Derby........Of pain....

[Hansel]

OK, I give up!

I don't understand why, but Derby blades don't seem to be terribly long lasting or terribly forgiving to me. The same holds true with the Crystals. Some of my best shaves have come from Lord Platinum blades, and some old Schick's I found worked pretty well also...

I just don't get why Derby seems to be THE standard, but they knick me bad.

 

[mbrooks]

Blades, more than anything else, are the embodiment of the YMMV principle. Some people's faces just love certain blades and hate others, and one guy's preferences could be completely different from the next. I've got a handful of Derbys, and it seems they work well with VDH but make my skin go bonkers when I use them with French soaps.

If Lords are what work best for you, by all means, stick with them!

 

[Tat2d Bald Dude]

I know that Derbys have worked pretty well so far for me and I enjoy using them. You may want to try some Personna blades. They are very forgiving but not to the point where they sacrifice giving you a good shave. In fact, my very first (and so far ONLY) BBS shave was from a Personna blade.

 

[Hansel]

Personna blades are the 'Israeli Red Pack' blades, right? If thats the case I'll get a few boxes with my next order I place.

 

[SpyvSpy]

Like the others said it's all different for everyone. I use derbys and probly will only use them.

 

[Tat2d Bald Dude]

Personna blades are the 'Israeli Red Pack' blades, right? If thats the case I'll get a few boxes with my next order I place.

I believe so, but don't quote me on that.

 

[mbrooks]

Personna means a lot of things. Some of them are explained here.

 

[Hansel]

The "Crystal" 10 pack dispensers are what I have. White plastic 10 blade dispenser with a blue ID cardboard on top. They work OK for me, feel a bit rough.

Given the low price of the red packs, I figure trying a few boxes can't hurt...Er...My pocket book, at least.

 

[rth97601]

I've done some damage to myself with Derbys, and I like the red Personnas, but I started with Dorco 301s, which might have something to do with it.

I'm a newbie myself, by the way, only a couple of months in and still pretty much experimenting with everything at this point.

Ryan

 

[texbilly]

Blades, more than anything else, are the embodiment of the YMMV principle. Some people's faces just love certain blades and hate others, and one guy's preferences could be completely different from the next. I've got a handful of Derbys, and it seems they work well with VDH but make my skin go bonkers when I use them with French soaps.

If Lords are what work best for you, by all means, stick with them!

Oh yes, definitely YMMV. Derbys work great for me and last at least 3 shaves (usually 4) but other "go to" blades I've read about have irritated me from the first stroke. I would only add two more possible blades to try if you find yourself compiling samples to find your fit: Bic and Gillette Thin Blades. I was impressed with both and recently got 4 nice shaves from each. THe Bic in particular was super smooth on the first try and didn't require my face to "adjust". Good luck and hang in there!!!

P.S. Lords work great for me as well.

 

[ptirmal]

Derby's cut me up bad. I was in the process of going through my samples but I think Red Personna's are meant for me.

 

[Sueto]

You might be able to trade blades with someone else on the forum.

before buying boxes of blades, might try a sampler pack of them. Maybe pick a couple you like and then one you want to try.

 

[SJBFIRE]

Try some Astra's Super Platnium. I think they are a very sharp blade that provides a very smooth shave.... at least for me. I would compare the Astra's to the red pack Personna's when it comes to forgiveness but I think the Astra's are a sharper/smoother blade. To each there own, just a suggestion.

 

[sturgeon]

Hansel,

I feel your pain. I, too, cannot use derbys for an extended time. They knick and irritate my skin horribly. I found a keeper with the red pack personna's.

Tim

 

[miamijuggler]

Dear OP,

I have to agree on the YMMV front. I recently tried a Derby blade for the first time, and didn't really think much of it. Here's my SOTD post to give you some context, but I'll give it another try tonight to see how it feels.



As always, YMMV,

--miamijuggler

 

[kzoo1]

I've found that different blades perform differently in different razors. I couln't use a Derby in my SuperSpeeds and Gillette adjustables, but a Derby in the Tech - smooth shaving!

I can use Dorco ST-301s in an adjustable, but not in my Tech...

Maybe another sample pack with blades you haven't tried is in order?

 

[Amer]

I started my DE journey back in July. I had ordered the West Coast Shaving sample pack (the cheapest one) and was working my way through the different blades. I started with the Dorco and was rather satisfied with my shave. I then moved to the Derby blades and I expected quite the shave, considering the praise and recommendation they receive.

With the Derbys I wound up cutting my face something horrible. I thought people were crazy and I moved on to the Crystals and Red Pack Personnas.

Eventually, just a few weeks ago, I truly used no pressure while shaving with the DE. I don't really know what set it off, but I grabbed the razor (Merkur HD) by the very end (which I had been doing, but..) and basically put little effort into it, letting the razor slide across my face while guiding it. Instead of trying to get as close a shave as I could with each pass I just laid the blade on my face and put no pressure into any of the strokes. I realized that this is what I should have been doing all along. I'd rack this up to bad habits from previous years of Mach 3 and electric shaving and not really realizing what "no pressure" meant as I was using a certain amount just to make sure the blade stayed on my face.

Anyway, with this newfound experience with my technique I slapped a Derby blade back into my razor and got the best shave out of any of the blades I've tried. (Dorco, Merkur, Derby, Crystal, Red Personnas). When I go back to the other blades now I don't get as great as a shave (although the Crystal blades do come close for me) and I've come to the conclusion that they just aren't as sharp and are more forgiving than the Derbys, which is why I wasn't cutting my face up (at least as much) with them.

Not to say you're shaving wrong, but just relating my personal experience with Derbys. Since changing my technique, I've not had a single cut or weeper.

 

[The National Razor]

I didn't care for them either. They really irritated my neck. But to each his own.

 

[VaHomebrewer]

Amer - I hope my experience turns out to mirror yours. I'm a newbie (month or 6 weeks into DE shaving), and I purchased the same WCS sampler pack as you, mostly for the Derbys and RP Personnas. I started with the Dorcos and have been quite happy with them. I've used one Crystal, and found it duller than a rock. The 3 Derbys I've used (including the one I used for the first time this morning) have chewed my face up something fierce. This morning, I took great care to use (what I thought at least ) no pressure and to focus on technique. My face was on fire for a good 6 hours post shave, and I had 4-5 weepers on my neck. Perhaps I should just put them away for another couple months...

 

[Vermifuge]

OK, I give up!

I don't understand why, but Derby blades don't seem to be terribly long lasting or terribly forgiving to me. The same holds true with the Crystals. Some of my best shaves have come from Lord Platinum blades, and some old Schick's I found worked pretty well also...

I just don't get why Derby seems to be THE standard, but they knick me bad.

I have Derbys and I love them in my Goodfella, Vision and Futur but I can not use them in my Progress. My Progress seems to prefer Personna blades (red or blue) YMMV but don't rule them out based on one experience.