Gillette Fusion Power VS Schick Quattro Titanium Power...

[joel]

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=11603 http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=11604


Battle of the Vibrating Cartridge Systems

Gillette VS Schick

Alright, so there isn't too much love for gents using "shaving systems" around these parts - but here at badger and blade, we welcome all. In that spirit i've taken upon myself (lord help me) to "experiment" with some of these "systems" and see if I could offer some tips/advice on methods and products for attaining better results with the latest and allegedly greatest cartridge razors from the two Goliath's - Gillette & Schick.

Before I get too in depth, let me just first say, these are the cheapest feeling razors I have ever experienced. Every bit as cheap feeling as a bic disposable. While this little article addresses the powered razors - Tip #1 is pass on the powered option, and get the razors non-powered. For one or two shaves they seemingly work better than their non-powered counterparts, but as the blades dull - it's really hard to feel what's going on, and the vibrations mask/numb feeling so you add more pressure to compensate, and you're left with ingrown hairs, irritation, etc. This article addresses the "powered" razors, to find out about the "unpowered" versions, stay tuned....

Method - each razor was used for 2 weeks straight using a wide array of products, ranging from canned goo, to high end shaving soaps/creams. Pictures of the razors/blades were taken after the tests - to show/prove I actually used these things :lol:

Razors - Gillette Fusion Power Phantom (or something) & Schick Quattro Titanium.....
http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=11609

First, lets discuss the razors themselves and compare the two before we start talking about their performance, etc.

The Schick looks and feels like it is significantly less expensive, and not nearly as nice as the Gillette. The fit/finish, ergonomics and the design of the Gillette Fusion are superior by an order of magnitude, and the two buttons on the Schick (for turning the vibration on/off) feel as if you are breaking the razor when pushed. On the other hand, the Gillettes one button is a lot slicker, and its inclusion of a "LED" battery indicator (which flashes when the battery gets low) is quite nifty. Other than the fact the Schick's handle doesn't vibrate your hand as much as the Gillettes (The Shicks vibrating mechanism is in the head of the razor, where as the Gillettes is in the handle, which vibrates your hand more than the razor head) - the handle of the Gillette is superior to that of the Schick by an order of magnitude.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=11605

Razor heads.....
Both companies use multiple blades with the intent on providing a closer shave with the need for only 1 quick with the grain pass, however they deign their cartridges with different methods/concepts - which both have their strengths and weaknesses. The Schick uses a cassette style cartridge which when viewed from the side is "triangular" which allows a greater accumulation of cut beard growth/shaving cream in the head, and allows greater spacing between the blades, thus combatting a clogged razor head in the best manner possible. The Gillette razor head on the other hand uses a box style cartridge head, which looks rectangular when viewed from the side. While the cartridge head itself is not nearly as wide/deep as that of the Schick, its design focuses on channeling cut beard growth and shaving cream past/behind the blade array, trapping beard refuse in the shaving cream resting on the flat/back of the cartridge head.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=11606

The Schick employs a widely spaced 4 bladed cassette style cartridge head, with 8 ultra thin vertical metal wires holding and further supporting the blade array. In front of the blades, the Schick uses an opposing V rubber pattern to raise beard hair - followed by a lubrication strip, and yet another strip (this one soothing/aloe based) AFTER the 4 blades.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=11607

The Gillette takes a different approach using 5 tightly spaced blades in a box style cartridge head - with an additional 6th single edged blade on the back of the cartridge head - which is more of a marketing pitch, than a valuable addition. In front of the 5 blades are a bunch of thin little rubber "fins" to aide in lifting beard growth, and behind the blades is a lubrication/aloe strip.

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=11608

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=11610

Of the two, the Schicks cartridge seems to be the better thought out and logical design. The opposing V rubber strip works better than the gillettes wimpy fins, and having a lubrication strip before the blades actually makes a bit of a difference. The soothing strip AFTER the blade (for both of them) seems to be pretty pointless, however I suppose for many fellas who don't use aftershave and are merely using canned goo, this is revolutionary. For me, it just adds a tacky/slimy feel after each stroke... I think this is what attracts the sexy models in the commercials :rolleyes: - nothin' like some Gillette/Schick wonder-slime ladies!

