I gave my nephew, who has a very coarse beard like yours, an original Henson AL13 mild that I use as a spare with 3 types of blades: Astra SP Green, Gillette Platinum, and Feather. He currently uses a Gillette Fusion cartridge razor and was getting ingrown hairs and razor burn. I told him to go nice and slow with the DE razor at first using the Astra blade to start. I got feedback from him today and he loves it. He said his skin feels nice and smooth. I was over the moon excited for him. I think we have another former cartridge razor shaver. He also liked the fact that his Uncle Bob gave him 79 razor blades along with the razor.
Once again the Zen Master of shaving comes through. Thanks for the comparison shave. I'm not surprised that the blades are identical. The Astra SPs have been around for years. I expected the machines used in India would be the same ones used in Russia or duplicates. Changing the blade labeling was probably intentional so the consumer could distinguish the two blades. It's good to know I can confidently reorder the Astra SP blades. Thanks again!
Great comparison! Seems the India Greens work darn near as good, that's great news. Astra Greens are a favorite of mine. Could I request you do the same type of comparison with the Perma Sharp blades, Russia vs China?
@@gnomeoshaves4641 well... I have tried several but the blades made in China have never met my needs. Platinum and Perma-sharp blades used to have very good quality. Hope that the quality will maintain after moving to China.
I used the Russian Astra's from my sampler and had a pretty good time with them. Thanks to your video I can load up on them without a worry of which I'll recieve!
Giovanni! You are the master of You Tube barbers. Thanks for taking so much of your time through the years, educating and supporting us. We are only better off because of it.
As a matter of interest, I had a look at Amazon's offerings of Astra green and white box blades here in the UK (22-07-2024), and the country of origin listed in 8 items on offer were 2 from the US (which might be advertising bull), and 6 supposedly made in Vietnam. Make of that what you will. 🤔
Something I've noted about the St. Pete's Astras is their longevity. Lasting nearly a dozen shaves before they start to think about pulling/tugging (which I know is a long time to push a blade). Can you let us know how the India-made blades last over time?
Before someone comments asking why I'm pushing DE blades (that are dirt cheap) over a few shaves, I'm learning still what blades I like and I will push them to the limit to see what's best for me
@@NickzAndMikzuse em as long as you can. I find I can get 4-5 uses out of the Russian ones. But I shave my face and head. Hope the Indian ones are just as good because I just got 200 of them.
My nephew, who I introduced to traditional wet shaving loves the Astra SP Green blades. I am so glad that the blades made in India are essentially the same.
Hi @geofatboy, have you ever done a shave video where you use Dove soap as shaving soap? Wet your face and neck, dry your hands, rub the concave side of the Dove soap on your neck and face, then build a lather on your face, slowly adding water in a bowl, then applying to your face! I find Dove soap gives great protection and there's less stinging after finishing with alum 🙂👍
@@henrikloiske8572 Dove soap is probably the least drying of most bar soaps! Recently I used Fitzroy carbolic soap to shave, it worked surprisingly well, even though its main ingredient is sodium tallowate, not potassium tallowate like in Arko shaving soap! Must be tallow which gives good slickness and protection. (Posted Sat, 3 Feb 2024)
I only have the Indian Astra blades and I think they are great. I have 300 Russian Gillette Platinum blades. When those finally end up in India I’ll compare them. Thx for all your great info Geo. It helps new guys like myself immensely. 💈👍🏼
Good to know there is no difference. I still have a ton of the Russian blades though. I stocked up on all the Russian blades when they were cheap just in case.
Thanks for the shaving quality comparison. I'm glad they're the same. As far as knowing which blades are which my recent purchase of a 100 blade pack turned out to be easy. The box had a big sticker on it that said "Made In India."
Thank you very much for your video. I have also tried both by now. In my experience they are pretty similar. The difference I have noticed is that the ones made in India are a little bit sharper, the Russian ones smoother. I am writing my opinion at the beginning of watching... curious what your conclusion will be! Best regards 🙏 P.S. Perhaps it was a placebo effect that I have experienced the Russian ones as smoother and the Indian ones as sharper 😂. Lately I have 'rediscovered' BIC de blades made in Greece. Really like them!
Great to know for when I need to order some more, which won't be for a while as I got a 100 pack off of Amazon a while back. At least now I can order with confidence that they will be the same shave as the Russian ones that I will have been using. Thanks Geo for the comparison video 😀
Nice vid, I was waiting for this comparison vid. I will say the right side has noticeably louder feedback, I listened a few times to make sure. The left side sounds "smoother", fwiw.
I am waiting to watch the comparison on the Nacet blades after they are made elsewhere against the Russian made ones. This was a great video. Merry Christmas!
I'm glad to see Astra blades coming out of India now, and especially that the quality has not been sacrificed. I still have a decent stash of the Russian blades, but I can now feel good about restocking when I need them. Do you know if Gillette Nacet blades will also be coming from India in the future?
