Convince Me. Why Should I Switch?

[James P]

I've been using a cartridge razor since I was old enough to shave. Right now, it's a Gillette Mach 3. Someone recently suggested that switching to a quality DE would do more to improve the quality of my shave than a new brush or cream ever would. Why is that? What's wrong with the cartridge system and why is a DE that much better? Other than convenience, are there any advantages to the cartridge system I'm currently using?

Thanks!

James P.

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The Pear Tree Pen Company
Fine Writing Instruments and Accessories. Now featuring the Monteverde Mega Ink Ball!
www.PearTreePens.com

[MindSpin]

In the immortal words of Peter Griffin "Come oooon."

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Personal growth has always been a passion of mine... I'm just too lazy to do anything about it.

[mantic]

Personally, I think the brush and cream are more important than the razor. If a modern razor works for you, and you can afford the refills, then stick with it. The biggest advantage to a safety/DE razor is control, like going from a car with an automatic transmission to one with a manual transmission.

--Mark

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My YouTube Shaving Channel (plus blip.tv for the YouTube-Impaired)

[ichabod]

James,

it's entirely up to you. However, think of the reasons you enjoy fountain pens instead of disposable pens. I think most or all of them apply in a similar way to razors.

Or not.

_________________
Give us the luxuries, and we will forego the necessities.
Give a man a fire, he'll be warm for a day.
Set a man on fire, he'll be toasty for the rest of his life.
Dominic

[With The Grain]

to me the razor has been the most important factor in the shave by far. id rather use a DE and edge gell than go back to my mach 3 with a good brush and cream but it's a individual thing and for millions of people the mach 3 works great and doesnt cause the user red bumps, pulling or suffer from very bad blade life (my issues with it). if you're not experiencing anything negative with what you're using now then i dont see the point in changing other then for variety.

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James
Super Speeds
NEW Vs. New Improved

[Sam]

James: If you get fine shaves with the Mach 3 and do not want to change, then you need not. I did change because I was tired of using the Mach 3 turbo blade, getting about a week's worth of shaves and then spending over $2 or so for the replacement. I was about to get a nice Trumpers handle and I saw DE razors and a shave site that was called "Wetshavers". This was about the time that the board was split into two (I think if I did not join the day it happened, then only a few days before the boards split). Anyway, I fell in love with the Vision and had called Ray at Classicshaving and talked with him. I loved the fact that the blades were about 50 cents each.

I tried going back to a Mach 3 for grins and giggles and I could not get a close enough shave. I have an old Mach 3 handle with two replacements but I dont use it unless I let my wife shave the back of my neck.

It is just the collective experience of men here that leads to a statement like " the DE gives smoother shaves and less of a chance for ingrown hairs". I do not think we can give blanket, one-size-fits-all statements on efficacy of products, but we do have our enthusiams

Sam

[James P]

The economics of a DE shave vs. the ridiculously high cost of cartridges is definitely a factor.

It also sounds like you guys are getting closer shaves - which wouldn't suck vs. the cartridges.

As for the fountain pen analogy - I like it. The thing is, I didn't know that writing with an FP would be easier and more enjoyable (although a little more quirky at times) than using a disposable pen until I tried one. Then I got FPAD (similar to SBAD, SCAD or any of the other --ADs I've read about here).

So if there's an economical way to jump in, I'll do it.

Who knows - in a year or two, maybe I'll start the Pear Tree Shaving Company!

James

_________________
The Pear Tree Pen Company
Fine Writing Instruments and Accessories. Now featuring the Monteverde Mega Ink Ball!
www.PearTreePens.com

[Sam]

James: You can get a new HD from Lee's razors at a cheap price, or there may be a deal at Cotton Blossom crafts with their Feather blades. If you start with Feathers, you need a lighter hand. Heck, I'll send you some Isreali personnas to let you start with those. The HD runs about $25 or so, or there are Gillettes you can get cheaper, and they are adjustable. The slim adjustable I had would have been great and it runs around $15

Sam

[Big Ren]

James,

I don't think any one shaving system is inherently "better" than any other. It is all a question of finding out what's best for you. In my case, I find absolutely no improvement in my shave quality when using a DE over a cartridge. In fact, I prefer the cartridge razor because IMO it is a much more efficient tool.


