Review (5/5): A great combo of sharp, smooth, and longevity
First off, let me say that I did not buy it here at Amazon, but locally here in singapore.
Exceptional, is what i would call it. I'm certainly impressed.
To-date, i've used Gillette Platinums (blue,white box), Gillette 7 o'clock Super Platinums (black packs), Gillette 7 o'clock Super Stainless, Voskhod, Astra SP, Concord, Croma, amongst a few others.
I would place the Gillette 7 o'clock Permasharps at the same top tier with Gillette 7 o'clock Super Platinum (indian), and the Gillette Platinum (russian).
But any blade, like a woman, needs the right approach to bring out her/its best. Hence, i'll describe my shaving regimen. (a better regimen might bring out even more from this blade perhaps.)
1. I always have a hot shower before shaving, thus bringing out the hairs more.
2. I use the Rex Ambassador safety razor at a (extremely mild) setting of 1, thus contributing to the smoothness of the shave.
3. I use a combination of shower soap (bar) with sunflower oil (cooking), hand-lathered till the lather is thin but dense, not watery. No brushes, shaving creams, shaving soap, scuttles, etc....completely unnecessary.
4. I only go with-the-grain except for my neck. (which would certainly contribute to the longevity of the blade).
My stubble is hard and wiry and i do daily face and head-shaves. I also do a once-weekly body shave, and a daily front shave from chest to netherregions.
After the shave, i pat-dry the blade with a microfibre cloth, and then strop it against the cloth on all 4 sides a couple of times each.
Ranking
_______
Sharpness -
1. G 7oc Sp
2. G 7oc Permasharp tied with Gillette Platinum
Smoothness -
1. G Permasharp (gets smoother on 2nd and 3rd day) tied with G Platinum
2. G Super Platinum
Longevity (for both head and face-shaves in terms of days) -
1. G 7oc Permasharp - 8 and counting
2. G 7oc SP - 8
3. G platinum - 6-7
I judge the blade's longevity in terms of the degree to which i can get a clean shave with a single swipe. I always do a 2nd swipe just to get any tiny stubble that might be left behind, but the first swipe must perform at 95%. So when i say that a blade lasts for 6 days, i mean that i get 95% only after 2 swipes and not 1.
So, in sum, i definitely recommend this blade. I just picked up 300 yesterday, and will pick up more up to a thousand the next time i go to the shop where i get it from here in singapore. (cost : $9.00 sgd per 100 blades here.)