Feather not for me?

I don't like them.
What you're describing strikes me more as angle of attack. There's really not an easy cover all rule to it, but some guys swear by not changing any variables for a long time. Then only changing one thing at a time. Brand of soap, blade, or razor. Some guys say that learning to get great shaves using an aggressive setup can help with the learning curve. Others say the opposite. Gentle razor and blade can force you to focus on angle and lather and prep.

Everyone's right. Except for anyone insisting that what works for them can work for everyone else.

So it could be lots of things. I've yet to try a brand new DE blade that wasn't capable of cutting hair. Some are smoother feeling and some are even a little wider actually or thicker.

I think if you're not happy with the results you should try something that you like. By all means don't give up on something unless you have an allergic reaction or something though. Concentrate on what works good for you and focus on consistently achieving great results from that setup. Have fun and get comfortable shaves. The whiskers will be back the next day and you can mow them down again. Then when you can shave as effortlessly as you press the buttons on the TV remote without looking, change something up.

You might end up liking Feathers one day. It's certainly not strange though if you don't.

What bakerbarber says is bang on, it's a process of trial and error to find what you like. There's a thread here on what's your worst blade and I think almost every blade is represented in the various posts. Virtually every blade is hated by someone and I don't think there's a single blade that is universally loved either. It's a bit confusing at the start when all you really want is to be steered towards the good stuff and all you hear is YMMV.

Thanks for the replies and advice everyone! Yes I'm new to this by a few months, loving the variety, trial and error, and usually comfortable shaves! After this discussion I think I'll take a tuck of each blade I have and put in a bag, in the back of the closet. Then after I've been at it a year or whatever and more consistent, break them back out for evaluation. Maybe the variety isn't helping me much, although I do notice 4 or 5 blades I like that work better than the others.

Is angle really that finicky? I started with the Merkur 34C which I know is a relatively mild razor, and seems to have a more limited cutting range. I'll try playing around with that some to see if I can get closer shaves. The more aggressive razors with more range seem to give more irritation, indicating I need to take my time and work on that angle more probably.

Angle is important but it comes intuitively very quickly and its fairly obvious when you go off.

As for putting blades away to try again later, I found it useful to make brief notes on each blade and if you have more than one razor, note the razor as well. You'll find some blades work pretty well in all of your razors, some work better in specific razors and then there will be those blades that are universally awful. Of course you will find on forums that there will be people who love the blades you hate.

It's really quite amazing how much your technique will improve your shave. One day you're going to realize that the shaves feel easier and more effortless.

Right now it is very difficult for you to imagine how much these micro-variations in angle and pressure can make a difference, but they do. With time and practice, you'll develop muscle memory that becomes very intuitive and instinctual to maintain.

Before you know it you are getting consistently fantastic results and realizing just how many issues in the beginning were related to technique.

It happens relatively quickly. Obviously it's different for everyone, but in just a couple months it becomes second nature. The shaves just keep getting better from that point on...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks! I've assumed I have decent technique since I have yet to cut myself (face that is- finger another story) and only gotten maybe two weepers after dozens of shaves. However like I said depending on the blade and/or the day, I get a closer shave than others.

How much does soap matter? As I've discovered samples I probably added even more variables because I want to try the different scents and brands. I do take my time to an extent building my Lather, and that seems to come relatively easy too. At least I've primarily got scent variation, within CF, Stirling, TOBS soaps so I'd assume same brands lather the same as their "siblings?"

I finally have my technique to where I am comfortable with it and pleased with most of my shaves. Speaking only for myself, Feather DE blades are never my first choice. In fact, I cannot remember the last time I used one. Yes, they're sharp... for exactly two shaves. Then the blade does nothing but tug and give rotten results. There are many other blades out there that work much better for me, Brazilian Gillette Platinum-Plus, Gillette 7 O'Clock Super Platinum (Dark Blue), Personna Medical Prep, and Voskhod, just to name a few.

Having said that, blades are very personal and I have yet to hear of any one blade brand being universal in guaranteeing a perfect, or even decent, shave every time.

How much does soap matter?

The soap you use can make a big difference. Once again, when you build even more experience, you’ll start to notice the ways you can affect the lathers you are getting, and which soaps perhaps simply won’t allow you to achieve the lather that you want.

In order to figure this piece of the puzzle out, it’s probably better to spend some time on one product at a time, instead of scrambling to try a large amount of products.

Also, this is another one of those areas where some will swear by a certain product, while others will only find it mediocre at best. With time, I’m certain you’ll find both the best technique and the best soaps that work for you.

(Also, just for the record, I love Feather blades, and feel that the wet shaving world would definitely not be the same without them, as there’s nothing quite like them out there. Clearly, not everyone shares my opinion…)

I like Feather blades.

But I can tolerate most of the blades made. I even like these:

I use feather blades and really like them especially in a Gillette blue tip which is a mild razor one of the smoothest shaves I've ever got