Astra Superior Platinum Double Edge Razor Blades - 30 Ct

Sharp, cut as indicated. I've been using them for a few years, and they're ok for the money. A good value.

I had already tried sharper blades such as Personna and Feather, but wound up with irritation despite the close shave. I had also tried duller blades such as Dorco and Derby, which didn't give me irritation but also required me to take multiple passes to cut through my coarse hair.I needed something in the middle and decided to give these blades a shot. I gotta say, they are my new favorites. They're very sharp, only requiring one pass with and one pass against the grain to get everything, and despite their sharpness they're so smooth that it seriously doesn't feel like I shaved at all. I highly recommend them for anyone with coarse hair and sensitive skin.The only negative I can think of is that I only get two shaves (sometimes only one if I wait more than two days between shaves) out of one side before I need to flip sides (thankfully the sides are numbered 1 2 and 3 4 to make this easier), totaling only three to four shaves a blade, but considering how cheap they are and the quality of the blades I really can't complain.As always, however, your mileage may vary depending on your skin and hair type, so be sure to buy a sample pack of different types of blades before choosing one that's​ right for you.

I am using these blades with a Merkur Safety Razor Model 180. Before I was using the Merkur Double Edge Safety Razor blades, but the Astra blades work much better for me. They are extremely smooth and allow me to get a very close shave without any nicks, cuts or razor burn (zero bleeding in the first week with a brand new blade). In my second week now and still using the first Astra blade. Even my Monday morning stubble (after not shaving Saturday and Sunday) was no problem with this blade, although I had already used it for five shaves last week. Closest shaves I have ever managed to get! Even shaving across or against the grain is no issue for me. I have 30 Astra blades, so they will last me at least a year if not longer. I have not used any other blades besides Merkur and Astra, but for now I believe I have found my favorite blades. I actually look forward to shaving now!

I'm relatively new to using a safety razor, but I ultimately settled on Astra as my blade of choice after trial and error and a good amount of online research. This maybe isn't the absolute best blade out there, but they seem to be a good choice for beginners. I first tried out these blades from a variety pack (different order), and while they weren't the sharpest, they certainly weren't the dullest, and my face is thankful that I didn't just go for the sharpest blade available.A new blade is sharp enough for me to get the job done, and I usually replace it after two or three shaves, since they start to get dull around that time. So while one day in the future, I might trust myself to "upgrade" to something sharper like Wilkinson Sword or Feather, I'm a happy customer with Astra for now.A bit of extra background info that I've learned and found to be helpful for those who are new to the world of shaving with a safety razor...Some brands of blades are sharper than others. A really sharp blade is *theoretically* great- it will give you a better (smoother, closer, and requiring fewer multiple passes) shave, and blade that's too dull will leave your face irritated, red, and raw (this obviously depends somewhat on your skin type as well). However, a beginner may want to take pause before buying the sharpest brand of blade available, because it requires more care and precision (read: experience) to use if you don't want to massacre your face.I feel like I tried out a good variety of various brands. Some were too dull and left my face burning, and others were too sharp and left me with nicks and cuts. Astra seems to be in the "Goldilocks zone" of these qualities- not too sharp (for my inexperienced hand), not too dull, but just right.

It's hard to imagine how razor blades could work or feel very different from each other, but after spending several months comparing Astra blades to the very highly rated Feather blades, I've come to the conclusion that I really prefer the Astras.The Feathers are, as advertised, extremely sharp. Perhaps too sharp. Though I'm at this point an experienced DS shaver, I live in fear of nicking myself with these blades. They require a very light "feather" touch and a careful stroke. Furthermore, the quality of the shave noticeably diminishes after 3 or 4 uses.The Astra blades, on the other hand, have a gliding quality that inspires confidence. I find I shave faster and with more pressure when using the Astras. I can also get 6 or 7 shaves out of a single blade without any significant drop-off in quality. Plus, they're cheaper and somewhat easier to get out of their paper wrappings than the Feathers.Note, the cardboard boxes that mine came were pretty banged up, unlike the slick plastic boxes that the Feathers came in. But I'm not shaving with the boxes so I don't care.