Alright, back to business at hand.

Results - I'm really not a fan of either razor, regardless of what product(s) were used as pre-shaves, shaving cream, and aftershave. They both gave a superb shave for the first 2-3 shaves, but right after those first several super nice shaves would come the irritation, ingrown hairs, etc from adding pressure (as you have to do regardless with a cartridge razor) - too much pressure, as you cannot feel what the blades are doing. In fact... all you feel is vibration/numbness. As previously stated, their non-vibrating counterparts are much better in my opinion/experience - but thats another story/article.

If pressed, I'd probably pick the vibrating Gillette over the vibrating Schick, as I found it to be more forgiving, and a bit easier to use, however the Schick would provide a closer shave, albeit with more irritation.

Suggestions - Well, IF you're using a vibrating Gillette/Schick cartridge razor, there are a few tips/tricks to getting a better shave. I found the best results were attained using non-lathering products, as lathering products (regardless of whether it was canned goo, or super high end/expensive shaving cream/soap) would quickly clog the razor head, especially with the Gillette. 1 or 2 days beard growth with either razor and a lathering shaving cream resulted in just a mediocre at best shave. By changing things up - and using quite a few different non-lathering products, I found 2 that really stood out for me.

1.) Woody's. Woody's Grooming makes a "Foaming Shaving Gel" that is just outstanding. While it does foam a touch (which is helpful for tracking the parts of your face you have shaved) it doesn't foam much, and it provides a tremendous amount of lubrication, and does a bang up job moisturizing and protecting your face to boot. If you preface your shave with Woody's pre-shave (some kinda pineapple concoction) and aftershave, I submit you'll get the best, and most comfortable shave humanely possible with a vibrating cartridge razor. Woody's makes dragging a cartridge razor across your face each morning "pretty good" as opposed to "simply dreadful." This, coming from a fella with well into 5 figures in straight razors, hones, etc is as complementary as you can get.

2.) The only other product I could find which was even in the same realm in terms of efficacy was Billy Jealousy's Hydroplane. While not as nice as the woody's trio (I didn't/don't have the Billy Jealousy pre-shave) it is hands down the quickest option. Slapping some of this stuff on your mug and dragging a Fusion or Quattro across your face results in an exceptionally quick, easy, and acceptable shave with minimal irritation in literally 1 minute or so. While not as luxurious or efficacious as the Woody's option (especially when all three Woody's products were used) it is much, much faster, and still allows you to get a pretty irritation free shave with a marginally moisturized face. For a fella using Gillette or Edge shaving gel or the like - this would be an unbelievable shock in terms of being much better/easier on your face, more moisturizing and quicker. If you are really rushed in the morning and are looking for the fastest quality shave possible - this stuff is hard to beat.

Overall - for the third time, toss the battery versions, and stay tuned for the more detailed article on the standard Quattro and Fusion - with more in depth cartridge "product" suggestions. :smile:

[Baloosh]

What a great review on both types of powered razors. Great job!

Can't wait to see the write-up on their non-powered counterparts. FWIW, I have also found that the powered versions are MUCH worse than that manual versions.

[Ookla The Mok]

I wondered where Joel had been in the SOTDs lately. An unexplained Edge gel and Schick Quattro SOTD would have been most surprising.

[norman931]

Nice review. I used the Mach 3 and Fusion for years. (non-powered versions).

[uatrmpt]

Don't worry. This particular Schick is already out of date. I saw a commercial for one today with an electric beard trimmer on the bottom of the razor.

[joel]

Don't worry. This particular Schick is already out of date. I saw a commercial for one today with an electric beard trimmer on the bottom of the razor.

Have you seen that POS in person? I was going to pick one up and review it, but it's just a beard trimmer that takes a Schick Quattro head on one end - it's really huge/cumbersome.

