BEST & WORST Blades for Safety Razor & DE Shaving (Review)

[@brianh2287]

I just want to thank you fine gentlemen for these shave videos. You literally changed my life! A couple of years ago I had such a horrible shave with a Harry's razor I couldn't take it anymore. I only shaved once a week, and I got tired of the razor clogging and tugging. I googled different shaving options and your videos came up on my search. I watched your videos why DE razors are better than cartridge, and how to shave with a DE razor. This was all I needed to get started, so thank you so much. I bought a Rockwell 6c, Astra blades, TOBs sandalwood, a synthetic brush, and nivea post shave cream. I never had clogging or tugging problems again, no matter how much hair growth I had. My face also felt amazing after each shave !

[@CraigRasmussen1]

This is exactly what I did also. I am a confirmed Rockwell razor man….first the 6C….then a 6S…and finally a T2…..best money I have ever spent. My blades are Feather, Nacet, Astra SP Green, and Voskhod. My shave cream is Proraso and TOBS Sandalwood. Other items are PAA Cube (Ice menthol) pre shave, Nivea post shave, Clubman aftershave (many, many cause they are inexpensive), Fine Ceramics shave bowl, and Simpson T3 synthetic brush. It’s taken me 3 years to finally settle on each of these, but it sure works great for me. That’s what makes this hobby fun….researching various brands until you find your best setup.

[@billjohnsonseattle]

If you like the Rockwells, you’ll love the Karve Overlander. I liked it so much better that I ended up selling my Rockwell 6S. Its THAT much better.

[@brianh2287]

@@billjohnsonseattle The Karve Overlander is one of my favorite razors, it is spectacular. For those of you that want a stainless steel razor like the Overlander, but don't like the price. you can buy the TRC stainless steel razor. The stainless steel TRC razor shaves like the Overlander but is much cheaper.

[@benjamingreer1660]

I got a cheap bambaw and im very happy with it. I just had my first shave with it and im smooth as silk. Thanks for the blade suggestions im going to try some Astra blades.

[@antona.4572]

​@@benjamingreer1660 yes, green Astra blades are amazing, I'm using them now, and still on my first blade from the pack, after it's 10th use it is still razor-sharp and shaves like new.

[@Slayaz69]

For my sensitive skin I use Rapira blades. Since I use them I don't bleed anymore and I get an excellent shave everytime.

[@normchristopherson5799]

Gentleman's Gazette does such a quality job of creating useful, tasteful and classy videos. Thanks guys.

[@r.matthews594]

Feather is my go-to, coarse hair, and it slices right through with no pulling. I've loved them for years now.

[@anharmyenone]

Derby for learning, Astra Superior Platinum for a while after that, and now Voskhod. Voskhod required me to learn a new technique-a very light touch with extra passes-even buffing in some areas. I now enjoy a very smooth shave with no irritation with the Voskhod.

[@dronesndstuff626]

Only tried Derby once and it was terrible. Than again I heard they good worse!

[@jessemacohlsson7799]

Thank you for your slow, careful diction and delivery. You’re perfectly easy to understand. Your advice to get a sampler assortment is the best! I’ve been DE having for 15 years, and I own a Feather All Stainless, a Pils 101NE, and a Merkur Futur adjustable razors. I usually shave every two weeks or so, and the Merkur Futur clears better than the others. The only blades that ever gave me problems were Merkur, Derby, and Dorco blades. I like the Feathers a lot, but their price is more than I need to spend to get a comfortable, close shave. I usually use Treet blades, but I also like Astra. With good preparation, any competently made blade will do, as long as it’s a fresh one (and for me, not a Merkur, Derby, or Dorco blade)!

[@dsanchez9703]

I used them Astra and they were really dull so then I tried gillette platinum and they are awesome, really smooth and sharp. I also recommend perma sharp and Wizamet

[@anastasiavorobieva1586]

this was very informative to watch as a lady who has always had problems with razors irritating my sensitive skin. I got my first safety razor recently and it really changed my life. I will definitely be giving astra a try once i run out of my gillette razor blades :)))

[@sellitman]

I love the Personna Comfort Coat blades. I also use Perma Sharp blades. 😊

[@corycg9624]

Personna blades in general are great blades their right there with the Feather

[@meesegomoo1836]

Feather blades are super cheap if you know where to get them. I spent about $100 but I haven't bought blades again in 3 years so far.

[@thinaphonpetsiri9907]

I kinda agree. The 10 blades pack cost even less than $1 around where I live. I live in Bangkok anyway, it’s extremely rare to see people using DE razor but luckily the barbers here love them so we got unlimited supply of blades. The same couldn’t be said for the DE handles though, they are extremely hard to ind and expensive here.

[@jomoma8576]

​@@thinaphonpetsiri9907try antique stores

[@burhanbudak6041]

@@thinaphonpetsiri9907 there is a risk for fakes, but with Gillette moving production to India and China it could make moves for the fakes to change.