Ren

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"What I find ironic is the fact that we can talk wireless to a man on the moon but we can't talk to someone twenty feet away over a hard-wired intercom at a drive-thru!" - Pottydoctor

[PonyPlayer]

James,

I don't think anyone here can convince you to switch. I had used cartridge/electric razors for about 20 years before May of 2005. Like many here I read the article from Corey G. and decided to give it a try and have not looked back.

Give it a try. You will probably love it. Pick up a Schick Injector or a Gillette Super Speed and some Israeli blades and give it a go.

I used to hate shaving but now I look forward to it. I shave every 2nd day (except the weeks I am on-call then I shave everyday).

I could even send you a razor and some blades to try if you don't want to go through the initial expense.

Have a great day.

Patrick

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"Bart, a woman is like beer. They look good, they smell good, and you'd step over your own mother just to get one!"

- Homer Simpson

[Headshave]

Spiralling costs. The newest (and best ever... allegedly (even better than yesterdays best)) Gillette cartridges cost around £10 for a pack of 4. Their selling point? The 4-blade cartridges have a single blade as well.

Great.

Why pay £10 (for 4) for a razor that has a selling point of having a single blade, and that's destined to become obsolete when the designers discover a method of crowbarring another blade into the cartridge?

More is not better. More is just that... more.

[Leisureguy]

Read my long post (at the link below my signature)---it begins with the advantages of using a DE. And then PM me with your address and I'll send you a Super Speed and a selection of blades.

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Michael
My blog

[Joe Lerch]

[vespergo]

For me the change came because I was not getting good shaves with a cartridge razor. I've tried in the past ten years.. a panasonic electric foil razor, some remington tri head razors, gillette good news, schick extreme, mach 3's (for several years), sensors, bics, so quite a selection of what is available and probably a few more that i can't remember. the shaves never were enjoyable... more of a pain. i would get ingrowns and they irratated my skin enough to where it would break out.

so for me it was a quest. until the internet became more available to most people and they started sharing information about odd subjects like shaving, i was pretty much on my own. then a couple years ago i found a shaving site, the msn forum one, and bought a futur (against the common consensus) because i thought it looked well built and that it was adjustable and would serve me many years.

well i tried using it like i would a mach 3... in the shower, no brush, just soap and using pressure. the whole bit, so as you can imagine i went back immediately to the mach 3 and had sub par shaves for another 1.5 or so. then i went back on line to continue the search. went to the same places but this time i listened and tried a different razor and tried to follow the common consensus.

so for me it was a necessity to change, and i love it. i used to shave a couple times a week while in college because i hated shaving so badly. now i have to ween myself from trying to shave twice a day because it's so fun to shave now.

if you're getting fine shaves with a mach 3 and aren't getting irritation then i see no reason to change.

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Josh

[ScottS]

If you want a fast shave, and don't want to bother learning technique, a modern cartridge is definitely the way to go. If you can't get as close as you want to with a cartridge, or have trouble in the way of irritation or ingrowns when you shave any way but with the grain to get close, or you just want to enjoy the ceremony, a DE might be for you.

The warning is that there is a learning curve, and it is not unimaginable that during the early shaves you can cause yourself considerable discomfort. Some people find that they could never get a DE to give them the shave they want.

A schick injector is a safe way to go if you want a single edge that holds a little bit less risk than a DE.

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Scott
www.sethgreentu.org

[nteeman]

If you are happy with your shave don't switch. A DE or a str8 is not for everyone. Only you could convince yourself if something other than what you are using is right for you. Grasshopper, the answer you seek can only be obtained by asking yourself not others.

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-Neal (DE user since 1998)

[vincebell]

One good reason why you should switch is your skin. I recently had a skin problem on my face and went over to webmd to see what they had to say.

The very first thing mentioned was to switch to a single blade shaving system because multible blade razors actuall pull the wiskers out of the folicile and cut them below the hair line.

When the pore closes, all kinds of good stuff can develop.

In plain words, a single blade system, double edge or straight is just healther.

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VinceBell

[baldchin]

Economics - only a saving if your happy with the cheaper stuff. If you start asking yourself about different creams / razors / brushes and wondering if such and such item(s) wouldn't suit you better than x, y, z you have already - then it'll cost more not less!

Best reason is probably the fountain pen comparison.

IMO no reason to switch razor. Try a cheap brush and cream and see if you don't get a more satisfactory shave (on any level).

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Will

If it's smokin' it's cookin', when it's black it's done.

[Joe Lerch]

[Joe Lerch]