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How do you determine if you like a blade?

For me if it hurts on the first pass I dont like it. Feathers seem to be the only ones that dont hurt on the first pass on 90% of the shaves.

I would say that is my main factor, I feel after the first pass discomfort I can still get good shaves from many other blades.
 
Well, if I feel good during and after the shave and there is no lingering irritation throughout the day, then I like the blade. Sometimes it takes a couple of blades to determine this as you adjust to it. I have a number of blades that fit this profile.
 
If it's only the first pass that gives you problems, you may want to corking or hand stropping the blades before using. That can smooth them out substantially. I prefer hand stropping, but you have to be very careful with DE blades.

For me if it hurts on the first pass I dont like it. Feathers seem to be the only ones that dont hurt on the first pass on 90% of the shaves.

I would say that is my main factor, I feel after the first pass discomfort I can still get good shaves from many other blades.
 
I've found that the first shave with a blade isn't always the best shave, and some blades require a slightly different technique. Some like long strokes, others short and choppy. I like to make sure it's the blade and not me before I pass judgement. The only way is repetition. I use the entire pack, and then move on.
 
Some blades perform best on the 2nd shave so a 1st pass that feels a little rough doesn't say much to me. In the end the blade has to give me a passable shave in 2 and a great shave in 3 passes with little to none irritation.

When it can do that at least for 2 shaves (only shaving half of my face; goatee) it has a chance to become a favourite. :001_smile
 
My criteria for a blade?... Hmm, lets see, sharp, smooth, gets two or more shaves, and is easy on the budget, I guess that covers it. The most important thing for me is smooth, nothing worse than trying to use a blade that's rougher than ten miles of logging trail
 
+1

I absolutely agree...some blade have to be "broken in", I guess :001_smile

Don't judge a blade by 1st use only...give it 3-4 chances before deciding

-Robert

I've found that the first shave with a blade isn't always the best shave, and some blades require a slightly different technique. Some like long strokes, others short and choppy. I like to make sure it's the blade and not me before I pass judgement. The only way is repetition. I use the entire pack, and then move on.
 
For me, it's all about how many good shaves I can get out of a blade. My beard isn't horribly thick, so I can usually get at least 5-7 shaves from the older Derby's. I get at least 7 from an Red IP. I get somewhere around 10 shaves from an Astra (and I've gotten up to 14 shaves). I get 14 or more shaves from a Feather. I can usually get a decent shave in 2 passes and DFS/BBS in three with a Futur (again, my beard isn't that thick, or tough).

If I can only get 3 shaves from a blade, I don't like it because it means those blades just aren't very good. Wilkinson Swords are the only blades I've not really liked thus far.
 
For me, it takes trying at least three of them in a row, and using each one for 2-3 shaves. Beyond that, I'm looking for -=sharpness=-.

This means little to no resistance whatsoever as the razor moves. I don't mind getting auditory feedback, but I want ZERO tactile feeback. You could call this "smoothness", I guess.

I have a few challenging places on my face (small moles, little bumps) and even though I can maneuver past them without trouble 80% of the time, I inevitably catch them at some point or another. When I do, I want them cut cleanly, without pain or resistance.

It was a clean, oozing cut that enchanted me with Bleue Extras, and a cut that drew me to souplex. (I'm very much in a souplex mode right now... they're fabulous!) It was a cut that got me excited about Bolzanos. Iridiums welcomed me with a nice cut, too.

Don't get me wrong, I've been cut by other blades, but only these blades have made that cut fast, painless and efficient. No tugging and no resistance, ever, is what brings me in.

Hope it helps,
-- Chet
 
my criteria for a blade?... Hmm, lets see, sharp, smooth, gets two or more shaves, and is easy on the budget, i guess that covers it. The most important thing for me is smooth, nothing worse than trying to use a blade that's rougher than ten miles of logging trail

+1
 
For me it's how it handles the ATG pass on my top lip.

I've got my lather & technique to a fairly constant point (IMO) but if I feel I'm still butchering my face after 3-4 shaves with the blade there tossed into the box under the sink never to be seen again.

So far some Dorco 301's & a pack of Wilkinson Swords are lurking in there but once I convince myself it's definitely not me the Feathers are taking a short trip as well :devil2:
 
I'm not fond of getting cut. I usually manage to avoid it--thus, Feathers are out for me.

If the blade gets the job done in a few passes without irritation or nicks, it makes it on the keeper list.

So far, for this newbie, that means SHARK SC.
 
1. After my shave(and before applying anything) my face feels buttery soft.

2. I can expect a minimum of 3-4 quality shaves from the blade.

3. I can tell when it's time to be changed.

4. A 100 pack is reasonably priced-and available.

5. It works in all of my razors(that I currently own!), but may have an affinity for a specific one.


marty
 
Allot of factors.

The most important one is "pull". If I'm using a blade and it pulls against my beard then it is a loser.It has to glide across my face.

Price, I get Astras for $9/hundred.

Usage, a blade must give me three to four shaves per blade.
 
I expect the first shave to be good. If it is really bad, I won't try it again. If it is reasonable I will keep using it until it gets dull.

I've started doing a side by side comparison with my favorites, either a Iridium or Feather. I use the new blade on one side and a couple of days old favorite on the other. If the new blade feels a lot worse, that is the end of the trial. (New blade in a Futur (3) and old blade in a Progress (3). This eliminates a bad prep as being the cause of a bad shave. (I just started doing this, because the Dorco was so bad that I thought it must be the prep, so I picked up the other razor to finish. )

I'm working through samples, but I've found several that I really liked, several that I did not like, and several that are "OK" So far Feathers, Super Iridium, and Astras are at the head of the list. Dorcos and Zorriks are at the bottom. Crystals, Derbys, Merkur, Sharks etc. in the middle.
 
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Allot of factors.

The most important one is "pull". If I'm using a blade and it pulls against my beard then it is a loser.It has to glide across my face.

Price, I get Astras for $9/hundred.

Usage, a blade must give me three to four shaves per blade.

+1

But where are you getting Astras for that price at? Are they the superior Stainless? I love that blade!

Shawn
 
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