Skipped a couple of days, so still on the same israeli plat and the NEW. Switched tabac to the ta toja. Getting better with that after a had a rought start with it. Lathers fine with the vie long horsey, better than I could before. Skin feels a bit more irritated though than when using tabac.
The Tabac being Tallow seems to have a bit more Grunt in it. The La Toja is amazing for what is considered a 'veggie' formulation - although I swear it has tallow-derived ingredients. That said, lots of product will help with the La Toja, and the minerals in it agree with my face.
I don't really get high priced DE blades mentioned above though. They might last me a week or slightly more, but they are near $1 a blade. I like the cheap blades like israelis, reds and astras. They are consistent and even if they only last 3-4 shaves, cost less than 20c.
There's nothing wrong with them, they give a good and reliable shave. I find the Reds aren't close enough, an hour later I feel stubble. For people with ingrown issues, then a less-close shave has the benefit of not having the hair short enough where it can catch on the skin.
Israelis are a bit better, Astra's are well sharp, however tend to irritate my skin much like yellows. I can use them but in rotation only. It's very much finding what works for you.
I tried the iridiums and was unimpressed for such a hyped blade, so not bothering.
I'm sure one day even the cheapies I like will be rare, so stock up on them I guess while they are cheap.
I must admit that the Iridiums give a good comfortable shave, but they are nowhere near sharp. Astras are sharper I reckon. They are hellish smooth though, the glide on your skin is great. Zero irritation for me is the biggest plus, but feeling patchy stubble 3 hours later is annoying.
Haven''t the reds already been changed from what they used to be? I've got the old version from 2009, may be different? They have always been a mystery blade. israeli? USA? mexican imports and packaged? etc Dunno, haven't heard any latest gossip on them.
No, not at all. Always manufactured in Israel, always wrapped in the red paper. The end location where the blades were packaged and in what container and amount is different.
The Personna Platinum Chrome and the Personna Reds (Personna Platinum) are the same blade. The 'Platinum Chrome' in 10-count plastic dispensers are Euro distribution, while the cardboard 5-packs are US, Latin & South America distribution.
The only 'different' Personnas are the Barber/Lab Blue/Medical prep blades. Barber's are in plain white paper wrapping, Lab blue in Blue with 'Personna Super', and the Medical preps are the same as the Lab Blues with 'Hospital Use Only' on the box. All those are USA-made.
I'd love a razor where every blade seems the same.
Get a Slim. Gets the best out of most blades I have tried, made Derby's a viable blade for me.
They don't all feel the same. I can tell if a blade suits me or not, but that is about it.
I have the Edwin Jagger DE89 - so just a run of the mill, apparently fairly mild, razor.
I know that I don't like the Lord, Merkur or Derby blades, but the Astras, Voskhods, Crystals and Personnas have all been ok.
I have a fairly fine, slow growing beard, so that probably means I notice the differences less.
Yes, you know when the blade 'works'... that's enough to know what does not work, and how to avoid them in the future. The DE89 is mild, and sharper blades work better with my DE86 - Same head.