– Straight razors
– Electric shavers
– Safety razors or
– Gilette Mach 7, 10 or 20
The choice of shaving tools is bigger than and you get confused easily.
Shaving with a good old fashioned safety razor is still the best way of shaving. You need a safety razor and a razor blade and you can get a close and enjoyable shave.
Buuuut, how to pick a good razor blade ?
A lot of novices pick a bad razor blade and get turned away from the safety razor shaving.
If you pick a good razor you shaving can go from mediocre to great in a snap
So after testing a lot of razor blades and researching forums, I can proudly present to you my top picks for razor blades and additional info on them that just might interest you, so you can pick the right one for you.
1. Astra Superior Platinum Double Edge – TOP CHOICE
Sharpness: 4 – 4.5/5
Smoothness: 4.5/5
Blade: stainless steel with platinum coating
Country of manufacturing: Czech Republic – Russia
These blades that come to us in a green packaging were first made in the Czech Republic and then in 1996. the company was bought by Gillette and the production was moved to Russia.
If you ask any experienced shaver what their favorite blade is, most of them will say either Astra of Feather and with good reason.
The sharpness is around 4 – 4.5, it is not super sharp like the Feather but it is sharp enough to get the job done.
The main draw of the Astra blades is that they offer a pretty smooth shaving and retain their edge quite well. Seriously, the edge retention is INSANE. You can get 10 amazing shaves from just one blade.
There are testimonies that people managed to get even 20 shaves.
These blades are among the cheaper one so you don’t need to push them to 20 shaves.
2. Feather – sharpest in the world.
Sharpness: 7/5
Smoothness: 3.5 – 4/5
Blade: stainless steel with platinum coating
Country of manufacturing: Japan
The Feather company mainly manufactures surgical scalpels and other surgical tools for Japanese hospitals. That quality and attention to detail are also showcased in their blades.
Feather blades are bar none the sharpest razor blades in the world.
The downside of this sharpness is that like the samurais’ katanas they lost their edge fast. They will last you 3 shaves on average.
That being said.
If you are a shaving novice, I do not recommend this blade to you. These blades are not forgiving, and if you start with them don’t put them in a heavy and aggressive safety razor, try them in something milder, also take care when you are shaving in the neck area.
I didn’t mean to scare you with these facts
On the contrary, when you develop your shaving technique these blades will give you one of the closest and best shaves in your life.
3. Wilkinson sword – Best for beginners
Sharpness: 3 – 3.5/5
Smoothness: 4.5/5
Blade: stainless steel with chromium, ceramic and Teflon coating
Country of manufacturing: Germany
Wilkinson sword razor blades are the best choice for young people just starting to shave.
One of the best advantages of these German blades is their triple coating technology. Chromium helps the blade to stay rust-free, the ceramic coating helps it retain its edge and Teflon will keep your face free from irritations.
Though not on the level of Astra blades, you can get 5 – 7 shaves from one blade.
These blades are not the sharpest and that makes them perfect for beginners being that they are very forgiving. Even if you are not a beginner they are a good choice if you have sensitive skin.
4. Gillette 7 O’clock Super Stainless – Best for the intermediate shaver.
Sharpness: 4/5
Smoothness: 4/5
Blade: stainless steel
Country of manufacturing: Russia
If Wilkinson Sword is meant to be a beginner’s blade this is a step up. If you are looking for something a bit more aggressive then this is the razor blade for you.
The 7 O’clock in the middle of the road when we talk about the sharpness and smoothness of the shave. With its stainless steel blade, it is sharp enough to cut thicker beards and smooth enough that you don’t need to worry about razor burns and bumps.
The blade will last you about 5 shaves on average.
There are sharper blades.
There are smoother blades.
And there is Astra that lasts for 10 shaves.
If you are looking for a Jack of all trades, this is the pick for you.
5. Personna Platinum
Sharpness: 4 – 4.5/5
Smoothness: 3.5 – 4/5
Blade: stainless steel with platinum and chrome coating
Country of manufacturing: Israel
These razors packaged in a neat red box come to us from Israel.
The Personna company became very popular during these few years and now is one of the leading manufactures of razor blades.
Now, why did I mention the red box?
Personna also has two more razor blade lines. One if med prep which is used in hospitals and a Personna platinum blades in a blue box. The blades in the red box are a bit better.
