Can somebody point me to a page that illustrates all the different US made Personna DE blades. I've heard varying descriptions of some and have trouble connecting them to the ones I get a Sally's and from BB members. Labs, Blues, Med Prep. Thanks!
Personna Model Variety Guide
- Thread starter BayRhum
- Start date
Poor yourself a drink or two. Clear your mind and have at it.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/51858-The-Official-Guide-to-Israeli-Made-DE-Blades
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/51858-The-Official-Guide-to-Israeli-Made-DE-Blades
I read went to the link that The Dean provided but I think that only addresses the Israeli Personna blades. The US made Personna blades that the OP asked about represents yet another level of confusion.
Sorry I don't have the relevant threads at my finger tips but if you search for them on this forum you will unfortunately find contracticting posts, inadvertent mis-information, and probably an incomplete conclusion.
I haven't found a Personna blade I really like so I don't have a dog in this fight but I enjoy the mystery and speculation around the Personna products.
Of the US blades I've tried what is commonly called "Meds" (For Hospital Use printed on the blades), "Labs", (the blades the have the same paper wrappers as the "Meds" but different bulk packaging and different test on the blades), "Barbers" (the blades available from RB&M that are have plain white wrappers and no text written on the blades, only arrows), and the blister packed blades in a dispenser from Sally's Beauty Supply.
Now for my oppinion which has no scientific evidence to support it.
"Meds & Labs" While I've seen microscopic photos of these blades that show them to be different blades, I think they are the same and any difference in appearance or shaving peformance is more likely a result of manufacturing inconsistencies. I also DON'T believe the often repeated explanation that the "Meds" go through an additional cleansing or sterilizing process. As far as I've been able to ascertain, Personna has NEVER claimed that the blades are sterile. I think it is more likely that years ago Personna realized that they could inflate the price of their product for health care providers that aren't as frugal as buyers in the consumer market.
"Barbers" I think the blades available from Sally's (and other retailers) and the loose blades from RB&M are the same. The ones in the Sally's packaging have frequently also been referred to as "Labs" or "Lab Blues" probably becuase the packaging closely resembles the 100 pack packaging of "Labs". I think it's also highly likely that the "Barbers" are the same blades that are available from MANY retailers under their store brand (CVS for example).
Again, none of these blades are my favorites but recently I used Sally's version becuase I neglected to stock up my travel kit and I needed to buy some blades while on vacation. I'm not going to say the blades "sucked" but they weren't very sharp and they became even less sharp after a single use. They also felt rough (jagged) and I had to accept a less close shave or risk irritation. I'd rather use them than a cart but I'll never reach for them while I have any of the blades in my regular rotation.
The Meds & Labs are much loved on this forum and I wish I had the same experience because 100 packs of Labs are readily available for $13 shipped. They also perform consistently well in the Blind Tests that Oscroft frequently administers on this forum.
Sorry I don't have the relevant threads at my finger tips but if you search for them on this forum you will unfortunately find contracticting posts, inadvertent mis-information, and probably an incomplete conclusion.
I haven't found a Personna blade I really like so I don't have a dog in this fight but I enjoy the mystery and speculation around the Personna products.
Of the US blades I've tried what is commonly called "Meds" (For Hospital Use printed on the blades), "Labs", (the blades the have the same paper wrappers as the "Meds" but different bulk packaging and different test on the blades), "Barbers" (the blades available from RB&M that are have plain white wrappers and no text written on the blades, only arrows), and the blister packed blades in a dispenser from Sally's Beauty Supply.
Now for my oppinion which has no scientific evidence to support it.
"Meds & Labs" While I've seen microscopic photos of these blades that show them to be different blades, I think they are the same and any difference in appearance or shaving peformance is more likely a result of manufacturing inconsistencies. I also DON'T believe the often repeated explanation that the "Meds" go through an additional cleansing or sterilizing process. As far as I've been able to ascertain, Personna has NEVER claimed that the blades are sterile. I think it is more likely that years ago Personna realized that they could inflate the price of their product for health care providers that aren't as frugal as buyers in the consumer market.
"Barbers" I think the blades available from Sally's (and other retailers) and the loose blades from RB&M are the same. The ones in the Sally's packaging have frequently also been referred to as "Labs" or "Lab Blues" probably becuase the packaging closely resembles the 100 pack packaging of "Labs". I think it's also highly likely that the "Barbers" are the same blades that are available from MANY retailers under their store brand (CVS for example).
