So as a relative newbie to DE shaving (3+ months), I decided to wait until my technique and ability to create a consistent lather were solid before i posted any blade reviews.
Having come from cart shaving for almost 20 years, it luckily didn't take that long to get the feel for a DE razor (it is still shaving after all!); but it did take a bit to get a consistently good lather.
With all that now worked out and 4 different blades tested so far, i now feel i can post a review that (hopefully) reflects on how the blade actually performs.
As the title suggests, i'll be posting one blade review a month. I shave 3 times a week and will be tossing each blade after shave #4. I'm using two of each blade so that i can factor in consistancy between blades in the reviews.
My ultimate goal is to find the best performing blade for my face so i can buy in bulk; but since i bought some relatively obscure blades i figured others might be interested in reading my thoughts on them. Plus it's a helpful way to remind me of which blades i like best and why.
I have 30 different blades to try (plus the originals that came with my razor) so my reviews should cover a pretty wide selection.
Each blade will be reviewed based on a 2 pass (plus touch up) shave using a Van Def Hagen razor, Henry Cavendish shave soap and a generic Fento badger brush. I'll be grading based on sharpness, smoothness, longevity and consistency. Price will be a factor but only of it's very cheap or expensive since most DE blades are pretty cheap comparatively.
So without further ado, here's my first review:
Van Der Hagen Blades:
These were the first DE blades i tried and a tuck of 5 were included when i purchased the razor. There is some speculation that these blades are rebranded Timor's or Merkur's but absent any real verification, I'll assume they're an entirely seperate brand.
The blades were manufactured in Germany and boast that they're "ice-tempered". What ice tempering does to steel i know not, but it does evoke images of sharpness and smoothness at the same time; which is why i assume it's got little or nothing to do with actual performance.
My initial impression was that the blade itself isn't all that sharp. There was a decent amount of tug and pull on the first pass, but not so much that it was totally off-putting.
We all know razor blades are not "dull" but when talking about sharp vs not so sharp blades, this was somewhere in the middle trending toward the not so sharp side.
After 2 passes and some touch up, i was left with a fairly close shave. Nothing to write home about, but not anywhere near terrible. As far as irritation, it was pretty minimal. A little bit on one problem area of my neck, but over the course of 8 shaves there was no significant irritation and no weepers or nicks.
As far as longevity, the blade dulled up signifigantly on the 3rd and epecially 4th shaves to the point where i wouldn't be comfortable going any further. I'd consider this probably the biggest weak spot for this particular blade. Especially because these blades are extremely expensive when bought on their own. They're currently selling for 17.29 per 30 on amazon.
Consistency was very good as i could not notice any major difference from blade to blade.
Overall based strictly on performance, i'd rate these a 5 out of 10. They would make a very good beginners blade (as i can attest) since they're pretty forgiving of bad technique and are still sharp enough to get a decent shave. With that said, for someone with more experience they're a pretty mediocre blade and at the listed price, it's almost as bad as paying for carts.
If you happen to be gifted some or find them on clearance, it may be worth a try if you have very sensitive skin. Stay away if your whiskers are extremely coarse or if you have to pay full price.
Up next month, i'll be reviewing ZAE blades. Till then happy shaving!
Having come from cart shaving for almost 20 years, it luckily didn't take that long to get the feel for a DE razor (it is still shaving after all!); but it did take a bit to get a consistently good lather.
With all that now worked out and 4 different blades tested so far, i now feel i can post a review that (hopefully) reflects on how the blade actually performs.
As the title suggests, i'll be posting one blade review a month. I shave 3 times a week and will be tossing each blade after shave #4. I'm using two of each blade so that i can factor in consistancy between blades in the reviews.
My ultimate goal is to find the best performing blade for my face so i can buy in bulk; but since i bought some relatively obscure blades i figured others might be interested in reading my thoughts on them. Plus it's a helpful way to remind me of which blades i like best and why.
I have 30 different blades to try (plus the originals that came with my razor) so my reviews should cover a pretty wide selection.
Each blade will be reviewed based on a 2 pass (plus touch up) shave using a Van Def Hagen razor, Henry Cavendish shave soap and a generic Fento badger brush. I'll be grading based on sharpness, smoothness, longevity and consistency. Price will be a factor but only of it's very cheap or expensive since most DE blades are pretty cheap comparatively.
So without further ado, here's my first review:
Van Der Hagen Blades:
These were the first DE blades i tried and a tuck of 5 were included when i purchased the razor. There is some speculation that these blades are rebranded Timor's or Merkur's but absent any real verification, I'll assume they're an entirely seperate brand.
The blades were manufactured in Germany and boast that they're "ice-tempered". What ice tempering does to steel i know not, but it does evoke images of sharpness and smoothness at the same time; which is why i assume it's got little or nothing to do with actual performance.
My initial impression was that the blade itself isn't all that sharp. There was a decent amount of tug and pull on the first pass, but not so much that it was totally off-putting.
We all know razor blades are not "dull" but when talking about sharp vs not so sharp blades, this was somewhere in the middle trending toward the not so sharp side.
After 2 passes and some touch up, i was left with a fairly close shave. Nothing to write home about, but not anywhere near terrible. As far as irritation, it was pretty minimal. A little bit on one problem area of my neck, but over the course of 8 shaves there was no significant irritation and no weepers or nicks.
As far as longevity, the blade dulled up signifigantly on the 3rd and epecially 4th shaves to the point where i wouldn't be comfortable going any further. I'd consider this probably the biggest weak spot for this particular blade. Especially because these blades are extremely expensive when bought on their own. They're currently selling for 17.29 per 30 on amazon.
Consistency was very good as i could not notice any major difference from blade to blade.
Overall based strictly on performance, i'd rate these a 5 out of 10. They would make a very good beginners blade (as i can attest) since they're pretty forgiving of bad technique and are still sharp enough to get a decent shave. With that said, for someone with more experience they're a pretty mediocre blade and at the listed price, it's almost as bad as paying for carts.
If you happen to be gifted some or find them on clearance, it may be worth a try if you have very sensitive skin. Stay away if your whiskers are extremely coarse or if you have to pay full price.
Up next month, i'll be reviewing ZAE blades. Till then happy shaving!