[@robolinoschmidt8676]

They’re 60 cents per blade if you buy them in a pack of 100. at least in Germany.

[@croixtucker1757]

I bought 100 Astra superior blades and I honestly can't remember when I bought them and still using that same box 😂

[@nuttycommuter3718]

It did take me a minute to work out what “DE” stood for! Due to availability, I tend to use Wilkinson Sword. I’ve used BIC before, but didn’t find them to work for me

[@kevingreen8763]

Thank you for the video. I have been conducting my own review of various blades, except I use an entire pack before evaluating each maker. I rated each brand as follows: 1. Durability - Number of shaves. 2. Quality of shave - a lot of passes is bad. 3. Post shave skin condition - razor bumps. 4. Quality of blade. 5. Packaging quality. I've reviewed 6 brands so far and of the 6 the top three, in order are. 1. Lord platinum 2. Astra platinum 3. Feather platinum I still have a lot of various brands to review and since I use an entire pack before judging its going to be a while before I'm done, I have about ten more brands to go. Thanks again for your video.

[@lawrencefieselman3803]

I started DE shaving about 3 years ago. I bought a King C. Gillette razor and used the included blades. Unlike 40 years ago when I first started shaving and the only thing around was a DE razor, these blades were comfortable. I then purchased Feather blades and the pack lasted 2 years ( shave about 5 times a week and would say I have an average beard). I did knick myself a few times in the beginning but now all is well. Thanks for the very comprehensive review. I also appreciate someone who knows when to use "fewer" and "less", as you do. Bravo!

[@StephenScarlett-e1t]

and we all appreciate someone who knows how to spell nick properly....

[@Blue_3rd]

Thanks for an interesting video! For a tough beard and sensitive skin I usually use a Mühle R89 razor with a BIC, Feather or Bolzano blade depending on growth. I generally shave every day or every other day and normally get 8 shaves or more per blade. A good tip for sensitive skin is to use hot water and products on your face but rinse the blade in cold water and try to keep it cold. Cheers! PS it was nice to see BIC getting a mention - they are sharp, smooth and long lasting.

[@baloodarling486]

Excellent timing! A true razor blade is next on my Gentleman's shopping list, thank you for the video!

[@iboofer]

A really good blade for coarse, hard facial hair is actually Shark Super Chrome, at least in my (long) experience with them. I switched to Sharks after the recommended Derby blades just didn't really hit the spot for me, and I've used them solely since about the age of 21. Glad you gave them a shout out in this video!

[@NamasW24]

I use DERBY extra

[@Barjack521]

I use these too, love ‘em. But be warned anyone who wants to try them, shark stainless steel and shark chrome are two different things. The stainless are technically sharper but overall worse feeling

[@NamasW24]

@@Barjack521 I find his opinions at times contradicting

[@Jcc988]

I have been using Shark for a decade plus and for me there is a lot of tugging after 3 day shadow.

[@NamasW24]

@@Jcc988 That’s because the length of hair is too thick that’s why it tugs happens to me if I’ve used a blade for 3 weeks

[@BlueJayWaters]

When I first started with a DE I had an abundance of Wilkinsons. It ended up being my blade of choice, especially when I was in the Navy and had to shave frequently before getting my shave waiver. My hair is course but my skin is extremely sensitive, and I found even at my height of shaving I could get 4-6 shaves off one blade with usually one time causing irritation, and not always as the blade was getting duller. Now however I usually use what I can find at the store which is Van Der Hagen, which I would not recommend unless you are an extreme beginner. It's not sharp, rarely last more than one shave, and tugs my hair constantly. Yet these days I rarely shave, so I put up with it, because I would just use an electric razor first. If you shaved everyday non-stop, then Van Der Hagen may be a good choice for you.

[@mph7282]

Been using Astra Superior Platinum for 10+ years now. They are always sharp, and I can get 2-3 shaves out of them during the week, but if I go a few days without shaving, a fresh blade is a must. I cannot imagine using anything other than a DE razor anymore.

[@dirtyunclehubert]

im throwing away my blade after EVERY shave. first off hygiene second, because i am sloppy with my shaving routine and as you said. dont shave for a week? reused astras wont do it.

[@MrsPuggyWggyHaASquareCutPunt]

I can use each blade for up to 6 shaves, with 2-3 passes per shave per week. I might be able to use them a bit more, but I wouldn't risk it.

[@ViguLiviu]

Astra is my go to blade marker, and yet I do get some irritation for some parts of my face. I think I will try feather.

[@gracealone89]

I’m currently using Astra blades. I love them. I’ve also used Feather blades and they were great as well.

[@billjohnsonseattle]

@@gracealone89Astra is now made in India. Have you tried them yet? I wonder how they compare

[@chris52000]

I like my Wilkinson Sword blades. They always last at least 4 shaves, at which point I replace them just because they are so cheap and I’d rather not have to worry about it. I think they do a pretty good job, although I haven’t tried any others

[@arunkumar5710]

They are the best.

[@andrewweitzman4006]

Just picked up a Wilkinson Sword Classic on a whim to try a DE. Good to know the included blades are decent.

