Today we are going to be reviewing one of the most popular safety razor blades on the market: Astra Superior Platinum double edge razor blades.
Why are these so popular? It’s simple — they do an awesome job at providing a close and irritation-free shave for lots of wet shavers. There's not many other blades out there that can accomplish this.
When it comes to razor blades, YMMV and these blades certainly won’t be perfect for everyone. But if you’re looking for a blade that is sharp but still can provide a smooth shave, then these are a great option to consider.
Brand | Sharpness | Smoothness | Best For... |
|---|---|---|---|
9 | 7 | Men with thick beards or coarse hair that still want a smooth shave |
Pros
- Sharp blade that provides a smooth shave
- Versatile
- Won’t punish you for every mistake
- Premium quality and performance
Cons
- No blade bank
Product Overview
Astra is actually a subsidiary of Gillette as they were acquired by Gillette a few decades ago. I couldn’t find the exact year this transaction took place.
Anyway, these blades are manufactured in Russia. They are made from stainless steel and fit any standard safety razor. One other thing to note is that these blades are platinum coated. Hence where they get the name Astra Superior Platinum. The platinum coating isn’t just some marketing gimmick though -- it’s important to the performance of these blades because it really helps the blade shave more smoothly.
I’ve seen these blades sold online in quantities of 5, 10, 15, 30, 50 and 100. Regardless of what quantity you buy though, they all come packaged the same.
They are packaged in small boxes of 5, which they refer to as a “carton”. So if you buy an order of 50, you will actually be getting 10 cartons with 5 blades in each carton. Each blade inside the box is individually wrapped in wax paper to help protect it from the elements as well as make it safer to handle.
The blade itself just says “ASTRA” across the top of the blade and “SUPERIOR PLATINUM” across the bottom.
Don’t worry too much about the packaging though. Let’s get to what really matters: their performance and if they are the right blades for you.
Key Features & Characteristics
Above Average Sharpness + Above Average Smoothness = Great Blade
The Astra Superior Platinum double edge razor blades are one of the sharpest smooth blades out there. Or to put it another way, one of the smoothest sharp blades.
Either way you want to look at it, these blades are amazing at being sharp enough to deliver an amazingly close shave while being smooth enough to do it without causing a lot of irritation.
Most blades are either sharp and not smooth or smooth and not sharp. These blades do a great job at both.
These might not be as sharp as a Feather or as smooth as a Shark or Derby, but they are well above average in both categories.
Not a Feather, But These Still Pack a Punch
So exactly how sharp are these? Well they are not as sharp as a Feather, nothing is, but I would still rate them as an 8/10 on the sharpness scale. Some guys might prefer a sharper razor blade, but I think the vast majority of men can easily shave their beard with the Astra. It’s plenty sharp enough to be able to take off even thick, coarse facial hair.
Smooth and Comforting
The Astra Superior Platinum Blades are incredibly smooth. In fact, I really think the sharpness of these blades benefits the smoothness. How so?
Because the blade is so sharp it easily shaves facial hair off without tugging at it. Yes, Derby’s and Shark’s might be smoother for men that have really light beards and fine facial hair, but Derby’s and Shark’s are not smooth for men with thick beards and coarse facial hair because instead of easily shaving the hair, they often tug at the beard.
Astra’s are awesome though because the blade is sharp enough to easily shave thick beards and coarse hair, but it does so while being pretty smooth and irritation-free on the skin.
I actually think these are one of the smoothest blades I own. There are several other blades that are sharp or sharper than the Astra’s. And there are several other blades that are as smooth or more smooth as the Astra’s. But there’s only a few that do both well.
Great Option for Wide Range of Men
Because the Astra Superior Platinum blades offer both excellent sharpness and smoothness properties, I think these blades are a great option for a wide variety of men. It’s plenty sharp for men that have a thick beard and/or coarse facial hair, but at the same time it’s also smooth enough for men that have sensitive skin and need a blade that is more forgiving.
This blade really falls right in the sweet spot for a lot of men that want a close shave but don’t want to be dealing with cuts or razor burn in order to get a close shave.
Retains Sharpness and Smoothness Properties for Multiple Shaves
The Astra Superior Platinum blades probably won’t last you much longer than your standard safety razor blade, but I do think they retain their sharpness and smoothness better.
I have a medium thickness beard and my hair is slightly coarse so I typically average around 5 shaves with a blade. And I found that Astra’s are right on my average. I probably could push it and get another shave or 2 out of them but I just find that unnecessary when double edge blades are so cheap.
All that said, I was really impressed with how sharp and smooth these blades stayed for all 5 shaves. In fact, the first shave was really good, but I actually found that the blade got a little sharper for shaves 2 and 3. This isn’t unusual if you’ve read my other reviews.
I’m impressed with the longevity of the blade. I’ll always take a blade that can deliver superb sharpness and smoothness for 5 shaves over a blade that gives mediocre performance for 10 shaves.
What Are Some Other Good http://amzn.to/2osp1XKOptions to Consider?
Personna Lab Blue
The Personna Lab Blue blades are another great option of a blade that is above average in sharpness and smoothness. These blades may be marginally less sharp than an Astra Superior, but it really is not that noticeable. I often recommend these to beginners, but these are a great blade for a wide variety of men that want an aggressive shave but also want a blade that is more forgiving on their face. In fact, these are my go to blades when I’m not taking other blades out for a test trial.
Feather
If you need something sharper than what the Astra Superior’s can offer, your best bet is to go with Feather double-edge blades. In my opinion, these are the sharpest blades out there. At least the sharpest blades I’ve ever used. The only drawback to using a Feather is that they are not as forgiving. So unless you’re an experienced wet shaver that really feels comfortable with a safety razor, I wouldn’t recommend using these.
Gillette Silver Blue
Astra Superior Platinum blades aren’t the only double edge blades made by Gillette. They also make the Gillette Silver Blue’s which are also remarkably sharp and smooth. I rate these as an 8/10 on the sharpness scale and certainly above average on smoothness. These are a great option for men with a thick beard or coarse hair but also have sensitive skin.
Still not sure you've found the right blades for your safety razor? Then checkout my guide on what I think are the 10 best safety razor blades -- it has all the information you need to find exactly what you're looking for.
