Multi-blade razors

Author
Discussion

jimmyjimjim

7,345 posts

239 months

Wednesday 14th July 2021
quotequote all
zygalski said:
For those who like Feathers, Kai are worth trying.
They're as sharp as Feather blades, but for me last longer, with less of a drop in smoothness after 3 or 4 shaves.
Kai are even more expensive than Feathers though, so if you do want to try them, then a small sample might be best!
I ordered some, turned up yesterday, so only one shave in.

Not overly impressed with the feel tbh. Felt very draggy. An excellent shave though, no nicks, so they can be forgiven a multitude of sins for that. I bought 10, will use a couple more and see how I progress.

At the moment, I'm preferring the Personna reds, but will re-visit those to compare.

I'm also entirely using the synthetic brush I bought (Yaqi Ruby tuxedo), that's a great thing. I can't see myself buying another brush. As long as I get a few years at least out of it, I'll be buying synthetic from here. Though I've probably got enough to see me out, any way.

K87

3,651 posts

100 months

Wednesday 14th July 2021
quotequote all
jimmyjimjim said:
zygalski said:
For those who like Feathers, Kai are worth trying.
They're as sharp as Feather blades, but for me last longer, with less of a drop in smoothness after 3 or 4 shaves.
Kai are even more expensive than Feathers though, so if you do want to try them, then a small sample might be best!
I ordered some, turned up yesterday, so only one shave in.

Not overly impressed with the feel tbh. Felt very draggy. An excellent shave though, no nicks, so they can be forgiven a multitude of sins for that. I bought 10, will use a couple more and see how I progress.

At the moment, I'm preferring the Personna reds, but will re-visit those to compare.

I'm also entirely using the synthetic brush I bought (Yaqi Ruby tuxedo), that's a great thing. I can't see myself buying another brush. As long as I get a few years at least out of it, I'll be buying synthetic from here. Though I've probably got enough to see me out, any way.
Thanks for the tip on Kai, I haven't tried them but after recently buying Feather I cannot imagine a better blade for the way I shave. I have some Personna blades to try, just haven't got around to them yet.

Big supporter of synthetic brushes, the results are great and produce a think cream for shaving, also one less brush produced from the barbaric Chinese badger farms. The quality of synthetic brushes is so much better than 10 years ago.

I went back to DE shaving after feeling I was being ripped off by Gillette for their Mach blades, I know that there is a lot of production costs and R and D but the cost to the consumer is many times the price of a DE blade and for worse results.

BertieWooster

3,295 posts

165 months

Saturday 17th July 2021
quotequote all
jimmyjimjim said:
I'm also entirely using the synthetic brush I bought (Yaqi Ruby tuxedo), that's a great thing. I can't see myself buying another brush. As long as I get a few years at least out of it, I'll be buying synthetic from here. Though I've probably got enough to see me out, any way.
Where did you get the Yaqi brush? I could do with getting another synthetic one for traveling.

jimmyjimjim

7,345 posts

239 months

Saturday 17th July 2021
quotequote all
West coast shaving - https://www.westcoastshaving.com/search?q=yaqi*&am...

I've bought quite a lot of stuff from them over the years.

They're out of the ruby, but there's plenty of alternatives.

XJSJohn

15,966 posts

220 months

Thursday 29th July 2021
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Flippin' heck, just stumbled on this thread, didn't realise that shaving was such a minefield ....

Curiously it seems that my "setup" mostly unchanged for the last 20 years seems to (sort of) match a lot of others here.

I have an old Taylors of Bond Street butterfly razor (about 20 years old, still going strong), Gillette Platinum (Blue Box) safety blades, a shaving soap bar, not a fan of shaving cream (current favourite is a stock i got from Auchan supermarket in France) in an old ceramic shaving bowl that i forget where came from, i get a new synthetic brush (usually Wilkinson sword) every January, whether i need it or not, and a beaten up tin mug from an old hardware store in Singapore to hold the hot water.

worked for me for long enough biglaugh

K87

3,651 posts

100 months

Thursday 29th July 2021
quotequote all
XJSJohn said:
Flippin' heck, just stumbled on this thread, didn't realise that shaving was such a minefield ....

Curiously it seems that my "setup" mostly unchanged for the last 20 years seems to (sort of) match a lot of others here.

