Smoothest & harmless DE razor blade

[MacTukaTa]

Hello fellas,
I'm new in this forum and newbie in DE shaving. Yesterday I receive my MERKUR HD from WestCoastShaving (I'm from Bulgaria)
and now I'm searching for the perfect razor blade for me, but I don't wanna try any of the sample packs.
I have sensitive and very soft skin, so i'm searching for the smoothest and harmless razor blade on the market.
Here in Bulgaria there are very few razor-blade brands available: the most common blade POLSILVER made in Poland,
Gillette Stainless made in St Petersburg - Russia, Super-Max Platinum made in India, and Wilkinson Sword made in Germany

For me Polsilver is very sharp, Gillette too + I get irritation, SuperMax is garbage, only Wilkinson is good to me.

After reading a lot of reviews I come to the conclusion the blades that might suit me are Red Personna's Israeli and Derby Extra,
but I'll be grateful if you advise me too.

 

[cfriend]

I don't think a razor blade can be harmless, it's very nature is to cut! But in all seriousness, I have found the Wilkinson Classic blades to be pretty mild on my skin, not sure how they compare to the ones available locally to you. Other members may be able to offer better advice.

You may have to try several blades to find what suits you best! Welcome to B&B!

edit: Just read the whole post (stopped at pictures the first time) looks like we agree on Wilkinson.

 

[MasterP]

Welcome to B&B!
There is no getting around it, you will have to try different blades, so getting the sampler pack maybe good.
There are other variables to consider also, especially what cream and soap you use and how lubricating your lather is. A thin lather will cause more irritation.
Also which razor you use and what setting, if it is an adjustable.

 

[RGB480]

The reason for the sample packs, and the reason everybody pushes them is simple. Every face, and every person's technique is different. Therefore the way the razor blade acts is different. It's not about making you buy more blades. There is no definite "soft, medium, hard" here. The sharpest blades are smoother for some people than anything else. Other people can't stand the sharpest blades and say they're not smooth. Way too many variables for anybody to tell you witch blade will work the best for you. You are the only person that can do this by testing for yourself.

Welcome to B&B

 

[strat1117]

You also need to consider that the level of aggressiveness has as much to do with the razor as it does with the blade. The HD is a wonderful razor, I would say medium to aggressive, but it is not the most gentle, especially for a beginner. For that, you might want to consider a Gillette Tech, until you have honed your technique enough to use the HD with confidence.

Hope that helps.

 

[Myanmar Shave]

MacTukaTa-

Welcome to B&B,

Since you have the Merkur HD already, I would recommend you get some Crystal (Israeli made) blades and just shave with them alone until you get your technique and confidence down. Actually I think once you get your technique down, a sampler pack is an excellent way to "fine-tune" what would work for you.

You should not fear sharper blades--actually they can work to your benefit as your whiskers will be cut more easily and with fewer passes--less irritation. In time you will probably want to gravitate to sharper blades.

I agree with strat117 100%..A Gillette Tech razor is an excellent razor to begin with..They are easy to find, shave great for beginner to advanced and are made to last a lifetime. If you find yourself unhappy with the HD try a Tech. It's probably best for you to pick one blade and use that for a while.

Good luck and let us know how it works out for you!!

Marty E.

 

[mretzloff]

Try Dorco ST-300 or Dorco ST-301. I have the ST-300s and they are very smooth and I have never cut myself with them.

Derbies are also harmless.

If I were you, I'd get a Gillette Tech and some Dorcos and Derbies.

 

[Hanzo]

Best combo of smooth and sharp to me is: Lord Extra. Reminds me of but is better in my small mind than the Polsilver . YMMV. Lord Extra seems to work for me in taming aggressive razors like the Fatboy , Red Tip or Aristocrat.

 

[james_rockford77]

You also need to consider that the level of aggressiveness has as much to do with the razor as it does with the blade. The HD is a wonderful razor, I would say medium to aggressive, but it is not the most gentle, especially for a beginner. For that, you might want to consider a Gillette Tech, until you have honed your technique enough to use the HD with confidence.

Hope that helps.

