Good afternoon gents! I just had a quick question about Artist Club blades. I picked up an Artist Club SS and I have been REALLY enjoying it. The member I bought it from included a pack of Kai blades with Guard and Feather Professional blades. I have been using the Kai Guards, but noticed that there is some tugging going on at times, which is fairly uncomfortable for me. I am not ready to jump into the Feather Professional blades yet. I was thinking of picking up some Feather ProGuards, but I wasn't sure if that would remedy the situation. To the gents that have used both, what are the differences, if any, between the Kai Guards and the Feather ProGuards? I appreciate any help, thanks!
Question about Artist Club blades
- Thread starter NSmalls
- Start date
I haven't used any of the guarded blades, but my suggestion is to just jump right into the Feather Professionals. If your technique is good, you should have no problem.
- Thread starter
- #3
Frank I have no major blood loss. Just little nicks here and there but nothing that required a styptic pencil. I shaved with the SS 4 days in a row but I can't handle another day. Tonight is gonna be a DE shave with a mild razor, much needed. My face was on fire after last night's shave. I don't know if it's because my technique is poor or because I shaved too close. Normally when I shave too close I experience irritation no matter what. I typically aim for a DFS.
These blades are super super sharp. I don't think there should be any tugging whatsoever. Make sure your are stretching your skin and that you use absolutely no pressure. You want the razor to practically hover over your skin, barely whisking away your soap and whiskers. The lighter the better, in my experience.
my suggestion...give your face two days to heal.
when you next use the AC, load it with one of the Feather pro blades.
And, as suggested above, let it hover over the skin, just skimming lather.
Then, let us know how it went!!
when you next use the AC, load it with one of the Feather pro blades.
And, as suggested above, let it hover over the skin, just skimming lather.
Then, let us know how it went!!
Last edited by a moderator:
I've never used the Kai guard blades, but I have used the Feathers. As far as I'm concerned just the idea of a guard blade tends to convey a sense of safety, and are better to use, because one might think they won't nick themselves. I found just the opposite to be true. When I used the Feathers I tended to nick myself more. IMHO the Feather Pro blades are really nice, and give me the best results. I'm sure YMMV, but I don't care at all for any guarded blade.
my suggestion...give your face two days to heal.
when you next use the AC, load it with one of the Feather pro blades.
And, as suggested above, let it hover over the skin, just skimming lather.
Then, let us know how it went!!
+1. Great advice!
Last edited by a moderator:
For me the guarded blades (feather and kai) don't give me great shaves, I much prefer the Feather Pro, super pro, Dorco and kai mild blades.
I have never used KAI blades. I would like to try them. I'm using Feather blades. Time to time I have the same problem with Feather guarded blades, but mostly it is because of me; I have it mostly with a blade which is used for a few times and I have thick beard hair. If I don't apply enough pressure on the razor, then it pulls some of my thick beard hairs. To avoid this I make make fast-short movements; it's more like chopping then cutting. This happens especially when I shave my chin area and places where I have to be careful and begin shaving soft and slow. About your irritation; I had the same problem when I began shaving with shavette like blades. What I have done to solve this problem is to place the blade flat on my face almost parallel to my face, then begin to push and and while doing this lift the non-shaving side of the blade slowly till I reach angle when the razor begins to shave. If your angle is to steep and your skin is sensitive, then you would get skin irritation. The other thing is that you should apply minimum pressure; you should almost let the razor do the job. One other thing is to stretch your skin very good. You can apply alum on your fingertips so that they wouldn't slip on your face. My #1 problem was not stretching my skin good enough. You should not let your skin bounce back when you shave. Because I have thick beard hair and did not stretch my skin strongly, after the beard was cut, the skin was bouncing back to its original place but it would get in touch with the blade and there you have your nick and cut! You should stretch your skin so tight that it shouldn't be possible for him to bounce back. That is why I like the head of Feather Artist Club SS.
Being new to straights, I agree the Feather ProGuard are problem free here. I do usually do some touch up with a DE though, my neck is near impossible to get unless I get angles just so. Instead of causing irritation or nicks with the Feather, I will attack with a Slim opened to 9 (no pressure).
I got 7 shaves with the first ProGuard blade, I hear they can last longer, but I felt it was better, as a newbie, to replace it early. It was showing signs of mild deterioration of the edge, and I don't want to push it. I do want to order some Feather Professional blades...
- Thread starter
- #13
Just wanted to report back with my findings. I ended up picking up a pack of ProGuards from the BST. I have found out that the Kai Guards are milder than the ProGuards. I am getting trouble free shaves with the SS but still having a little bit of trouble with the DX, but I don't attribute that to the blades anymore, I now attribute it to technique. I am very close to trying the Professional blades in my SS in the next week or so. Have been too scared up until this point, but with a little more refining of the technique, I think I will be ready. I do not think I am ready for the Professional blades in the DX, as I am still having a little bit of trouble with this specific razor.
Nothing wrong with the SS. I love mine. You say Kai guarded blades are milder? I will avoid those, then! The Feather ProGuards are just right, IMO (I have coarse/wirey whiskers, though)
I, too need to venture into unguarded blades. Maybe after I go through another guarded blade or two, I'm starting to get the hang of it.
I find the guards more comfortable to shave my head with, but not so for my face. For my face the blades without guard/protection shave better/smoother for me.
I recently tried the feather pro guard with the dx and was totally pleased. For me, even smoother than the pro's. Excellent blade!
- Thread starter
- #18
Sarimento, I finally took your advice and went with a Feather Pro for my shave tonight. I finally felt confident enough to do this! I found I got a smoother shave with the Pro's.
This is my experience also....
+1 to this.
I use the Professional blades only. If your technique is good with a traditional straight, these should offer no challenge.
