I've never liked Feathers. They are really sharp but I always found them rough on my face. Recently, I decided to give them another go, so I put a couple packs on a recent order and loaded one in my Progress for today's shave. It was great! I didn't detect any roughness at all. It was smooth as butter. Why now all of the sudden do I find Feathers so nice? Who knows, but I think I'm going to have to get some more.
Feathers, Why Now?
- Thread starter Foyle
- Start date
Many of us here have noticed that sometimes troublesome blades may be improved by not using them for a while. Re-try after a month -or however long you deem prudent- and you may find said blades now do the Gillette slide up-and-down your face. 
Happened to me too.
Coincidence??????? I think NOT. They obviously refined the manufacturing process.......
Coincidence??????? I think NOT. They obviously refined the manufacturing process.......
I could swear that Feathers helped me reduce irritation, razor burn and ingrown hairs.
Either your technique evolved, or you've found the right razor for them. In general I find that Feathers give a rough, unpredictable shave -- but in my Weber, they're perfect.
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OldSaw
The wife's investment
I was leaning toward technique, but there could be something to this. I get very smooth, comfortable shaves with Feather blades in an EJ DE89L razor and have been for about two years now. No other blade has come close to knocking Feather off its pedestal in my shavedom.
It seems like anything I load in my Pro/Mergress shaves great.
Blades generally perform differently in different razors...
I love feathers,they are my goto blade.
- Thread starter
- #11
You might be onto to something here. I've noticed that the new blades I got are thicker than my Astras and thicker than I remember earlier Feathers being. I had my fourth shave today on the same blade and there's no sign of the blade giving up yet. I may try to get a whole week out of this blade and see how it does. Normally my limit is four and I usually pitch a blade after three shaves.
I find that is the case with any number of blades that I have back burnered for a while.
Dig one out of mothballs and WOWSERS I get a "where have you been all my life" reaction.
Give it a couple of weeks and you will be PIFFing them off
Dig one out of mothballs and WOWSERS I get a "where have you been all my life" reaction.
Give it a couple of weeks and you will be PIFFing them off
To be perfectly honest I was being facetious. The improvement was entirely due to me getting better at this shaving malarkey.
However!....for the year I've been here I've seen the prevailing wisdom that Feathers are deadly sharp, harsher than most and only last 2-3 shaves.
What I saw in the Item Of The Week thread when we did Feathers was that some people regularly go a week or more on a single Feather blade. I managed to get 6 smooth shaves myself and my mind was fairly blown.
Exactly. Feathers in my Progress are heaven (although they only last 2 shaves!) and not so good in other razors where they are sharp but not buttery smooth like the Progress.
I find that is the case with any number of blades that I have back burnered for a while.
Dig one out of mothballs and WOWSERS I get a "where have you been all my life" reaction.
Give it a couple of weeks and you will be PIFFing them off
Yeah, I've experienced that too. I sometimes wonder if my skin and beard adapts to a razor and blade combination and then when something changes, it provides a noticable improvement. I suspect that's why so many wet shave enthusiasts have a regular rotation of razors, blades, soap, etc.
I dont see how your skin and beard would change - but your tecnique most certainly will. Minor changes in stroke, angle, pressure, lather, prpe all can make a big difference in the shave outcome, as can using a different razor or blade.
My impression of Feathers is that they perform best in adjustable razors.
