Vibrating Razors

Don't move to a 5 blade.

The multi blade and vibrating razors are gimmicks.

Instead, try getting a safety razor, badger or boar brush, and some shave soap. Your face will love you.

Well you could get a separate razor for that those details then. The issue with a precision blade is that you have to change the whole thing when it gets worn out, and it will get worn out faster than the other blades.

Personally, I'm more into straight razor, or as some people like to call it cut throats, than safety razors, but that's just me.

I find the vibrating ones shave _too_ close, or something, leading to ingrown hairs and irritation. YMMV.

I've been using a straight for over a year now and enjoy it. Fairly hassle-free maintenance, not many cuts lately, don't have to run to the store for more blades. I did have a learning curve, but it's also very precise.

That said, if your heart is set on a vibrating razor, give it a shot. But check the price of replacement cartridges and see if that's a persistent cost you're willing to deal with for a marginally incremental improvement.

There's no doubt that a straight blade will give the best shave, when used properly. But the question seemed to be whether it's worthwhile to move from the Mach 3 to the Fusion, and if that Fusion should be the power or non-power version.

I was skeptical when the Fusion came out--how could adding two more blades to an already bulky three-blade cartridge make any difference? But it does make a difference, sadly, so I replaced the Mach 3. Shaving with the Fusion is a smoother experience and it will give you a closer shave.

My suggestion would be to go for the power version. It only costs a couple of dollars extra, and if you decide it's not for you, you can leave the power off. I'm not convinced that the vibration actually results in a smoother shave, but it does create a more pleasant shaving experience.

As for the single blade on the back, it's not going to wear out before the rest of the cartridge assuming you only use it to do edges.

Having said all of this, the price of cartridges for the Fusion is Prada-shoe-prices obscene.

I still have my powered gillette fusion (no cartridges though), and I'm going to disagree with the statement that it gives the smoothest shave. From my experience, my DOVO 5/8 full hollow straight razor gives a MUCH closer shave. And I was changing blades pretty much everyday to ensure that it was at its sharpest.

I mean to give a comparison, with the powerd gillette fusion along with the precision blade, I got to the point where I had to shave twice a day. with my DOVO, I can get by with shaving every other day. By the end of the second day using a DOVO, it's only slightly longer than the end of the first day using the powered fusion. Actually the end of the first day, or even the beginning of the second day, was still smoother than the powered fusion.

Yeah, it was a bit scary the first few times I started shaving too. Someone told me though if you fear the razor, you will cut yourself and have bad experiences. So I became more confident and trusted my razor, and I pretty much stopped getting cuts.

Nice, what razor do you have? I was thinking about collecting like most guys, but I don't know. My last purchase was a Wapinieca 5/8 Spanish point quarter hollow high carbon steal with custom scales (Ironwood). Shave wasn't quite as good. So may just stick with my stainless steal DOVO. In 16 days, I'll be reaching my 1 year anniversary with straight shaving!

The custom scales are a tad disappointing since the balance point isn't as close to the pivot as I'd like it to be.

I used the Mach3 for years and even tried out the 5 blade monstrosity. My face is very sensitive and I would always end up with horrible razor burn, even using pre-shave oil and a brush/soap. I would inevitably end up with ingrown hairs. Since switching to a safety razor, I've not had the same issues. You can pick one up from ebay for a few dollars, get a 10 pack of razors for maybe $1.50, and then you're set. There is a learning curve, but it's worth it.

Perhaps the "vibrating" part of selling the product was designed to stir the male mind..?

These manufacturers aren't stupid and will hit on any wierd and wonderful product design to get a response. Result... we're writing about it.

However... BEWARE!!! If they say it's that good, then it's perhaps best NOT... to shave with it 'downstairs'... the better half of your relationship may insist on it being smooth down there, but won't be all that happy if you cum too early because of the vibrating..!

No, I don't speak from experience!

Well for those of us who arnt gonna take a straight razor - I have used both the Gillette and the schick powered blades, and I prefer the gillette. I like the open back design of the gillette carts since I tend to only shave every couple of days and it gets clogged up. Can I tell a difference between powered and un powered, the answer is yes. Try not shaving for two days then do one side on and one off and you can tell a difference. Oh, and one little piece of advice - both gillette and shick sell non-powered versions of the carts - there is no difference and they are often cheaper.

Not a straight cuthroat razor, but a double-sided safety razor. It's worth a try. You'll save tons in the long run because the blades are so dammed cheap.

Jeez, proably around a dozen at last count. The major ones are choppers like a 7/8 Filly, a 7/8 Henckels Friodur, and 8/8 wedges from W&B and Wostenholm. They're all different in their own way but each takes a keen edge and holds it for a while.

Today I shaved with a 6/8 Wusthof - would have been better had the blade not had a crack right in the middle of the already-shortened edge. An ebay purchase gone sideways.

I don't have a favorite but a good contender is a 6/8 Le Grelot quarter-hollow that I'm reluctant to use - if I break that one I doubt I'll find a worthy replacement.

I have a few Wapis that I use periodically - each time I use one I wonder why I don't use it more often. For the price, they're a steal.

It's expensive, but I think that the Fusion Power combines the best of a close shave, low irritation, and low effort required. So it's my everyday before work razor. I use a very nice badger brush and the good English creams, and I've tried pretty much every kind of razor but a straight. If you don't mind the learning curve and concentration required, a good safety razor will get a similarly close shave and low irritation for significantly cheaper.