Thought I'd do an update on what I've learnt so far.
After the first few shaves I've generally left the futur on 1 and t goes well for me.
Astra SP to start with, lots of weepers and a few nicks but then i had to learn! felt comfortable an got s good shave easily. only needed to shave every other day (my beard is not h densest or fastest growing, but has bristles like tree trunks). Did 5 shaves, the 5th was bad but then i did flip th blade too, might have got a 5th otherwise.
Next came a wilkinson sword made n england. sharp blade, similar to the astra, first shave a bit irritating but then improved, still learning the technique, stil got s few weepers but seemed to be getting better. excellent shave. 6th shave was irritating but i did also change soap and didn't do the new soap quite right.
third blade was a shark. found it dull and although not tuggy it didn't give as close a shave. smooth i guess, if i tolerated the less than perfect shave, if i did a 4th pass to get a closer shave the irritation was more, still slight compared to a mach 3 though i think. I got 4 shaves before the less than stellar performance made me bin it. no nicks or weepers with this blade though. oh and i tried the futur on 2 for the last couple of shaves which helped improve the closeness.
currently using a gillette silver blue. seems smooth but i probably ought to go back to the astra soon for a second comparison. a couple of very tiny weepers, blade is fairly sharp, getting a good shave no irritation.
looking forward to trying lot more blades, I've got some Nacets I'm keen to try, some voskhod, some personna...and among others some feathers. still a bit nervous of the sharper blades like feather and nacet, I won't to get my technique better on some of he less sharp blades first,
soaps I've tried courtesy of Holyzeus
dusy by kabinett, or is it kabinett by dusy? anyway, great soap, nice shave, use the bar and hands on my face to gt enough lather. expensive though
and another costly soap, LPL/ Le Pere Lucien. using my super cheap (£3.50) supposed badger brush from ebay to lather in the dish. I learnt, the lather needs to be wet. if its dry its not slick. however go wet and its really rather good too. I can work up a lather in 15 seconds and it is ample for 3 passes and buffing. I do feel like its the rel thing using the brush!
really enjoying the shaves and the learning experience, and my skin is enjoying only being shaved every other day.
You should do less shaves with each blade. I typically only do 2 or 3 from an astra blade. Usually two if ive left it for ages, three if ive been keeping up with shaving.. Id never go to 5 or turn it over. Blades are dirt cheap.
happy to replace as needed, but since every beard and skin type is different I think I need to learn for myself what mileage I get. Partly about learning to read the signs of differing performance too. I did the second shave with the gillette silver blue today, and while as with most blades so far the 2nd has been smoother than the first, I found it slightly duller and suspect I'll not get more than one more shave from it.
'kin' 'ell, yep, i was right, that Gillette Silver blue was only good for 2 shaves! I tried to compensate for it dulling slightly by going more aggressive with the rsaor setting, only to 2.5 mind...shave is ok but not stellar but the irritation is fairly bad! New blade fitted in readienss for next shave, a Supermax Super Stainless. Anyone know what they are like? Dull or sharp? I only have one, and also one Supermax blue diamond to try.
Do others find that many blades are better 2nd shave then first? Might have to try stropping on a bit of denim.
This morning was 3rd shave with the Supermax, I wasn't expecting much, first shave was poor, 2nd much smoother but blade not that sharp.... It seemed to be going the way of the Gillette silver blue, but today's third shave was awesome! Absolutely ZERO irritation and very very smooth/close result, DFS, verging BBS. Really surprised me, I thought I prefer sharper blades but if I could achieve today's results every time I'd be very happy.
I'm going back to an Astra sp next blade change. Really hoping for some good results as it seemed ok first time around and now my technique is much better.... Hopefully!
Has anybody tried Gillette Rubie or any of the Gillette 7 o'clock (yellow, blue, green or black)?
Gillette yellow and black - very good. BUT I don't get on with Astras and you do so you might not get on with Gillettes. Currently have a box of Feathers and Derbys also very good and I prefer slightly over the Gillettes
I'm going to try these, just because of the name and packaging
In true STW style, I have had a DE razor for a few years now. A Futur, with either Astra or Feather blades.
Thought it was great and didn't bother with the multi blade overpriced stuff from Gillette or Wilkinson Sword.
However, there was a FB link for a special offer from www.harrys.com, £4 delivery for a razor, 1 blade, gel and balm.
Bloody hell it's good. By far the smoothest, closest, shave I have ever had. Not one nick. More expensive than DE but a lot cheaper than the big brands. There stuff smells really good as well.
The Merkur is now redundant.
