Posted: 8/11/2025 4:04:51 PM EDT
|
I recently started to use a double-edge razor, a Henson AL13, to shave in the morning. I've experimented with different blades, soaps and creams and have some notes on what worked for me and what didn't. I purchased a few trial packs with a variety of different razor blades and after some initial experimentation, started to rate them on: smoothness, aggressiveness and longevity. Some blades were not smooth and tended to drag unevenly across my face instead of gliding smoothly. Some blades were too aggressive and would take off a layer of skin in addition to the beard. Some blades would last just one shave before losing their smoothness. My shaving routine is to wash my face with hot water and Dove soap. After washing, I would run hot water over a washcloth until it was saturated and then hold the washcloth over my beard for at least 30 seconds and then apply lather. I shave with the grain and then against the grain over my entire beard and then left to right and right to left where my beard hair is curly on my neck. I would re-apply lather between passes. I tried almost every type of blade at least twice. The blades that didn't work for me: • Treet - was not smooth and required more than one pass in each direciton • Tiger - was smooth, but not very sharp and required multiple passes • Iridium - was smooth, but not very sharp and required multiple passes • Wilkinson Sword - very smooth, but overly aggressive -- it irritated my skin in several places • Perma-Sharp - was smooth and sharp, but only lasted a couple of shaves before becoming dull • Merkur - very smooth and sharp, but overly aggressive -- a lot of my skin was irritated after the shave • Derby Extra - dull and not smooth • Shark - very rough shave - not smooth and left me bleeding in places • Persona Blue - great shave - very smooth and sharp, but only lasts for 1-2 shaves before becoming dull • Starmaxx - not very smooth, left me bleeding in places (this is the only blade I only tried once) The blades that I would use again: • Astra - smooth, sharp, not overly aggressive and good for 3 or so shaves • Gillette Silver Blue - very smooth, sharp, but a bit overly aggressive and left my skin irritated in places and good for about 4 shaves • Bic - very similar to the Silver Blue blades above • Feather - very nice blades - sharp, smooth and last at least 3-4 shaves, however they are comparatively expensive The best blade I found was a Chromium RK. This blade is smooth and sharp, but is not overly aggressive. I am also able to get at 5-6 shaves out of it before it dulls. My plan going forward is to use the Chromium RK blades for day-to-day shaving. If I get bored with these blades, I'll try the Astra, Gillette Silver Blue, Bic or Feather blades again. I also got a sample pack of different shaving creams from Taylor of Old Bond Street. They all worked very well. I preferred the Eton scent over any of the others. I've also tried the Taylor of Old Bond Street shaving soap in Sandalwood and Viking Revolution shaving soap in Bay Rum. I've been alternating between these two shaving soaps and like both of them. I purchased the shaving creams, soaps and some of the blades from Amazon. I purchased the rest of the blades from ShaveNation. Shave Nation ships very quickly and often had lower prices than Amazon. I have no financial interest in any of the companies listed. I hope other men new to shaving with double-edged razors found this useful or interesting. |
Knuckle dragging boomer rube, patriot, Navy vet.
