Murdock Barber and self-confessed shaving nerd Mr Vincent Vincent gives tells us about his favourite blades for double-edge safety razors.

We’ve talked a fair amount about all the different tools at our disposal when it comes to removing hair from our faces. Whether it be a humble cartridge blade, the more traditional double edge safety razor or the elegant cut throat. There are many ways to go about it. We haven’t talked too much about what exactly we’re putting into our safety razors though blade wise. There are as many different kinds of razors blades in this world as there are whiskies (a true gentlemen is aware of this). For the sake of this article we’ll talk about some of the more popular brands out there.

Feather
The sharpest of the sharp straight from Japan. I’d say work up to these. I’ve heard people say that they get TOO close of a shave. Personally, they’re my favourite hands down. Keep in mind that because of how sharp these are they’re extremely unforgiving for those who haven’t mastered proper blade angle and pressure.

Merkur
Always readily available in any store, Merkurs are a good standard blade. Most guys learn with these but move onto more advanced blade once they become more accustomed to what they want out of a razor.

Derby
Easily one of the most popular razors out there and a favourite of local turkish barbers around the world. Most people say that for price point vs quality you can’t beat a Derby. Good for novice shavers with sensitive skin although those with thicker, coarser beards will probably find them lacking.

Wilkinson Sword
They’re what we use in the shop for a reason. Affectionately called “wilky’s” by some, they’re coated with a synthetic polymer coating to reduce friction. Being just sharp enough but not too sharp, they’re a good middle of the road blade that’s excellent for a large demographic of gentlemen.

This being all said, different blades are better when used in combination with other razors. ie “open mouth” as opposed to “closed mouth” safety razors. With the price of a pack of blades averaging £2.50, experimenting is far less “painful” on the wallet than you’d expect. Once you understand exactly how fully customizable of a process wet shaving is, you’ll understand why some guys can nerd out on it all day.

To find out how to change razor blades, watch this highly instructional Murdock video.

And if you’re as big a shaving nerd as I am then you may be interested in this video demonstrating how razor blades are made….

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