Decided to use my Mach 3 today, have only shaved with it 3 times. I typically use 1 of my DE razors. The shave wasn't half bad...no irritation, nice close shave with little effort. I did use a brush and shave creme instead of canned foam, but man...makes me wonder if I should start using carts again now that I have honed my technique with DEs.
Crossed over to the dark side - Mach 3
- Thread starter RazorTom
- Start date
That kind of talk will get you banned around here!! Just kidding, its your face and your shave--use what you like to use...
As long as your getting good shaves and enjoying them, why not.
Nothing wrong with a Mach 3. One of the best carts made IMHO. I still think Schick beat Gillette cart wise though.
Agreed on Schick cartridges being better than Gillette. But there's another cartridge option as well: I like the three-blade Defender cartridge razor the best because it's much easier to rinse clean due to the wider blade spacing. The Defender is my travel razor if I fly only with carry on baggage. I also use it occasionally if I'm short on time. Last I checked, the Defender per-cartridge price is about 15% less than Mach 3 cartridges. If you like the Mach 3, the Defender might be worth a look.
If the quality and ease of the shave were the only consideration, it might make sense (for you). However, there are at least two other significant considerations. First is the ridiculous cost of Mach III cartridges. Second, and most importantly, is tossing still more plastics back into the environment. Every little pro-environment action helps.
I’m cheap and carts are expensive. My average shave is $.10 a blade, $1300 for quiver of razors, $700 quiver of brushes and I’m almost done buying soaps for life. I’ll live for 370 more years so my eventual break down will be $.08 a shave since I shave 3 times a day and love it!
Feeling froggy this morn
, great shaves everyone!
Feeling froggy this morn
, great shaves everyone!If it works for you, no shame in that. I use a Mach 3 from time to time for travel or other reasons. I often find myself being impressed with it the first time I've used it in awhile.
However, if I start shaving with it more regularly, it's kind of a wash in the very least, and really the DE is ahead for me. I get more occasional razor burn and lingering facial irritation with cartridges than with DE — it's not most of the time but if you're comparing both in the long run, it's a factor for me. I'd have to shave with each cartridge once or twice and no more, and throw out cartridges at the slightest sign of problems even on first use, for it to maybe be similar to a DE in comfort. And that would get really pricey.
I actually think 5-bladed cartridges are even smoother for me, but I have the same issues with irritation on some shaves with the same frequency, and they're even more expensive. I think 5-bladed cartridges are more of a even proposition for me versus DE ignoring price, but you can't ignore price, and when you factor that in I'm not sure they're worth it to me over the Mach 3, and even less so versus a DE.
However, if I start shaving with it more regularly, it's kind of a wash in the very least, and really the DE is ahead for me. I get more occasional razor burn and lingering facial irritation with cartridges than with DE — it's not most of the time but if you're comparing both in the long run, it's a factor for me. I'd have to shave with each cartridge once or twice and no more, and throw out cartridges at the slightest sign of problems even on first use, for it to maybe be similar to a DE in comfort. And that would get really pricey.
I actually think 5-bladed cartridges are even smoother for me, but I have the same issues with irritation on some shaves with the same frequency, and they're even more expensive. I think 5-bladed cartridges are more of a even proposition for me versus DE ignoring price, but you can't ignore price, and when you factor that in I'm not sure they're worth it to me over the Mach 3, and even less so versus a DE.
I have a hate/love/hate thing going with the Mach 3.
I'd never use it at home, but it's my go-to razor for airline travel on short trips with carry-on luggage. The shave I get with it is totally adequate (As OP mentions, hard-won skill with DEs and SRs have helped that quality, no doubt. Good soap and prep helps it a lot, too.). For me, the Mach 3 offers a shave nowhere near the closeness I get at home. BUT it gets the job done and (for me) it is such a mild razor that, when I get back, my face is far more healed up than usual and primed for a very close, very comfortable SR shave the next morning. I really love it for that reason.
To sum up: (1) I don't like the Mach 3. (2) I'm so glad when I've used the Mach 3 for a couple of days. (3) Then, I go back to not liking the Mach 3 again.
I'd never use it at home, but it's my go-to razor for airline travel on short trips with carry-on luggage. The shave I get with it is totally adequate (As OP mentions, hard-won skill with DEs and SRs have helped that quality, no doubt. Good soap and prep helps it a lot, too.). For me, the Mach 3 offers a shave nowhere near the closeness I get at home. BUT it gets the job done and (for me) it is such a mild razor that, when I get back, my face is far more healed up than usual and primed for a very close, very comfortable SR shave the next morning. I really love it for that reason.