For what it's worth, the non-powered Schicks are actually not that bad at all. The first iteration of Quattros I tried 3-4 years ago for kicks was awful, however this new "Titanium" or whatever isn't bad. When you see what the blades on these things run though - it's amazing, they really hose you. They're effective and extremely fast - but once i'm done with these tests, i'll likely never use them again.

[OldSaw]

Nice review Joel. Do you think with your clout you could get them to resurrect the Schick FX Diamond?

[iron maiden]

Nice review Joel....I was wondering where you've been. I was sorta hoping the LeGrelots would be getting a review:wink:

[htownmmm]

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Way to take one,err, two for the team!


Marty

[brofkand]

I much preferred the Fusion to the Quattro (in manual non-powered versions). Sure, it gunks up more, but the blades seemed to last longer and the wires weren't nice to my face.

[cubiculum]

I've used both of these razors. If I had to use a vibrating razor, I'd definitely go with the Gillette Fusion. Its vibrations actually seem to reduce drag a little bit (or maybe the vibrations mask the drag that's still there). The Schick's, however, don't do anything - if anything, for me, they made the shave worse. I don't know if it's the frequency of the vibrations or the location of the oscillating device or whatever, but it does absolutely nothing for the shave at all.

Now, I'm the kind of guy that doesn't mind spending extra money on something if it's of higher quality or has features that justify the cost. That being said, I think the cartridge prices for these razors are ridiculous. A 4-pack of Fusion Power cartridges will run you about $15. In the cartridge realm, I personally don't see a justifiable difference between the shaves from these razors and those I get with a Sensor.

If you look at how the marketing machine is really working here, it's easy to see that Gillette and Schick know they don't have much place to go. Back when the Quattro Titanium was unveiled, its major feature was that it was less irritating that the Mach 3. It hasn't changed much since then, but recent "innovations" on the Schick side have involved putting an extra blade on the back of the cartage for trimming (like the Fusion), making the handle a bit longer, and, more recently, producing a razor with an actual electric trimmer on the end. On the Gillette side, well, there's the Fusion. You can get the "manual" or "Power" version. The original was silver, blue and orange. Then they "innovated" again and made the razor black with the Fusion Phantom. Now, there's the Fusion Phenom, which looks a bit like the original Fusion but has a different marketing campaign that includes Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Thierry Henry.

Are you kidding me? These are huge companies with tons of money going into R&D and the best they can do now is to offer a cheap plastic cartridge holder in different colors and a new gimmick or two.

The simple fact, in my experience, is that I can get just about as good of a shave from a disposable 2 blade razor as I can with one of these cartridge razors. I think most of Gillette's and Shick's R&D is showing the same. There's not much they can do to provide a better shaving experience than to break away from their "add another blade" or "change the handle color" line of thinking.

[pong]

Why not? The name just tells me that this is a FAST moving piece of equipment, the chartreuse zoomy stripes is so reminicent of Mattel's Hot Wheels and the grey flames are moving so fast that they haven't time to morph into the black background. The head is so deep that it can't make the 1" ogive at the neck/jaw area.

Yes sir I like my Mach3. But then I bought 5 packs of Excel Sensors to go with the handle that I DIDN'T throw away. The DOVO str8 should arrive next month from classicshaving/Lynn.

[shavEddie]

Great review, I used the gillette for the last 2 years.

Having said that, Since I got my Merkur HD, you could not pay me to go back to multi blades and canned goo, and it's all your fault, gentlemen of the board!!!:biggrin:

[bsc2009]

......however I suppose for many fellas who don't use aftershave and are merely using canned goo, this is revolutionary. For me, it just adds a tacky/slimy feel after each stroke.....


the thing with this lubrication strips was what i hated the most about modern cartridge razors
after i removed this strip on my mach3 i got significant better shaves
but stilll doesn't battle a DE

[R-James]

Nice review! But I'll stick to a 50's SS thanks

[Hun]

I have Gillette Fusion Power Phantom :bored: I can't say that it shaves better than cheap Bic or Gillette disposables (not to mention DE razors). But its cartridges are way too expensive :mad3:

[ScottyD]

:confused:

[Suzuki]

Great review.