[@AL5J_]

19:39 Personna DE “Prep Blades” (used in hospitals for surgical prep) appx 33¢ each. Stainless steel DermaGardTM. I get 3 shaves per blade on my extremely course beard.

[@robertross8565]

I have tried 3 blades in my 1 1/2 years of traditional wet shaving. The 3 blades in question are Feather, Gillette Platinum, and Astra SP Green. I started with Astra Green SP and found them to provide a great shave. Sharp but forgiving. My beard is moderate in coarseness and I am prone to irritation on my neck. The Gillette Platinum blade is both sharp and smooth. According to Matt at Razor Emporium, the GP is a blade that is almost as sharp as Feather but smoother. I would agree with that assessment. I bought a tuck of Feather blades and decided to try them in both a Henson AL13 Mild razor and a Karve Overlander; both razors are considered to be mild. There is no doubt that Feather blades are the sharpest blades that I have ever tried and I believe they are the sharpest DE blades available. I received the closest shave without a doubt using the Feather blade. I normally do a 3-pass shave and that is what I did with the Feather. I found that Feather provided an incredibly close shave on my cheeks. I had to be extra careful while shaving my moustache and goatee areas and in fact, I got several weepers. After my shave, it took a while for my neck to "calm down". While there were no visible signs of irritation on my neck, it did feel as though the shave was a little too close. That said, when I try the Feather blade the next time, I will likely do a 2-pass shave plus touch-ups rather than a 3-pass shave. That way, I have less blade time on my face which may reduce the slight irritation on my neck. My favourite blade out of the 3 I have tried is the Gillette Platinum. However, the Feather might become my go-to blade if I can reduce or eliminate the irritation on my neck and prevent weepers from appearing. The lure of the closest shave is very tempting so I am not giving up on Feather blades yet. In the future, can you provide an opinion on the "Perma Sharp" blade which is made by Gillette in Russia? With the war in Ukraine, it is my understanding that production in Russia may be moved to India but I can not confirm this.

[@jonstern7511]

I too love Gillette Platinum!

[@jaketemple6430]

I agree with is 100%. Gillette platinum is the best. Almost as sharp as feather but way smoother. Permasharp gives me an incredible shave 1 time and 1 time only. I Havnt figured out why. Just as good as gillette platinum at a much cheaper cost, however not worth it if i only get 1 shave. Get a whole week out of a gillette platinum.

[@jimtarchis]

While Feather blades don’t like my face, I found that Kai another Japanese brand really deliver a great 3 pass shave. You may want to include them in your next round of testing. Cheers!

[@pupwizard3888]

I was surprised how much I agreed with your blade assessments in this video. I personally started off shaving with Derby Extra blades because they are easy and forgiving, but I also found them to be very INCONSISTENT. After trying every blade that I could, I now favor the green Astra blades as my go to blade. The quality is very consistent and I normally get 3 to 4 shaves per blade. I also like a brand not discussed here, the Minora blade, for the same reason I like the Astra. One caveat here though. The Astra and Minora blades I like were made in Russia and I believe P & G is shutting down that factory and moving production elsewhere. I recently received a new shipment of Astra blades that were made in India. I can't express how disappointed I was with this. So I bit the bullet and paid extra to get Russian made Astras (I ordered 1000) from Razor Emporium. It was definitely worth it. It is so sad that the world political situation means we won't be able to get the good blades from Russia anymore.

[@snowdogthewolf]

Great video. I've been using a DE safety razor for about 10 years now, a decade before that I used nearly exclusively straight razors. I drifted toward safety razors for the reduced prep time. Every other week, I'll still pull out one of my straights... I still believe they provide the best shaves. As for blades, I settled on Voskhod and Astra, though I did buy a few sleeves of various other brands, notably Gillette 7 O'clock and Bic. I likely have enough blades for a couple lifetimes (I'm sure I have hundreds of various sleeves), though I'm now looking into all those various types of DE razor sharpeners that seems to be popular in the 40's, to get a few more shaves out of a blade that would have been tossed. Heck, now I'm looking into shaving with a Rolls razor, having just purchased two that were "new old stock" and prestine. I hope all goes well. Shaving implements make for a fun and useful hobby.

[@Mac3622]

I've been using Wilkinson Sword for the last 3 years. I usually get 7 shaves out of the blade. I have sensitive skin and found that the blades works great for it.

[@pingeee]

do you use the german ones or the gilette x wilkinson ones made in india?

[@TheSuperBoyProject]

You should try Bics as well. I used Wilkinson first but I don't get as close as a shave as I do with bic

[@myaccount0000]

​@@pingeee it must be the usual wilkinson, I heard those gillette x wilkinson are subpar

[@pingeee]

@@myaccount0000 yeah i tried them both the gillette ones are mid

[@metro_mikey]

With the popularity of Henson Razors, I'm surprised RK blades are not being reviewd. Would be intereisting to see where the RK's stand amongst the competitors.

