Don't fear the Feather

Rick in KY

Rick in KY

Gold Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2002
Messages
3,492
I'm new to "wet shaving."

I used to be one of the many Mach 3 Turbo Super Glide Mega cartridge users. The cost became a bit of a turn off and I looked at DE safety razors. Even with the various added initial expense of equipment and accouterments, it became clear it would be cheaper in the long run.

But what about the quality of shave?

I started with a tub of shaving cream, a brush, a venerable Gillette razor and Derby blades. Why Derby? Because I'd read they tended to be more "gentle", and having only used cartridges, I had some trepidation that I'd hack my face up.

I'd much rather hack my face up gently.

After the much documented learning curve associated with relearning how to shave, I found I'd get a reasonably smooth, nick-free shave.

But not that baby's butt smooth I got from the cartridge.

So, after reading fellow formite Gollnick's experience with the Feather blade, I decided to give them a try.

I'd read that these were the sharpest, most aggressive and most unforgiving DE out there. The dream of gently hacking up my face seemed in jeopardy of this blade described by one user as being like shaving with a scalpel.

When it finally came time to change blades, I removed the "gentle" Derby and, with mildly shaking hands, plopped in the Feather.

Warily I pulled the razor over my upper lip.

It did not fall off with a wet plop on the floor.

In fact, it removed the whiskers much more smoothly with no tugging.

Encouraged, I moved a bit quicker with more confidence.

Before I new it, I had received the best shave yet from the DE method. The shave produced a smoother face with less irritation than the Derby blades ever did.

My advice: Don't fear the Feather. Give it a try.

After all, most likely anything you cut off will grow back anyway.
 
I gave a feather a try a couple of days ago, and the combination of it, my razor, and my skills just didn't mesh:( While I didn't slice off my face I did get a lot of irritation. I guess that my face just may be too sensitive for the aggressiveness of the feather blades. The blade that I am really digging is the Dorco 301s, no irritation, no nicks, a near BBS to BBS every time. I may revisit the feathers blades in a month or so but for now my go to blade is the Dorco.
 
DE shaving still affords us the real luxury of individual blades with vastly differing characteristics:thumbup:

One man's meat is another man's poison is something the homogenised world of cartridge shaving does not want to acknowledge.

Some swear by one blade where others swear at it. For me, Feather is the best blade I've yet used, nothing shaves closer and I don't encounter irritation. Other people can't get on with them at all and that's valid. The worst blade I used was a Crystal, it left me with multiple wounds and a very coarse shave, not close at all. I'm sure some people like them a lot. Feather has a 'reputation' for aggression but it depends solely of the characteristics of your beard. It's all subjective, but the modern cartridge manufacturer believes there's a man with a beard, full stop.:grumpy:
 
willgoy said:
The worst blade I used was a Crystal, it left me with multiple wounds and a very coarse shave, not close at all.
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I'm glad I'm not the only one with that conclusion. As I am fond of saying, two weeks of shaving with Crystal blades left me with a new sympathy forthe Palestinians since I too have now experienced Israeli violence and destruction. Those are horrible blades; how anyone gets on with them is beyond me. Several months ago, I decided to give Crystal another chance and after one shave I knew that my first conclusion was correct and there was no need to go any further with Crystal.

I love Feather. I wouldn't recommend them as a first blade for a beginner, but don't hesitate to give 'em a try once you've got your technique down.
 
unky_gumbi said:
I gave a feather a try a couple of days ago, and the combination of it, my razor, and my skills just didn't mesh:( While I didn't slice off my face I did get a lot of irritation. I guess that my face just may be too sensitive for the aggressiveness of the feather blades. The blade that I am really digging is the Dorco 301s, no irritation, no nicks, a near BBS to BBS every time. I may revisit the feathers blades in a month or so but for now my go to blade is the Dorco.
Click to expand...

same for me Feather does not work for me
 
The Feather is a great blade, just not a beginners blade in my opinion. I can only use one for about a week and then I have to switch to another brand. Personally I prefer the now discontinued Swedish Gillettes. Them or the Schick Plus Platinum or Platinum Plus. Whatever they are called. I have some Personnas 74's I want to try out too.

-Tye
 
I had a similar experience to Rick, although I now have settled on Astra SP for the time being. Feathers were nice, but a bit aggressive, the SP's feel smoother.

Interesting how everybody is different with no quantifiable variations.
 
I would rack that up to different faces, level of experience, razors, soap. I am the type that normally goes for the best I can get, for this its definitely the Dorcos but there are many more to try out still, but I am definitely buy a supply of Dorcos with my next sampler order.
 
Update:

Monday was the 1st day trying the Feather and I'm still on the same blade. That's 4 days. I haven't noticed any degradation in shave quality yet but I'm aware of Gollnick's experience of great one day, dreck the next. Do willgoy and Munky88 share Gollnick's experience?