Maybe could you add this for russian and indian which has more shavecuts to face isit 5,6 or more saw some commented that the russian blade has 15 shavecuts still looks new,since you already tried both and both are same and equal maybe make a video on which has more shavecuts
i just love my 34C. It is the one i use the most. So light agile and athletic razor ! So far the best blade i used with it is the Perma-Sharp made in Russia.
As far as I know there are14x different TGS soaps in their range, just so happened to look that up the other week, as they're a great value soap. The Solo soap is one of my favourites to use, a homage to 'Chanel Egoiste'. Have a good weekend GeoFatboy 🕉
I just ordered theese blades from a Beardshop online...They will arrive on monday 2024-02-05....Cant wait to try them out in my King C Gillette DE Razor ....Greetings from Sweden geofatboy 🙂🙂
I love Astra blades. I stopped using them as they were made in Russia; I'm glad to hear the India ones seem to be the same and I can go back to using them. Thank you for sharing!
I am happy I have a 100 pack of Gillette Platinum, 100 pack of Astra, and 200 of the Gillette Permasharp (gold and red box) blades!! All Russian made. Now if you try to purchase them, they are sky rocketing!!
Great video! I'd like to see a comparison of the Astra SS Russian vs Indian blades, since I have the Astra SS Russian blades. I like those better than the Astra SP and am interested in the new ones as I only have around 15 left of the old ones.
Nice shave and comparison Geo🪒🪒 Glad you found no difference between the blades, good news. This is a trend I don't relish, the best blade makers stopping manufacturing and moving the process elsewhere. Poland, England, Israel now Russia and I'm sure I missed someone. I've only used India made blades a few times so no real experience there. Thanks for the video.
I had a feeling the Russian blade was on the right, your reaction on the right side was better when you first used it. Well the prices are about to go through the roof on the Russian blades.
I'll write it again. Astra is an old Czech brand. P&G bought it and put it in russia in '04 with the technology. Czech blades s.r.o. (Jevíčko) still exists and they make other brands they had in the past. TIGER (very popular in africa), TATRA and SOKOL (africa too). Stainless steel, carbon and three hole also. The russians did not invent Astra.
But that's how ppl gonna remember it. Additionally, P&G did not move production to Russia in 04, they bought an existing factory in Spb to manufacture astras and other Gillette brands
The only difference so far that I've noticed is in the longevity of use. The Russian-made Astras can go seven to ten face shaves, easily. So far, the Indian-made ones have only gone three to four, which doesn't sit well with me. For the price and longevity, Astras were my go-to blade brand. But if the Indian-made ones last fewer shaves than the average of four to six, then what's the point?
@@geofatboy A couple of days ago I've seen the King C. Gillette DE blades have a slightly different package design, and they are now manufactured in China... From another shaving expert I've understood that they're the same blades as the Platinum ones. So perhaps we know now where the Platinum blades will be coming from. Best regards 🎉
I love your videos I learned how to shave for the first time it feels like years even though I'm 28 but that's one thing I always wonder did you shave at night or in the morning or in the afternoon and I saw an old video as you once had with your electric razor, you still have it Will you ever shave with it and god bless you and your family and your children
In my experience the last few years, the Russian and Japanese blades have cut through my hair like butter. The middle eastern blades i've used haven't seemed as sharp or well coated to me.
@@nsevv I mean Japanese feathers are top tier. But otherwise the Russian blades do well for me. Even after 3 shaves with heavy growth. The middle eastern blades though, I might as well shave with sandpaper.
The question is: did you feel any difference while shaving......resistance, easy of cutting? I tried 1 Indian blade and I am not kidding......I could only attempt to shave 1.5inches on one cheek and had to abort.....it was painful and did not shave well..... I do like the Indian Black Gillette.....that one is good. The Indian Wilkinson Gillette is also NOT good for me.....I rather use the China ones...... Well I have enough ruskies for now....
For buyers from America and other civilized countries, nothing will change. Astra will be of the same quality and at the same price. It will probably work one less time. Typically, blades from India are made of a softer metal. But they will contain less glue, which is good. Congratulations to the people of India, now they have new, budget blades! The sc_um from russia will see Astra Gree only in memories.) It is unlikely that any of them will buy Astra blades at the price of german Personna or Muhle. The same situation will happen in countries that border russia. But this is the lesser evil that these b@stards caused them. As for me, I have never been a fan of Astra, but I have a pack of 5 lying around somewhere. Would I buy an Astra at the price of Personna or Mühle? Of course not, that's what Personna (german) or Dorko are for! Dorco makes excellent, inexpensive blades!)
It's P&G (Gillette) manufacturing process/tech that makes the blades, production has merely shifted to India, thus no difference in performance. Ethically and morally, it was also the correct move. I can finally try Astra for myself!
