Astra Superior Platinum double edged blades review
From what I’ve read Astra Superior Platinum blades are supposed to be somewhat sharper then the Derby’s I’d previously used. Whilst this might be true so far the Astra’s have had the worst durability of any of the blades I’ve used.
Astra Superior Platinum blades are platinum coated and made in Russia. If the platinum coating is supposed to make them last I think Russian platinum might be broken.
1. Sharpness
The first shave with an Astra blade gave me no dramas. I did get a tiny bit of weeping around my neck but that’s to be expected as each new blade for a double edged razor requires a slightly different technique.
I had no issues with the blade catching on my skin nor did the blade drag around.
On the second shave it all went to hell though. It was like somebody took some sandpaper to the blade and dulled the crap out of it. It was dragging and pulling like nobodys business.
To be fair I’m trialling each new blade for 2 weeks of shaving (6 shaves), I don’t expect to get six perfect shaves out of every blade but honestly after one shave the Astra had just had it sharpness wise.
2. Durability
As mentioned above after my initial shave the next five shaves were hell. The second shave was rough and over the following four shaves it only got worse.
I was sorely tempted to cut this trial down to just one week but I kept at it. The blade was so dull by the fourth shave that I was doing six passes painfully slowly so as not to drag or scrape on the tougher hairs on my face.
I’d definitely say the Astras are a one shave only blade.
3. Irritation
Again after the first shave Irritation rose progressively through the fortnight. I found my skin, particularly the neck wasn’t as irritated as when I was using a Mach 3 and mostly settled by lunchtime. Still, the roughness was extremely noticeable when compared to using say the Derby blades the previous fortnight.
I’ve got four more Astra blades to use as part of my sample pack and when I’m done trialling the other blades will use them once per shave and then toss.
I don’t plan on ever going near an Astra blade again.
February 27th, 2010 at 9:47 am Anthony(Quote)
My experience is different. I settled on Astra Platinum blades. I get four shaves and my whiskers are tough. Have tried Derby – nice and smooth but quite not sharp enough to last four shaves. Wilkinson Swords OK but average for a high price. Comoy – can’t cut a whisker dullness. I’m still too frightened to try Feathers again.
I was thinking about the waste of all that plastic on disposable razors. Maybe we all should use DE safety shavers.
February 27th, 2010 at 5:48 pm ozsoapbox(Quote)
Yeah one of the important points to consider is that everyone’s blade preference will be slightly different for slightly different reasons
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Good to see the Derby’s were able to handle tough whiskers though. I’ve left everything but the Derby’s back home and there’s no local supply of alternative blades here in Taiwan.
Eventually I’ll buy some from overseas and have a revisit of some of the alternative blades I think.