I had the opportunity to try these blades even though they can be a hassle to get and let me tell you, they are sharp, not sharp like the Feather blades that don’t forgive a single mistake but they are sharp as Astra blades, if not a bit sharper.
That being said, they do not last long. You can expect to get 2 – 3 shaves and that’s it.
They are a bit costly per shave but the feeling is well worth it. They pass through your beard with no difficulty and no irritation if your skin is not sensitive.
6. Voskhod
Sharpness: 4/5
Smoothness: 5/5
Blade: stainless steel with Teflon coating
Country of manufacturing: Russia
These Russian made blades come to us in a packaging that is not that impressive.
Don’t let that fool you.
These blades are nothing but impressive.
They are not terribly sharp, about as sharp as the 7 O’clock super stainless. There is one curiosity with these blades, a lot of people reported that they become sharper as you use them.
But that’s not all.
Their most impressive feature is the smoothness of the shave. These blades are the most smoothest blades I have ever used. With its Teflon coating, they are perfect for people with sensitive skin.
Even though they are very popular in Russian they have garnered a following outsider Russia too.
They can last for around 6 shaves. Since they are the cheapest blades in this list you don’t need to use them more than that.
7. PolSilver Super Iridium
Sharpness: 5/5
Smoothness: 4/5
Blade: stainless steel with iridium coating
Country of manufacturing: Poland – Russia
The blades were first made in Poland as Wizamet blades (and they can still be bought on eBay) and then the production was moved to Russia. Sound familiar?
There is a rumor that has been floating around for years that the production of these blades has stopped. They are still being produced and you can buy them with no problem.
PolSilver blades also have their following, a lot of people swear by them.
They are very sharp, almost Feather sharp, almost. You can make some mistakes with them but not a lot.
The smoothness of the shave is better if you compare them with Feather blades. That being said, if your skin is sensitive I do not recommend them to you.
They last about 5 – 7 shaves, some say you can go to 10 shaves. It is a bit much but if you can shave 10 times with them more power to you.
If you are an experienced shaver and are looking for something new PolSilver Super Iridium will not disappoint you.
8. Sample package
You don’t know what blade to try from this list, you are looking for something new? Then I have the solution for you.
A Swedish first by the name of Razor Blades Club gives you the option to make your razor blade bundle and to send them to your address. You can order 1, 5, 20, or even 100 blades.
You can find a very wide choice of popular and some lesser-known razor blade manufactures.
Your beard is thicker, you have sensitive skin, you are just a beginner or are a seasoned veteran, then go to Razor Blades Club and make the pack which is the best for you.
HOW TO SHAVE
It is not just the blade but how you use it.
If you want the perfect shave you need to prep your face.
My advice to you would be that you shave before going to bed. Washing your face with warm water will not only open your pores for an easier and better shave but will also relax your facial muscles which will help you fall asleep easier.
Lather your shaving brush well and shave with easy strokes. Don’t press the safety razor too much to your face, just let the weight of the safety razor to do its job.
Go two times with the grain (the direction in which your beard grows). If you know the basics you can go once against the grain. If you go against the grain you can irritate your face so I recommend that you use eighter the Voskhod or the Wilkinson Sword razor.
WHAT TO USE
Apart from the razor blades, every shaver needs a good shaving brush, soap, and safety razor.
As for the safety razor, I will do a thorough review soon. I can recommend the one that I am currently using and that is Edwin Jagger DE89.
You can see my article about shaving brushes to see what works for you.
And there is the shaving soap maybe the most important part. If you want a first-class shave you need to use a soap that is made for shaving, which has natural fats that hydrate your face and make it easier for the blade to remove the hair.
WHERE TO BUY YOUR RAZOR BLADES ?
We live in the age of the internet so you have a lot of options.
The best place would be eBay or Razor Shaving Club that I mentioned.
If you know what you want I suggest that you buy in bulk to save your time and money.
Did you try these blades, what are your thoughts?
Do you have a blade you think deserves to be on this list?
I use Astra SP blades; the ones that were ranked #1. I honestly can’t tell if the blade has been used once or six times. It retains a consistent sharpness. Very smooth blade. I use it in my Henson AL13 Mild razor and love it.
They are a bit harder to find because of the War in Ukraine but yeah they are worth the price.