[@hakancarlsson6140]

Thank you for a very interesting video! For my 60 year old steel gray and very coarse stubble I get my best shaves with Lord Silver Star and Gillette Nacet. Astra Superior Stainless is another favorite

[@cookielemons]

I'd be interested in hearing an update on shaving creams, aftershaves, etc. used by the crew. For example, does Preston still use Proraso?

[@gentlemansgazette]

Stay tuned! 😉

[@johngilliland3409]

I use Gillette Blues, Personnas and Wilkinson Swords. I may have to try Feathers. Blade longevity pro-tip: dry and flip your blade after each shave. I easily get six shaves per blade this way with a Henson head+handle.

[@tradermunky1998]

Tried about half a dozen different ones, Astra Stainless is my favorite. Also dependant on razor. I had to get a new one and the Astra performed even better than the great shave I was already getting. 8-10 cents a blade on Amazon, can't beat it.

[@lynn5447]

I use a Merkur 38C razor and Feather blades, but I have been shaving for 68 years, now age 80. Great shave and the razor, though short handled, works well in my hand.

[@corycg9624]

My favorite blades are Personna and Feather I use the Merkur 23c the long handle version

[@RSVenkatachalam]

the 38c is long handled and the 34c is the short handled. I prefer the long handled one and i also use it with feather blades which works great for me.

[@johnathanblack836]

I picked up a whole bunch of different blades when I first got my DE razor. My absolute favourite were a brand called Polsilver. Smooth shave, no cuts, no rash. They were discontinued about 5 years ago, and I used my last one maybe 2 years ago. Probably the main reason I have a goatee now.

[@shavingwithpegleg3813]

Have you tried Wizamet Super Iridium blades? They are made on the same machines that made PolSilver blades. Great blades imo.

[@buddhastl7120]

@@shavingwithpegleg3813was looking for this. The guy who knows what he’s talking about. Cheers.

[@bigtimmy13]

Excellent video and very comprehensive. I have coarse, curly hair and sensitive skin and I use Feather blades.

[@RogierYou]

Wow a true review that is not biased to a sponsor!

[@TheoTheTimeTravelingMagician]

Very interesting and useful, though I am not old enough to have to shave yet. Once I’m old enough, I’ll have a bunch of great knowledge to start off with. Thank you!

[@chrisblanc663]

You are in for a treat. Shaving is one of the pleasant joys of being a man. Just have patience with the learning curve. It’s a real thing.

[@ShaneTheGeek]

I really like Astra Platinum, Gillette Yellow 7 O’Clock, Derby Extra and Feather blades in my Rockwell 6C (setting 2) and Merkur Futur Style Adjustable between 1.5-2. I have a lot of thin hair and shave roughly every other day. For me I get a close shave with 2 passes and no nicks. I do have sensitive skin and use Poraso White line of shave soap and balm.

[@PandorasFolly]

Agreed on Feather for all the same reasons. Ive tried almost all of these and feather is the one that gits my face the best.

[@andreaspeters3773]

I have several DE razors.... My best combination is an EdwinJagger fully chrome with a Feather blade... for me it works 6 to 7 shaves. I also like Personna and Astra👍 When i have several combinations in use for fun... I use a dice🎲 next to each razor for remembering the days i use it

[@Rood67]

I started with some junk the grocery store had, with a Rick Harrison Pawn Stars razor I picked up at Bed Bath and Beyond on a whim to try DE shaving. Got online and found Feather were considered the sharpest and most deadly blades ever made and ordered a sleeve of 100 from Amazon. Best decision I ever made for blades. I got a sample pack from Amazon, and I bought 10 Kai blades to try; for me Feather remains king. I’ve upgraded my razor to a hand-me-down slant and a Viking Emperor Augusta adjustable; Feather blades worked with a cheap endorsement razor to more expensive ones. The best lesson I ever learned for DE shaving my face and scalp - let the weight of the razor do the work and never ever apply presser like most tend to do with a cartridge razor.

[@christianguenther1276]

To lessen skin irritation, I highly reccomend using a pre-shave oil, I use Trufitt&Hill in combination with a high quality shave soap or cream.

[@karlraffelsieper1232]

DE shaving is wildly different for every man. I've been wet shaving for decades and have an obscene number of blades and several heads. I found journaling on the razor, the blade used, shaving cream, aftershave, etc. helpful. Over the years, some of my go to blade / head combination fell out of favor. I find if I'm just doing daily shave I'm always going to my Merkur razor with a Wilkinson or Astra a good combo. If I skip a day or two, my R41 with a Feather Wilkinson or Astra P prove to be a great combo. The R41 + Feather needs a good thick cream to take some of the agressiveness off. But the results are very good for me. I found my Boker + Nacet combo to also be a good daily driver. Just picked up some Personna P, to try in the R41 and others.

[@phm155]

I’ve been using a safety razor since 2021! I like Wilkson Sword Gillette from India, but I’m testing out different blades at moment! I like to use Taylor of old Bond Street shaving Cream !