Harry's etc look interesting but I don't like the idea of a subscription/being charged and sent blades at their chosen speed and with their chosen gels and barms. 4 quid for the starter sample does seem excellent, but what is it after that?
BBSB, perhaps I prefer sharper blades, would you say the Gillette are more smooth/less sharp?
Love some of the blade names! Really really wanted to get on with Sharks!
Harry’s etc look interesting but I don’t like the idea of a subscription/being charged and sent blades at their chosen speed and with their chosen gels and barms.
You can cancel it anytime.
I only shave about once a week, use an electric trimmer to get rid of the stubble and then wet shave. Blades last me ages. I have cancelled my subscription and just buy the blades, £15 for 8. I have loads of soaps and gels to use up.
I don’t get on with Astras and you do so you might not get on with Gillettes. Currently have a box of Feathers and Derbys also very good
I can't remember which way round it was now, but I found either the Astra or the Derby to be dreadful.
Feathers have been a clear winner for me so far.
I found either the Astra or the Derby to be dreadful.
I found the Derby blades to be terrible. Used either Astra's or Feather's.
I've still got about 8 different blades to try, and plan to go back to Astras every 4th blade as my benchmark. I'm saving feathers until closer to the end as I hope I'll have the technique to match the blade by then. Also saving a blade they I think is a polsilver super iridium which I understand to be stunningly sharp too. In the mean time, voshkod, rapira X2, personna, dorco, Gillette nacet... I've a few to work through.
£15 for 8 Harry's blades, that is about the same as Mach 3 cartridges and presumably fusion etc. If the Harry gives a good shave though, then all good.
For those that like feathers,. Maybe worth trying Kai. Also Japanese, very very sharp I believe.... But only come in small packs and cost about 50p a blade!
£15 for 8 Harry’s blades, that is about the same as Mach 3 cartridges
Not like for like.In the arms race that is the rip off razor market, Harrys have 5 blades not 3. You need to compare them with the 5 bladed options and they are cheaper than them.
I would never have bothered without the special offer as I thought it was BS.
Give it a go. https://www.harrys.com/en/gb/trial
Ahh perhaps so. I never tried a fuson or anything else beyond the mach3...or w@nky mach3 turbo nitro w@nk blah blah....if they happened to be on sale and cheaper. I hadn't really thought the later stuff was more expensive again but it makes sense!
If you want to sell your futur, I'd take it, and maybe any other blades?
Commission a hand forged japanese steel cut-throat; kangaroo hide strop; badger bristle brush with unicorn horn handle; shaving soap made from lupin oil and angel's tears.
F me - what's wrong with gillette?
Have you tried a different razor instead of the blade sampling? sounds like the blade sampling can get very complicated and time consuming ... and taxing on the memory to remember exactly how good/bad the last shave was.
If you can find one on ebay - try a vintage gillette superspeed .. preferably a Red tip. If it doesnt give as great a shave as most people say - just resell on ebay to get your money back.
Blade sampling is time consuming for sure and not something I actually got too involved in, however, blades do vary enormously and razor/skin types play a huge part
Agreed it's so personal all this stuff. I've been DE shaving for a few years now following one of the other threads like this and mainly due to cost of multiblade cartridges. I've found feathers to be lethal but that was in the early days so should maybe try again. I use Derbys and I think last bought 100 blades for £10 with an arko stick thrown in. I got an Edwin Jagger razor for about £20 which I use but the handle is starting to go now. I'm so tight I tend to use each blade for a week and agree that the middle few days are best. I tend to have at least one day a week when I don't shave which helps with nicks and cuts healing. Also I've changed to shaving first then showering simply because it seems to help stem the blood flow better that way round. Not that there's normally much blood flow these days. On holiday I usually buy a few decent disposable razors rather than carry blades about but they're always disappointing 🙂
Blade sampling is something where time needs investing so I can see it putting people off, for others it's part of the fun. I got a selection on eBay from someone who said they had amassed them on their de journey and thought the samples would help another, about 18 blades of about 7 different types I think it was, for errr £4 ish. Then Holyzeus was very kind and sent me a similar sized selection of different blades and some soaps to try. I have enough different blades to try one each week until about Feb, and about a years worth of blade total if I were to use them all (unlikely, although none have been so bad I would object to using another)
So far I've just stuck to the futur. I bought that as it is adjustable and allows me to see if I prefer a more or less aggressive razor (this also varies with blades selected...... You could spend most of your shaving life doing a different combination each day I'm sure). I do have a vintage Gillette knack to try out too, again due to the kindness of H<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">olyzeus</span>
Oh and as for remembering what is good or bad, that's partly why I've come back and updated here! I've made some Google notes too.... I'll never be sure of finding this thread in the future!
