Help demystify Personna

[Golden_Edge]

I am interested in trying the Personna DE blade(s). Safe to say it's one of the most confusing brand.

Blue, Red, Lab Blues, Made in USA, Made in Israel, Med Preps, Platinum, X-Series, Comfort Coated, etc. Then you have a same name but different packaging.

How do they differ? Which do you recommend?

 

[Hawkweber]

Heh - I am finishing up a Personna Platinum tuck and I have about 25 or so more X-Series that I got free. After that I am not going to go out of my way to use Personna. I figure if I need a PhD to unravel the mystery that is now the Personna brand it will not make shaving relaxing or fun. Plenty of other brands out there.

 

[geneaut]

I'm not sure anyone can explain it very well. The word 'Personna' as it pertains to blades has a varied and chaotic history.

You are going to see Personna labeled blades from mostly three countries ( I'm generalizing a bit to keep it fairly simple)

USA—production is located in Verona, VA. I believe it is now labeled Accuthrive. Lots of NOS are still out there with Personna labels, though.
Israel - production moved to Germany after being bought by Edgewell. Still can find Israeli labeled products in the supply chain if you hunt for them.
Germany - Edgewell production plant making 'Personna' labeled blades. Will probably be the only source for new production with a Personna brand in the future.

Edgewell bought the rights to the Personna name, and production that was in Israel was then moved to Germany. You'll currently see Personna-branded blades coming from the Edgewell plant in Germany. I find those blades perfectly adequate and not a bad place to start.

Before the Edgewell purchase Personna was already divided between US and Israeli production. Both made good blades, but slightly different, and you have proponents of both. The two main blades were the Red IPs ( Israeli ) and Lab Blues (US), but both plants had other blades as well ( Viking Swords, Crystal, Eddison, Royals, Tomy, Med Preps, Barber, Personna-X, etc ... I'm sure I am leaving out plenty ).

Part of the confusion is we in the hobby assigned nicknames to some of these products that aren't real in any sense. the term "Lab Blues' evolved over the years to cover what I suspect were multiple products made in the Verona plant in Virginia. 'Red IPs' were another nickname for the blades made in Israel and packaged in tucks with red coloring, but then they started offering them in 10 packs with blue labels also, but we still kept calling them Red IPS.

I'm not even going to talk about what is coming out of China.

 

[emwolf]

There are several threads that try to untangle the Personna knot. And, fortunately, or unfortunately, the US version has been rebranded

 

[helicopter]

For the American blades, since the coating got its last upgrade several years ago, they are all the same blade with or without fingerprint oil, and in various packaging. The plant is owned by AccuTec which distributes their own brands, AccuForge and AccuThrive and offers white label blades, which are currently distributed by Battle Brothers under their brand, and by Edgewell's Fromm as Personna Comfort Coated. Personna Comfort Coated is the one to get because it is cheapest.

Other than that, there are the German ones, and you can still find some of the old Israeli ones. In my opinion the American one is the best.

 

[Quaznoid]

The only one I’m sure of is the Lab Blue, American made in the “Comfort-coated” package. Fantastic blade.

All else Personna is a tangled mystery-web

 

[Beefdrippings]

There should be a Personna sticky. My head hurt just reading the title of the thread! FWIW I loved the reds, and the med preps and the lab blues I really liked. The ones that came in the square box of 100 I didn’t like as much but maybe those were lab blues? I also really like the Everyday Logic blades which I suspect to be Personnas. Dang it! I’ve replied to another Personna thread! Haha!!

 

[Alex Jr]

I’ve had a tuck of the German for quite a while and I hadn’t tried it yet.

I put in my 6C plate 4 and I had a wonderful surprise. What a sharp and smooth blade!

It reminded me of the Russian Gillette platinum.

I may end up bulk buying it.

 

[HoosierTrooper]

Maybe this will help. There are many, many threads discussing the Personna blades.

Yet another Personna / AccuTec thread.

So I did some digging in an attempt to clarify the current Personna / AccuTec branding change and present some accurate and current information. Neither of these brands did, or currently cater to the 'public' hence website information is sparse and commerical/industrial orientated. Part numbers...

www.badgerandblade.com

 

[Golden_Edge]

USA—production is located in Verona, VA. I believe it is now labeled Accuthrive. Lots of NOS are still out there with Personna labels, though.

Is the NOS packaged as follow:

 

[Golden_Edge]

The only one I’m sure of is the Lab Blue, American made in the “Comfort-coated” package. Fantastic blade.

All else Personna is a tangled mystery-web

The problem is that I couldn't find a Personna blade printed with 'Lab Blue'. I supposed anything that says 'comfort-coated' is a 'Lab Blue'?