[@henryhawthorn8849]

What about the Hansen blades. As a beginner to double edge blades, I saw an advertisement online about the Hansen products and I bought them all. However, my barber told me that I had a bad shave. Are the Hansen blades partly to blame for my embarrassing bad shave? I’ve noticed that the Hansen shaving products are never mentioned in the KZbin channels.

[@LogicalNiko]

One I was glad that when I came to the similar conclusion and switched to DE years ago I stumbled on a good brand Derby, and while not anywhere as sharp as the Feathers they are still on the better side of average. And of course as DE blades are so cheap I have about 400 blades left from my first order made years ago. The other thing that is great to feature is a newer trend with shavers like Leaf Shave and Japanese shavers. They will use a split DE blade (so you break it in half). And you can put the half blades in a multi-blade holder. So as a bald man single DE blade shavers tend to have fixed position heads and are not ideal for head shaving. But with a 3 blade DE head on a spring angle pivot it helps get that easy constant change of angle you need to shave a scalp. In addition if anyone is interested in straight razors, Japanese Shibimi style razors have become big. They have a straight razor form factor but take a half-DE blade. These are also starting to be used professionally as well as many states have passed heavy sterilization laws on any re-usable blade. So barbers switching to single use straight razors has become an easy alternative.

[@oasiasoasiaso]

I like the humor on your channel 😀 And I am a Feather man too.

[@burns0100]

For a couple years now I've settled into two formats for shaving. Blades are either the Astra Superior Platinum or Gillette Nacet on either the Rockwell 6S plate 6 or the Razorock Lupo Aluminum. Both great shavers though the Lupo is a more high skilled razor being so light weight while the 6S is very easy and beginner friendly. Both my blade picks are just middle of the road comfort shaves, nothing overly sharp or long lasting. Just picks that have worked for me. When I first started out I had the DE89 with a Feather blade and cut myself to pieces with that. Learnt really fast all the ins and outs of shaving after that. Joined a local facebook group who taught me a lot and since then I've been in that comfort area of shaving. Not wanting to change much. Though I would love to buy a new razor again, something about that first experience is always fun.

[@LatimusChadimus]

I definitely get more than two shaves out of my double-edge blades because what I do is I immediately clean them off, let them air-dry, and then flip it over and put it back inside of my handle and because I use oil instead of cream, the blade gets to remain slightly oiled

[@1Thunderfire]

Cleaning the blade makes it last longer for sure! And it only takes a couple of minutes to do.

[@Michael_R1957]

While I personally can’t use DE blades, my hands are too spastic for that, I really enjoyed this video. It proves that as a presenter, Preston is a cut above.

[@gentlemansgazette]

Love the Preston Pun! 😉

[@johnhudelson2652]

For me the sharper the better as I do not have sensitive skin, and I like the shave to be as close as possible. So Feather is my go to blade brand.

[@DenisZaharenko]

The intro was quick and seemless this time. Big improvement 👍 Also Preston kinda rocks that beard haha ❤

[@wesleybarrett9502]

I have tried almost all of these. I agree with most of your comments Presten but two. I too have very sensitive skin but thicker individual hairs. I can work with a feather without irritation and nicks, i tend to stay away from them. Persona blades I loved when i first started due to cheap price and decent cut at the time, but I also will say not my first choice. I use a razor with more blade exposure so that also changes my blade choices. My choices are Gillette Super Premiums, Gelette Blue and Astra Blue as secondary, and Parkers as third. Parkers are amazing but I just preferred the Gillette Super Premiums. As for my wife whom uses DE mainly for legs and armpits she is new and i may need another set of blades, but she does well with Parker Blades due to the fact leg and armpit hairs tend to be even more course and those areas less sensitive than the face. Feathers would work there to for men whom body shave and for the women of the audiance.

[@jcshaves]

Yes blades are definitely a case of your mileage may very. The razor you use can also be a factor. A sharper blade usually goes great with a milder razor and a less aggressive blade with a more aggressive razor. I use a Muhle R89 which is milder so I like sharp blades. My favorites in no order are Kai (almost as sharp as Feather but more comfortable), Rapira Platinum Lux, Gillette Nacets, Personna Comfort Coated. Even probably the most mild Derby blade gives less tugging than a cartridge.

[@christophercabrita]

I love to play with different DE blades, but of course I have ones I prefer,those are KAI and Feather. KAI is a notch better for me, as efficient as Feather but a smoother shave. I keep a steady rotation of some 12 blades and various razors..... Like the idea of that Muhle handle and Henson head!

[@roberthoffhines5419]

I'm a recent convert from cartridges thanks to you and a few other yt creators. So far, it's quite superior indeed! I was impressed with Henson's marketing and fine tolerances of manufacture-so far so good. They come with RK blades with are OK (sorry I'm just not to your punmaster standards, but hey...). I was hoping they'd be in here, but so far, with nothing to compare them to...I am happy with them.

[@alexwest4253]

Feather costs a bit more, but well worth it. By far the best blades for me!