I own a Fusion (non-powered) and a Quattro (powered).

I bought them when they were on sale - handle plus 5 cartridges for less than a pack of 4 cartridges just to give them a shot.

I think they're quite comparable - the first shave with the Fusion can be a little irritating, but after that, I can acutally get 7-8 decent shaves (one with the grain and one against the grain pass).

I think the Quattro gives a better shave generally, but I've often felt that the Schick products were better than the Gillettes.

I agree with Joel that the Gillette is nicer from an ergonomics perspective and from a visual perspective, the Schick just misses the boat (looks incredibly cheap and blah when held up next to the Gillette - Gillette's design department certainly knows how to appeal to the guys (teens and twenty-year olds at any rate) and has the bling).

The amazing thing is that these things don't shave any better than the two or three-bladed Sensor or Schick equivalents. The goo strips are totally unnecessary if you use decent soap/cream and, in my mind, suggest that these companies know their shaving gels/foams aren't that great. The sixth blade trimmer on the Fusion is a joke - no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get a nice straight line if I used it to trim/edge my sideburns.

The Fusion will clog up if you use a thick lather, but the Shick handles anything I've used without any fuss.

Like I said above, at best, the shave I get from either razor is decent. Its reasonably close, relatively irritation-free, but lasts nowhere near as long as a straight or DE shave.

So, in my overall view - these razors aren't worth the cash. If you need a tool for quick/travel shaves, aren't quite ready to make the leap to a DE or straight, save your money and just buy a Sensor or two or three-bladed Shick.

In my mind, these razors are a tribute to over-design and marketing, as they certainly aren't a major improvement (if an improvement at all) over their predecessors (and the same can be said of whether the three-bladed cartridges were an improvement over the two-bladed versions).

If anything, its an interesting example of a stuation where competition leads to pointless "innovation"/innovation for the sake of innovation with no tangible benefits to the consumer.

[ps49556n]

I still have all my old razors of this style (Mach 3, Mach 3 Turbo, Quattro, Fusion) and when I shaved with them I found the Mach 3 Turbo to be my favorite...Never tried the Quattro Power but having tried the regular Quattro with decent results I would say I would rather use a quattro than fusion. I was surprised when you concluded that the Quattro gave a closer shave because the little wires covering the blades are actually intended in part to make sure not to shave too close thus preventing or slowing down ingrown hairs. With all this talk about multiblade cartridges I am curious to try them out again now that I actually know how to properly shave. My main problem with these razors has always been the ingrown hairs and the tendency for the blades to become too dull after only 2-3 uses. Perhaps now nowadays I could get better shaves from these but lately I have been having fun with my straights.

[iron maiden]

I know I've said it before, but the whole reason I left the Edge gel and M3, Fusion, Quattro was because of the cost of the blades........

......and now, well, I've become afflicted with all sorts of expensive Acquisition Disorders I never knew existed....:wink:

So, I can't think this way of shaving is cheaper, per se.....but it is more fun, I'll give you that.

[-bp-]

Had both of these before my DE conversion (SE, too - Love my GEM's). Now they hang in the shower. My wife and daughter use them as underarm shavers. I'm sure I could leave the cartridges in there until Christmas and they'd never notice.:lol:

[Cheezeweggie]

I get similar results to the vibrating razor when I use my flair tip SS and hum on each stroke. :lol:

[Ichthys]

I've always used Gillette products, going as far back as 1967 when I started shaving. Who knew that I would come full circle to DEs and then back to the future with Straights?

Anyway, I still get use out of my jet driven 5 blade on those occasions where I've abraded my face about all it can stand with one of my straights and the wife is getting that tone in her voice about how late for work we are beginning to run. The Gillette may not be as soul satisfying as my TIs or Dovos, but it gets the job finished fast and virtually without risk to face, life, or limb. My goal is to retire it, but I am a realist.

When I travel on business, I still rely upon it lest I end up going to meetings covered in Kleenex pieces and white with styptic.

[lifeonedge]

I'm just glad that I see most people here are still open minded enough to keep trying nerw things. I shave my head and still use the M3 up there for a few reasons, but DE's on my face.

