Part 2 of 2 | Read Part 1
This post completes my two-part post series of double-edge razor blade comparisons. In this post I’ll review how the remaining three brands of sample blades performed for me, using the same technique and starting point in terms of growth.
Test Considerations
To ensure the comparisons were fair, I tested each blade with the same approach to head shaving. The first post in this series explains this in more detail, so please review that if you want to compare your approach with mine. Your hair loss pattern will also have an impact on results, so remember your mileage will vary.
Blade Reviews
- Iridium Super
- Parker Premium Platinum
- Dorco Titan
Iridium Super
My first shave with an Iridium Super blade was great. It’s been a while since I shaved my head with the Derby Premium blades, but from memory I felt the Iridium Super was about level in all respects. The shave was smooth, the feedback from the blade was good, and best of all was how most of the hair was gone in one pass. There’s a tricky area at the back of my head where most blades I’ve tried struggle due to the hair growth still being quite dense, but the Iridium Super shaved clean through it in one smooth stroke, which was impressive. After a couple of clean-ups here and there, my head was shaved close to BBS in most areas, but once again I didn’t feel it was as close as I could get with a Gillette Mach3. When I ran the alum block over my head I felt a little irritation here and there, but nothing too serious.
As I started my second shave, the big question on my mind was whether the blade would retain its performance on the second shave, or even improve like the Derby Premiums did. I was delighted to discover it improved. The second shave with the Iridium Super was even better than the first, and my head was left feeling silky smooth in just one easy, comfortable pass. That’s pretty impressive considering I went straight to shaving ATG on 48 hours of growth. I felt very little irritation when I came to use the alum block, and began to wonder if this blade was going to be the joint favourite alongside the Derby Premium blades.
Iridium Super blades are much better than Derby Premium in terms of longevity. Subsequent shaves with the same blade were just as good, with very little irritation. It wasn’t until the seventh shave that some signs of degradation started to show, such as having to go over the same area a couple of times, but even then the blade still delivered a smooth comfortable shave with a good end result. The eighth shave was also reasonable, but with further degradation and signs of tugging, I decided to change the blade at that point.
Out of interest I tried using the Iridium Super blades for daily head shaves, but it was too much for my head. By the third day, it felt uncomfortable and the alum block revealed a huge amount of irritation. I’m sticking to once every two days with these blades.
Key points: Lots of smooth shaves, with good feedback, only one pass required, resulting in a close irritation-free finish. Longevity of 7-8 shaves per blade!
Parker Premium Platinum
The more blades I try, the less apprehensive I get about the first shave with a different brand. Perhaps my own technique is improving to the point where I’m more confident with my technique. I’m used to my razor, and know that if I take my time and be mindful about shaving my head, there’s nothing to fear. My first shave with the Parker Premium Platinum was a relaxed and enjoyable one. The blade delivered a smooth shaving experience in mostly one pass with good feedback, and the end result was as close to BBS as the Iridium Super and Derby Premium blades got, with no irritation at all. A great result.
I was looking forward to the second shave, and the Parker Premium Platinum blade didn’t disappoint. The second shave seemed as good as the first, if not better, leaving my head with a smooth finish in a single pass, with very little irritation. The third shave was just as comfortable, but required more passes, didn’t leave my head quite as smooth, and the alum block revealed quite a bit of irritation.
Deciding which blade is best overall will ultimately come down to longevity, and on that basis, the Parker Premium Platinum blades are not the winners. The fourth shave showed further signs of degradation, including a little tugging, a need for multiple passes, and considerable irritation. Rather than risk a fifth shave, I decided to stop and change the blade.
One saving grace for the Parker Premium Platinum blades is the fact I could shave my head every day without too much irritation. However, even when shaving less hair, I found the blades were only good for three or four head shaves.
Key points: Smooth first and second shaves, with good feedback, only one pass required, resulting in a close irritation-free finish. Longevity of 2-3 shaves per blade.
Dorco Titan
All the blades I’ve tested have their own unique branding and way of packaging, but the Dorco Titans went the extra mile. No plastic, and a neat little envelope wrapping each blade. In term of presentation, they are undoubtedly the best.
In terms of the shave, I began with my usual routine, going against the grain on 48-hours of growth. The Dorco Titan blade provided good feedback, was very comfortable, and removed even the dense hair at the back and sides of my head in a single pass, each stroke of the blade removing every single hair. I was left with a perfectly smooth head that wasn’t far off BBS, with little to no irritation when I came to use the alum block.
The second shave was just as good as the first, but not better. The shave was comfortable, left no irritation, and produced a great finish in a single pass with just a few clean-ups here and there. The third shave was a little disappointing, with some signs of tugging, and a need to go over areas multiple times to get them smooth. Despite this, there was hardly any irritation, but it was clear the Dorco Titan blades weren’t going to last as long as the Iridium Supers did.
In terms of longevity I managed four good head shaves with one blade before the number of passes to get the smooth finish I wanted became frustrating. Remarkably, even though some spots at the back and sides needed several passes, there was still little to no irritation, which is a positive for the Dorco Titan blades. However, attempting a fifth shave with the same blade did result in considerable irritation.
Key points: Smooth first and second shaves, with good feedback, only one pass required. Multiple passes required after the third shave, but consistently delivered a close irritation-free finish. Longevity of 3-4 shaves per blade.
Best of The Three
The clear winner of this race is Iridium Super, easily outperforming the other blades. In second place we have Dorco Titan, with Parker Premium Platinum coming up third.
Best Overall
If you’ve read my previous article, you’ll know the winner was Derby Premium. They were excellent blades, but compared to the three I tested in this post, they slipped back into third place. In second place was Dorco Titan, which means the outstanding winner of my six blade test is Iridium Super.
More Double Edge Razor Blade Reviews
Part 2 of 2 | Read Part 1
This post is the second in a two-part series. In the first part, I carried out the same tests on three other sample blades.
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