[@patrickcarrillo714]

Superinox Bolzano are my personal favorites they're not as common or popular as all these other brands, but they are Italian blades and they offer a very close and smooth shave

[@derbagger22]

Astra user here. Have tried Feather, but with finer hair, Astra has been perfect.

[@Valeriamtzp]

I'm a woman who recently switched to a safety razor for my legs and I was having some trouble finding the info I needed on the women side of youtube, this video was exactly what I was looking for, thank you 😅

[@stevenagorny605]

Im going to try the feather, right now I'm using the Astra and getting razor rash because of too many passes. Keep up the great videos.

[@Wayfarerpilgrim]

I use the Astra stainless steel blade, the Gillette 7’O’clock series , black, blue, yellow and green. Wilkerson sword , Persona and Voskov.

[@BartBuzz]

There are too many variables to try just a single brand. I agree that a sample pack is the best way to decide which bland gives the best shave. In fact, DE shaving is the one grooming task where YMMV best describes what works best. My experience with Feather blades is the first shave is okay while the second and third shaves are better. After the 3rd shave, I toss them. Durability is their weakness. In terms of performance and cost, my favorites are Astra Green, Gillette Nacet, Personna Comfort Coated, and Wilkinson Sword. They all provide 3-5 close shaves with no irritation.

[@joshuathepuppet]

Same consitency experience with shark. Good honest review.

[@andyhart5669]

I got a mixed selection of blades from amazon a few years ago. Ten boxes of ten blades. I found Feather to be the best and are my go to blade. Voskhod were also good o firet use but blunt much more quickly.

[@cookielemons]

I use Feathers now, too, but I can put in a good word for Tatra from the Czech Republic as a good beginner blade that is pretty smooth and forgiving. I preferred it to Astra.

[@obdacz]

Tatra blades are actually made in the same factory, which originally used to make Astra blades.

[@cookielemons]

@@obdacz I read that as well, but the Tatra have a different blade feel to me compared to the Astra.

[@calebhooper4266]

I started out with mühle blades and they were great to start out with! Once I got more comfortable shaving I moved on the Feathers

[@monkeymuggs]

feathers tear my throat, I just switched to Astra, no problems so far.

[@janmathijsrijck7970]

Fritz Lang: „Die Nibelungen“ Sehr originelle Wahl!

[@phm155]

I have a few Safety Razors:King C Gillette 1976 Gillette Knack Q Shave Adjustable Razor Wilkinson Sword DE Razor and Otto Gentleman Pocket Travel 1920s Open Comb! My daily driver is usually my King C Gillette with a Wilkinson Sword Gillette blade!

[@joejustice9467]

Feathers is the only blade I buy now and have tried most all. Gillette has a new shaving gel, (Rapid Foaming Shave Gel) an it's great, a little pricey though. Go to is still Taylor's of Old Bond Street. I still prefer Parkers short handle butterfly razor, much easier to handle with my course beard.

[@brokensync]

Fundamentally try many different blades and find what works for you and enjoy all the lovely designs on the boxes.

[@skaerber1767]

I'm in the middle of a sampler. So far the clifton classic and rapira swedish super steel are my favorites.

[@eliaszelarayanalbornoz]

Thank you for the information. There's a lot to digest but awesome.

[@MegaAluchi]

Thanks! I have a coarse beard and shave every 48-72 hours. Here is my experience: The great blades in order of efficiency, less irritation, no nicks: 1- Ladas, 2-Rapira Super Stainless, 3- Voskhod, 4- Crome (from Germany,) 5- Bic Chrome 6- Treet (only carbon coated or the black beauty.) 7- Big Ben (so cheap and great.) The worst for coarse beard: 1- Derby ( all of their line sucks,) 2- Astra, 3- 7'O'Clock (the orange) 4- Scikh, 5- RK ( Is a disastre lack of quality control) Last note: Vi-John so so not so efficient neither sharp for coarse beard. "Treet carbon" is great for two shaves only. Silver Treet, Platinum Treet, and Classic Treet is low in my books and I won't use them again. I will never use Astra neither Derby, RK

[@EricKauschen9]

I've been able to use the Personna Lab Blues in my Henson AL13-M for at least 7 shaves.

[@alspencer2794]

There are many variables in blade performance, where soap and razor can make a huge difference. Thanks for the video.

[@lucky_horse]

In my times of wet-shaving obsession (I am one of the 3017-ers) for my combination of sensitive skin with coarse hair I came to the following conclusion: quality razor and 30 seconds of hot towel solves 99% of the problems. Henson Al13 mild is the go to razor head for me (and my wife's extremely sensitive legs) for more than 3 years now. All other DE heads - including notorious R41, which I've mastered using cap-riding - are now just collecting dust on the shelf. I have tried all of the blades mentioned in this video, and in my experience milder blades- like Derby or Lord - with hot compress would do the job perfectly fine and will even allow you some lazy mistakes in the DE shaving technique. Feather is a matter of taste, and the only bad experience for me was with Germans, both Mühle and Merkur (but it was prior to Henson head, though). Facit: do yourself a favour and get these extra 30 seconds of hot towel compress! And remember: your mileage may vary.

