Samplers, the only way to go.

[jlk819]

If you are new or relatively new to DE shaving (like I am)... Please order yourself a variety of blades to try. Don't rely on just reviews or what's getting talked about a lot on the forums.

I just finished up sampling a bunch of blades, and didn't know what I was missing. I had been shaving with the blades that were given to me - cheap Vincent blades made in China, not great, but it forced me to get my technique down.

I sampled Iridiums, Gillette Yellows, Gillette Blacks, Red IPs, Feathers, Derbys and Crystals.

The Super Irridiums, Feathers and Derby's get a lot of love on these boards. I hated them all. They didn't work well for me at all. Derbys, generally regarded as a smooth blade, was the worst of all of them for me.

The Gillette Blacks and Crystals also didn't perform all that well... although the Blacks felt great WTG, but XTG and ATG were another story.

So I'm shaving with Gillette Yellows and Red IPs which both feel marvelous for me. The Yellows are for days when I need a sharper blade, the Red IPs for when I want smoother.

My point in all of this is to highlight just how different your experience may be with your setup. It doesn't matter if I get a good shave with whatever brand, it only matters how it feels to you. So get out there and try, try, try.

 

[apino]

So true. Another relative newcomer here.

I can get a great shave from any of my razors (Gillette Aristocrat Junior, Merkur 23C and a ball-end Gillette Tech). But it requires the right blade choice for that razor/occasion. Which for me most of the time seems to be a Feather, especially in the Tech.

I think if you have multiple razors, samplers are even more indispensable. In addition to Feathers I've tried
- Gillette Swedes (could have been sharper)
- 7 O'clock yellows (seemed good & sharp but not sure about smooth)
- 7 O'clock blacks (not sharp or smooth enough)
- Astra SP's (haven't been able to decide yet, mostly good results - seems to work in the Merkur)
- Derbys (the worst of these hands down: too harsh)

Still have Sharks, Blue Birds, Merkurs & Israeli Red Pack Personnas to try.

 

[apino]

When evaluating it pays to keep all other factors (variables) constant such as prep method and cream/soap used.

Yes, being systematic will help. It won't hurt writing things down either. My approach has been nowhere near that logical though - I've been tossing in different blades more on impulse (and sometimes lost track of my "findings" along the way), but hey, at least it's been fun.

BTW, Derbys (vertical) were the worst of all of them for me as well.

It wasn't as bad as I expected (based on things I'd read on the web) but they gave me too much reddening and itching on the neck, at least on the first shave.

 

[Trainer7]

Yes, being systematic will help. It won't hurt writing things down either. My approach has been nowhere near that logical though - I've been tossing in different blades more on impulse (and sometimes lost track of my "findings" along the way), but hey, at least it's been fun.

I use an Excel workbook with a spreadsheet to keep track of my blade, razor in which it was used and comments, I keep a separate worksheet of blade ratings, and a separate shave log...
Can you say GEEK?

Joe.

 

[stringtyer]

I'm really glad to know that I am not alone in having an Excel file to keep up with razor blade/razor combinations. I just received a nice (Everything) sampler from WCS and have started with the Dorcos. I'll save the review for later.

 

[DE Shaver]

I'm really glad to know that I am not alone in having an Excel file to keep up with razor blade/razor combinations. I just received a nice (Everything) sampler from WCS and have started with the Dorcos. I'll save the review for later.

Notes are the way to go for keeping track of your results. I have a comprehensive set of notes on the various razor blades I've used, noting impressions and other tidbits. It seems like a lot of work (and somewhat strange) but having this information on hand allows you to track progress and determine best blades for your face and technique. It's also fun for me.

Admittedly, I do this as a holdover of when I was doing black and white photography and detailed note taking was a must if you want to reproduce good results. BTW, I still do traditionally B&W photography to this very day.

 

[Groat]

Yep, I'll parrot everybody else here. You do see YMMV often here on the boards, but nowhere does it ring more true than with blades.

 

[raisindot]

I totall agree with you on the benefits of sampling different brands.

I really do wonder if people like John at WCS or others have thought about creating a sampler pack consisting of 1 blade of 10 different brands? Yes, it would require breaking packages, but since most people get a like/dislike opinion after trying one blade, all the rest in a pack are either traded away or sold.

If he sold a little box containing one Feather, IR, Red Israeli Personna, Crystal, Gillette Yellow, Derby, Astra, Merkur, Gillette Bleue, Bluebird or a 20pack with all of these and other brands, and sold them say for $5 each for 10 pack and $10 for the 20 pack, it'd be a great way for people to try these out, although I'm not sure how much of a profit he would make.

Of course, plenty of people around here are willing to PIF these mini-samplers as well and that's another source.

Jeff in Boston

 

[CaptainK]

http://cgi.ebay.com/20-Feather-Blue...410?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b2115b0a

or

http://cgi.ebay.com/40-Feather-Blue...997?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b115e26d

+1 - hard to beat!