Personna Blade Question

[branford]

After all the rave reviews of the Personna Med Prep / Lab blades, I decided that I definitely needed to try them, particularly as they have been described as almost as sharp as Feathers but longer lasting. Although I quite enjoy the Feathers, they usually only last for two shaves for me.

During a recent trip to Pasteur's in NYC, I saw a blue pack of Personna blades that appeared to be nearly identical to the 5 packs of Lab blades listed by West Coast Shaving and Razor Blades & More. I've purchased and used two of the blades. First, in contrast to the Lab blades pictured in various forum posts, these had no writing other than "Made in the USA" and arrows. Most importantly, not only were the blades NOT sharp and smooth, they felt absolutely horrendous. I refused to endure either blade for an entire shave.

Based on my photos below, could anyone confirm that these are actually the Personna Lab blades that many enjoy. I would hate to eliminate a potentially great and inexpensive option because I accidentally bought the wrong blade.

Thanks for the help!

-----Steve

 

[Vickers]

They are not the same as the Labs I have.

PM me your address and I'll send you some.

 

[osher4441]

try all kinds of personna, you got the Israeli Red, Labs and some more unknown kinds, like Viking's sword whice are great!
enjoy trying them all!

 

[ackvil]

This is what the lab and med blades should look like.


The one on the left has the words For Hospital Use imprinted on the blades. Otherwise, the blades look the same and the wrapper is identical.

 

[bryan1980]

Yup, you got the "barber" blades, that sometimes get passed-off as Labs. My experience was the same as yours, not very good at all. The only way I can see to sample an actual Lab blade is to have someone PIF you a few to try, or go for it and buy a box of 100. Even if you do the latter, there's not much risk involved, since there only around $13.00/100, and even if you don't like them, they'll be a quick sell on B/S/T, as they are a very popular blade around here.

 

[branford]

I'm apparently not crazy and these probably aren't the Lab blades. Vickers has graciously offered to send my some actual Labs to try. I hope they work out. I certainly would't mind a sharp, smooth and inexpensive blade made in the USA.

On a related note, how do the Labs compare to the Personna Reds from Israel? They also appear to get good reviews. Also, is there any difference between the Reds in the cardboard package with 5 blades and those in the plastic tucks with 10 blades sold by West Coast Shaving and some European vendors?

Thanks again for help.

 

[bryan1980]

I'm apparently not crazy and these probably aren't the Lab blades. Vickers has graciously offered to send my some actual Labs to try. I hope they work out. I certainly would't mind a sharp, smooth and inexpensive blade made in the USA.

On a related note, how do the Labs compare to the Personna Reds from Israel? They also appear to get good reviews. Also, is there any difference between the Reds in the cardboard package with 5 blades and those in the plastic tucks with 10 blades sold by West Coast Shaving and some European vendors?

Thanks again for help.

Good deal, hope you like the blades! There's always a member ready to help another member on this forum.

Also, as far as the red Personnas go, they are the same blade, just in different packaging. I found them to be very smooth and forgiving blade.

 

[branford]

Good deal, hope you like the blades! There's always a member ready to help another member on this forum.

Also, as far as the red Personnas go, they are the same blade, just in different packaging. I found them to be very smooth and forgiving blade.

Thanks. Also, are the "Israeli Personna" / Crystal blades the blade as the Red Personna?

These Personna / ASR bllades definitely are confusing - Lab/Med/Red/Cyrstal/store brands . . !

 

[John Von Wuggz]

Those look like the Personna Blue I found at Sally's Beauty Supply.

 

[bryan1980]

Thanks. Also, are the "Israeli Personna" / Crystal blades the blade as the Red Personna?

These Personna / ASR bllades definitely are confusing - Lab/Med/Red/Cyrstal/store brands . . !

Nope, the IP/Crystals are a different blade than the red Personnas. In fact, Personna doesn't acknowledge that the reds even exist.

Personna blades are a nightmare for shaving supply vendors. They change packaging so often its hard to tell what blades you're even getting.

 

[wrinkles2]

They look the same as A typical Personna five pack from WCS.

 

[Toothpick]

take a look at the 1:40 mark in the video from this thread

apear to be the same blade. Just a regular blade they've been making for years i reckon. but not the labs or meds.

 

[Dools]

The "barber" blades say, on the back, made in Conus, or, a term that non-BBers relate to......Just sayin'...

I finally got a 5 pack at Sally Beauty.....I knicked a mole I have on my upper lip. Haven't nicked it a long time. So, they may be a little sharper than I am used to.

 

[Toothpick]

The "barber" blades say, on the back, made in Conus, or, a term that non-BBers relate to......Just sayin'...

I finally got a 5 pack at Sally Beauty.....I knicked a mole I have on my upper lip. Haven't nicked it a long time. So, they may be a little sharper than I am used to.

quick learner!

 

[TheVez2]

The blades the OP posted are the same blades as the Blue Labs. They are both Stainless Steel, Comfort Coated blades. The reason the blades are marked differently is because of the packaging. The labs say what they are because they are loose packed. The other ones come in a dispenser and need the arrows on them to tell you which way to push it to get it out of the dispenser. All four grades of Personna blades that come in dispensers look identical out of the dispenser.

 

[branford]

The blades the OP posted are the same blades as the Blue Labs. They are both Stainless Steel, Comfort Coated blades. The reason the blades are marked differently is because of the packaging. The labs say what they are because they are loose packed. The other ones come in a dispenser and need the arrows on them to tell you which way to push it to get it out of the dispenser. All four grades of Personna blades that come in dispensers look identical out of the dispenser.

Mmmmm, . . . confusion still abounds. I certainly hope my blades are not the Labs, or if the are, that I just bought a bum pack. Once I receive and use the blades Vickers is sending me, I'll report my observations.

Another thought - my pack of blades my be very old stock. The packaging doesn't state that they are "25% Sharper" as other Lab packages I've seen ???

 

[edw]

Most importantly, not only were the blades NOT sharp and smooth, they felt absolutely horrendous. I refused to endure either blade for an entire shave.

I bought a box of 100 Personna blue labs and had same feeling. But those are not the same you showed in the picture,they have Personna and made in USA printed over the blade.

 

[Vickers]

I put some Personna Labs in the mail for you yesterday, along with 3 other kinds of blades.

 

[cubfanbob]

Mmmmm, . . . confusion still abounds. I certainly hope my blades are not the Labs, or if the are, that I just bought a bum pack. Once I receive and use the blades Vickers is sending me, I'll report my observations.

Another thought - my pack of blades my be very old stock. The packaging doesn't state that they are "25% Sharper" as other Lab packages I've seen ???

One more time... the blades you bought are NOT Labs.

Please look again at the pictures in Post #4 - the "Labs" are on the right, with PERSONNA printed on them, along with SUPER and MADE IN USA. The "Med Preps" are on the left, with FOR HOSPITAL USE printed on them.

The blades you have are usually referred to as Personna "Barbers" and are decidedly inferior to both the Labs and Meds.

 

[branford]

I put some Personna Labs in the mail for you yesterday, along with 3 other kinds of blades.

Vickers, thanks again! I cannot wait to try the unequivocal Personna Labs and finally put any confusion to rest. However, the great mystery that is Personna/ASR blades and packaging will certainly live on.