- Joined
- Thursday September 26, 2013
- Location
- Halifax, Republic of Yorkshire
I recall my first post here ...
After a succession of horrible shaves with what was my only razor, the Gillette Mach 3, I turned to the internet for help as something was seriously wrong. I'd used Wilkinson Sword Retractor disposables since starting to shave and when I felt flush enough for a Gillette, I bought into the Gillette Sensor which became the Sensor Excel. I think I skipped the Sensor Excel 3 and got the Mach 3 upon release.
Things were fine back then with softer hair and younger skin, but years on that format was not helping me at all. I found this forum literally in tears with a face full of ingrowers and horrendous irritation to boot, cursing the very name Gillette.
And that was that. I got into traditional shaving, enjoyed running through all manner of double edge razors on the market, found vintage, found the 1912, found happiness. Years passed.
A couple of weeks ago, I was in the loft sorting out some things and happened upon my old Gillette Mach 3 razor. There was also a box fresh Gillette Fusion which I think I'd been given or it came free with a magazine, or something. The Mach 3 went in the bin as it was old, scabby and carried too many painful memories for me. The Fusion, on the other hand.
I decided to try it ...
Using the original Gillette Fusion with what I think was the period version of today's orange Fusion 5 blade and some Gillette Series 3x gel, I found the shave most agreeable. Intrigued, I contemporised and bought in the Fusion ProGlide Flexball razor. More impressed. Further intrigued, I found the Fusion ProGuard Chill for a near giveaway price and perhaps expecting better again was a little disappointed, but still impressed.
What I now know is that my technique with the Mach 3 was all wrong. Too much pressure, too hurried, too much scrubbing, too much against the grain, too little patience. I've no desire to try the Mach 3 format again but given what I know now, it's no doubt nothing like the monster I made it into. Shaving right, the Fusion could do its thing without me messing it up. It slips, it slides and in my (famous) single pass with just a little brushing, I get a good quality daily clean and presentable shave. No issues. No weepers. No irritation. Just lather up, shave, rinse and then splash with cold water. Good enough. Later on, just because I'd also apply an aftershave.
I have now had a couple of weeks shaving with both the original non-Flexball handle and the Flexball, and just today bought the Fusion ProGlide Power (Flexball with battery) and a can of Fusion ProGlide 2 in 1 gel. Less impressed. That said, it's the first time I've ever (I think) used an electric razor or one that vibrates. I might need a little time to get used to the format.
The Chill blade was pretty good, I suppose - it's got a rubber fin just below the blades and cooling gloop either side. The regular ProGlide blade was really good with a slightly narrower silicone fin bar than the Fusion 5, which seems to suit me just right. My favourite combination so far is most definitely the Fusion ProGlide with Flexball but using these older (orange) Fusion 5 blades, which I bagged a pack of 10 at Sainsbury's for an eye-watering, but bargain sum nevertheless £18.50 (£1.85 per blade).
Yes, it's expensive and that in itself is the reason that so many of us look away from Gillette. We then go on to spend thousands on razors, blades, creams, soaps, aftershaves and other accoutrements when actually a single razor, can of gel and perhaps a bottle of splash will do it without making any sort of fuss, pomp or ceremony of the matter.
So, credit where credit is due ...
Gillette have most certainly got a cracking means of shaving here, chock full of colour, technology, gimmicks and science. All in the right amount, too. You can ridicule the Dyson meets Flymo looks, but it works. It works well. You can vilify the company for the insane mark-up and quite ludicrous pricing, but people pay it. Because it works. It works well. You can sneer at the cans of gloop while smiling, quite lovingly at your meticulously collected vintage soaps and individually selected artisinal pots. But that gloop works. It works well.
Gillette - that best a man can get? Well, yes, I think it is. At a price.
After a succession of horrible shaves with what was my only razor, the Gillette Mach 3, I turned to the internet for help as something was seriously wrong. I'd used Wilkinson Sword Retractor disposables since starting to shave and when I felt flush enough for a Gillette, I bought into the Gillette Sensor which became the Sensor Excel. I think I skipped the Sensor Excel 3 and got the Mach 3 upon release.
Things were fine back then with softer hair and younger skin, but years on that format was not helping me at all. I found this forum literally in tears with a face full of ingrowers and horrendous irritation to boot, cursing the very name Gillette.
And that was that. I got into traditional shaving, enjoyed running through all manner of double edge razors on the market, found vintage, found the 1912, found happiness. Years passed.
A couple of weeks ago, I was in the loft sorting out some things and happened upon my old Gillette Mach 3 razor. There was also a box fresh Gillette Fusion which I think I'd been given or it came free with a magazine, or something. The Mach 3 went in the bin as it was old, scabby and carried too many painful memories for me. The Fusion, on the other hand.
I decided to try it ...
Using the original Gillette Fusion with what I think was the period version of today's orange Fusion 5 blade and some Gillette Series 3x gel, I found the shave most agreeable. Intrigued, I contemporised and bought in the Fusion ProGlide Flexball razor. More impressed. Further intrigued, I found the Fusion ProGuard Chill for a near giveaway price and perhaps expecting better again was a little disappointed, but still impressed.
What I now know is that my technique with the Mach 3 was all wrong. Too much pressure, too hurried, too much scrubbing, too much against the grain, too little patience. I've no desire to try the Mach 3 format again but given what I know now, it's no doubt nothing like the monster I made it into. Shaving right, the Fusion could do its thing without me messing it up. It slips, it slides and in my (famous) single pass with just a little brushing, I get a good quality daily clean and presentable shave. No issues. No weepers. No irritation. Just lather up, shave, rinse and then splash with cold water. Good enough. Later on, just because I'd also apply an aftershave.
I have now had a couple of weeks shaving with both the original non-Flexball handle and the Flexball, and just today bought the Fusion ProGlide Power (Flexball with battery) and a can of Fusion ProGlide 2 in 1 gel. Less impressed. That said, it's the first time I've ever (I think) used an electric razor or one that vibrates. I might need a little time to get used to the format.
The Chill blade was pretty good, I suppose - it's got a rubber fin just below the blades and cooling gloop either side. The regular ProGlide blade was really good with a slightly narrower silicone fin bar than the Fusion 5, which seems to suit me just right. My favourite combination so far is most definitely the Fusion ProGlide with Flexball but using these older (orange) Fusion 5 blades, which I bagged a pack of 10 at Sainsbury's for an eye-watering, but bargain sum nevertheless £18.50 (£1.85 per blade).
Yes, it's expensive and that in itself is the reason that so many of us look away from Gillette. We then go on to spend thousands on razors, blades, creams, soaps, aftershaves and other accoutrements when actually a single razor, can of gel and perhaps a bottle of splash will do it without making any sort of fuss, pomp or ceremony of the matter.
So, credit where credit is due ...
Gillette have most certainly got a cracking means of shaving here, chock full of colour, technology, gimmicks and science. All in the right amount, too. You can ridicule the Dyson meets Flymo looks, but it works. It works well. You can vilify the company for the insane mark-up and quite ludicrous pricing, but people pay it. Because it works. It works well. You can sneer at the cans of gloop while smiling, quite lovingly at your meticulously collected vintage soaps and individually selected artisinal pots. But that gloop works. It works well.
Gillette - that best a man can get? Well, yes, I think it is. At a price.