Not that it matters so much but I double checked : Bic is French.
this post was submitted on 08 Apr 2025
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Though theyโre Japanese and not EU, Iโve always gone for Feather.
I like their shavettes even better than their DE blades.
@Sunshine is (was) Tatra Czech Republic's Samsung? Seems like they're producing everything: from trams, to trucks, to razors etc.
Both Wilkinson and Personna are American.
Personna yes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Safety_Razor_Company
Wilkinson ~~no~~ also yes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkinson_Sword
Edit:
Although Wilkinson is stated as being a UK company, it is owned by Edgewell Personal Care Company, which is American.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgewell_Personal_Care
You could just click two more times on the links you've posted and you'd see they both belong to the same company. I don't understand. Both OP and now you are just posting incorrect information when you just need to spend 30 seconds reading about the things you want to share.
On the Wiki page it says Wilkinson is from UK. So it depends on definition. But I agree if it's US owned it should be considered a US company, because that's where the profits ultimately go.
Wilkinson used to be British, I was not aware it was sold to Energizer.
You could just click two more times
And you could just as easily have stated they are owned by the same company, or provided links supporting your claim, so there you go. I at least made the effort of checking and posting my findings.
Apparently, it's British
.. Owned by US Parent Edgewell Personal Care so as far as I'm concerned they're dead to me.
Great dialogue thou as really helps my learning
Good to know when I bought a muhle razor.
So much cheaper using a double-edge/safety razor! Even when buying "expensive" blades
Always thought Wilkinson ws british
Wilkinson Sword is a British brand belonging to the US company Edgewell Personal Care. It's German central is in Solingen and they also produce in Czechia ๐จ๐ฟ.
I'd rather support a German company, the money still ends up in the US
True.
According to the list of precision metal, probably German.
I actually recently switched to a safety razor from Wilkinson Sword (those blades mentioned, are supposed to be used with safety razor), and was enjoying it a lot. The razor itself is not too expensive, yet it improved my shave quality, decreased a price-per-shave, and skin irritation after shave (omitting occasional but very rare nose cuts). I use a blade in 1.5 weeks with ISANA blades from Rossman, and pay about 2โฌ per 10 of those, can definitely recommend.
The only downside: you canโt bring those on any airplane, so I carry a cartridge razor to get at least some shaving done when traveling. And immediately I do that, I get razor burns :(((
I've been using Gilette since + 15 years and kept upgrading because my skin is quite easily irritated and I got a beard and need some sort of pressision for the edges. What non American brand would you recomnend as a replacement of the Fussion 5 by Gilette?
Multiblade systems like Gillette are actually worst for your skin. Razor burn is basically hair that's being cut down too far under the skin. And multiblade systems are really proficient in doing just that.
A safety razor has only one blade and it's much harder to get razor burn if you're a bit more gentle than you would with a Gillette. It's also much cheaper. And a good lathering cream and shaving aftercare can make an enormous difference.
Edit: actually USA owned
I'd also recommend trying a traditional double edge razor btw with some good quality lathered shaving soap. Glides way smoother than shave foam.
Thanks for the recommendation! But isn't Wilkinson&Sword American / owned by Americans?
Wilkinson is registered as a UK company, but that company is owned by an American company.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgewell_Personal_Care
I thought Wilkinson was British, because it always were, it's a very old British company with lots of history way back.
But apparently already since the 80's it has changed owners many times, and is now owned by Energizer.
UK owned.
If you're in the EU there's probably similar German brands tho as well.
I really can't emphasize enough though how much shaving soap helps, more so than the amount of blades. I used to use japanese Feather blades with some good shave soap and a boar brush before I met my wife and she preferred I had a beard lol. Which is much more difficult to maintain than just shaving everything to be honest, but also an option that causes less razor burn in case you want to consider it
UK owned.
Nope, British brand, but US owned. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkinson_Sword
Thanks for the clarification, seen it recommended here and their site makes it seem like they're still UK
I will try them out once my stock on razor blades dries up. As for the soap sound interessting. Do you have a recommendation? I usually use the palmolive cream. I tried other brands and foams but my skin always was irritated later.