Has anyone sen the Infomercial about the lifetime razor you never have to sharpen or replace? I know it'll never work, just curious if anyone has tried it first-hand...

Jim

[joel]

I'm just glad that I see most people here are still open minded enough to keep trying nerw things. I shave my head and still use the M3 up there for a few reasons, but DE's on my face.

Has anyone sen the Infomercial about the lifetime razor you never have to sharpen or replace? I know it'll never work, just curious if anyone has tried it first-hand...

Jim

Haven't tried the infinity razor, however when I bought the fusions/quattros at Walgreens they had a "as seen on tv" cartridge blade sharpener which guaranteed you could get a year our of any cartridge. I almost fell for it.... but frankly - I just didn't want to have to shave with a cartridge razor that long to test the darn thing :lol:

[lifeonedge]

I found an old thread on the Infinity in the Straight razor reviews. A woman bought one for her boyfriend and he tore his face apart going over the same area 2-3 times trying to get it to cut hairs. Never worked well at all. I think we all knew this but were still very curious about it anyway. Like freaking cats!! LOL

[New2DEShaving_Montreal]

I use the M3 and Quattro for my head (both found on sale, M3 was $5.99 for a pack of 4 at the pharmacy, and Quattro Titanium was $6.96 for a pack that came with handle + 6 bonus cartridges)
I find that the non vibrating mess works a lot better. The Quattro Titanium gives a great shave, and I go WTG pass and shave in the shower, so the cartridge is slippery/glides well, and I think they have re-designed their handle to feel more like the Fusion handle, and it looks decent. Can't wait to see Joel's review on the new Quattro Titanium. I shave my head every 4 days. So far, I'm going on to the 14th head shave with the same cartridge, the 13th(last shave) was smooth as ever.

[grayraven]

Thanks, Joel, for adding the extra pain to your life for our benefit. I still use my sensor excel for short trips as it is easier than checking my bags at the airport. Also, I never could move past the three blade stage as it just hurt to much to begin with. Thankfully everyone here has set me down the straight and irritation free path.

[cr8n]

I don't think this review has a place on this site.

[Hambone]

Back when I was shaving for the dark side, I used a fusion power. Looking back on the shaves I used to get with the fusion, I couldn't agree more that it provides horrible shaves. After every awesome shave with my new DE setup I can't believe the irritation I endured day after day. I also found that non-lathering creams worked much better with it. When I got my first non-lathering cream is when I first realized that there was a better shave out there, and stated looking into wet shaving. Great review!

[momo360]

I tried shaving with a Quattro once...

[momo360]

If anything, its an interesting example of a stuation where competition leads to pointless "innovation"/innovation for the sake of innovation with no tangible benefits to the consumer.


Well Chris I gotta disagree with you here. It's not just inovation for the sake of invoation; it's an new innovative way to rake more of our money in, with plenty of tangible benifits for the manufacturer. :thumbdown

[AsciiSimon]

I don't think this review has a place on this site.

Oh, I think it does. When new people arrive the see something they recognise, read all the negative comments and start thinking about alternatives. And there are some people who get on better with them than DEs for whatever reason.

It was when the 5/6 bladed thing came out and I saw the ad on TV that I decided that was bloody ridiculous and there must be a better way so started down the DE path.

Now I have given up both bad habits, cartridge razors and TV!

Simon

[New2DEShaving_Montreal]

Simon, +1. DE for my face, Quattro for my head. That's how I roll.

[gabeyb]

......and now, well, I've become afflicted with all sorts of expensive Acquisition Disorders I never knew existed....:wink:


I bought a Mach 3 in college. Used it, liked it (as much as I liked any kind of razor at the time). Went to buy refills and came home with a 5 dollar bag of throw aways and a disdain for the Gillette company. I figured it would be a cold day in the hot place before I spent that kind of money on shaving. Now I stumble upon you guys...

Somewhere a demon shivers.

[Wade253]

Just a couple of counter-points.

