Noob + Blade Sampler = No Real Results??

[smarks]

First and Foremost - I am still a Noob in every sense of the word.

I have a Blade Sampler pack with something like a total of 60 blades. I understand the idea is to continue to use 1 certain blade 3-4 times (with an average of 4 shaves per blade). If I only shave 5 days a week, that is almost a Specific Blade Brand per month from the sampler. I would then have the Sampler done in approx. 1 year.

Dilemma: Since I am a Noob, won't my technique only get better with time? So, the blades I start out with first might make me raw or give me irritation or not cut as expected and the blades after 6/9/12 months might be awesome in every aspect, but you really can't compare the end blade to the first blade because the technique was (most likely) refined from a "you call that technique" to "technique master".

Solution?? To make this completely fair, shouldn't I use a certain blade exclusively for 6/9/12 months (whenever I feel the technique is great) and then start the Blade Sampler to have a better guage on what the blade is actually doing??

Thanks for letting my analytical side pour out here..

 

[r0ckrat]

This is basically what I did. I started out using the blades that came with my razor (a Weishi with 5 Derby, 5 Personna, and 5 Dorco 300). I shaved for about 2 months, using those blades, then found this forum and ordered a blade sampler. I've now deetermined that the Dorco 300's are not for me, but need to go back and re-try the personnas and Derby's. These were the blades I used up first in the beginning while learning the technique, so my current opinion is not accurate for those blades.

My wife is now also shaving DE with a Gillette Lady Star, and has been having good luck with the Derby's. I've had good luck with the Dorco 301's, Wilkinson Sword, and 7 a.m. green pack so far in the sampler.

 

[Luc]

That's a way to see it.

I would stick to a middle-road blade. Something that should be ok, like Derby/Astra. I would try to find a blade that would make the shave the easiest. It could be one of those two, it could be Merkur, it could be Feather, it could be something else. As soon as you find something that feels better than average, stick with that one. when you will be into 3 months of wetshaving, I recommend going back to those blades that gave you a mediocre shave... They magically improved.

I strated with Merkur and thought they were ok but no more. Astra where awesome and when I tried Merkur again, 6 months later, they were good!

 

[michiganlover]

I would in general agree, you should shave with the same brand of blade (assuming they are just not total crap, that is ripping your face up) for at least the first two months, so you can develop at least somewhat repeatable results.

If you can limit your variables, you will have greater success at pinpointing just what exactly went wrong. If you change multiple variables at once, you won't know what change caused your shave to go off track.

I am currently working though the various blades I have accumulated. I am trying to keep the variables at a minimum without creating a dull, boring shaving experience in the process.

For me, I have decided that 9-12 shaves per blade brand should suffice, but find a solution that works best for you.

 

[Slade xTekno]

This is what I did, although not for as long as you mentioned. I learned to shave on two packs of Merkurs. After I reached what I felt was a decent level of competency, I bought a "sampler" (I picked and chose blades I had heard good things about) and settled on Personna IRPs as my go-to blade.