PolSilver All hype?

[gadgetgeek]

For a little while I was in love with the old Iridium Platinum blades from Russia. Of course when I got to the end of my stash, they went out of production, and I didn't love them enough to pay the flea bay price. Since then the PolSilver blade has come on the market, at a higher price point, and I've read in a few places that they are from the same factory as the old Iridiums, (and where my current 7 oclock blacks are from).... the plot thickens or something. I can't tell the difference between the PolSilver, my current 7oclock, and the Bic yellow that originally replaced the Iridiums. Granted, in this time I've had an upgrade of brush, tried a bunch of different soaps, shortened my saving routine, and probably changed my technique some. That and I've noticed that I've become more of a "grey face" over the past couple years. So definitely have more hair to deal with (its heading south for sure, but the mynoxodil seems to be reducing the shiny spot up top, so there is that)

anyone got any thoughts or feelings on the Polsilver? as an added interest I picked up an Indian "disposable" 7 oclock black as a travel razor. Not bad for the $7 it cost, its cheap as, but honestly well thought out, and to a reasonably high tolerance for what I assume is injection molding. Shaves pretty poorly, but considering its a 10th the weight of my Tech, I'm not surprised. And really I shouldn't say poorly, it just needs lots of focus, as you don't get any forgiveness in momentum a heavier razor gives, you feel everything. But I'm attached to my Tech, and I'd rather not risk it to traveling anymore. All that said, I've read in other forums that the Indian made blades are superior to the Russian made ones, but I didn't feel it. Could I be more brand resistant, or could my shave technique after a few years still be so crappy that I can't tell blades apart? (all the other ones I've tried have been noticeably worse... so no evidence there)

for reference, my usual shave is:
shower
face lather
read something funny on-line (maybe a couple minutes?)
WTG pass,
half-rinse and re-lather
think about life for another minute
XTG pass, and touchups.
I don't usually do a ATG unless there is a reason too, I've been finding that shaving everyday starts to go bad after about a week, (I try to take a day off every week) and if I ATG I can do that for a couple days in a row before the weepers get really bad. I can, and do ATG with feathers, but it takes longer in general for a full shave.

I probably could get better shaves by slowing down, (I shave pretty quick) and by doing more passes with a less aggressive razor. My open comb tech can get pretty bitey, so that is probably a factor as well.

Lots of long and rambly thoughts, yes. any long rambly replies?

 

[db]

Looks like you’re doing a good job on the most important part beard prep. It has become my opinion that pretty much all blades are sharp enough to give a close and comfortable shave. You just need to learn how to use them properly. They all have their own sweet spot. Meaning the angle is a little different and how you shave with it can make a big difference. Just like different razors need a different technique so do blades. Now a lot of people will say that brand X works best for them and it is most likely do to that blade fits their natural grip and method. I’d say your probly making small changes to fit the blade that you are using and now that you’ve become a better shaver you are doing it automaticly. Therefore you are getting a good shave with all the blades your using, and don’t see much difference between them.

 

[gadgetgeek]

I hear ya. I'm wondering if the 3 or 4 years between the last of the Iridiums and now has changed my perspective? on the one hand I know my beard is thicker (started DE shaving at 24, now 28) but I remember them to have been some kind of magic. It would make sense that some people have a narrower window of good shave, so something like the blade would make a bigger difference to them.
Either way, my opinion is that the PolSilvers are not worth the huge markup over their competitors (certainly not at the near-feather cost) and i suspect that they are the same as the black russian 7oclocks.

 

[mainaman]

I like the polsilvers, they work great for me.

 

[tiguy7]

I've come up with a method for shaving in the shower. I have a magnifying mirror and a razor hanger in the shower. I wash my whole head twice with bar soap. I shampoo my hair and wash the stubble with shampoo. I turn the water down and lather up with mug soap (no brush). I use a Gillette Sensor with a vibrator shaving WTG, AcrossTG, and AgainstTG. The shave is fast, clean, and messless. No nicks, no irritation, no mess, and as smooth as a baby's butt. I have tried a lot of shaving stuff over the years, but it's hard to imagine any equipment or technique that would yield better results.
The system is fairly economical because I can get about 20 shaves per cartridge.

 

[gadgetgeek]

Mainaman, for me they run just under 50$ for 100, where I can get the 7oclock blacks for just under 30$ so to me they just aren't worth the price, considering that feathers are just a couple of dollars more per 100, and are a whole league on their own. But if you like them, that's great, since really spending 30 bucks for two years of blades or 50 isn't that big a deal.