Gillette Sensor & Foamy!!!

**lambo69** · 02-10-2009, 12:56 PM

Last Sunday I had a pretty bad hang over. (I know, shocking but it was my mates 30th birthday after all).
I spent most of the morning in bed and when I finally did get up my girlfriend kindly reminded me that we were due up at her Mum and Dads house in less than 2 hours for Sunday dinner.

Anyway, I had to look presentable and I really couldnt not deal with a full DE 20min BBS shave. I felt terrible.
I went into the bathroom and began running a bath. As I raided through the bathroom cabnet I found my old Gillette Sensor and a can of Rgeular Gillette Foamy.I decided to give it a go as I was in no state to put a sharp DE razor to my face but I didnt want to turn up to the in laws looking like a gorilla with a sore head. I change the blade in my Sensor, grabbed my shave mirror and the can of foamy and jumped in the bath.
I soaked in the bath for 10 minutes whilst sipping on the coffee my girlfriend had made for me (she loves me

) and then began lathering up the shave foam. Without thinking about it I looked in my shaving mirrior and had a WTG pass with my Sensor. I washed with the warm bath water and lathered up the Foamy again. I have to say that I really like the scent of Gillette Foamy. Okay iis not luxuary like my Art of Shaving creams but it smells really old school. After lather up for the second time I had an XTG pass. Again I washed with the warm bath water, pulled the plug and dried off. I splashed my face with cold water and applied some Nivea Balm.
I then left the bathroom and began getting changed.
When I got down stairs my girlfriend looked at me and said "what a difference, you look good!" I looked at myself in the mirror and ran my fingers across my face. I was smooth and I mean smooooooooth. I realised then that I had got a toal BBS shave using a Sensor and a can of £1.20 Gillette Foamy. No irritaion either

Just wondering if anyone has had any similiar experiences?

**Fnord5** · 02-10-2009, 01:02 PM

Proper prep=good shave.

**bladebuff** · 02-10-2009, 01:13 PM

It's all in the prep, a soft, wet, well prepared face is just what the razor needs to make a nice clean cut. I have no trouble using a canned shave foam to get a good shave but I would not go anywhere near the gels. Next time just use the DE.

**Tommy_C** · 02-10-2009, 01:18 PM

I noticed this on a trip I took about a month ago. I was forced to use Barbasol shave cream in a can, rather than my usual tabac. But, as I knew how to get a proper prep, I knew to re-lather between passes, & I knew not to shave over areas with no lather, I wound up with a BBS shave with no irritation at all.

**lambo69** · 02-10-2009, 01:25 PM

My 10 minute soak in the bath must have done me the world of good.
Also I have always said that IMO the Gillette Sensor is the best cartridge razor ever made.
My shave was not as enjoyable as my usual DE shave using my badger hair brush and shave cream but it still had a great result.

**Mr. Gillette** · 02-10-2009, 01:49 PM

You got a shave for the same reason a drunk driver comes out of a 4-car pileup unscathed while the innocent bystanders end up in the hospital.

A can of foamy, a sensor and all the prep in the world do NOT equate to a good shave...

...your girlfriend's perspective of you was skewed. She saw you as a filthy, disgusting, smelling foul drunk. You got some of the worst of this off and she said "Oh, look! What a good shave."

You SHOULD drink heavily before picking up Foamy and a Sensor again!

**Trius** · 02-10-2009, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. Gillette

You SHOULD drink heavily before picking up Foamy and a Sensor again!

That's Gillette Foamy and Gillette Sensor, right Mr. Gillette?

Ya know, I was looking at Foamy online the other day and just about decided to pick some up. I don't exactly remember the scent, but I think I'll get some just for that.

And yeah, lots of water/prep is #1.

**rafikz** · 02-10-2009, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by bladebuff

It's all in the prep, a soft, wet, well prepared face is just what the razor needs to make a nice clean cut. I have no trouble using a canned shave foam to get a good shave but I would not go anywhere near the gels. Next time just use the DE.

I prefer canned gels to canned foams for my deadly combo: super tough beard + dry skin

When I was younger and had a soft beard, I preferred foams, and hated gels.

Now, I avoid foams and prefer gels

**bladebuff** · 02-10-2009, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by rafikz

I prefer canned gels to canned foams for my deadly combo: super tough beard + dry skin

When I was younger and had a soft beard, I preferred foams, and hated gels.

Now, I avoid foams and prefer gels

A fine example of the old YMMV principal. It really all comes down to the results, if you like them, then that's all that matters.

**rafikz** · 02-10-2009, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by bladebuff

A fine example of the old YMMV principal. It really all comes down to the results, if you like them, then that's all that matters.

I agree

**ogopogo** · 02-10-2009, 10:47 PM

When I used to use the canned stuff it would be the gel. I found it more lubricating and slick... more substantial than the airy foam. I don't think that I ever got a good shave with foam.