Apparently it's actually US owned unfortunately.
As for the shaving soap, I used to use this company (the linked one is unscented, but I used Sandalwood)
https://en.nordicshaving.com/product/3163/nsc-shaving-soap-natural-unscented-114-g
I'd also use alcohol as after shave - seemed to help better than actual after shaves, but everyone is different
For aftershave I'll keep the Nivea one I usually use, but thanks for the help!
Oh you know what, yeah, Nivea unscented was one I used to use that was good too! But then I couldn't find it locally anymore for awhile. Good choice too
BIC and Wilkinson Sword immediatly came to mind. Wasn't aware Solingen still existed - I grew up hearing their single edge razors were fabulous. But I really wasn't aware my own country makes blades. Now I have to ~~try~~ check Tatara.
Wasn't aware Solingen still existed
It's a city, of course Solingen still exists. Solingen is a protected trademark for knifes, scissors and alike made there. And currently, some brands do still actually produce there. Bรถker does produce their "cheap" tactical and outdoor knifes in China though (branded "Bรถker" without Solingen), but I think this doesn't apply for razor knifes.
I knew Solingen as a brand through men in my family, from a barber and later on through a book. And the straight razors were just called Solingen, nothing else. I was never told the name stood for anything else but a manufacturer.
I was very disappointed, when I came to the age of needing to shave, that Solingen was no more. I was always told their fare was very good. Every place I went to always said the brand had been out of the market since the mid 90's. Which is obviously a lie, after today. Even barbers were buying japanese or english scissors and straight razors, then.
And after checking the prices for my national made razors, I'll sooner buy a Solingen than a Tatara. I like my country very much but I don't see myself spending 175โฌ for a safety razor when I can get one for 50โฌ.
Solingen sounds like quality, Tatara sounds like luxury brand.
Solingen has always (as of 1938) been a protected brand for cutting devices made there. They often were produced at home workshops and then only branded just Solingen. AfaIk, these don't exist anymore.
Yet lots of different brands, e.g. Zwilling, Wasa, Merkur, Mรผhle, Windmรผhle, Otter, Giesen & Forsthoff, ... have prduced and still produce there and label their products additionally with Solingen.
Today I learned.
Unfortunately I don't like any of those. Feather are the best
I've been forever using Gilette's with a battery (they call it Power) because it gives the clean shave of blades but with less friction, aside from how much the blades cost i'm really happy with it. But I want to try some alternatives, does anybody now if there is another brand doing something similar? I'd argue it is quite easy to do, (it is just a vibrator in the handle) but never seen it.
The Phillips OneBlade sounds very similar.
Yeah I've looked at them before and they seem to be more like a machine than my vibrating razor handle. It's a good suggestion although reading other comments in this thread I'm now thinking of giving shaving with a safety razor a go. People told me it is cheaper and more sustainable than these cartridges, so why not at least try it. If I don't like it, I will consider getting a OneBlade I guess. Although I believe all of Philips consumer electronics are now from a Chinese company ~~and the only money staying in Europe is for licensing the brands name, so there is that too~~.
Edit: Consumer electronics division is now indeed owned by a Chinese private equity firm, but 'Personal Health' such as razors and electric toothbrushes is not part of that division. Anyone interested can read more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versuni.
I've found their blades, at least, not very good.
My go-to has always been Feather, they're genuinely good, sharp, smooth blades. While they're not European (but Japanese), they also aren't from the US so perhaps the recommendation is within the community's spirit?
I'll add Dovo from Germany and Kyone from Netherlands. Also i suggest not buying carbon steel razors cause at least in my opinion they suck big time.
Thanks! Those have been added to the list. I don't see too many folks from feddit.it <3
glad to help :) haha i guess Lemmy is still not very popular in Italy (or they just choose more popular instances), hope to see them numbers rise
Would appreciate links!