Again, none of these blades are my favorites but recently I used Sally's version becuase I neglected to stock up my travel kit and I needed to buy some blades while on vacation. I'm not going to say the blades "sucked" but they weren't very sharp and they became even less sharp after a single use. They also felt rough (jagged) and I had to accept a less close shave or risk irritation. I'd rather use them than a cart but I'll never reach for them while I have any of the blades in my regular rotation.
The Meds & Labs are much loved on this forum and I wish I had the same experience because 100 packs of Labs are readily available for $13 shipped. They also perform consistently well in the Blind Tests that Oscroft frequently administers on this forum.
Oops. My bad. I wasn't thinking straight. There is another long thread on the US Personnas and you summed up the discussion pretty succinctly.
When I first got interested in this thing of ours, I thought Personna was the only brand that had this issue. Now I see label confusion is simply par for the course in the blade world.
- Thread starter
- #5
Maybe there are just two US Personnas. Lab Blue and Med Preps.
http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Personna-Lab-Blue-Double-Edge-Blades-5-blades_p_1158.html
http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Personna-Medical-Prep-Double-Edge-Razor-Blades-100-pak_p_883.html
http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Personna-Lab-Blue-Double-Edge-Blades-5-blades_p_1158.html
http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Personna-Medical-Prep-Double-Edge-Razor-Blades-100-pak_p_883.html
I’ve been confused on this also. I’ve been using Personna Super Platinum I bought under the Post Exchange (PX) Brand. I happen to like these blades a lot. My first blades I bought a month ago at CVS also Personna under the CVS brand was terrible. I’m a new DE shaver so that has something to do with it, but the CVS blades did not say Platinum were as the PX brand did. I’ve been told in another thread that the PX brand is Personna Barbers.
I did order 10 Medical Personna from here:
http://www.razorbladesandmore.com/content/10-medical-personna-double-edge-prep-blades
I’m looking forward to trying them this weekend.
I did order 10 Medical Personna from here:
http://www.razorbladesandmore.com/content/10-medical-personna-double-edge-prep-blades
I’m looking forward to trying them this weekend.
The blades in the first link are the same as the ones I purchased from the Sally's Beauty Supply. It's been a long time since I used one of the "Lab" blades in the link below but I'm am ALMOST certain they are not the same blades. The blades in the link below are the ones that are generally believed to be the same as the "Med" (For Hospital Use) blades.
http://www.amazon.com/Personna-Doub...8919299&sr=8-1&keywords=personna+razor+blades
Look like "Barbers" to me, But I find it hard to imagine WCS would intentionally mislabel their products.
This is the link you seek:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/262737-Personna-Confusion-59353
Check out post #18.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/262737-Personna-Confusion-59353
Check out post #18.
That is a great post.
Very interesting.....the difference between personna labs and meds. For the sake of The Great Blade Exchange I guess I can combine the blades then since there is no difference that would relate to anyone exchanging for them.
Goodbuy personna lab AND personna med....hello Personna Blue!
I don't want to upset the apple cart here or jack the thread, but I have a bunch of Personnas that look like they are in the old "Israeli Red" packaging. The blades, however, are stamped "Made in U.S.A." Can anyone clarify what the heck they are?
I have read Personna threads until I'm dizzy and still can't find any info on them.
I have read Personna threads until I'm dizzy and still can't find any info on them.
- Thread starter
- #14
Wow. The confusion gets deeper.
On another note, are Barbers the same as Blues?
On another note, are Barbers the same as Blues?
According to this link, Barbers are Platinum Chrome and Blues and Meds are Stainless Steel:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/262737-Personna-Confusion-59353?p=3638400#post3638400
In reference to the Made in USA red packaged blades above: I saw mention of these blades on the forums perhaps 12 or so months ago at the same time an EBay seller had lots for sale. To paraphrase, they are an older ("vintage") Personna product, likely introduced to the market prior the appearance of the original Red IPs and then discontinued. My best guess is they liked the packaging idea then just switched the location of manufacture.
Those "vintage" Personna Platinum Chromes are very sharp and only lacking a bit in the smoothness department, but in my opinion a good alternative to Feathers.
The blister pack WCS sells as Blue Labs shave different, and not as good, to me as the Blue labels. They also show up in places like Kroger. These are the blades with the arrows on them. I don't think WCS intentionally mislabels their blades...and when it comes down to it, the performance of blades is so subjective, we may never know until we smuggle someone in to the Personna factory. Which is also why I called part of my current PIF "Personna of the Mysteries." Tongue firmly in cheek. 
There many people who think they are the same and many who do not. Perception is important.
