A Review - Pearl Semi Slant

[arnuld]

-- SOTDs from India

So, all the razors/blades you see in the first pic above are the ones used in the last 2 months. While everything else (2nd pic) has been kept the same to make the review as much unbiased as possible. Here are my observations on Pearl Semi-Slant:

• It's a mild razor. While not as mild as Gillette's plastic Super Platinum razor (top right, one which clicks) but mild enough for me that I get discomfort on using it for 2 day stubble. It's a good daily driver
• It has an ample amount of blade feel. This came as a surprise to me
• Finding the right angle for every razor is another work one has to do. I learned the angle in 7 shaves. But remember, you miss the angle by a tiny degree, while shaving with it, you get a good nick/cut.
• Quite heavy weight for my taste. I like lighter razors
• This razor has taught me, or actually changed 2 of my beliefs:
  • I used to believe that a very tightly held/clasped blade does a better shaving. Pearl semi slant holds the blade much more tightly/rigidly than CS11 and Super Platinum but both of these give me great shaves
  • I thought a slant would be a special kind of or a different kind of razor, better than my current acquisitions. I didn't find it so. I have never used a full-slant though
• My favorite blade is Permasharp Stainless (green) but somehow it gives irritation when used with this razor. Kingston blade worked pretty good with it

There is one big assumption here: you have a good quality shaving cream with better than average slickness. Without a good shaving cream, you will never know the real nature of a blade and razor

Personally for me, the best razor of the lot is Gillette Super Platinum and the worst one is Guard 3. The yellow color dual blade cartridge (7o'clock) is good enough for 2 shaves at max for me. I used electric trimmers and cartridges for 20+ years. Only last year I came across DE shaving. I can say with confidence that a dual-blade cartridge is much better than the triple-blade one. But both of them are no quality match for a DE razor. Here are the razor/blade combos that work best for me:

1. Gillette Super Platinum + Permasharp Stainless (green) (best combo)
2. Romer-7 Viceroy (Speed clone) + Glatz (almost close to the first but Viceroy has blade feel too)
3. Romer-7 CS11 (R41 clone) + Winner black
4. Pearl semi slant + Kingston

So there is no single blade or razor that works everywhere. Blade matters the most and then the razor. Also, my technique has improved too. I get lesser cuts/nicks.There were many shaves in last 2 months that I had no nicks/cuts at all. Now I believe one can master any razor with a proper technique (barring a few exceptions). So, in the beginning when one starts DE shaving, more focus needs to be on improving/refining the technique rather than buying new razors to see which razor works for you. Most razors will work for sure. Also, technique changes with a razor and hence you never get your hand properly set on a razor if you keep on changing razor when you begin DE shaving. After you have got the technique, you can buy any razor and only need to do a minor technique variation from then onward. For me it took 100/120+ shaves to get the technique.
These are my personal ramblings. Since DE shaving is so YMMV, your experience might be different. So, please take all this with a grain of salt

What I am sure of: buy a good enough DE razor, a good shaving cream and brush. All you need to do is: become better at your technique. Have time and patience. No extraordinary stuff is needed to enjoy DE shaving

 

[A_Fine_Shave]

I have the Pearl Slant too and I found the combination of a small gap plus a good amount of blade exposure to be too much for my liking as a razor I'd use frequently. As you found, deviate from an optimal angle and it can bite pretty hard. I prefer a lower risk even if that means a little extra time involved. Some days with this razor I've just put it down and changed to another razor to finish the shave. Not worth a cut ! Contrast that to say, the Timeless Slant, and oh my, what a difference. It's more towards the mild-medium scale but won't cut you if the angle isn't just right. The specs say a negative exposure, but by my own paper's edge test with a Treet blade is appears neutral to very slightly positive, but nothing like the Pearl which is much more and would tend to catch on the papers edge. That's exactly what happened to me under my nose before I learned this razor is not like anything I own, it can bite pretty easily. Now I mostly ride the more extreme angle, the ride the guard or cap, as that is a relatively "safe" zone. And yeah, this razor demands a very slick skin surface !

I didn't really like the handle for grip, so I bought some fishing rod grippy shrink wrap from Amazon and used a heat gun to apply two layers over the handle.

 

[arnuld]

Thank you so much for writing down your experience. Maybe I can try the extreme angle next time. My skin and stubble is no way smooth/slick though. Pretty much hard and tough to cut. Do share a pic of your razor. Would love to see the new grips

 

[A_Fine_Shave]

By slick I meant the soap/cream used Arnuld. My stubble is also very tough, like wire. I've used some soaps like Proraso with the this and it just didn't have the glide needed to use this razor. Taylor's or even Arko are much better.

I took a photo to show you the grip ! This is the wrap I used. I ordered the 15mm but it actually measured like 23mm. Fortunately it shrank enough using a heat gun. I did two layers for some extra girth, and more layers are possible.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BYF3V6KP?th=1

 

[BigJ]

Useful review!! Much appreciated!!

 

[A_Fine_Shave]

Yeah, and thank you for taking the time to post this review in the first place !