Kai Salon Select Premium Guards?

First shave in with a Kai Select Premium Guard. I ran this with my La Faulx ++ in SS.

A quick backstory: A while back I ordered a La Faulx ++ plate to have an alternative to my classic plate, paired with a Feather Pro Super. I only have a limited set of runs in with the ++ plate, as I had been bumping into what felt like a bit of aggression, relative to the delivered efficiency, using a conventional unguarded Kai PINK or Feather Pro. So I was considering a guarded blade to see if that might tone things down. And that's when I saw the BST listing for the Kai Salon Select blades.

Back to the shave: This blade ran significantly smoother and more comfortable compared to the unguarded KAI PINK and Feather Pro, in the ++ configuration. I haven't used a guarded blade in a very long time, so I unfortunately can't make a fresh comparison with other guarded blades. Although by memory, I would suggest this blade is on par with the Feather SoftGuard, but with higher efficiency. The only downsides were an incremental reduction in efficiency and feedback compared to conventional unguarded blades. This translated into some light buffing and touch up in my most difficult areas. Although I imagine that would be less necessary with more run time. 

The only other questions are BBS duration and blade longevity. Judging by post shave inspection, I don't think I will hit my normal 12+ hour BBS goal. But if I can hit 8+ hours, that would work for a number of scenarios. Also, I feel that my beard profile is at the higher end of difficulty. And because of that demanding profile, I find lower efficiency blades tend become less effective, sooner. I will continue to shave with this blade copy and report back on BBS and blade longevity.

Likely placing a regular Feather Pro would work for you based on the post. Super Pro is incredibly aggressive with its significantly increased exposure. That stated, was able to use a Super Pro comfortably in a regular Durdan

RE guarded blades, while everybody is different, get between 36-48 hours perfect BBS with a Feather SoftGuard in a Vector Ti. Then again, cannot use a Feather Pro.

First shave in with a Kai Select Premium Guard. I ran this with my La Faulx ++ in SS.

A quick backstory: A while back I ordered a La Faulx ++ plate to have an alternative to my classic plate, paired with a Feather Pro Super. I only have a limited set of runs in with the ++ plate, as I had been bumping into what felt like a bit of aggression, relative to the delivered efficiency, using a conventional unguarded Kai PINK or Feather Pro. So I was considering a guarded blade to see if that might tone things down. And that's when I saw the BST listing for the Kai Salon Select blades.

Back to the shave: This blade ran significantly smoother and more comfortable compared to the unguarded KAI PINK and Feather Pro, in the ++ configuration. I haven't used a guarded blade in a very long time, so I unfortunately can't make a fresh comparison with other guarded blades. Although by memory, I would suggest this blade is on par with the Feather SoftGuard, but with higher efficiency. The only downsides were an incremental reduction in efficiency and feedback compared to conventional unguarded blades. This translated into some light buffing and touch up in my most difficult areas. Although I imagine that would be less necessary with more run time. 

The only other questions are BBS duration and blade longevity. Judging by post shave inspection, I don't think I will hit my normal 12+ hour BBS goal. But if I can hit 8+ hours, that would work for a number of scenarios. Also, I feel that my beard profile is at the higher end of difficulty. And because of that demanding profile, I find lower efficiency blades tend become less effective, sooner. I will continue to shave with this blade copy and report back on BBS and blade longevity.

Likely placing a regular Feather Pro would work for you based on the post. Super Pro is incredibly aggressive with its significantly increased exposure. That stated, was able to use a Super Pro comfortably in a regular Durdan

RE guarded blades, while everybody is different, get between 36-48 hours perfect BBS with a Feather SoftGuard in a Vector Ti. Then again, cannot use a Feather Pro.

Thanks Dan, my earlier post was primarily in reference to using a regular Feather Pro (and Kai PINK) with the La Faulx ++ plate. The Feather Pro Super was only mentioned in the context of the classic plate configuration, that I historically ran prior to acquiring the ++ plate. I personally don't think the Feather Pro Super would make sense for the ++, but I may try it at some point. However, the combination of the mild classic plate with the extra exposure of a feather pro super has been excellent. Unfortunately a Feather Pro with the classic plate is too mild. And I just preferred to not be locked in to one blade (and plate) combination so had been exploring the ++ plate with a Feather Pro and Kai PINK.

