Consistency in testing - my gear.

I suppose if I'm going to review different blades and compare one to another, the razor and soap should really be the same throughout. I may well over the course of the coming months and years decide to review a soap on its own, but I'll always make it clear if I'm ever using any other eqiuipment.

The Test Razor

The lovely Muhle R89. 

The thing with a lot of razors out there is that they are very similar and can be very confusing for the newcomer. Not only to look at, but some are actually identical. The head of the Muhle shown above is actually the very same as the head on the Edwin Jagger DE89. They just have different handles. Now I, like a lot of people I suppose, do a lot of research before I buy a new consumer item. This wasn't possible for me in this instance because I got the Muhle as a gift. As luck would have it though, this is the one I would have boight for myself anyway. It's widely regarded as a good beginner razor because it's not too aggressive and isn't a huge investment really. One can be had from Amazon for around £25.

My R89 is my daily shaver and will be used as the datum for all of my tests. If I buy or receive any other razors in future I will be sure to mention them here, but they won't be used for blade testing. 

The Test Soap

Cheap and cheerful - in a good way

Again, I'm sure I will come to test and love some other soaps or creams, but for testing purposes the Palmolive Classic Shave Stick will be the go to guy. It's cheap (49p from Asda, 50p from Tesco if you're feeling flush), lathers well, smells nice, and is generally just a lovely thing to use. I settled onto this over my previous Arran Arromatics Bay Citrus soap (£15 I might add...) because it's just nice. 

It quickly works up a lovely lather and without much work at all will give great slickness and protection. This alone would be a good enough reason to purchase, but given the phenomenal value for money, it's a no brainer. I mean... if one stick lasts me two years (more than likely given my usage), I could buy SIXTY YEARS worth of sticks for the same price as ONE Arran Arromatics soap. Aye, exactly. I don't mean to appear to be a tight Scotsman, but come on...

So these will be the standard issue blade blog test equipments... I hope to use them for many a review to come,

Cheers. 

An Introduction

Hi. I'm Chris, and I like razor blades. "What a riveting hobby" you might think! Well, I know it's kinda boring but if you've found this blog then you must have Googled a review of a certain blade. So there....you're just as sad as I am. Get over it.

What I'm planning to do with this blog is simply log and review double sided razor blades, comparing one brand to another, and trying them all out. There are hundreds of different kinds out there, including vintage ones produced decades ago which survive wrapped in their little paper cocoons, ready to be used and enjoyed.

At 32 years of age I discovered the wonders of shaving with an old fashioned safety razor. The kind my dad shaved with, the kind his dad probably shaved with...and so on. I find it quite nice to think of that tradition going back, and to think that apart from the iPad streaming my music from the internet... much of the morning routine hasn't changed at all for over years and years.

Shaving used to be a huge chore to me. Something I did as little as often because it hurt, irritated my face, and was generally not a very nice experience. I started off shaving nearly 20 years ago with a Gillette Sensor Excel, before moving on to a Mach3 and then numerous iterations of the Fusion range. They were all much the same really: expensive, plastic, cheaply made. Some of them vibrated. All of them were pish.

I received a lovely Muhle R89 closed comb safety razor as a gift and I haven't looked back. I have discovered the incredibly therapeutic nature of a proper wet shave, and relish the half hour I can spend in the bathroom, away from wives, children, and the general hustle & bustle of family life. I love the ritual of the whole thing.

So there you go, now you know my shaving history and I can get on with the important task of buying and reviewing blades! I'll probably review the odd soap or cream too, but not razors themselves due to the fact that I only have one (so far!) and I have nothing to compare it against!

Cheers,

Chris