Going to buy a box of 100 and just wanting to get the consensus from the forum. I have tried about 3 of each and can't really tell the difference b/w the two. Would appreciate your vote on which you would go with. Thanks.
Labs or Med Preps
- Thread starter shaverjoe
- Start date
They are both Stainless Steel w/Comfort Coating (A.K.A. Super Stainless Steel)
Acorrding to Personna: Med Preps “Hospital Use” are the same blade as the Labs/Lab Blue, however they go through an extra cleansing/sterilization process prior to wrapping, making them safe for hospital operating rooms.
Acorrding to Personna: Med Preps “Hospital Use” are the same blade as the Labs/Lab Blue, however they go through an extra cleansing/sterilization process prior to wrapping, making them safe for hospital operating rooms.
Same blade, can't feel anything different. Price is much higher on meds because of sterilization process (my guess).
Given that the only logical choice is to buy the cheaper of the two, which are the Labs. There's no need to pay for the extra cleaning step (it is NOT a sterilization step).
Just like everyone has said...same blade.
However, the "Barbers" are NOT the same as the Labs/Meds. You will notice a difference in shaving characteristics between the two.
However, the "Barbers" are NOT the same as the Labs/Meds. You will notice a difference in shaving characteristics between the two.
What are the Barbers???
Blades so crappy that Personna won't stamp their name on them, or the paper they're wrapped in.
Personna Barbers are Platinum Chrome blades with PTFE coating (AKA Comfort coating). This is the highest 'grade' of blade that Personna makes. They can also be purchased from Sally Beauty in a dispenser, and they are sometimes labeled Super Platinum Chrome.
The Personna Barbers I bought were un-marked, in a plain white wrapper. Possibly one of the worst blades I have ever tried. Not at all in the league with the Meds or Labs.
I bought some in a dispenser from Sally Beauty and they were the same blades WCS was selling as Blues.
Here is a bit more info from TheVez2 regarding the many different Personna made blades.
Original thread: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/262737-Personna-Confusion-59353
Original thread: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/262737-Personna-Confusion-59353
Hopefully this clears up everything with regard to the American Personnas:
ASR Makes their Personna blades in 4 different "grades".
1) Stainless Steel
Packaged as: CVS house brand
2) Stainless Steel w/Comfort Coating* A.K.A. Super Stainless Steel**
Packaged as: Personna 5 pack (from Sally Beauty or WCS), Walgreens house brand, Blue wrapped Super AKA Lab Blue, Med Preps Hospital Use***
3) Platinum Chrome****
Packaged as: Personna 10 Pack (from Personna.com, Walmart.com), Exchange Select house brand (Military BX/PX)
4) Platinum Chrome w/Comfort Coating A.K.A. Super Platinum Chrome**
Packaged as: Personna 5 pack from Sally Beauty.com, Barber Personna (White wrapper)
* Comfort Coating means PTFE Teflon coated, and provides a smoother edge.
**Super on a blade just means that it has the comfort coating.
*** Med Preps Hospital Use are the same blade as the Labs/Lab Blue, however they go through an extra cleansing/sterilization process prior to wrapping, making them safe for hospital operating rooms.
**** Platinum Chrome blade is more durable and keeps its edge longer than Stainless Steel.
Example Packaging:
1) Stainless Steel
2) Stainless Steel w/Comfort Coating
3) Platinum Chrome
4) Platinum Chrome w/Comfort Coating
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Depending on which Sally you go to, they will either carry the Stainless or the Platinum Chrome. If it is stainless, then it is the same as the Lab/Blue. If it is Platinum Chrome then it is the same as the Barbers. My Sally only carries Platinum Chrome, but others have said they have found Stainless at theirs.
By the way, Blade #3 above, the Platinum Chrome, is my go to blade. I find it much smoother and longer lasting than the labs.
I thought they felt different, and I preferred the Lab Blues over the Med Preps.
It is a little odd that most folks seem to prefer the stainless super (lab) blades to the platinum chrome super (barber) blades. I have tried both myself, and felt that the barbers were less sharp than the labs. Possibly the underlying hone is the same, but the extra platinum-chrome coating(s) result in a larger tip radius on the barber blade edge?
In theory the platinum-chrome coating is for hardness, so that the blade stays sharp longer. But if the coating also makes the blade too dull for you, that is not much help.
In theory the platinum-chrome coating is for hardness, so that the blade stays sharp longer. But if the coating also makes the blade too dull for you, that is not much help.