When I did have a Vector, I would run it with a Feather Pro and occasionally a Feather Pro Super. I just find the La Faulx to offer superior smoothness and comfort in the classic plate configuration. And while I was concerned at first with maneuverability, after a bit of run time I have no issues with it. (I recall you felt differently about that from your own experiences). I do think the La Faulx ++ resembles more of the character of the Vector when running unguarded blades.  As always, these tend to be subjective experiences and will vary for each person.

First shave in with a Kai Select Premium Guard. I ran this with my La Faulx ++ in SS.

A quick backstory: A while back I ordered a La Faulx ++ plate to have an alternative to my classic plate, paired with a Feather Pro Super. I only have a limited set of runs in with the ++ plate, as I had been bumping into what felt like a bit of aggression, relative to the delivered efficiency, using a conventional unguarded Kai PINK or Feather Pro. So I was considering a guarded blade to see if that might tone things down. And that's when I saw the BST listing for the Kai Salon Select blades.

Back to the shave: This blade ran significantly smoother and more comfortable compared to the unguarded KAI PINK and Feather Pro, in the ++ configuration. I haven't used a guarded blade in a very long time, so I unfortunately can't make a fresh comparison with other guarded blades. Although by memory, I would suggest this blade is on par with the Feather SoftGuard, but with higher efficiency. The only downsides were an incremental reduction in efficiency and feedback compared to conventional unguarded blades. This translated into some light buffing and touch up in my most difficult areas. Although I imagine that would be less necessary with more run time. 

The only other questions are BBS duration and blade longevity. Judging by post shave inspection, I don't think I will hit my normal 12+ hour BBS goal. But if I can hit 8+ hours, that would work for a number of scenarios. Also, I feel that my beard profile is at the higher end of difficulty. And because of that demanding profile, I find lower efficiency blades tend become less effective, sooner. I will continue to shave with this blade copy and report back on BBS and blade longevity.

Likely placing a regular Feather Pro would work for you based on the post. Super Pro is incredibly aggressive with its significantly increased exposure. That stated, was able to use a Super Pro comfortably in a regular Durdan

RE guarded blades, while everybody is different, get between 36-48 hours perfect BBS with a Feather SoftGuard in a Vector Ti. Then again, cannot use a Feather Pro.

Thanks Dan, my earlier post was primarily in reference to using a regular Feather Pro (and Kai PINK) with the La Faulx ++ plate. The Feather Pro Super was only mentioned in the context of the classic plate configuration, that I historically ran prior to acquiring the ++ plate. I personally don't think the Feather Pro Super would make sense for the ++, but I may try it at some point. However, the combination of the mild classic plate with the extra exposure of a feather pro super has been excellent. Unfortunately a Feather Pro with the classic plate is too mild. And I just preferred to not be locked in to one blade (and plate) combination so had been exploring the ++ plate with a Feather Pro and Kai PINK.

When I did have a Vector, I would run it with a Feather Pro and occasionally a Feather Pro Super. I just find the La Faulx to offer superior smoothness and comfort in the classic plate configuration. And while I was concerned at first with maneuverability, after a bit of run time I have no issues with it. (I recall you felt differently about that from your own experiences). I do think the La Faulx ++ resembles more of the character of the Vector when running unguarded blades.  As always, these tend to be subjective experiences and will vary for each person.

Oh, had same experience. Misread.

Sharing a few artifacts from research on the Kai Salon Select guarded blades. It appears these blades were part of a larger Kai Salon Select line released in September 2018. Reviewing the marketing sheets and previous posted images, with computer aided translation, along with my own direct observations of the blades, I found the following details:

- Smooth Guards appear to essentially be Protouch MG blades with a coating of teflon added to the guard "teeth." The Smooth Guards also have a contrasting layer added to the main surface, presumably to visually distinguish between it and the Protouch MG blades.

- Premium Guards have 58 guard "teeth" vs the 36 of Smooth Guards, and the guard width (or height in my mind) is reduced by .06mm (but the overall blade width/projection seems to be the same as the Smooth Guard)

I am including a link to an original marketing campaign video for the Kai Salon Select release, although it is in Japanese. It includes a few interesting notes, and you can also watch a woman having her earlobe shaved by a professional barber:

And here is a complete one page product sheet for everything:



You can also search the UPC for the blades and they will turn up a few different sources, although all seem to be in Japan or eBay grey market. Premium guard UPC is 4901331018381