Today I am going to review a double edge blade that is often underrated and overlooked in my opinion: the Polsilver Super Iridium razor blades.
So why aren’t these more popular in the wet shaving community? I really don’t know, but I don’t think it has anything to do with their performance or quality.
For me, these blades provide a really good mix of sharpness and smoothness. They are sharp enough to be able to take off thick, coarse beards. But at the same time they are also pretty forgiving.
If you’re a wet shaver that needs a sharp blade that is also above average in smoothness, these are a great option. But let’s take a closer look and see what else you should know about these awesome de blades.
Pros
- Premium blades
- Great balance of sharpness and smoothness
- Sharp enough to take off thicker, coarse facial hair but still a very forgiving blade that won’t cut your face up on every mistake
Cons
- Smooth, but you still need to respect how sharp these are
Product Overview
Polsilver Super Iridium blades are made in Russia, but they are actually owned by Gillette. I always find it funny when I hear that Gillette still makes double-edge razor blades. Not because they aren’t good at it (they are!) but because so much of Gillette’s focus is on cartridge razors. And I get it, that’s their cash cow. But man I wish Gillette still placed more of a focus on safety razors and double edge blades.
Anyway… the Polsilver Super Iridium blades are made from stainless steel but coated in iridum. Iridium is a transition metal that is used to coat the blades because it’s excellent at preventing corrosion and it’s resistant to heat changes.
I’ve seen these available online in packs of 5, 20, 30, 40, 50, 100 and even 200. They are also available in some sample packs so you don’t have to invest in a pack of 100 upfront without trying them out only to later find out these aren’t the right blades for you.
Super Iridium blades come packaged in a little rectangular cardboard box. Each cardboard box contains 5 blades so if you buy 100, you’ll actually get 20 boxes of 5 blades and not one giant box with 100. Inside the boxes, all the blades are individually wrapped in paper. I like to describe it as a blade envelope.
One difference with the Super Iridium blades from most others is that these also have additional wax paper on the inside of the wrapping to help protect the blade. The purpose of the wax paper is to help prevent moisture from getting to the blade and causing early corrosion or deterioration. Honestly, this probably isn’t necessary but it’s nice that they take every precaution to protect the blades and keep them in peak condition anyway.
The double-edge blade itself looks like your standard double edge razor blade but has the words “SUPER IRIDIUM” and “EXTRA STAINLESS” on it.
Alright, let’s dive in and see how well these blades perform.
Key Features & Characteristics
Great Mix of Sharpness and Smoothness: Provides a Close and Comfortable Shave
The Polsilver Super Iridium blade is a really sharp blade. In fact, I would rate it around an 8/10 on the sharpness scale. My facial hair is moderately coarse and these blades have no trouble shaving my beard off. Even when I have 3 or 4 days of growth, these blades are easily sharp enough to shave my beard without tugging on the hairs.
But what really impresses me with these blades is how smooth they are. There are a lot of sharp blades out there but not all of them offer a smooth finish. And who wants to use a sharp blade if it is going to tear your face up and leave it irritated afterwards?
These blades are not as sharp as a Feather, but no other blade is. I would put these in the category right below Feather which would includes Personna Lab Blue, Astra Superior Platinum and Wilkinson Sword.
What makes these so impressive though is how smooth and forgiving they are. It’s very rare that I get any type of irritation or razor burn after using a Polsilver Super Iridium.
Perfect For Men That Need a Sharp Blade That Isn’t Overly Aggressive
I definitely recommend these blades as an option for any man that is looking for a sharp blade that is still very smooth and forgiving. It’s really hard to find a blade that is both above average when it comes to both sharpness and smoothness, but these manage to do so.
This is a really good option for men that have sensitive skin but need a sharp blade because they also have a thick beard or coarse facial hair.
Or basically any man that wants a close shave but doesn’t want to deal with the irritation, razor burn and nicks and cuts that typically accompany a sharp blade.
I actually think these are really good blades for beginners too, with one caveat -- novice wet shavers really, really need to focus on letting the razor do the work for them when shaving with these blades.
Because if you are reverting to your old cartridge razor shaving days when you use these and pushing down on the shaving surface with your safety razor, these are not going to feel good on your face. However, if you let the weight of the razor do the work and use proper technique, these are not going to be overly aggressive but will instead give a close, comfortable shave.
Performance Stays Strong For Multiple Shaves
Polsilver Super Iridium blades are excellent at retaining their sharpness and smoothness for multiple shaves. I’m always really impressed with these blades because it seems like my third and fourth shave with the blade is just as good as my first or second shave with the blade. This definitely is not the case with a lot of other blades.
My experience with a lot of blades is that their performance, particularly sharpness, starts to drop off pretty significantly by the fourth or fifth shave. With the Super Iridium’s I’m able to usually get 5 or 6 excellent shaves with them before having to change the blade. Obviously there’s a lot of factors in determining how long a blade lasts so YMMV.
I think I could probably stretch it into 7 or 8 shaves with these blades, but I’m always conservative and change my blades 1 shave too early rather than 1 shave too late.
Premium, Double Edge Razor Blades
Polsilver’s Super Iridium double edge blades are definitely a premium blade for wet shaving. They are sharp yet incredibly comfortable and smooth. They are durable and retain their sharpness and smoothness for multiple shaves.
These really are some of the best DE razor blades on the market when it comes to performance. However, that doesn’t mean you should not consider some other options when you’re shopping around...
What Are Some Other Good
Double Edge Blades to Consider?
Personna Lab Blue
Personna Lab Blue blades are an excellent alternative to Polsilver Super Iridium. They are very similar in the fact that they are a sharp blade that offers a very smooth and forgiving shave. I rate them as about an 8/10 when it comes to both sharpness and smoothness. These are the blades I most often recommend to beginners, but they are also excellent blades for any guy that needs a sharp blade that won’t constantly be punishing them for every mistake they make.
Feather
If you need a blade sharper than the Polsilver Super Iridium, I would definitely recommend going with a Feather safety razor blade. These blades are pretty much universally accepted in the wet shaving community as the sharpest blades out there. The downside to them is that they are going to be less forgiving and not quite as smooth. But overall, they are excellent blades for any man looking for an ultra sharp blade.
Astra Superior Platinum
Astra Superior Platinum blades are another popular option for wet shavers that want to get a close shave with a smooth blade. These blades have a really similar profile to both the Polsilver and Personna blades: above average sharpness and above average smoothness.
Need a little more help on figuring out what safety razor blades you should buy? Then checkout my guide on what I think are the 10 best double-edge razor blades on the market. It has all the information you need to find the perfect blade for your safety razor.
