I shave in shower put mirror up in there shower first wash face with shower gel then I use King of shaves alpha gel a see through gel on face then shave holding Razor under warm shower ! Very less chance of cuts hope this helps someone

There are loads to pick from

http://connaughtshaving.com/samplepack.html
http://www.traditionalshaving.co.uk/razor-blades/4514774-Traditional-Shaving-Razor-Blade-Sample-Pack.html
http://www.shavelounge.co.uk/de-razor-blade-sample-pack-1

Though none of the sample packs I've seen on Amazon before seem to be available.

Any chance of some links to "trial packs with a range of blades", as you mention?

Expired. £4.98 now

Astra blades, 50 for £4 or 100 for £7 from same vendor.

Now £4.98

Funnily enough I actually think Derby blades are very good! Certainly come in a close second to the feathers I have.

I really dont like Astra blades...quite dull IMO and Gillette 7 O Clock went straight into the bin!

Just goes to show...everyone has different hair thickness and skin sensitivity. Horses for Courses and all that!

made me lol.

Yep, if you have DE blades you can snap them yourself and use them in this type of blade holder.

Are these just DE blades that are split down the middle?

As this guy says ' there's a learning curve, and it's not a short learning curve'. Best start practising while on holiday.

Take it easy and show the razor respect! I started with one of these a few months ago and looked like I had been in a knife fight! Not so bad now though with practice.

Yes. They should be, when using a shavette the blade quality doesn't have as effect as with a full double edge.
The derbys feel surprisingly good in my Italian shavette. Just take your time as the cheap shavettes can feel a bit loose, if you come in at the wrong angle or aren't confident your going to get cut.

I'm struggling to work out how you've managed to cut yourself with feathers? Surely if you hold them by the pointy end you'll be fine? But really, how does one go about having a shave with one?? The must've come from some double hard ducks!

Will look them up, cheers.

​gillette 365s are worth a try, got 100 from India for a fiver

​you can't go wrong with an old Gillette tech off eBay, and if you don't like the idea of used there's a guy on there who sells new old stock (found a load in an old factory I believe).

Another vote for Gillette 7o'clocks here. Vastly better than Derby blades.

Don't jump straight to Feathers, they are ridiculously sharp. Try Shark or Bluebeards Revenge for a decent midrange blade. I started with Derby and they are ok for beginners but as pointed out, not great for sensitive skin. I tried a fair few before settling on the ones best for me, the best were Gilette 7 O'clock but they didn't last long enough for me, Shark offered great sharpness and durability so I've stuck with them and Bluebeards Revenge.

​just be aware that he's using a straight razor in that video and a shavette (which is the product here) is a lot harder to use and a lot easier to cut yourself to ribbons.

Ive been using a straight razor for over a year now, they are very good and it teaches you patience. You need patience because you learn the very hard way if you rush ( I know I have the scars) yet it also teaches you how to use that skill in other things, for me I am a blacksmith and I use patience instead of rushing things and it shows in my work. The other thing is I got a Gilette Pro Glide in the post sent to me and that is the only one that can match the shave of a straight razor.

Personally I would not go for the cheap straight razors as I would not want to have a slight bend or dent in the razor from cheap metal, I used The Bluebeards Revenge

http://www.bluebeards-revenge.co.uk/product/the-bluebeards-revenge-cut-throat-shavettestraight-razor-renewable-blades/

Still cheap to buy but its very good quality for someone who is starting

I used Gillette fusion great shave but yes blades expensive so I got a razorsharp however I also use wilkinson sword sensitive comfort 3 disposable razor has lasted 3 months so far great shave read reviews on Amazon etc ! Pack of 4 are £4 at tesco but often half price hope this helps someone

Ordered Thanks. Willing to give it a go at that price .

good price!! thanks op :stuck_out_tongue:

Seriously thinking about it. My problem is I'm on blood thining tablets, so may bleed to death before mastering it. :laughing:

Razors and blades ought to be coordinated,nice find,thanks very much.

Been wanting a proper razor for ages and theirs that many i was overwhelmed could you point me in the right direction for a good razor and blades.

Cheers

​oops should have scrolled down before asking, sorry.

I will just add that if these Derby blades are anything like their double edged equivalents that they are pretty poor for sensitive skin and you would be best served to upgrade or try a tester kit with a range of blades as it's amazing the difference in the quality of the shave by just changing the blades until you find some that suit you.

I use the 60 odd remaining Derby double edge blades now as part of my tool set because I found a better alternative for me and wouldn't touch my face with them again. None the less a bargain price for what you get.

+2 for Astra. Nearly 2 years since I switched, and still have half of the original 100 blades left & only on my 3rd pot of Taylors of Bond Street shaving cream. I shave every other day, but these things really do last for ages... find the blade only needs changing every couple of weeks, and a fingertip of those creams goes a long, long way.

​+1 for Astra

Thanks OP. For some reason I struggled to find blades, as if they didn't exist. Didn't realise they were this cheap. Really beats throw away razers. Heat.

Ordered some for my family

I can't comment on cut throat range as I've not ever used them and I don't know for sure if they are made in the same way. I can comment on their double edge equivalents based on my experience which are that they are pretty dire. My preference now is feather blades because they stay sharp longer and I've not really found them to be any worse in terms of drawing blood, if anything I would say they are better because they are so sharp that it doesn't tend to catch as much as the Derby ones did. Again I will add this is all based on Double Edge shavers.

I would strongly recommend you give a Feather one a try if you are enjoying DE shaving. I was just as worried about ending up like some sort of bad guy in a horror film but actually found the quality of the shave to be so much better as for some reason better quality blades seem to cut less.


I've got a 100 box of these and really they are a vast improvement on the Derby but I reach for the Feather every time.

As is mentioned many times in the DE threads, buy a trial pack with a range of blades to try and work out which you enjoy best as everyone is different and I can say that the different ones I've tried you can tell that some will suit you and others wont, there are probably just as many people who will disagree with me about Feather being the best blades and it's all down to personal choice.

After buying a Edwin Jagger shaver around about a year ago, never looked back...serves me well to shave my head and do the edges around my beard!

Try Astra Plat. Somewhere between the two and great middle ground. Good shave without loads of nicks.

Was hoping someone would comment on Derby blades as I've read mediocre reviews on them. I'm currently using BIC de blades which are serving me well. Didn't want to make the jump to Feathers until I'm comfortable with de shaving first.

Are the blades already snapped in half?

Terrible idea for 99.9% of the male population. COLD

Ordered ta. Use occasionally anyway so good price for qty 100 blades

​That was very very helpful, thanks.

love the way they spell 'professional' on the box...

Here's a link for the first timers.

http://www.gq.com/story/drop-the-toilet-paper-5-surprising-ways-to-stop-a-shave-cut-from-bleeding

Just bought!! Never used one but YouTubes a great tool!! Cheers

Good find op and a five star review. Love this comment on the review "As for shaving, there is a very good reason why 'safety razors' were invented, so take care when using this razor as it does require practice to achieve a truly clean shave with minimal cuts."