Regarding the quality of the handles. One can buy a nice balanced M3 or Fusion handle at The English Shaving Company, Eshave, Em's Place.....well just about anywhere fine brushes and shave creams are sold. I kind of like the basic M3 Turbo handle as I think they are more ergonomic than a lot of DEs such as super speed and definitely better than some of the plastic handle DEs or even the monster Merkurs I see touted.


Razor heads.....

[IMG]http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=11610



I think these razors work best with non-goo soaps. The multiple blades cut each whisker into smaller pieces than a DE and so less clogging. One can simply swish the razor through water and the blades come clean--just viewing the blade picture above one can deduce that. You have to clean the soap and blades of a DE also.




Alright, back to business at hand.

Results - I'm really not a fan of either razor, regardless of what product(s) were used as pre-shaves, shaving cream, and aftershave. They both gave a superb shave for the first 2-3 shaves, but right after those first several super nice shaves would come the irritation, ingrown hairs, etc from adding pressure (as you have to do regardless with a cartridge razor) - too much pressure, as you cannot feel what the blades are doing. In fact... all you feel is vibration/numbness. As previously stated, their non-vibrating counterparts are much better in my opinion/experience - but thats another story/article.



I have found that you need not apply pressure at all. One need not feel what the blades are doing just as DE. No you don't HAVE TO apply pressure. Really, when blades cut right there is very little feel due to no pulling. The angle of cartridges are such that the blades are at the right angle and sharp. One can hear the whiskers being cut and so I would agree to turn off the buzz. When one gets ingrown hairs I think it says that you are getting too close of a shave. Learning when to go ATG is important as it will be different than a DE in certain areas because cartridges simply do better with the first pass WTG and wonderfully smoother ATG. I really think that DE shaves closer and actually takes off a layer of skin which requires more time to heal. DEs simply have no give and its all touch and angle so you have to be perfect for the whole shave. My experience is that cartridges shave smoother with less irritation and more consistant shaves every day as opposed to bbs, so-so, so-so, bbs... However, one one can get smooth, comfortable shaves without irritation using cartridges while another gets irritation and in-grown hairs it certainly proves ymmv.

[Suzuki]

Well Chris I gotta disagree with you here. It's not just inovation for the sake of invoation; it's an new innovative way to rake more of our money in, with plenty of tangible benifits for the manufacturer. :thumbdown


Exactly - no benfits whatsoever for the consumer - all about convincing us to spend more money for fancy packaging and a few more cents worth of metal and plastic.

[180gVinyl]

Mach3 with Sabini handle for the head (I've used a Bic Metal when I could source them)

Fatboy for the face

Would using a Sensor (which I last used many years ago with Gillette Foam) prove an interesting alternative, now that I use cream/soap?

[asat00]

I, as many, would rather not have a razor that vibrates my hand off but if I had to pick one, it would be the stahly live razor. Though the useless vibrating concept is the same, at least there is some quality to speak of.

[daddy55]

Courageous Joel!

It's been a couple years since I used a cartridge regularly, but I'd add one observation about the higher blade-count razors. I find that the larger cartridges don't do justice to minor concave areas of my face (chin dimple, upper lip right beneath nose). With something like the two bladed Sensor, I could still get in there. But the 'wall of blades' just doesn't work so easily anywhere my face isn't much like a wall itself. I tried a Fusion for fun, thinking that the trimmer blade might work for this - and it sort of does - but found the trimmer to extremely non-agressive compared to my DE razors and difficult to use without excess pressure/multiple passes that were irritating.

My upper lip needs shaving right up tight to my nose, and I find that the larger the cartridge, the more awkward it is to find an approach that brings blades close enough. Not a problem with almost any DE or injector. Again, I think the Fusion could have addressed this somewhat better had the trimmer blade been more agressive. (And the price not so goofy).

If one was going to use a cartridge, I wonder if the ideal balance would have been a two or three bladed cartridge combined with a more agressive trimmer blade.