I have a gillette Rocket HD I looking to sell if anyone interested? I find the Rockets as close and smooth as the Red Tips. Only selling because its a double/spare and replacing it with an English Aristocrat #15. £35 posted .. no plate loss; email for pix if interested.
yes please mooman, that sounds interesting to try. could you send a couple of pics to my username at gmail dot com please?
ill pm you when i get chance later.
Of no real relevance to the thread but the date code on my Superspeed says Q1 1960, same as me.
This supermax blade is continuing to exceed expectations. She today felt great. I did find my stubble regrew quicker yesterday than for many blades, so I guess the shave isn't quite so close, even though it feels great straight after.
The vintage Gillette razors seem very worth investigating.
"she"?!
Lol! that was an auto text insert from the phone. not sure what i meant to say though!
Tried those Sputnik blades I posted a picture of - best selling razor blades in Russia apparently. Teflon coated and very good. £2.25/5
Ok so I've tried an Astra again and while it's sharp I find they aren't super smooth. I can shave with them, but already think there are better blades for me.
Tired a Gillette nacet....I had high hopes but flippin Eck! It was like a blunt potato peeler first go, awful. Went back today for a second go though and while it wasn't super sharp it was very very smooth today, 3 passes with futur on 3 and zero irritation or nicks. Beard regrowing quicker than with sharp blades though. Wednesday I tried a permasharp Stainless, in the gold tuck, made by Gillette in Russia apparently. Wow! Just wow!
Oh and I bought another load of blades to try, about 15 different tucks... It'll be next autumn before I'm through them!
Don't forget to revisit some stuff you tried at the beginning and dismissed.
As you get better at getting your angles right and learning your chops and making a decent lather, things get better and easier.
I revisited some stuff and glad I did as they were much better having improved myself.
Not read much of the thread (too lazy) but I did notice about the Qshave futur clone.
I also think it is excellent, couldn't believe it. Cheaper than chips as well.
Yes I intend to revisit blades. I'll probably give everything at least 2 chances, nothing I've had has been terrible so i'd be content to use them all again. I think though that I will eventually narrow down to about a top third, rotate through those nother time, halve again and so on.
So far its been , Astra SP, Wilkinson sword made in england, shark, gillette silver blue, vidyut supermax super stainless, gillette nacet an permasharp stainless in the go. Of those I'm using astra as my benchmark, it gives a great shave although I am sure i will better it as i don't find it super smooth, although I have had some fab shaves from it. I'll also return to the wilko. since the MiE version is no longer in production I bought a couple of tucks of the german made blade, i read its not quite so good but is pretty good so we shall see....I hope its a good blade for me. Also only tried it the once, but the permasharp was like being kissed by angels, it was awesome, I'll have that in the rotation for a while!
i just bought 5 new 5-packs tonight of ebay- shark, astra, 2x personna and a new one i couldn't not try - sputnik...
I got some of the sputnik to try too. plus loads of gillette...errr most of the different 7 oclocks and some platinums, rubies and gillette wilkos, some derby...some bluebird which turns out ARE derby, some polsilver, feathers (had some but bought another tuck as so many seem to say they are good), supermax blue diamond, and supermax super stainless. that;s on top of some personnas, dorcos and a few others I had already to try.
I only shave once a week, on saturday morning, so 25 baldes at 4x a go should do me for a while.
try as i might, i just dont get on with feathers - as far as i know they are Japanese steel (kill bill link there), but they just cut me to ribbons...
Just as an aside from the blade discussion, I recently went back to using shaving cream, rather than soap.
I used it initially and then my Wife bought me some posh German shaving soap in a nice wooden dish. But, to be honest I didn't find it that great. One pass over the skin took it all off and it just didn't work as well to lubricate the skin.
So I went back to the shaving cream recently and the difference is amazing. It is much slicker and stays on the skin, so you can go over the same area a few times and it's still nice and slippy. I'm not sure the shave is any closer, but it is much more comfortable.
I use the Taylor's of Bond St stuff.
I got some of the sputnik to try too
Let us know whether your world is set-alight by them...
bit of a hijack, but do any of you have hard water, and if so what cream/soap do you get on with?
ours is really hard, which means its difficult to get a good lather, in fact so difficult ive been using canned goo for a while now. id like to find something that feels lovely, foamy and slick.
Stumpy01.
I've used Trumpers shaving soap for years with, what I thought, was good results. I recently bought some Taylors Jermyn Street shaving creme and the difference between and soap and crime is night and day. Much more lather, really slick and smooth.
