy those. I don't know much about the Treet and Super-max blades.Thank you all for the suggestions, the next blades to trial have arrived
Sooner or later you'll find that it doesn't matter which blade you use as long as it isn't damaged or dull. I had a bunch of loose blades of many different brands that I put in a container, I just grab whatever the next one is and use it. The only real difference is that some stay sharp much longer than others.
I like to look at where the blades are produced and try different countries. So far you've tried a lot of Russian (the Gillettes, Rapira, Voshkod), Egypt (Shark) and I think Tatra is Czech.
Maybe try BIC Chrome Platinum (Greece), Super-Max Platinum (India), Treet Platinum (Pakistan) and of course Feather (Japan).
Saying that I really didn't get on with the Gilette Green - but perhaps I just need to try again in 6 months!
Straight shaving is easy, maintenance is a pain.Skin and hair is different for everyone.
I have always had some small degree of difficulty with either shaving rash or irritation. I think my shaving prep / technique has improved over the years and moving to DE shaving has certainly helped, but am still amazed that some days it is an effortless smooth BBS and other days i get a few nicks or irritation for no apparent reason.
I would actually agree with the statement that anyone could actually use any blade, and that most of the result you get is down to preparation, taking your time, going lightly and concentrating on finding and keeping the correct angle for that razor.
I know absolutely, for instance, that i could muster a reasonable shave with a Straight if i chose to, even tho i have never used one, but I am confident if i took my time and went very carefully, i could manage an acceptable shave with one, even if it took several hours....
However, it is equally true that everyone will find a combo of razor and blade that will suit them particularly well.
For me it seems to be Merkur 20c + Astra SP, it just works well every time - but is it because that particular combo is outstanding ? or does it just suit the way i go about it and naturally mask the deficiencies in how i go about shaving ? Who knows ?
The only thing i disagree with (in many areas of life) is the sentiment "tried it once and it was garbage"
I would accept "tried it several times and it doesn't seem to work well for me"
Shaving is definitely a micro-science and the difference between ok shave and great shave is tiny details + concentration i think