MacTukaTa-

I agree with strat117 100%..A Gillette Tech razor is an excellent razor to begin with..They are easy to find, shave great for beginner to advanced and are made to last a lifetime. If you find yourself unhappy with the HD try a Tech. It's probably best for you to pick one blade and use that for a while.

Good luck and let us know how it works out for you!!

Marty E.

Try Dorco ST-300 or Dorco ST-301. I have the ST-300s and they are very smooth and I have never cut myself with them.

Derbies are also harmless.

If I were you, I'd get a Gillette Tech and some Dorcos and Derbies.

Seeing all of these suggestions for a beginner to use a Gillette Tech warms my heart

 

[Stubblefield]

Can you get the Super Iridiums? Made in Russia. They are very smooth.

 

[evilmojojo]

I've used Derby's they cut my face up.

Astra SP's have been the smoothest I've tried so far, impressive sharp too considering their smoothness, and I've never cut my self with them.

 

[rm71]

Welcome. Red Pesonnas are a good blades as well as Derby. Are you able to Astra blades in Bulgaria? They are a great blade IMO.

 

[MacTukaTa]

Thank you all for the suggestions, but here in Bulgaria the life-standard is below the middle of life-standard in EU and the salaries are low. That's why after quite a lot reading in this forum I decide to buy the Merkur HD as an only safety razor for the near future, because for me this is expensive purchase and I can't afford to buy another razor (Gillette Tech). I think the HD is perfect for me because it's not my 1st DE razor - when I first started shaving before 7 years my first razor was a old russian TTO safety razor, given to me by my uncle. I used it nearly 2 years, before the twist-to-open mechanism ruins and I was forced to throw away this beautiful razor. But for this 2 years I was shaving well and the only thing that cost me several cuts was the bad blades - in that time on the bulgarian market there was only 1 blade brand available - Polsilver (and they were very, very sharp for 16 year old DE beginner).

But my point was that the HD is my second DE razor and i'm not an absolute newbie to DE razor shaving. So i'll stick to the HD and my only concern is to find the right blade for me.

In lots of places with reviews I find out that the best blades for beginners are DORCO ST300, Red IPs and maybe that Crystal's that you mention. That's so I'm thinking to purchase from internet 3 x 10 from each of this three brands.

Once again - thank you for your suggestions. I'll let you know when I find out THE blade for me

 

[MacTukaTa]

I've just shave for the first time with my HD loaded with Wilkinson Sword blades and it was absolutely amazing, smooth shave. Even no irritation on my sensitive neck... nothing. This first shave with DE was magical, like I was shaving for the 100 time.

 

[bro-ham]

Glad the first shave with the new razor went well. Now you will have to compare them to the other available razors in your area. Or stick with the Wilkinson Sword since you enjoyed it!

Welcome to B&B

I've just shave for the first time with my HD loaded with Wilkinson Sword blades and it was absolutely amazing, smooth shave. Even no irritation on my sensitive neck... nothing. This first shave with DE was magical, like I was shaving for the 100 time.

 

[KenR]

For me, the Red Personna's give a shave as smooth or smoother than the German Wilkinson's.

 

[MacTukaTa]

I'll stick to the Wilkinson, because the other 3 brands available here in Bulgaria are cheap & no-good for me
(Polsilver, cheap Gillette stainless made in St. Petersburg - Russia and Super-Max India).

Guys, I want to hear your opinions about this Gillette Tech Fat Handle
1939-1943? The offer is very tempting and maybe i'll buy this beauty.

 

[ari95]

Everything I have heard about this razor is good. I personally do not have one, but I do have other vintage Gillettes. I find them to be good mild shavers, and are a nice alternative to my Merkur HD. It is hard to beat the quality of these old razors, very few new products are made to as high a standard. The three piece design is very sturdy. If you can get it for a good price I would do it. Good luck with the blades.

 

[rbaloha]

Can you get the Super Iridiums? Made in Russia. They are very smooth.

Ditto. PTFE coated. Smooth and forgiving.

 

[rbaloha]

I've used Derby's they cut my face up.

Astra SP's have been the smoothest I've tried so far, impressive sharp too considering their smoothness, and I've never cut my self with them.

Derbys are okay but inconsistent. Astras are very sharp and imo unforgiving. Experienced cuts when trying to find the correct blade angle.