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Shave comparison, Cartridge vs DE

switched over to DE once the last of my carts were gone and the price for 12 carts was enough to just get into the hobby. Get better, more satisfying shaves with DE and it has become my preference. For travel I just bring the razor and find blades at some local drug store. hasn't been too much of a hassle.
If you live in the U.S. and travel using only carry-on luggage, I would caution you that the TSA has full authority to, and often does, confiscate non-cartridge razors, even without blades. (And I definitely don't recommend trying to explain to a TSA agent that a razor without blades can't cut anything.)
 
I used a Harry's cartridge this week on a business trip. I switched to a Muhle DE about 6 weeks ago. I'm surprised at the difference. The cartridge feels like I'm running sand paper across my face. The cartridge shave is not as smooth. I honestly was more worried about cutting myself with the cartridge than I have been with a DE. This all tells me I'm not going back to a cartridge. I'm thinking on trips where I have only carry on luggage, its worth a stop at a Walmart or Target to get a pack of DE that they stock. I feel like I'm been dupped by the Don Draper's of Madison Avenue that a cartridge is better than a DE.
Were you using your typical shaving soap or cream or did you change to something else for lather?

In my case I revert back to one of my electric Norelco shavers during travel when flying. May bring a DE for driving trips.
 
Were you using your typical shaving soap or cream or did you change to something else for lather?

In my case I revert back to one of my electric Norelco shavers during travel when flying. May bring a DE for driving trips.
I used Harry's cream from tube, Muhle travel brush. At home I've been using Muhle soap and bowl and brush.
 
Since starting wet shaving I've only used my Mach 3 cartridge razor a couple times when running late and really needed to shave before work. Convenient but def not as nice a shave. Now I'd merely call it "adequate".
 
I had been using carts, favoring a Sensor II for over 30 years, before switching to DE. 10 months after joining B&B and switching to DE, we went on a 2 week vacation by car. Instead of packing up a DE, brush, cream/soap, I took my old, reliable cart and some canned foam. The first shave was so bad, I tossed the cart and foam in the trash, and didn't shave again until I got home.
 
I find that a Trac II/GII can provide an excellent shave, every bit as good as a DE. But the brand of blade makes a difference of course, just like with a DE.

While for example a Personna USA cartridge can give an ok shave, using a Gillette cartridges makes quite a bit of difference.

These are excellent, no lube strip:

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They're expensive but they're very sharp and last much longer than other brands such as Personna.
 
If you live in the U.S. and travel using only carry-on luggage, I would caution you that the TSA has full authority to, and often does, confiscate non-cartridge razors, even without blades. (And I definitely don't recommend trying to explain to a TSA agent that a razor without blades can't cut anything.)
Ack. Hasn't happened yet but maybe I'll just starting checking the bag then...not worth loosing a razor (cheap or expensive) over when it's free to check for me.
 
I find that a Trac II/GII can provide an excellent shave, every bit as good as a DE. But the brand of blade makes a difference of course, just like with a DE.

While for example a Personna USA cartridge can give an ok shave, using a Gillette cartridges makes quite a bit of difference.

These are excellent, no lube strip:

View attachment 1980476

They're expensive but they're very sharp and last much longer than other brands such as Personna.
Agreed. The Trac II is a phenomenal razor.
 
If for some reason I have to use a cartridge then I use either a Gillette Skinguard or Mach 3. I can almost be guaranteed that I'll have irritation and ingrown hairs. Also they just pull and tug way more.
 
I am certainly not a fan of cartridge razors and only use them when more satisfying alternatives are not available (e.g. long distance flights with change of flights in-between).

Yet, I do believe that if one applies the lessons from traditional straight, DE, or SE shaving to a shave with a cartridge razor (like a solid pre-shave prep and two or more passes) one can achieve results that are better than what the average cartridge razor user achieves (no pre-shave prep, no thinking about direction of beard growth, single pass).

There may be little satisfaction in using a cartridge razor, but - once one has elevated one’s technique through more traditional shaving methods - a shave with a cartridge razor can be better than what one might remember.



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