I also bought one of these after years as a face latherer. Again, a great improvement.
https://shavelounge.co.uk/product/proraso-shaving-mug/
Bigblackshed - yep, the Taylor's stuff is definitely my favourite shave cream. I use the Sandalwood one, but will probably try something different next time.
bit of a hijack, but do any of you have hard water, and if so what cream/soap do you get on with?
Yep, our water is stupid hard. Try this stuff....
https://connaughtshaving.com/tayscb.html
I'm london so hardwater but have a softener. I was at mum's md week and her softener is playing up so the hot water was fairly hard. I used dusy by kabinett, one of the samples of expensive stuff holyzeus sent me, and it lathered ok still and it really stays on the skin after several passes....actually its tought to wash off! It has much more staying power than the la per lucien, another sample of posh stuff Holyzeus sent me. the dusy is tallow based, the lucien is glycerin based. So maybe ty the tallow based soaps?
I've bought some of the cheap soaps to try, wilkinson sword, arko, palmolive, all just a pound or 2
Well the nacet blade grew on me. it got better for about 3 or 4 shaves then showed a slow edge loss. my technique must be fair now I guess as using the futur on 3 for 3 passes I got nick and irritation free shaves with it. after about 4-5 shaves the nacet was merely 'cartridge close shaving' but it was still comfy. I did 9 shaves with it in the end. I'm sure i could have done another couple at least with no discomfort, but it was not giving more than an 'adequate cartridge close shave' so after the 9th i binned it.
I'm going to try stropping all my new blades for a while i think , as so many seem to improve for a shave or 2 I reckon i must be sensitive to the burrs initially.
Little update.
After the nacet blade i tried a permasharp, gillette made again i believe. first 2 shaves - wow, sooo smooth and soooo close! then it went to rats on the 3rd, bit early.
On to a Dorco Titan, a Vietnamese blade. This is I think the blade sainsbury sell in their own packaging, 2 quid for a tuck of 10. Well its a dull and tuggy blade but was nick free from shave 2 (I did some minor stropping on the back of a belt before using though, think it may have helped 1st shave) it wasn't bad...smooth but not amazingly close ... cartridge close. today was the 7th shave and that was one too many, it actually gave a BBS shave and no niks but quite high irritation. binned now.
A word on soaps. I used La Pere Lucien, a posh soap sample I got from Holyzeus, for about 8 weeks. I realised it goes a long way so despite its £20 odd cost it wouldn't break the bank, but for me it was nothing special. it took a while to lather and ws ok slick if lathr very wet but nothing amazing. I'm back to the Dusy sample...this is a tallow based soap and i love it. Comical lather in seconds, slick, robust, just great.
3 months in I think my technique is now pretty fair. I can consistently get nick and irritation free shaves, using the futur on 3, and get at least cartridge close, often a fair bit closer. looking back I think it took 7 or 8 weeks to get there. I much prefer the shave to my old mach 3, overall its a pleasure now. I can get a great shave from almost any blade it seems although i prefer the non tuggy and closer results from sharper blades. I can also get the worst shaves ever on a first shave (I'm hoping stropping will help a lot there) and when i go one too many! The only downside is it does still take me a while.
Now I seem to have decent technique I feel confident enough to have fitted a Feather blade for the next outing. Its been well stropped on the back of a belt so I hope it will be sharp and smooth from the off. we shall see.
Nice one.
It's going well.
I have tried all sorts of soaps and razors and blades.
As you say, it is nice when you start to get things dialled in.
It is a pleasure to shave isn't it?
Soaps last so long it is nuts. No cans and plastic lids being binned either.
It is also nice not to be throwing more plastic in the bin in the form of cartridges.
Just a slither of recyclable metal.
I really like feather blades.
I don't do anything other than stick em in and shave.
They don't tend to last as long as others though. I assume because they are sharp they are also thinner edged.
Yes, I look forward to shaving! Skin much better too. Helped by only having to shave alternate days now as each shave is so good.
Don’t bother stropping the blades. All you are doing is taking the new edge off, you are then shaving with a used blade. More than likely one with nicks, bumps and dull patches. The reason you are finding new first shave blades are nicking you or irritation is because your Futur is too aggressive for your skin. Unless you have a weeks worth of growth then dial the razor back to 1, maybe 2, until you have dulled the blade a bit with a couple of shaves.
How many passes are you doing, out of interest? DE shaving is about stubble reduction on each pass, not trying to get a skin stripping shave in one pass.
In response to how long your shave takes it should be all about the preparation. Massaging in a good preshave oil or cream will improve a shave more than experimenting with blades and trying to use an aggressive razor.
