"What possible difference could a blade make, anyway???" - was the question I asked myself when I got into DE shaving about 4-5 months ago.
I looked up the most popular and "beginner" brands, read the reviews and suggestions, and finally settled on getting a relatively inexpensive sample pack from Fendrihan. For 12 bucks (CDN), I got:
10 Astra superior platinums
10 Derby Extras
10 Dorco ST-301 Platinums
10 Precision supers
After quickly using the Merkur blade my 33c classic came with, I excitedly put in one of the Astras and got what I thought was a pretty good shave.
I went through about 5 Astras when my Super Speed arrived, and I immediately went to B&B to see which of my four blades would be best suited to my newly acquired Gillette. Apparently the Derby Extras were the way to go.
WHAT A SHAVE! The new razor/blade combination was incredible. However, after a week of shaving with the SS, and then going back to my Merkur/Astra combination, my Slim arrived in the post.
I figured the Slim and the SS, both being vintage Gillettes, would treat their blades about the same. So, in goes the Derby Extra again. HORRIBLE SHAVE in comparison to my superspeed. Well its an adjustable razor, isnt it? So, I burn through about 3 Derbies and almost all 9 settings to try and get that magical shave I had with the SS to no avail.
I have since used the Derbies, Astras and Precisions in all THREE razors, and still I cannot achieve the shaving nirvana I had found with the first Derby and my SS.
BUT WAIT! I go through my boxes, and do a little blade math. There is ONE DORCO MISSING FROM ITS BOX! There is one too many Derbies, too.
So, apparently the great shave I got those many weeks ago was actually from a SS/DORCO combination, and not with the Derby Extras like I thought. So tonight in goes the Dorco, and shaving nirvana again! I am a believer!
BLADES REALLY DO MAKE A DIFFEFRENCE. I cant wait to try the Dorco on my other razors.
So I have a question to all of your razor blade experts, or those of you who also like the Dorco ST-301. Are there other blades out there that perform like the Dorco that you could recommend?
I looked up the most popular and "beginner" brands, read the reviews and suggestions, and finally settled on getting a relatively inexpensive sample pack from Fendrihan. For 12 bucks (CDN), I got:
10 Astra superior platinums
10 Derby Extras
10 Dorco ST-301 Platinums
10 Precision supers
After quickly using the Merkur blade my 33c classic came with, I excitedly put in one of the Astras and got what I thought was a pretty good shave.
I went through about 5 Astras when my Super Speed arrived, and I immediately went to B&B to see which of my four blades would be best suited to my newly acquired Gillette. Apparently the Derby Extras were the way to go.
WHAT A SHAVE! The new razor/blade combination was incredible. However, after a week of shaving with the SS, and then going back to my Merkur/Astra combination, my Slim arrived in the post.
I figured the Slim and the SS, both being vintage Gillettes, would treat their blades about the same. So, in goes the Derby Extra again. HORRIBLE SHAVE in comparison to my superspeed. Well its an adjustable razor, isnt it? So, I burn through about 3 Derbies and almost all 9 settings to try and get that magical shave I had with the SS to no avail.
I have since used the Derbies, Astras and Precisions in all THREE razors, and still I cannot achieve the shaving nirvana I had found with the first Derby and my SS.
BUT WAIT! I go through my boxes, and do a little blade math. There is ONE DORCO MISSING FROM ITS BOX! There is one too many Derbies, too.
So, apparently the great shave I got those many weeks ago was actually from a SS/DORCO combination, and not with the Derby Extras like I thought. So tonight in goes the Dorco, and shaving nirvana again! I am a believer!
BLADES REALLY DO MAKE A DIFFEFRENCE. I cant wait to try the Dorco on my other razors.
So I have a question to all of your razor blade experts, or those of you who also like the Dorco ST-301. Are there other blades out there that perform like the Dorco that you could recommend?