[@robertross8565]

Very interesting comment about the hot towels. When you get a shave at a barber, a hot towel is part of the routine I guess for a reason. I sometimes put a damp face cloth in the microwave and then put that on my face, making sure of course that it has sufficiently cooled down so as not to burn.

[@zsoltprokai7310]

Feather blade with Mühle R89 are totally bad for me too (coarse facial hair and very sensitive neck). Astra SP with the R89 are usable. Feather are usable with the Gillette Slim Adjustable for me. I have ordered a Rockwell 6S because I think I need an adjustable razor, but the Gillette Slim positive blade reveal even in the mildest setting are scraping my face. I know, my technique are not the best, but trying to make it better.

[@roger80465]

I rotate blades which include Astra Green and Blue, Wilkinson Sword Saloon Pack, and Personna Lab Blue. My favorite blades change with mood but I am finding the Wilkinson and Personna are the best for me. I recently was on a 2 week trip, shaving about 7-8 times and used the same Wilkinson for all the shaves with great results. That is the only time I have ever gotten more than 4 shaves out of any blade. I have used Feather and Kai but don't find much improvement over Personna, Wilkinson or Astra

[@myaccount0000]

My shaving technique favors sharpness =highly= (with a shavette), so feather feather feather, you can imagine

[@_Dimitris]

12:40 Bluebird are not unforgiving they are very mild blades made by Derby and they are Highly recommended for beginners. 17:56 Parker blades are made with Swedish steel but they are Made in Turkey. With that been said DE blades have different results to shavers cos depends the skin type and type of stubble anyone has. In other words you need to try them and see what blades are better for your face.

[@wongjefx980]

My go to is Dorco ST300. You'd think razors are all the same, but some I get more re-use, while others dull after 2x, and some are crazy sharp. I started with Astra when I was learning, then Derby. Get a test or samples pack if you want to find your blade.

[@piccalillipit9211]

When I bought my actual razor, I got a free pack of 10 different packs of blades, there was a massive difference between each brand. Feather were by far the best - but if you are only shaving occasionally they are too sharp for me, you have to be super used to using them I found.

[@adrastoso9727]

Great video, confirms that the feather blades I have been using for years is the right choice for me. My issue is I still have trouble getting a close shave and as my woman comments, I have 5o clock shadow and she comments on how it doesn’t look close after I shave. Some blades are definitely defective and I have cut myself when not paying attention around the chin area that I struggle with the most. I do find using a scrub on my face once a week helps with the shave for less irritation and a closer shave; but I am still looking for a closer every day shave that I just can’t seem to get.

[@xiaodingjones1554]

After a couple of passes with the DE, try a 5 blade Gillette cartridge. I find that after the DE gets rid of most of the hair, the cartridge does not cause the irritation that I used to get, and the shave is BBS.

[@CaedmonOS]

When I started shaving, I just went straight for feather blades, I've got a super thick beard, and I'm not that worried about cutting myself.

[@amj1619]

I share the views on most of the blades I have tasted (almost all in the video). I always have two razors at hand😎, one with a Feather the other with Astra. Astra for every ocassion, Feather for when I have a few extra minutes.

[@JohnCannonBand]

The half razors are for a shavette Einstein lol but great video. I don’t think men were breaking them in half. That’s just preposterous. Much love my friend. Keep up the good work Mr. Preston. You’re 99% with everything which is more that we can say with most KZbinrs. I’m looking at you Logan Paul.

[@hellper198]

Personally, I pair an aggressive razor blade with a forgiving safety razor i.e. the Kai Razor Blade (which in my opinion is the sharpest DE blades) + Merkur German Safety Razor 34C.

[@LandLockedSailor69]

This is why I have an adjustable razor. I can make any blade work well.... My everyday is a Henson medium razor using Shark super chromes or Astra greens blades along with Cella soap.

[@RonVichar]

After starting with a tuck of Gillette Nacet blades which are smooth and sharp and are a go to I find myself now gravitating towards Voskhod and Feather razor blades. I had amazing durability with Voskhod but try to replace blades after 2 - 4 shaves instead of seeing how many shaves I can get out of a particular blade. Wilkinson BTW were terrible for me.

[@RobertNES816]

I usually get ten shaves from my blades. Fewer if i let my beard grow out for a few days. Blades I get ten shaves from regularly are Shark Platinum and Super Chrome, Astra Green, Gillette Platinum and Silver Blue and Perma-Sharp. Blades I get a few uses from are Parker, Derby and Treet Platinum blades. But out of those three I think Treet are the sharpest, smoothest shaving blades and have the best consistency. Ive gotten a few super tuggy and even scratchy feeling blades from Parker. Derby is either perfect or almost dull.