 

[Frito Ray]

Safe to say it's one of the most confusing brand

Many have tried to understand its branding, its logic, its direction, only to accept it wiser to just go with the flow.

 

[Golden_Edge]

Maybe this will help. There are many, many threads discussing the Personna blades.

Yet another Personna / AccuTec thread.

So I did some digging in an attempt to clarify the current Personna / AccuTec branding change and present some accurate and current information. Neither of these brands did, or currently cater to the 'public' hence website information is sparse and commerical/industrial orientated. Part numbers...

www.badgerandblade.com

Cheers for that, didn't see that thread. It answers the 'problem' I addressed to @Quaznoid a moment ago:

* 'Lab Blue' is exclusively a fan moniker, and misused often - It was never used by either brand... ever.

I also just came across a post Shane (@Blackland Razors) made years ago (2019) on another forum. I hope it's okay to repost, I quote:

Comfort Coated and Lab Blue are one and the same. You won’t find Personna calling any blades it currently sells Lab Blues. They come in a few varieties of packaging and wrapping, but none say Lab Blue to my knowledge.

It’s simple. If it’s made in the USA and it doesn’t say “hospital use” it’s a Lab Blue. Those are the only Personna blades made here.

Now, why the hell do we call them Lab Blues when Personna doesn’t? I have no idea.

My understanding is that there are two types of Made in USA Personna blades: hospital (Med Preps) and everything else (which is one and the same but 'named'/packaged differently).

 

[helicopter]

Is the NOS packaged as follow:

View attachment 1934995

I have some that were made in July, 2024, and some that were made some time after those ones. It is still on the Accutec website.

I have not seen any evidence it is no longer in production. I would call it the current one, not NOS.

AccuTec is making them for like this and Edgewell, which owns the Personna brand, is distributing them through their barber and salon business Fromm.

Accutec makes a variety of white label blades for anyone willing to buy them.

 

[WThomas0814]

I'm not sure anyone can explain it very well. The word 'Personna' as it pertains to blades has a varied and chaotic history.

You are going to see Personna labeled blades from mostly three countries ( I'm generalizing a bit to keep it fairly simple)

USA—production is located in Verona, VA. I believe it is now labeled Accuthrive. Lots of NOS are still out there with Personna labels, though.
Israel - production moved to Germany after being bought by Edgewell. Still can find Israeli labeled products in the supply chain if you hunt for them.
Germany - Edgewell production plant making 'Personna' labeled blades. Will probably be the only source for new production with a Personna brand in the future.

Edgewell bought the rights to the Personna name, and production that was in Israel was then moved to Germany. You'll currently see Personna-branded blades coming from the Edgewell plant in Germany. I find those blades perfectly adequate and not a bad place to start.

Before the Edgewell purchase Personna was already divided between US and Israeli production. Both made good blades, but slightly different, and you have proponents of both. The two main blades were the Red IPs ( Israeli ) and Lab Blues (US), but both plants had other blades as well ( Viking Swords, Crystal, Eddison, Royals, Tomy, Med Preps, Barber, Personna-X, etc ... I'm sure I am leaving out plenty ).

Part of the confusion is we in the hobby assigned nicknames to some of these products that aren't real in any sense. the term "Lab Blues' evolved over the years to cover what I suspect were multiple products made in the Verona plant in Virginia. 'Red IPs' were another nickname for the blades made in Israel and packaged in tucks with red coloring, but then they started offering them in 10 packs with blue labels also, but we still kept calling them Red IPS.

I'm not even going to talk about what is coming out of China.

Great info. Thank for sharing!

 

[Golden_Edge]

Great info. Thank for sharing!

Agreed. Sticky worthy!

 

[BigJ]

There are several threads that try to untangle the Personna knot. And, fortunately, or unfortunately, the US version has been rebranded

+2! My suggestions:
1. Read through the numerous threads on Personna options.
2. Try a good selection.
3. Stock up on those you enjoy!!

For what it is worth my favorite Personna options are the Israeli reds and lab blues (or med preps).

 

[NorthernSoul]

There is a reason behind the Lab Blue nickname.

It was long ago and far away. The main way people got blades in bulk was from Medical Supply houses. The Lab Blues were called that to distinguish them from the Med Prep blades. At least, that's my understanding of this mystery.

 

[WThomas0814]

+2! My suggestions:
1. Read through the numerous threads on Personna options.
2. Try a good selection.
3. Stock up on those you enjoy!!

For what it is worth my favorite Personna options are the Israeli reds and lab blues (or med preps).

Yes! I have I think 1200 Lab Blues.

 

[Lockback]

Despite my avatar, Personna is one of the few blades I haven't tried yet and probably won't. I don't need any more confusion in my life.