Of course, I understand beards and techniques differ. Participants on this thread have rightfully, IMHO, asserted this is part of the beauty of DE shaving. I'd just hate to be midway through my shave and have my blade suddenly lose it's edge.
 
I usually switch blades after 5 days. Only had one feather that lost an edge near the end of day 5, so I just fishined with the remaining edge and replaced it. Not really an upsetting incident. Even if they both went it would only take 20 seconds to put in a new blade. Thats just the knife nut in you having nightmares about suddenly having your knife edge roll and not being able to shear the mooring lines of the QE2 before Godzilla overtakes you.
 
Munky88 said:
...Thats just the knife nut in you having nightmares about suddenly having your knife edge roll and not being able to shear the mooring lines of the QE2 before Godzilla overtakes you.
Click to expand...

Get...out...of...my HEAD!!! :eek:



;):D
 
Most blades are not as smooth on the first shave as they are of consecutive shaves, and it holds true with Feathers. My first shave with each one is not as comfortable as the next 5 or 6. I love Feathers. They and Bic blades are extremely sharp and give me great shaves. I just wish I could find better prices for Feathers. I'm also going to try some Kai blades I bought as a sample pack of 10 Feathers and 10 Kais.
So far, Feather is my favorite blade.

Each blade will shave differently in each razor. I've had Derby blades hack me up in my EJ DE87, but not in my Techs, Superspeeds, Red Tip, Gillette Adjustables, etc. I've also had Racer blades from Lord hack me up in every razor BUT the EJ. In the EJ, the Racer blade has been magic.

I like Derby blades a lot for an everyday blade. I can get BBS without too much effort.
If I want a BBS shave that lasts 12 hours, I go with Feather. They are fantastic blades. They are the twin turbo Toyota Supra of DE blades.

I've had Wal-Mart/Walgreens/Dollar General/Fred's store brand Personna blades irritate me to no end in my less aggressive razors, yet they work wonderfully in my really aggressive razors, such as Red Tip SS, Merkur Slant, Neillite 400, etc.
Go figure.

Don't fear the Feather, and while you're at it, Don't fear the slant.
A Merkur 37 slant loaded with a Feather blade gives an amazing shave.
Just be careful, like you should with any razor/blade.

BTW, I took Gollnick's advice of a lighter touch with a more aggressive razor/blade. It works well.
Now I want to get a long-handled Merkur Progress and load it up with a Feather.
 
Not found that Feather suddenly go off mid shave. 5 or 6 decent shaves and that's it, but, they are very decent shaves.

I agree with Jaymo about the first shave being inferior to the second though. Feather is what all other blades should aspire to be!
 
The angle of the feathers edge is extremely fine. whether the edge rolls or not probably has quite a bit to do with the razor itself, and what angle the blade is held at, and cuts at. Only had it happen once on one side in a superspeed, Gollnick would probably have been using a futur on an aggressive setting. That might be the cause.

Either way, a minor inconvenience which only happens when your about to dispose of the blade anyways. I quite like feathers, though I haven't given up my search for something more perfect.
 
I don't mind Feathers, however they are quite aggressive for my skin. They shave my whiskers very well, but they also shave my skin very well. I have found that I will get about 6 shaves out of a Feather, and then it just crashes. No gradual diminishing of performance, no warning, just aggressive shaves, then... bang.

Now... Dorco 301s and Gillette 7 O'Clock give me a great smooth, mild shave with almost no irritation.

Bic is somewhere in between, but the blades weren't consistent in their sharpness. Much less irritation than the Feathers, but more aggressive than Dorco or 7 O'clocks.
 
Although I was sorely tempted, I didn't want to post in this thread on my first day using them. So now that I've been using Feathers for a week, which would be time enough to have a fair indication of performance, I can safely say that they are, without a shadow of doubt, the finest blades I have ever used.

Until I got onto the Feathers my shave consisted of a Futur razor and two or three passes. Because of the smoothness and cutting performance of these blades, I've now moved away from the Futur after falling for the charms of these blades partnered to the less aggressive 38C Barberpole. With it's smaller head and gentler touch, the 38C is a pleasant razor which can get me a great shave in two smooth cuts, with and across the grain.

I am very pleased with this set-up. I also made the decision a while back to move out all fragranced soaps and creams and the only lather I will use now is unscented soap and cream from the Art Of Shaving alongside Taylor's Jermyn Street cream. Those remaining niggles of redness and dry skin patches I had from using rose, lavender and sandalwood stopped immediately afterwards.

Things may change later and I wouldn't dare to say that I've found the ideal shaving method but it's certainly working for me and that's enough.

Mark
 
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