Totally is. You get a better shave with the SE's which have a lower learning curve and describe things like tugging and burn that point right at a poor technique with DE. But the damnable evidence is that you mention 'no pressure' with DE. Of course there's pressure. No pressure is what you tell beginners so they don't slice their face off. A big part of technique is learning when and where to apply that gentle pressure. Too much pressure and you get... burn while not enough pressure gets you tugging. This is why DE blades are so YMMV -- how they feel and work depends very much on your individual technique.
Well, technique does play a HUGE part in the variances experienced with different razors, but all beards and skin types differ so one man's bad shaver is another's gem. There are heavy-bearded men who absolutely love the R41's aggressiveness and suffer no irritation, and many other who can't abide the razor. Part is technique, but one's skin sensitivity plays major role in shaving comfort and amount of irritation. A shorter life on DE blades vs SE blades I'd attribute to thickness, or 'thinness' of the surface edge.
I can't agree totally with Kevin. I use "Wilkinson Sword Blades" and most of the time I get "Excellent Shaves", "No Razor Burn", and most of the time "No Nicks or Weeper's" When I use my Astra SP Blades same also when I use the Generic Blades I like. When I get a bad shave or do not get several good shave out of my blade it has to be my Technique.
Roll, Roll, Roll your Razor gently down your face. La de da! But keep the blade almost flat to your face as per the instructions. And the blade will last longer than you. Mickey (Yes a Rolls addict)
I'm not going to weigh in on the cutting angle question - very interesting discussion! - but peach fuzz has nothing to do with it. I have a very tough, wiry beard, and I can't get a good shave with a single edge simply because the available blades aren't that sharp! I love both the injectors and the Everready types, but just don't use them because they don't cut a truly tough beard worth crap. Give me a Feather or a Super Iridium any day!
The thinner blade will by nature be sharper, but the thicker blade will have a better chance of retaining it's edge for a bit longer.
First, everybody thinks that: A) They have sensitive skin. B) They have a coarse, wirey beard. The thing is, all skin is sensitive. That's kind of one of the major selling points of skin. Also, you know you have a coarse, wirey beard because you get ingrown hairs. If you aren't prone to ingrowns, you don't have a coarse wirey beard. It may run a little bit towards the thicker side of the spectrum, but we're all pretty much the same, the main difference just being how sparse the beard is and how fast/slow it grows. Secondly, unless you're the 2nd or 3rd blade on a multibalde cart, you aren't cutting hair, you're scraping it. This is how single blade shaving works, and why you do multiple passes. It's called beard reduction. An SE has a lower learning curve because there are less ways to use it. A DE razor is a lot more versatile. When you learn it and your face you are able to do wrist flicks, slides, and other various maneuvers that are unworkable with an SE. You have good points on the angles, I'm not saying you don't. What I am saying is that there's give and take to everything, and it's not nearly as hard and fast as you're trying to make it. I am going to point out that you claim SE has a steeper learning curve than DE, yet you say you didn't get DE down in 3 years, and have SE down in a matter of months... So what you're saying is that you were able to master the more difficult razor in less time than the easier one? Does that make sense to you when you look at that logically? Lastly, it's your shave and you should do it as you see fit.
A DE blade cost 15 cents on average. They aren't made to last forever. I don't want them to last forever.
Gentlemen, I think you all are making valuable observations. Thanx for sharing. The topic is complicated and there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
there may be something to the shaving angle idea, but the thickness of the blade and the properties of the edge are more a significant change. Id rather have a thinner and finer edge, instead of edge retention.
Absolutely not. I can not find any difference between an old, a new, and an adjustable as far as blade life is concerned.
Every two days if I am using a feather or voskhod (my favorites). This is because I have never gotten three good shaves out of either of them. I don't go with more than 2 shaves with either because there seems no point in me trying. For me, there is no difference in blade life if I am using a new, old, adjustable, open comb, closed comb, travel tech, or anything else. I can feel the blade dragging and skipping when it is worn out. This seems to occur at the same point no matter what razor I am using.
Agreed, from oldest to newest, mild to aggressive, cheap to expensive, and so on...If a blade gives me 3 shaves in one razor--it gives me 3 shaves in every razor. I have never experienced a longer blade life in one razor over another.
So many variable between so many shavers. I find my 77 year old coarse whiskers get the most outstanding shaves from most of the mid aggression Type G and Type I Schick Injector razors (using Chick blades) and from the 1936 Gillette Aristocrat using Personna Lab Blues and from the Every-Ready 1924 SE using Gem Stainless Steel blades from Ted Pella. I have wet shaved daily since November 1951. So many variables between so many shavers. Gentlemen, we are all correct, but in different ways. All of the comments in our thread have merit and are deserving of serious consideration. Sign me, YMMV
I get usually get 15 or so shaves with a Feather DE and probably something like half that with an Astra SP or Personna IR. I'd say 90% of my shaves are with an Old Type, either a Single Ring or a Brownie. Sometimes I'll get into a groove with a New Improved or NEW De Luxe for a few days, but I can't say that I've noticed any decrease in blade life there. This past week or so I've been using a Schick E2 for the first time, stainless Personna blade, and so far it's been 6 shaves and no sign of the end in sight yet. I also picked up an ER 1914 a little while back but haven't used it as yet. When I do it'll likely be a GEM blade from the local drugstore. Lots of variables in this particular nut, but I'll say that for me, properly softening my beard before I shave is key to longer blade life, and I have a fairly heavy beard. My routine is just a hot towel and Noxzema, simple enough, but the difference is dramatic. To be honest I simply don't shave without properly prepping my beard, but if I were to shave stiff, dry whiskers I would definitely expect to get a lot fewer shaves from any blade. As ever...it's your shave, do what you like...
