I'm coming clean: I keep a cartridge razor in my rotation.

[SpyvSpy]

Been quite some time since I've used a cartridge. I'm sure I'd get better shaves with one but I enjoy the morning shaves with my DE too much to change.

 

[taffy]

I have a trac ii in my rotation and love it, whatever works for you is fine.

 

[HoratioCaine]

I use a two-pronged approach for every shave. I use a Sensor Excel for my first pass, and a DE for my second and touch-up passes. The Sensor does a great job of clearing out the heavier stubble, and the DE does a nice job of finishing the shave. The two combined give me a better result than either razor does on its own. I happened upon it as a fluke, when one time I was bored with my Sensor and switched to a DE mid-shave. The results were great, so I kept at it, to see if it they were consistently so. I've been using this combo exclusively for several months now, and it works well for me.

 

[Mr. Scruffy]

I have an ebony C&E branded Edwin Jagger Mach3 handle that I keep in my rotation for times when I just really can't spend more than 10 minutes on shaving. It always bugs me a bit that BBS shaves are the norm with it, while DFS is the norm with my DEs.

I understand that all it really means is that I still need to hone my technique, but I just love the way BBS feels and I wish I could hit it consistently with my DEs.

Keep trying, David. It will happen!

 

[Space]

yeah I still have a couple lying around. sometimes I just can't bring myself out of bed until the last possible minute. On those days I'll normally do one or two passes with a DE and then finish up with a M3. I don't like doing multiple passes with the M3, thats just asking for razor burn

 

[Slivovitz]

Well, whatever I choose, it's a choice of grooming tools, not an ideological statement or an ethical decision. Nothing to apologize for to other people. I wouldn't say that I keep any cartridges in the regular rotation, but they are there in the pool of possible razors, my good old Atra, which I used longer than any other razor, a Trac II, which I don't like quite as much, and the brand new Schick Hydro, which worked quite well when I tried it recently. I even have a Fusion and one of its cartridges left. All of them deliver decent shaves. Non-Gillette brand replacement cartridges for the Trac II and Atra are only around fifty cents each, not much more expensive than DE blades.

Shaving with a cartridge is a bit faster for me, but not necessarily much faster. An injector shave is almost as fast, although it requires a little more concentration. Some SE razors are about as quick as that, others take me more time. DE shaves tend to be the slowest, in that I need to take more passes.

As far as quality of shave goes, using a cartridge is now in the same general range for me as DE/SE/injectors, but perhaps at the lower end of that range. I'd maintain that I do get closer, longer lasting shaves with injectors or SE razors, but the difference between those and an Atra or Hydro is not huge. My best DE shaves are also a bit better than using any cartridge I've tried, but as I've said, do take longer.

It is necessary to be a bit more careful with a single blade razor to avoid cuts, but with practice, this isn't that big a problem.

 

[Stubblefield]

I use a two-pronged approach for every shave. I use a Sensor Excel for my first pass, and a DE for my second and touch-up passes. The Sensor does a great job of clearing out the heavier stubble, and the DE does a nice job of finishing the shave.

I've done that. Now I do the same with two DE's: First pass with a cheap blade, remaining passes with a Personna 74.

 

[Don]

.... remaining passes with a Personna 74.

Show off.

 

[DavyRay]

What a confession! Seriously, though, if it works for you ...

Isn't everything here qualified with YMMV? There is a good reason for that.

Your DE experience may change for the better after you gain some skill and try some different blades. Don't worry about it. You are on a journey. Enjoy.

 

[_MementoMori_]

Thanks for the words of encouragement, gents. I would like to add that, although I do have a cartridge razor in my rotation, it only comes out maybe twice a month. Maybe. I'm a DE shaver through-and-through, and I do consistently get DFS with a BBS here and there.

I'm looking into a slant some time this year. I have a lot of gentle razors, and I have an extremely coarse beard. I'm thinking a slant may just be the ticket for me.

 

[JPDyson]

FWIW I picked up a Fusion recently. Didn't enjoy the shave, but I could be more careless with it. I'm considering a Mach 3 instead, for travel or when I have to be quick. I mean 5 minutes quick.

 

[walds11]

I am still using Mach3 catridges along with a badger brush and a good cream. I get a DFS. I was never able to get BBS because of my sensitive skin. Got a tip from a fellow b&b member on how to save money on Mach3 cartridges. Use $4 P&G coupon along with 20% off Bed Bath and Beyond coupon. All said and done, it will cost you about a buck a cartridge. Not bad.

 

[luvmysuper]

Nothing in the wet shaving liturgy says that a DE, or a SE or a straight should be used.
Wet shaving is all about the water and soap / cream and brush.
I personally prefer the old school equipment, but whatever gets you to where you think your shave needs to be shouldn't be looked down upon.
I do think the Fusion monstrosity is pushing the envelope on common sense as far as blade quantity, but that's me.

 

[gearhead]

I still occasionally use my electric. It works well around my goatee when I have one, and it works well when I'm pressed for time or travelling.

 

[firehydrant]

At least you have something TSA approved to throw in your dopp kit if you have to fly.

 

[kingfisher]

Another faceturbation special this morning using Trac II, my Semogue 2009 LE boar brush, and Saint Charles Shave's superb soap.