As I've posted, I'm a die hard DE guy. Yes, I have an electric razor and have always had one either for travel or hitting a missed spot. I've also kept a stash of twin blade disposables (and single blade Bics in the past) for the same use. But, by God, I havent shaved with a cartridge for a full shave since the days of the Track II (Gillette advertising was strong my friends and they'd never steered us wrong before. I even got the gel!).
Fast forward 40 plus years to last night. I was going through a large closet in a spare bedroom to clean it out and what do I find? A Gillette Gift box with a Mach III razor (the old metal ones), four carts and a can of foaming gel with aloe vera and 3X on the label. The box was dated 2019 and everything in it was made in china. I vaguely remembered it as a Christmas gift from a relative who heard I shaved with a blade but really cant recall.
Anyway, I normally shave in the afternoons but have a business meeting a little later so I had the bright idea of shaving with this sucker to see just how bad they were compared to a DE, proper soap/cream, brush, etc. Only about 10 hours of growth and, on me, I don't have a shadow by then.
Wet my face, squirted out what I thought was the right amount of gel (way too much and there were no instructions on dosing on the can). Very thick, slick, inoffensive smell but I couldn't imagine the razor getting through it. I shaved like the commercials - long stokes, big smile, couldn't feel a thing. Rinsed the blades often with hot water. WTG actually did OK. Plenty of goo and slickness left and added a little water to my face. Same with XTG and finally, ATG. Cheeks were good, chin and jaw were good, neck was so-so and that would be an issue for regular use with a cart. My neck, as I age, is more of a trouble area for me anyway but something I can deal with using a DE and good technique.
Good rinse and a little Proraso Geen balm. Honestly, I was surprised. I'd call it a DFS, the one that is suitable for the office and most guys using safety razors but not to my BBS standards whatsoever. A solid B- to B. What I liked is just how fast you could go to get an acceptable shave and I can see why guys who are rushed in the morning might prefer a cart razor. Shave is only fair and probably terrible if one has more than a days growth but acceptable.
Bottom line, a very strange experience but am glad to have tried it. Will keep the stuff and use it on occasion without shame.
I recall the Track II was a better shave but that could just be memory issues as it was so long ago and I don't count my chinese disposables as equivalent to a genuine Trac II razor.
Please accept my confession in the spirit it was intended!
Fast forward 40 plus years to last night. I was going through a large closet in a spare bedroom to clean it out and what do I find? A Gillette Gift box with a Mach III razor (the old metal ones), four carts and a can of foaming gel with aloe vera and 3X on the label. The box was dated 2019 and everything in it was made in china. I vaguely remembered it as a Christmas gift from a relative who heard I shaved with a blade but really cant recall.
Anyway, I normally shave in the afternoons but have a business meeting a little later so I had the bright idea of shaving with this sucker to see just how bad they were compared to a DE, proper soap/cream, brush, etc. Only about 10 hours of growth and, on me, I don't have a shadow by then.
Wet my face, squirted out what I thought was the right amount of gel (way too much and there were no instructions on dosing on the can). Very thick, slick, inoffensive smell but I couldn't imagine the razor getting through it. I shaved like the commercials - long stokes, big smile, couldn't feel a thing. Rinsed the blades often with hot water. WTG actually did OK. Plenty of goo and slickness left and added a little water to my face. Same with XTG and finally, ATG. Cheeks were good, chin and jaw were good, neck was so-so and that would be an issue for regular use with a cart. My neck, as I age, is more of a trouble area for me anyway but something I can deal with using a DE and good technique.
Good rinse and a little Proraso Geen balm. Honestly, I was surprised. I'd call it a DFS, the one that is suitable for the office and most guys using safety razors but not to my BBS standards whatsoever. A solid B- to B. What I liked is just how fast you could go to get an acceptable shave and I can see why guys who are rushed in the morning might prefer a cart razor. Shave is only fair and probably terrible if one has more than a days growth but acceptable.
Bottom line, a very strange experience but am glad to have tried it. Will keep the stuff and use it on occasion without shame.
I recall the Track II was a better shave but that could just be memory issues as it was so long ago and I don't count my chinese disposables as equivalent to a genuine Trac II razor.Please accept my confession in the spirit it was intended!
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