I have an old Taylors of Bond Street butterfly razor (about 20 years old, still going strong), Gillette Platinum (Blue Box) safety blades, a shaving soap bar, not a fan of shaving cream (current favourite is a stock i got from Auchan supermarket in France) in an old ceramic shaving bowl that i forget where came from, i get a new synthetic brush (usually Wilkinson sword) every January, whether i need it or not, and a beaten up tin mug from an old hardware store in Singapore to hold the hot water.

worked for me for long enough biglaugh
I think you have hit on the answer, find what works for you and stick with it.

NDA

21,620 posts

226 months

Thursday 29th July 2021
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I have grown a beard recently - so am off shaving.

dukeboy749r

2,678 posts

211 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
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Are synthetic brushes really that good or is it more of an ethics-based decision re: badger hair brushes?

Having used Gillette multi-bladed razors for some 20+ years, I'm tempted at the thought of a close shave with a DE blade, but I taught myself to shave at 14/15, then nine years in the army with cold mornings, cold water, and crap camouflage cream, means that I quickly find anything other than the multi-blade approach is carnage.

Bonefish Blues

26,838 posts

224 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
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Yes - they have a 'body' than naturals (badger anyway) lack IMHO.

dukeboy749r

2,678 posts

211 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
Bonefish Blues said:
Yes - they have a 'body' than naturals (badger anyway) lack IMHO.
Interesting!

I apply the soap by scooping a small amount onto the brush (currently), but I presume I'm also doing that wrong?

Evanivitch

20,148 posts

123 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
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I'm quite happy using a horse hair brush. Avoids the badger killing and synthetics. To best of my knowledge the horse isn't harmed.

madbadger

11,565 posts

245 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
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dukeboy749r said:
Bonefish Blues said:
Yes - they have a 'body' than naturals (badger anyway) lack IMHO.
Interesting!

I apply the soap by scooping a small amount onto the brush (currently), but I presume I'm also doing that wrong?
I would brush soap with a wet brush, but prefer to use cream. Cream directly on face then brush it up to a lather.

Bonefish Blues

26,838 posts

224 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
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I prefer lathering on my face as I think it helps to soften and raise the bristles, and synthetic brushes are perfect for this.

dukeboy749r

2,678 posts

211 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
Excellent, thanks all

BertieWooster

3,295 posts

165 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
dukeboy749r said:
Are synthetic brushes really that good or is it more of an ethics-based decision re: badger hair brushes?

Having used Gillette multi-bladed razors for some 20+ years, I'm tempted at the thought of a close shave with a DE blade, but I taught myself to shave at 14/15, then nine years in the army with cold mornings, cold water, and crap camouflage cream, means that I quickly find anything other than the multi-blade approach is carnage.
I've used a Mühle silvertip fibre synthetic brush for several years - prior to that I was using a badger hair one. I found the synthetic brush was far better in terms of lather and softness. And it doesn't shed either.

jimmyjimjim

7,345 posts

239 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
BertieWooster said:
dukeboy749r said:
Are synthetic brushes really that good or is it more of an ethics-based decision re: badger hair brushes?

Having used Gillette multi-bladed razors for some 20+ years, I'm tempted at the thought of a close shave with a DE blade, but I taught myself to shave at 14/15, then nine years in the army with cold mornings, cold water, and crap camouflage cream, means that I quickly find anything other than the multi-blade approach is carnage.
I've used a Mühle silvertip fibre synthetic brush for several years - prior to that I was using a badger hair one. I found the synthetic brush was far better in terms of lather and softness. And it doesn't shed either.
I've used a synthetic for a few months now and been very impressed with the lathering.

Less impressed with the Kai blades, and Personnas; certainly not working well for me as the Dorcos, which just give a good consistent shave every time.
I've some feather blades that turned up yesterday, will try them again next week.

tobinen

9,239 posts

146 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
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If you like Dorco, as I do, you may also like Astra Platinum and Voskhod. Feather is also one of the best and sharpest.

jimmyjimjim

7,345 posts

239 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
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I've used all three, dorco is probably the best daily driver of them for me. I've not used feather for a while, I'm curious to see how they feel after a few years absence.

uncinqsix

3,239 posts

211 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
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Gillette Nacets are also well worth a try. They fall somewhere between Astras and Feathers.

jimmyjimjim

7,345 posts

239 months

Wednesday 1st December 2021
quotequote all
uncinqsix said:
Gillette Nacets are also well worth a try. They fall somewhere between Astras and Feathers.
Hated those!

I had a blade sampler pack some years ago with~30 different blades. I occasionally have to retry one to remind myself what a specific blade is like.