The King C Gillette razor was my second razor. If you’ve spent any time here, you know that. You’ll also know that it’s kind of been buried by those that came after it–8 more razors in all–almost all of which have surpassed it in my shaves.
But I still do really like it. It just isn’t a favorite. But because it’s basically last in what has become an 8 horse race, it doesn’t get the love the others get. I haven’t shaved with it since early December, and that was a one-off bonus shave. I haven’t done a week of shaves with it since mid September 2025.
So it’s time.
This will be a week of throwback shaves, going back to the KCG and doing it proud, but matching it up with a new to it blade–the Astra Superior Stainless (blue). I’m thinking that coupled with a more medium aggressive razor, the Astra blue should really shine, as it isn’t quite as aggressive as it’s green sibling.
I’m also pairing it with lathers that it’s already been used with–so no new lathers this week, I’m afraid. This too is planned, as I want to try to use up some shaving soap, and Razor Emporium’s Nordic soap is close to being done, so it gets the call on Tuesday (finishing soap tubs is exciting stuff in the online shaving post world, but samples not so much). I have plans for the sample containers once I’m done with them…More on that another time.
I have used the KCG with the Cella green soap, but not with the pre-shave or aftershave in that line, so those are all coming to the party on Thursday.
I’m excited to get back to the KCG for a full week of shaves, and I’m looking forward to trying a new blade with it!
The Ratings
Sunday’s Shave, #255. The Proraso White KCG Sunday Shave.
The setup:
- Razor: King C Gillette
- Blade: Astra Superior Stainless (blue)
- Pre-Shave: Proraso Sensitive pre-shave cream (white)
- Brush: Proraso boar shaving brush
- Soap/Cream/Gel: Proraso Sensitive shave soap (white)
- Alum Block: Stirling Soap Co. Alum
- After Shave: Proraso Sensitive after shave balm (white)
- Stats:
- 32nd shave with the KCG
- 13th different blade used with the KCG (3rd to the Henson mild and Rockwell)
- 2nd week of shaves for the Astra blues (4th shave with the Astra blue today)
- 6th shave with the Proraso white shaving cream (3rd most used among the Proraso lathers)
- 1st shave with the Proraso white shaving cream and the KCG
- 76th almost perfect shave (overall rating of 23 or 24)
- 18th shave with an overall rating of 24 (9.5% of all logged shaves)
- 6th almost perfect shave with the KCG, 2nd rated 24
I keep telling people starting out with safety razor shaving that picking up a King C Gillette razor isn’t a bad move–the price is awesome, the build quality is excellent, and it really is a smooth, comfortable, though a little aggressive shave. And I always forget just how good it is. Considering it’s one of the three cheapest razors that I’ve paid for (obviously not including gifts), it truly does stand out.
Suffice it to say that this shave was awesome. It was very comfortable, even with a lot of blade feel, but lightening up the pressure fixed that easily. It was very close, requiring a minimum of passes to get the smooth, stubble-free closeness that I want on my neck.
The Proraso white setup with the shaving cream really excelled today, and the KCG glides wonderfully across my skin when I use the Proraso products. This was a solid start to the shave week, and I’m looking forward to the rest.
This easily goes in the book as one of the best shaves ever.
Comfort: 24 of 25
Quality/Closeness: 24 of 25
Overall: 24 of 25
Tuesday’s Shave, #256. The Clearout Shave.
The setup:
- Razor: King C Gillette
- Blade: Astra Superior Stainless (blue)
- Pre-Shave: Razor Emporium Unscented pre-shave
- Brush: Yaqi Rainbow synthetic shaving brush
- Soap/Cream/Gel: Razor Emporium Nordic shaving soap
- Alum Block: Stirling Soap Co. Alum
- After Shave: Barbasol 1919 After Shave Balm
- Stats:
- 4th shave with the Razor Emporium Nordic shaving soap (I got 4 out of the Barbershop soap sample tub)
- 11th shave with the Yaqi brush
- 77th shave with an overall rating of 23 or 24
- 3rd shave rated 24 overall with the KCG
- 19th shave with an overall rating of 24 (9.9% of all logged shaves)
For as much love as I haven’t shown the KCG, it sure has come to deliver this week.
With a second straight shave that was just one step below perfect, this morning’s shave was another outstanding effort. While I haven’t been thrilled with the Razor Emporium Nordic soap (or its siblings, the Barbershop and Element 47 soaps), I got an wonderful lather with the Yaqi brush, and combined with the Razor Emporium pre-shave, the KCG had a great, slick base to work on.
And the Barbasol 1919 aftershave balm finished things up with excellent moisturization that has left my face nice and soft and smooth.
Speaking of the Nordic soap, I was hoping to clear it out with today’s shave, but that wasn’t to be. I haven’t used it since the end of October 2025, so it definitely was due, but there’s one more shave in that sample tub before I can wash it out and repurpose it for use as a travel container (yeah, that’s my plan, to use the emptied sample tubs to hold travel amounts of my favorite products).
So, the TL:DR version: Excellent shave, one more left in the tub, a great start to a Tuesday.
Comfort: 24 out of 25
Quality/Closeness: 24 out of 25
Overall: 24 out of 25
Thursday’s Shave, #257. The KCG Cella Astra Blue shave.
The setup:
- Razor: King C Gillette
- Blade: Astra Superior Stainless (Blue)
- Pre-Shave: Cella Organic pre-shave gel (green)
- Brush: Omega 10019 boar brush
- Soap/Cream/Gel: Cella Organic Aloe Vera shaving cream (green)
- Alum Block: Stirling Soap Co. Alum
- After Shave: Cella Organic after shave balm (green)
- Stats:
- 78th almost perfect shave
- 20th shave with an overall rating of 24 (10.4% of all logged shaves)
- 6th almost perfect shave with the Astra blue
- 7th shave with the Cella green soap lather
- 3rd shave with the Cella green pre and after shaves
- 40 of the last 44 shaves have been almost perfect
To say I’m astonished after this week of shaves would be an understatement. I figured the shaves would be good, between the KCG’s tendency toward medium aggressiveness and the Astra blue’s reduced sharpness when compared to the Astra greens. But what I got was very surprising: this combo was extremely efficient, only requiring 3 passes and maybe one more for cleanup to result in the closeness I expect from all of my shaves.
That efficiency basically guaranteed comfort and very little irritation, making the entire shave very enjoyable and satisfying.
This is a combo that I will remember and come back to frequently in the future, as it’s really about the best shaves I’ve had with the KCG in the time I’ve had it. And it’s proof that an inexpensive razor found in many drug and grocery stores can deliver excellent, high-quality shaves.
It’s an outstanding end to a great week of shaves, and leads me happily into another exciting week with a new razor!
Comfort: 24 out of 25
Quality/Closeness: 24 out of 25
Overall: 24 out of 25