Head Shavers...blades dull faster?

[BigBull]

I'm about 1.5 months into DE Shaving, but wet shaving for years...never had razor burn with AOS products.

Since DE Shaving, I've been following my preshave routine to a tee...and trying to find which blade works best for me. I have found Feathers, Astra's and Lab Blues (w/ my EJ89) to be the best 3 soo far. I've read on a number of threads that some gents get a week of daily shaving, but most at least 3 full shaves out of just about every blade. I understand this to be YMMV.

Last Friday, I was in a bit of a hurry...so I shaved without using my AOS oil. It was also the 3rd full shave (head & face) on a Feather blade. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the WORST CASE of razor burn I'd ever acquired! Worse than any cartridge shave. Worse than just about anything I'd ever experienced.

I know many gents say they don't even use oil...and I feel for some reason there have been times in the past that I haven't and didn't recieve this burn.

It would make sense to me that a headshave would dull the blade more as your covering more surface area on a head than a face...so I'm thinking the RB may have been due to a dull blade.

SOOO, my question to those headshavers out there: What's your average life of a blade? Should I just go 2-n-out? What are your thoughts on blades dulling faster with headshaving over face?

Thanks for your input.

 

[JLuger]

As a headshaver, I find I go through blades pretty quickly, as the stubble on my head is thicker than my beard, and there's more of it. I rarely use a blade more than twice, even if I am shaving my face with a straight. I also find Feathers in particular can go from really sharp to awful really quickly. Blades are so cheap, that it made no sense for me to try to see how many shaves I could squeeze out of one. I prefer to know in advance the blade is sharp enough to do the job.

 

[BigBull]

Insightful.

As a headshaver, I find I go through blades pretty quickly, as the stubble on my head is thicker than my beard, and there's more of it..

After the pain and thinking more about it instead of blaming the preshave oil, or lack thereof....Makes sense to me!

[/QUOTE] I rarely use a blade more than twice, even if I am shaving my face with a straight. I also find Feathers in particular can go from really sharp to awful really quickly. Blades are so cheap, that it made no sense for me to try to see how many shaves I could squeeze out of one. I prefer to know in advance the blade is sharp enough to do the job.[/QUOTE]

Since DE shaving, I hadn't used a blade more than twice. This was the first attempt. Unfortunately, I did it in conjunction with NOT using preshave oil. My thoughts are the same as yours about blades being cheap, so I'm not trying to push the envelope...really thought it would be okay. Your last sentence is one I will echo forever!!

I'd like to hear more users experiences with Feathers! Do you gents find that they typically dull a little more quickly?

 

[saliavin]

I usually bin a blade after two days as well. There are a couple blades that can go three to four days. Feathers though have been a mixed bag for me. Some blades have done two days, and been changed on the third mid-shave while I have gotten a couple blades to go to five days. The most consistent long lasting blades for me have been the Med Preps. And I will add that I use a Futur, which some people say does extend blades. I usually start on ~4, and bump it up as I feel the blade is not coping well with the back of my head.

You should check out this guys review of blades here, I don't know how he gets so many shaves from the some of the blades.

 

[sgtbash999]

I can usually get 3 full shaves (face & head) out of 1 blade with a decent pre shave routine.
I was in a rush last night & decided to skip the proraso pre shave and just ploughed on with the lather. Although I didn't get razor burn at all I could feel more pull on the blade than normal (3rd shave with the blade).

Obviously blade life varies depending on brand - I found sharks superb for my head but didn't get on with it for the face. Gillette 7 o'clock super platinum (blue) is what I'm trying at the minute & they are great.

 

[BigBull]

I shaved this morning without the AOS oil and a new Feather with absolutley no RB. That tells me it was the blade. I've thought about using different blades for my head and face...I liked the Shark SC's myself, great blade. Not as great as the Feather, Lab Blue or the Astra but far superior to the Derby.

I have a pack of Gillette SP Blue's and Blacks that I'll be checking out next in line. Saliavin, that was a good link on a blade review..thanks!

 

[Cookie077]

Using Shark SS blades lately and will change it out after 2 days if doing head and face. The blades may go longer but I like to change them out before I feel any dragging. cookie

 

[warhawk]

I have been a head shaver for about 5 years but new 2 the DE shaves since April. I change my blade after 2 days. I got a medium-thick beard and dome. Astra SPs are my go to blade with Shark SC a very close second. I haven't tried the Feather blade but will one day soon.

WARHAWK

 

[Jawaburger]

Last Friday, I was in a bit of a hurry...

This may also have something to do with your razor burn. If you rushed your shave, your technique may have suffered as well as your skin!

 

[Gam]

I have a 3 shave and out rule for de's,on se I can get 7 shaves.So far on my Cobra Classic and Kai Captain mild I'm on shave 6 and still going strong.I always make sure I have time for a good prep,I always use either Proraso PrePost cream or TSD ISZ Preshave Balm.Also while in the shower I use Musgo Real Glyce Lime Oil soap on my face and dome.

 

[cb91710]

I used to run a Mach-3 cart for a month, or until I'd see a little rust forming around the edges.
Started headshaving in '06 and switched to the Fusion at about the same time.
One blade was 5 shaves before I'd start getting nicks.
Now that I'm using straights on my face, I can push the Fusion to 7, but now I'm beginning to transition to the straight for my head too.

WATCH THE BACKS OF YOUR EARS!!!!!!!!!

 

[Grumpy_Bottom]

I get 2 out of a feather, 2 out of an astra, 3 out of most others. occasionally I can push a particularly good lab to a 4th but rarely try.

 

[BigBull]

I have been a head shaver for about 5 years but new 2 the DE shaves since April. I change my blade after 2 days. I got a medium-thick beard and dome. Astra SPs are my go to blade with Shark SC a very close second. I haven't tried the Feather blade but will one day soon.
WARHAWK

Go for it. My first goto was Astra, followed by the Shark SC too. Then I tried a Personna Lab & a Feather. They took over the top two...but the Astra's get put back in 2nd because of bulk pricing. I was hesitant to try the Feather especially with all the "Ninja Assassin" comments...but I'm glad I did, and I keep going back to it. It paired with my EJ89 is my goto combo soo far...

This may also have something to do with your razor burn. If you rushed your shave, your technique may have suffered as well as your skin!

Jaw - you're probably very right there. Very good point.

I used to run a Mach-3 cart for a month, or until I'd see a little rust forming around the edges.
Started headshaving in '06 and switched to the Fusion at about the same time.
One blade was 5 shaves before I'd start getting nicks.
Now that I'm using straights on my face, I can push the Fusion to 7, but now I'm beginning to transition to the straight for my head too.
WATCH THE BACKS OF YOUR EARS!!!!!!!!!

I still have a bunch of Fusion cart's but you know what they say...Once you go DE, you never goo back!

I get 2 out of a feather, 2 out of an astra, 3 out of most others. occasionally I can push a particularly good lab to a 4th but rarely try.

I'll be sticking with the 2 n out rule...as I shaved without pre-shave oil again last night with no problems. I think the Feather has a drastic downturn in sharpness that starts to occur around the 2-3 head/face shaves and I won't be testing fate. I may even try using a different blade for the head/face like an Astra/Feather combo...

Patience is something I'm working on in my later years.