[StTroyIII]

Having used a few different face rakes before I stumbled across the straight razor world, I would have to give a point to the Fusion for ease of rinsing the blades clean when compared to other cartridge razors. The flat cartridge lets anything pass right through. When I started with straights, I left the Fusion hanging in the shower for a while. One day I noticed I had left an area on my face that was not shaved as close as the rest from the day before. Being a perfectionist, this bothered me and I wasnt planning on shaving that day, so I tried to go over the area with the Fusion to make it match the rest of my face. I kept going over the area, and I just couldnt get it to match the rest of my face. It was a blade that had only been used a couple of times, and it finally dawned on me that the face rakes will never shave as close as a straight razor. So if you want a good comparison, shave one side of your face with a straight, and the other with a brand new face rake, and see which is a better/closer shave. That was all I needed to know. Havent gotten into DE's yet...

[Budrbean]

Heres my theory.....

These vibrating razors were invented for young females who shave their legs with them, and also want a little sensation......but are too young to buy the adult toys lol. Its kinda like the harry potter broom......i bet there are all kinds of young girls that own these razors. :lol:

Anyways, i did have a fusion vibrator once and it was useless. Just another new product so they can raise the price of cartridges.

As someone stated before, the biggest reason I switched to DE shaving is for cost effectiveness. That may be somewhat debateable, but you can get a better shave while still using some of the cheaper creams such as CO Bigelow.

I found that I am actually spending just as much on DE shaving because it takes more high quality supplies. But thats cool, because its a much better shave and my face feels healthier. I use a lot of the cheaper stuff, so I spend roughly $125 a year on shaving.

[Rolo]

Good review... I'll have to wait until Gillette sends me a free one like they did with the regular Fusion. Can't wait:rolleyes:


Joel, any chance of seeing a full review of the Woody's shave cream and after shave?

[MikeLip]

Although I have to tell ya, it's nothing new to me :) I do tend to get sucked in to new and improved, and I hadn't shaved with a DE for many years (I'm 51). I have a nifty new Gillette Fusion in my drawer doing unused because I got sick of the price of cartridges, found B&B and bought a Merkur. Funny - I get a better, more comfortable and longer-lasting shave from my Merkur Barber Pole and 15 cent Derby blades than from my Gillette uber-razor shaving system.

I also have Sensor in the drawer that works as well as the Fusion! Shhh - don't tell Gillette. My daughter steals it to shave her legs.

This whole place has me seriously contemplating the Next Big Step - learning a straight!

[LagerLover]

I bought a just-discontinued Shick Extreme 3 on sale and found it to be a pretty good shave (still four pass tho). The curve of the cartridge happens to match my face perfectly.

Those four and five blade things drag so bad, it feels like I'm using one of those spring type dipilators, that yank the hair out.

[Vinny Bobo]

I keep a Gillette Fusion in my arsenal solely for the 6th blade on the back which is the only solution I've found for getting the wiskers at the base of my nose. It works great.

[Duggo]

Oh, I think it does. When new people arrive the see something they recognise, read all the negative comments and start thinking about alternatives. And there are some people who get on better with them than DEs for whatever reason.

It was when the 5/6 bladed thing came out and I saw the ad on TV that I decided that was bloody ridiculous and there must be a better way so started down the DE path.

Now I have given up both bad habits, cartridge razors and TV!

Simon

+1 Simon. I came here (via Google,) looking for an even cheaper price on carttridges. Turns out I took you guys at your word, (that DE shaving was better,) and I'm glad I did.

I digress. However, since day one I've had issues with my upper right/left and lower right/left corners of my mouth. The only thing that seems to be helping is, the use of a cartridge razor and yes, canned foam/gel.

I use the DE for everything else.

[Duggo]

Does anyone know how to remove the ahem "lubristrip" atop the blades, without ruining the blade cartridge?

Thanks...

I heard they added drag to the razor. I believe that comment was made outside the confines of B&B.

[The Fish]

Honestly, even if the cartridges were cheaper, I still wouldn't want to buy the Gillette/Shick products just because of the marketing. Maybe it's petty, but it just irritates the living crap out of me. Gillette changes the colors on their razor and has to come up with an edgy new name and flashy commercials like they just revolutionized men's grooming forever.