**nuovorecord** · 02-10-2009, 11:06 PM

For years, when I was a heathen, I shaved with a Sensor and a can of Foamy, getting crappy shaves because I hadn't a clue as to what I was doing. I love my DEs and won't go back, but I know I can get a good shave with my old Sensor now that I know how to properly shave.

**boingk** · 02-10-2009, 11:41 PM

Earlier cousin of the Sensor, the Atra (marketed here as the 'Twin Blade' AFAIK), goes pretty well for me when I need a change or feel lazy. While prep may be king, I think I have a face of steel as I can use a month-old generic-brand cartridge and get decent results with a can of generic foam. As always, YMMV.

Best obviously comes from one of my safety's with a new Feather and a good long prep beforehand. :D

If you are out for trying new products have a shot at any generic foam with coconut oil in it, and also a cheap cream called Faulding Shave. Very traditional, that last one, takes me back to having my neck done with a straight in a barbers shop every time.

Cheers - boingk

**lambo69** · 02-11-2009, 01:20 AM

Originally Posted by nuovorecord

For years, when I was a heathen, I shaved with a Sensor and a can of Foamy, getting crappy shaves because I hadn't a clue as to what I was doing. I love my DEs and won't go back, but I know I can get a good shave with my old Sensor now that I know how to properly shave.

I think you nailed it there mate.
I think after using a DE razor for a while you learn how to shave properly with good technique.
That and good prep make all the difference.
Iam sure if a lot of guys who use DE razors had a shave with a cartridge and canned goo, their shave would be very passable!

**Lucius** · 02-11-2009, 05:34 AM

I could get a good shave with a fusion and gel, but I ended up with ingrown hairs all over my neck and some on my cheek.

When I first dove into wet shaving I was just using some Taylors with a fusion. I got better shaves than with gel.

I tried using gel with my straight a few weeks ago. I had to stop after about 3 strokes, it was way too painful.

I still get the occasional in grown hair on my neck or cheek, but not like I did. I always thought I had acne all over my neck, after I switched to the DE/Straight I realized that was not that case. Plus, I have to admit I'm a sucker for the coolness factor of the straight.

**cvac** · 02-11-2009, 05:44 AM

When rushed I do a 1 pass shave with touch up using a Bic Sensitive disposable and Aveeno cream in a can. I get DFS shaves with very little, if any irritation.

**norton** · 02-11-2009, 06:28 AM

Good points in this thread. I would suggest that it's a 'progressive degeneration' of shaving technique brought on by cartridges and gels. That, and usually, you only remember your last shave, so if your first one is good/decent/passable, you assume they will all be that way. They turn out not to be, but you assume it's the fault of the blade or the gel, not your technique.

I think that If you have experience wielding a DE and get decent to excellent results there, then the technique transfers to simple twin blade cartridges easily (trac II) - . However, once you go from non pivot head cartridge to pivot, it's further removed (Atra, Sensor). Go another step with the modified pivot heads of the mach3 and your technique is now shot to hell.

About the Foamy/Barbasol stuff in a can - I think I just enjoy the lather making process enough that I don't have any. The size of Soap Pucks means I can stash lots under my sink. Plus, I can't heat up a can. Canned goo does have it's fans - I remember reading about someone here who used a str8 w/ Edge gel.

After reading this thread though, I wouldn't hesitate to pick up one of those little "good news/foamy" packages at 7-11 or where ever if I had forgotten my Shaving stuff on a trip or something.

**Joshua82688** · 02-11-2009, 06:43 AM

the other night actually, though i used my sensor excel with proraso lathered on with my brush, it felt like it hacked my neck up and i regreted not using my d/e or str8 but overall it was decent, im trying to grow my burns back anyway, so in order to insure even growth i shaved (which is weird cause i needed to shave sunday cause i was going out) then trimmed my burns shorter, than shorter the next morning finally leading me to just shave and start again, like always =p

**bubalu** · 02-11-2009, 06:52 AM

I can get a great shave with a TracII, Sensor, Quattro, etc, as well as a double edge razor using Foamy, Barbarsol, Edge, or whatever canned stuff there is out there. The problem I have is that after a few weeks the multiple edge cartridges and the canned stuff eats away at my face. If I use a multiple blade cartridge and cream with brush, after a few months I have constant facial irritation from the razor. I don't have this problem if I use a double edge razor and the non-canned stuff. If I go on a trip I will use my Trac II and depending on the length of the trip, either some canned stuff or some cream with a brush - I don't won't the airline to lose my DE razor.

**Boyextraordinare** · 02-11-2009, 07:05 AM

I don't believe any shaving cream coming in a tube or a tub whatsoever - take your pick of the three Ts - has anything on canned shave gel. I used my girlfriend's Skintimate the other day and it was excellent.

I use these products simply because I own them.

Shaving soap is another matter - it performs decidedly better than anything from a tube, tub or can.

II.

The Sensor is where shave technology hit its apex: spring-loaded, pivoting head & rubberized fins. Everything you need and nothing more.

That said, I enjoy shaving with a DE or Str8 more.