10 Razor and Blade Questions Barbers Ask
Quick answer
Pick the razor for the job, then buy the blade that handle names. A folding razor does line-ups and neck shaves, a guarded styling razor cuts and texturises hair, and a double-edge safety razor does wet shaves. Each Feather handle takes its own blade family, so a pack for one handle will not fit another.
Top picks
Razor cutting and texture
Feather Styling Razor Standard Handle Type
186 mm straight handle, guarded blades
Artist Club refill
Feather Professional PB-20 Replacement Blade
Professional format, packs of 20 or 200
Wet shaves
Feather AS-D2 Stainless Steel Safety Razor: FEATHER Safety Razor Japan
Stainless double-edge safety razor
Razor questions come down to one rule: the handle decides the blade. Everything else is the job you want it for. This list answers the ten questions barbers ask most, in the order they arise, with the products that fit where there is one.
How this list was chosen: each question is one a barber asks when adding razor work or restocking, answered at principle level from the Feather razors and blades we sell. Specs come from our product files and the Feather brand page, not hands-on testing. Reviewed 4 November 2026. BarberScissors sells every product here, so the links go to our store. Who runs this store, and the other ShearAlliance members, is on the ShearAlliance page.
The ten questions at a glance
Scroll sideways to compare all columns.
| # | Question | Short answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Which razor for line-ups? | A folding razor |
| 2 | What is a styling razor for? | Cutting and texture |
| 3 | Does any blade fit any handle? | No |
| 4 | What are PB, PS, PL and PG? | Artist Club refills |
| 5 | Guarded or open? | Guarded for cutting |
| 6 | How often do I change it? | Between clients |
| 7 | How many blades to buy? | Match your changes |
| 8 | Do I need a safety razor? | Only for wet shaves |
| 9 | How do I look after one? | Wipe, dry, clear |
| 10 | What do I check first? | The handle name |
1. Which razor suits line-ups and neck shaves?
A folding razor with replaceable blades. The Feather Artist Club SS has a clamp head for Professional blades and is the line-up razor in this range, for outlines, line-ups and neck shaves. It folds for the bag and carries a blade you change between clients.
Trade-off: the SS comes in a few colours, and the colour does not change the blade.
Line-ups and neck shaves
Professional Artist Club SS Folding Razor: FEATHER Safety Razor Co
In stock: Black
2. What is a styling razor for?
Razor cutting and texturising on the hair itself. The Feather Standard styling razor is a straight 186 mm handle that takes guarded Standard or WG blades with an integrated comb guard. The guard sits behind the edge, so a pass takes less hair than an open blade and you build texture over several strokes.
Trade-off: a long straight handle sits further from the blade in tight nape and ear work.
Razor cutting and texture
Feather Styling Razor Standard Handle Type
In stock: Black, Silver, Pastel Pink, Lavender Pastel Purple
3. Can I use any blade in any razor?
No. Each Feather handle takes its own blade family. The Standard styling razor takes Standard or WG blades, the Nape razor takes Nape blades, the Artist Club takes the Professional PS, PB, PL and PG blades, the Plier takes Plier blades and the AS-D2 takes Hi-Stainless double-edge blades.
Read the handle name on the pack, not the brand. A pack for one handle will not fit another. The Feather brand page lists every pairing.
4. What do PB-20, PS-20, PL-20 and PG-15 mean?
They are four refills for Artist Club handles. PS-20 Super is the heavier blade, made for thick, coarse growth. PL-20 Light is coated, and PG-15 has an integral guard. PB-20 is the other Professional format.
Trade-off: all four are single-edge Professional blades, so none fits a double-edge safety razor.
5. Should I use a guarded or an open blade?
Use a guarded blade for razor cutting and an open Professional blade for a line-up. A guarded blade takes less hair per pass, which suits texturising. An open Professional blade is the line-up and neck choice.
On the Standard and WG blades the guard is part of each blade. On the Custom type it sits on the handle and comes off, and that handle takes Feather Special blades. Browse the choices in barber razors.
6. How often should I change the blade?
Change it between clients, and drop used blades in a sharps container. A blade that has stopped cutting cleanly is changed straight away.
Keep the sharps container at the station, not in a drawer. The maintenance guide covers the rest of the chair-side routine.
7. How many blades should I buy?
Match the pack to how often you change the blade. PB-20 and PS-20 come in packs of 20 or 200, which suits a light razor station and a busy one respectively. The Hi-Stainless double-edge blades come in packs of 20, 50 or 100.
Blades are the repeat cost, so buy the size you get through between orders. The Feather collection lists every pack.
8. Do I need a safety razor at the station?
Only if you offer traditional wet shaves. The Feather AS-D2 is a stainless double-edge safety razor for full wet shaves, and it takes Hi-Stainless double-edge blades. It comes boxed, with a stand, or in a wooden-handle package, and the package does not change the blade.
Trade-off: it is a shave tool, not a line-up tool. For outlines and necks, use a folding razor.
Wet shaves
Feather AS-D2 Stainless Steel Safety Razor: FEATHER Safety Razor Japan
In stock: Razor + Gift Box, Razor + Gift Box + Stand, Wooden Handle Razor + Gift Box + Stand
9. How do I look after a razor handle?
Wipe and dry the handle after each use and keep the clamp or guard free of hair. Never fit or change a blade in a hurry; keep your fingers well back from the edge.
Scissors and razors share a case rule: dry before it goes away. The care habits list covers the scissor side of the same routine.
10. What should I check before I order?
The handle name, the pack size and the policy. Match the blade to the handle, choose the pack you will use, and remember opened blade packs cannot be returned for change of mind. Faulty items and unopened packs follow the returns policy.
If you fly to jobs, read taking scissors and razors on a plane before you pack.
What would change this list
If your razor work is line-ups and neck shaves only, questions 1, 4 and 5 are most of it. If you razor cut, questions 2 and 5 carry the weight. If you offer wet shaves, question 8 matters, and a safety razor is a separate kit from a folding razor.
Pick by career stage
- Apprentice: a Standard styling razor with Standard blades for texture practice.
- Working barber: a folding razor with PB-20 for line-ups and neck work, and PS-20 for coarse growth.
- Shave service: add the AS-D2 and a pack of Hi-Stainless blades.
See where a razor fits beside your scissors in the first professional kit guide, or start from the complete buying guide if you are buying shears too.
More razor, blade and kit answers are in the knowledge base.
Questions
Can I use any Feather blade in any Feather razor?
No. Standard styling, Nape, Artist Club, Plier and double-edge blades are separate formats. The handle name decides the blade, so read the handle name on the pack before you order.
How often should a barber change a razor blade?
Between clients. Drop used blades in a sharps container and wipe and dry the handle after each use. A blade that has stopped cutting cleanly is changed straight away, not saved for the end of the day.
Can I return opened razor blades?
Not for change of mind. Opened blade packs are a hygiene product. Unopened packs and faulty items are covered by the returns policy, so check the handle name before you order.
Do I need a safety razor at the station?
Only if you offer traditional wet shaves with a double-edge razor. The Feather AS-D2 is a stainless double-edge safety razor that takes Hi-Stainless blades. For line-ups and neck work, a folding razor is the usual tool.