The only thing I can say about cartridge razors is shaving was a chore when I used them. Now I actually have pleasant shaves with me DE.

[sol92258]

Nice review Joel. Do you think with your clout you could get them to resurrect the Schick FX Diamond?

+1, was a great razor, I still have the handle, if I ever see the cartridges again, I'll probably grab some.

[CloseShave]

Joel's test piqued my curiousity so I shaved with a Gilette fusion in the non-motorized format yesterday. I have a dark and thick beard. My after shower prep was the same as my daily straight shave. Oil, a warm wet towel and Em's lavender( a cream that offers a lot of lubricosity) was used. I did a two pass shave with the Gilette on a new blade. There was no beard to the touch for a third pass. It was fast close and comfortable. My wife felt it was close to the touch but said she could see the outline of my beard.

This morning I used a Wapi that is honed to a very sharp edge. The three pass shave was also very close and comfortable albeit slower. However, my wife said there was no visible beard shadow after the shave. It is now eight hours later and it looks as if I just shaved.

Thus, my devotion to straight shaving is confirmed.

[phaedrus]

It's not for nothing that Gillette target their advertising at the younger shaver. The 18-30 age group are much more "on message" with the spurious science and marketing twaddle they spout. These so called shaving systems are all about commercial greed, not a better quality shave. I'll stick with my Merkur 38C and feather blades.

[sadowsky]

The Gillette Power Fusion and regular Fusion are great. I get such a good shave from them that I gave up DE shaving!! And cartridges are much cheaper than collecting DE razors!!

Roger

[mr_clean]

it's no coincidence that the Powered Gillette razors came out after Gillette bought Duracell. I don't really see how vibration makes any difference at all. I agree, if anything, it's distracting. the non powered fusion is pretty decent. I don't know is it's really much better than the Mach 3.

[Elmo]

A 4-pack of Fusion Power cartridges will run you about $15.

try ebay. in volume (say 100 units) the cost per cartridge comes down to $2.00-2.25/ cartridge

[nomad_z]

Oh, I think it does. When new people arrive the see something they recognise, read all the negative comments and start thinking about alternatives. And there are some people who get on better with them than DEs for whatever reason.

It was when the 5/6 bladed thing came out and I saw the ad on TV that I decided that was bloody ridiculous and there must be a better way so started down the DE path.

Now I have given up both bad habits, cartridge razors and TV!

Simon

I agree. I came to this site looking for a comparison between the Fusion and Quattro (which I both own, Fusion for weekdays and Quattro for weekends) and ended up buying a Murkur HD, after reading reviews. Tried it today, feeling a bit sore, but I need to change my technique as I am still in cartridge razor mode.

I think this site is great and have been reading reviews and tips. If it wasn't for this review, I would never have come here.

[allenavery]

I saw a shiny new Fusion Phantom at Target the other day, for $7.99. One cartridge only, but somehow I couldn't resist, and tried it this morning. It was a strange shave, to say the least. It goes very quickly, and the vibrating razor feels very much like an appliance, a means to an end, nothing like the ritualistic and respectful approach you have to take with a DE (particularly respectful, with an old GEM). It shaved quite close, even on a with the grain pass on my neck. I think I made a fatal mistake going against the grain on a second pass, though. I can almost feel the hairs starting to get ingrown, and am, frankly, very afraid I've made one of the biggest mistakes of my shaving career. I'll let you know how it turns out....

[allenavery]

Just an update: I was able to shave with the Fusion for a whole week, and it was a great shave! Those ingrown hairs I was so afraid of never materialized. The cost of the cartridges is a killer though. The Fusion won't see regular use, that's for sure.

[masonjarjar]

I came to this site looking for a comparison between the Fusion and Quattro


Joel.. ha! I never considered this angle. Brilliant move!


-Mason

[rogersfreud]

beautiful post. you can tell how you appreciate the nuances to shaving.
i believe that your post is very helpful in appreciating the characteristics and variables to a good shaving experience. very insightful.

isaac