[@greg6941]

I guess I must be kind of lucky because I haven't had a problem with any blade. Currently I'm using Treet Platinum. I have Feather, Derby Professional, Gillette Wilkinson Sword, Gillette Nacet and Personna in the blue and yellow box. I haven't tried the Nacet yet. I even tried the cheap Dollar Tree blades and they got the job done. As far as the actual razor I go back and forth between The Leaf Twig and Merkur 34C.

[@orelanic4178]

Very informative and well presented video it taught me a lot, thank you.

[@johnbrentford5513]

After two shaves the Feather start pulling hair instead of cutting. The Astra after two shaves they are done. If you shave every day the Shark are great.

[@octodeciliionaire9438]

What I currently use Astra Superior Platnum Treet Platnum Voskhod Bic Platnum Feather (though rarely) Personna Platnum

[@petzritz]

I agree with Shark be inconsistent. I have used it a few times and found that to be the case with every box.

[@B81Mack]

3 excellent blades you neglected were Rapira, Wizamet (formerly Pol Silver) and Permasharp.

[@borbetomagus]

Considering 'Feather FHS10 Single Edge Blades' (I believe only useable with OneBlade and vintage Valet AutoStrop razors) were seen at various point in this video, perhaps you should have extended the scope of this video to include Feather (and Kai and Schick) 'Artist Club' single edge blades, plus injector and GEM single edge blades -- since some of these blades/razor types might be preferable for some types of beard growth. Years ago I started with standard double edge blades, but now prefer Feather 'Artist Club' blades, as these thicker and wider blades more comfortably, efficiently and quickly plow through my beard growth than double edge blades, though I do use the most aggressive double edge razor (with Feather Hi-Stainless double edge blades) to clear out any persistent beard growth (using the lightest touch). In other words, using a razor with thicker blades (i.e. Artist Club, injector or GEM) at the start of a shave and ending a shave with an aggressive double edge razor (with the lightest touch) might provide a more comfortable shave overall. At the very least, it would be nice to see various individuals with heavy beard growth compare their favorite aggressive double edge razors and blades against single edge razors using Feather Professional (or Professional Super) blades -- but only after getting comfortable with using the razor, as it can be aggressive if used without adequate respect.

[@matthewdinslage8120]

I have very thick coarse hair and have tried many times to get feathers to work, but no matter how gentle I try it always feel like I am taking a layer of skin with the hair, for me they are just too aggressive for my sensitive skin. I have been using Gillette Silver Blue for a while now and for my face they strike the perfect balance between sharpness and smoothness.

[@rs52594]

After using mainly Derby blades for many years mostly because of cost I've been trying out other blades to find something better. So far my favorites are Astra Superior Platinum, Voskhod and Kai razor blades. These provide a good balance of sharpness and smoothness for me. Still unsure about the Gillette Platinum, Gillette Silver Blue, Personna Lab Blue (now called Accuforge), Personna Platinum Blue/Israeli Red, and Wizamet Super Iridium (the closest thing I can find to the PolSilver Super Iridium). As for others I've tried, they've ranged from decent to not so good. Derby is smooth and cheap but dull and my skin didn't look as good especially on my neck. Bic Chrome was godawful from what I tried years ago as well as Wilkinson Sword recently. Gillette 7 O'Clock Super Stainless, SharpEdge and Platinum, Shark Chrome/Platinum, Astra Superior Stainless were ok but not that good. Parker was about on par with a Derby blade, smooth but not particularly sharp. Finally of course are the Feather blades and while they provided a decent shave, I didn't see what all the hype was about. They weren't as close shaving as I thought, left some nicks even with careful pressure and dull out really quick, like two shaves and it's already tugging. Between the two main Japanese DE blades, I definitely prefer Kai as they are way smoother, last longer, still plenty sharp and don't leave me with as much nicks or irritation.

[@NotMe-wh5vb]

After I shave, I keep my razor blade submerged under water with some dish soap mixed in. This keeps the blade from oxidizing with the air. I was able to comfortably shave with with one Voskhod blade for about 3 weeks and I can easily shave with one Nacet blade for a year. I have tried most of the razor blades in this video and Gillette Nacet blades work best for me.

[@Rob_Fordd]

The King C. Gillette DE blades (especially the made in russia ones) are really good. People have looked at them under a microscope and they appear to basically be the cream of the Gillette platinum blue DE blades, as in they are the first 10-20% of the blades that come off that line of machines and thus are the sharpest, most consistent, and closest to perfect spec. The regular packs are overpriced but you can get hundred packs online that are actually competitive with other premium but reasonably priced DE blades.

[@georgelush1998]

I’m a Parker Premium Platinum fan, the standard double edged blades not the half-blades. I have relatively fine whiskers. One pass with the direction of growth, one pass perpendicular and bingo!

[@florianschaefer2527]

I use Merkur Super Platinun Razors. They are quite expensive, but I often get 5 or more shavings out of one blade

[@Foxtrot-jr5qu]

Personally, I wouldn't recommend BIC Chrome Platinum to a beginner and I would advise him to try it out before Feather.