Joined:
Nov 2013
Posts:
4777
EE: 0% (0)
USA
| Thanks for the very detailed review. I'm just using up what I have one box at a time. On Astra's now. But I'm a bit puzzled about the review. I have never experienced a big difference and have used most of the blades tested. I have about half the list and they all feel 90% equal with small variations. The razor itself and the prep make for a bigger difference in outcome than the blade. The only blade I have ever used that performs very differently than the rest is a Feather. I like them a lot but they are wicked sharp. Some folks cork the blade before using one. I have noticed that the second shave is better than the first. |
My own view is that left-wing positions largely come about from resentment, I agree with Nietzsche, a resentment about the surrounding social order. They have privileges, I don't. Or, I have them and I can't live up to them. Roger Scruton
|
Originally Posted By HDSledge: Thanks for the very detailed review. I'm just using up what I have one box at a time. On Astra's now. But I'm a bit puzzled about the review. I have never experienced a big difference and have used most of the blades tested. I have about half the list and they all feel 90% equal with small variations. The razor itself and the prep make for a bigger difference in outcome than the blade. The only blade I have ever used that performs very differently than the rest is a Feather. I like them a lot but they are wicked sharp. Some folks cork the blade before using one. I have noticed that the second shave is better than the first. @HDSledge, I definitely noticed large differences between many of the blades. Perhaps I have more sensitive skin than you do or I'm just more picky 
|
|
Originally Posted By pokey074: If you like Astras I would encourage you to try Nacet. For me Astras are garbage in comparison, and I used to like Astra. Also, Feathers suck but everyone slobs their knob. WAY too aggressive/temperamental. @pokey074, I'll give Nacet a try. |
Knuckle dragging boomer rube, patriot, Navy vet.
Joined:
Nov 2013
Posts:
4802
EE: 0% (0)
USA
|
Originally Posted By BrianC: @HDSledge, I definitely noticed large differences between many of the blades. Perhaps I have more sensitive skin than you do or I'm just more picky I suppose my skin may be tougher. Only a few brands don't feel right to me. It could be because my prep involves a hot shower every time and softens the beard uniformly. |
My own view is that left-wing positions largely come about from resentment, I agree with Nietzsche, a resentment about the surrounding social order. They have privileges, I don't. Or, I have them and I can't live up to them. Roger Scruton
| Astra Platinums are my go-to. There was a member here years ago that sent me a a hundred or so blades from various manufacturers to try out when I first started using a safety razor. I really couldn't tell much difference in most of them aside from some becoming dull quicker than others. The Astra blades seemed to last awhile pretty consistently so I've just stuck with them. |
|
When I went into the Army in 1975 my grandma dug out grandpa's double edge razor and a pack of blades and gave them to me. I used to chuckle every time I looked at my ID card. Scabs all over my face, five or six of them. Wish I still had that ID card but I had to turn it in when I got out of the Army. Had a couple jobs for 34 years after I got out of the Army where I had to shave each day before going to work. Used various electric razors over the years. Retired and now I only shave a couple times a month with a set of electric clippers. |
How you live your life is important. Just be sure the memory of how you died doesn't overshadow the tales of how you lived your life.
Knuckle dragging boomer rube, patriot, Navy vet.
Joined:
Nov 2013
Posts:
4824
EE: 0% (0)
USA
|
Originally Posted By Vague: Astra Platinums are my go-to. There was a member here years ago that sent me a a hundred or so blades from various manufacturers to try out when I first started using a safety razor. I really couldn't tell much difference in most of them aside from some becoming dull quicker than others. The Astra blades seemed to last awhile pretty consistently so I've just stuck with them. Shaved with one yesterday. Good. Working down the line on my supply and grabbed a pack of them last. Next pack will be Wilkinson Sword Classic. I go 3 days between shaves now and use an adjustable Gillette (any of them) on 7, 5 for touchups. This one yesterday. 
|
My own view is that left-wing positions largely come about from resentment, I agree with Nietzsche, a resentment about the surrounding social order. They have privileges, I don't. Or, I have them and I can't live up to them. Roger Scruton
|
Originally Posted By Joedirt199: Settled on Nacets and shaving in the shower. Works well with Merkur adjustable. Every now and then you get one that might have a duller side than the other. Had more inconsistancy with Derby and rates of sharpness. |
|
Originally Posted By Joedirt199: Merkur Progress is the adjustable. Anything over #2 seems to get pretty aggressive for me other than up the neck. |
|
My experience Agree with Astra, Feather, and I also use Shark Shave after showering I use Speick in a tube. With and then against the grain. Do not re-lather at all. My experience is that blades last one to three shaves before starting to feel some resistance. Continue using them until a stronger resistance is felt. Sometimes I just tough it out.
|