Different blades. same result?

[HUF]

I have been wet shaving for almost 40 years. Started with ONE safety razor, same brand of blades, same cream, brush etc. Later, switched to BIC disposables for 30 years. Now, experimenting with all kind of double and single-edge razors, blades, brushes, etc again. It amazes me when people say something like "this razor is great with these blades"! To me, the difference between 90% of the blades on the market is less than 10%. In other words, most of the blades are pretty much the same. Okay, time to run for shelter!

Just a few days ago put a Personna Lab Blue (3) in DE89 and out of blue had that terrible shave everybody gets once in a while for no explainable reason.

 

[musicman1951]

I find a significant difference between many blades. Derby's are way too dull for me. Feather's are sharp, but don't last long - and I've read so many posts about how unforgiving they are that I'm slightly nervous the whole shave (although they've never given me a weeper).

I don't notice a huge difference between Gillette Blacks and Med Preps, although the Med Preps last quite a bit longer. I'm sure there are plenty of blade pairings that are pretty close.

I think the standard rule should be that if you can't tell the difference you shouldn't pay for the difference: find something cheap and be happy.

 

[Cacique]

I took a hiatus from shaving and when I got back, I stuck with Astra SP and C.O. Bigelow, and paid more attention so I could improve my technique. I couldn't do ATG with Astra SP at all, it tugged no matter how I played with the angle, so I decided to re-visit Feathers, which cut me up pretty bad. I actually feel the feathers as sharper and smoother, it feels like it struggles less to cut my stubble, and I can do ATG with it while with Astra SP no matter how I tried I couldn't; it would cut me up and irritate my face ATG.

I've been on the same Feather since I made the switch, going on to 6th shave tomorrow.

 

[Proinsias]

10% sounds about right to me. I can get a decent shave from most shaving contraptions, good prep and technique is 90% of the battle. It's the pursuit of that extra few percent that makes it a hobby.

 

[clk]

I agree. A 3 pass shave with just about any combination of hardware will yield an effortless dfs with no blood or irritation. BBS requires more attention, but can and has been obtained with most of the razor/blade combinations I have, but I am happy with a dfs, and no one but me can tell the difference between the two.

 

[Cumberland Sausage]

A lot of blades do yield very similar results for me, whatever razor they're used in, but there are a few combinations that do feel either mediocre or exceptionally good. I'm getting some extremely comfortable and close shaves at the moment with Feathers in my Slim Adjustable, for example. Might just be psychological, I suppose, but I'm just happier using this blade and razor.

 

[takeshi]

It amazes me when people say something like "this razor is great with these blades"! To me, the difference between 90% of the blades on the market is less than 10%. In other words, most of the blades are pretty much the same.

Hence YMMV. Given any DE, blade, brush, soap, etc results can vary from person to person. It's not just the item in question but the person's skin, beard, water, etc.

If 90% of blades are the same to you then consider it a blessing and enjoy the fact that you can save money by using the cheapest of the 90% and you can probably run to a local drug store and use whatever they happen to have in a pinch.

 

[deruitem]

I agree in part, I have however had a few blades that were just awful

 

[aihpcfl]

I'm one who has found all the blades I have used so far to be more or less the same. I can tell a difference, I think, and I think I can rank the blades, but the differences are slight. I don't know the reason. Either I really can't tell, or the differences are muted by my technique and my tools. Of course I prefer to believe the latter.

 

[Pedro Navaja]

The way I noticed is that most of the blades did well or close enough for two shaves, then all degraded in different ways. However, none of them lasted more than four. Therefore, I buy blades for two shaves and do not worry too much on the brand...as long as they are not Astras or Feathers, they destroy my face!

 

[Chadao]

+1

10% sounds about right to me. I can get a decent shave from most shaving contraptions, good prep and technique is 90% of the battle. It's the pursuit of that extra few percent that makes it a hobby.

 

[Pattorashu]

I'm sure there is a difference among some of the blades, but I'm willing to bet that a lot of them are similar in construction and quality enough to give a similar shave. I tried the Personna blue blades, and they lasted a good while, and gave me a comfortable shave, but I'm still curious what some different brands are like.

 

[CaderTheAlligator]

I am not totally convinced. I gave Merkur another shot a year after I began DE shaving and it was a terrible shave. I know this wasn't because of poor technique because with Astra SP's I get a perfect shave without irritation every time. I really can't believe there is a worse blade out there than Merkur.

 

[Guest111]

I really can't believe there is a worse blade out there than Merkur.

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