To sum up: (1) I don't like the Mach 3. (2) I'm so glad when I've used the Mach 3 for a couple of days. (3) Then, I go back to not liking the Mach 3 again.
There are a couple of ways that you can save on cartridges for a Mach 3. One is buy them in larger quantities at Costco. Another is to buy KMart's brand, Up & Up at a much lower price. It appears to be an Edgewell product, which also owns Schick.
Still another exceptional three blade cartridge that is cheaper is Dorco which is available from Amazon. Dorco was the original supplier for Dollar Shave Club.
Personally, I would like a slightly meatier handle for my Mach 3, but I have not found one yet.
Still another exceptional three blade cartridge that is cheaper is Dorco which is available from Amazon. Dorco was the original supplier for Dollar Shave Club.
Personally, I would like a slightly meatier handle for my Mach 3, but I have not found one yet.
I shaved like that for a few years. Carts, but using all the other traditional wetshaving gear. Shave your own shave.
Double edge shaving will save you a lot of money in the long run, as long as you outlive Dracula.
But seriously, do what you like and enjoy. I got great shaves with any cart I tried before switching. I loved the Schick quattro, and quattro titanium, but moved on to cheaper aldi disposable razors that also got me BBS without irritation pretty consistently.
I am really just here because I think it is more fun to whip up some lather and test some new blade, and I like all the other gear.
I can get consistent great shaves with the Blackbird ti now with most blades and soft gear, but I still keep trying stuff. We'll, I am not really looking too hard for the best DE razor or the best blade anymore, so it may be a while before I buy another expensive DE.
But seriously, do what you like and enjoy. I got great shaves with any cart I tried before switching. I loved the Schick quattro, and quattro titanium, but moved on to cheaper aldi disposable razors that also got me BBS without irritation pretty consistently.
I am really just here because I think it is more fun to whip up some lather and test some new blade, and I like all the other gear.
I can get consistent great shaves with the Blackbird ti now with most blades and soft gear, but I still keep trying stuff. We'll, I am not really looking too hard for the best DE razor or the best blade anymore, so it may be a while before I buy another expensive DE.
Jay21
Collecting wife bonus parts
The only things I had against carts were the high prices and constant clogging, but the hair removal itself was just fine.
Same here, @Jay21 . I have a few Schick Hydro Sensitive 5-blade cartridges left and recently decided to use them up. I'm curious to see how many shaves I get from each one. My improved shave technique gives me great shaves with them. If I get 10 shaves from a cartridge, it means the per-shave cost is about 3-4 times more expensive than DE. The Schick cartridge clogs pretty easily and needs very frequent rinsing but shaves just fine otherwise. The Defender cartridges are a bit less expensive than the 5-blade Schick cartridges (but still more expensive per-shave than DEs) and are easier to rinse, so once I've used up my Schick cartridges the Defender is my go-to cartridge.
I tried a cartridge razor a few years ago, I was out of town and just went with it. Last time I used a Mach (or was it a Sensor?) was when I was in active duty Army. Paired with my newer technique from DE shaving, that cartridge razor did fine. It was an excellent shave.
But the price wasn't excellent. And the higher end Gillette stuff now is just ridiculous. Multi-blade, to my thinking, means that first blade makes the majority of contact with the hair, so it will go dull the quickest. And it doesn't matter how sharp that 2nd, 3rd or 5th blade is at that point, that dull first blade will make the shave uncomfortable.
Plus, the shave stubble just gathers under the blades and clogs up. Unless you have a water pick or have rigged up some high pressure reducer on your bathroom faucet, you have to resort to vigorously tapping the razor on the edge of the sink to dislodge it. I have too many memories of being in the field, in winter, trying to unclog a multi-blade razor by swirling it around in a canteen cup of water. When I think of how far LESS miserable those shaving sessions could've been with a Merkur Progress or Super Speed, I grind my teeth.
But the price wasn't excellent. And the higher end Gillette stuff now is just ridiculous. Multi-blade, to my thinking, means that first blade makes the majority of contact with the hair, so it will go dull the quickest. And it doesn't matter how sharp that 2nd, 3rd or 5th blade is at that point, that dull first blade will make the shave uncomfortable.
Plus, the shave stubble just gathers under the blades and clogs up. Unless you have a water pick or have rigged up some high pressure reducer on your bathroom faucet, you have to resort to vigorously tapping the razor on the edge of the sink to dislodge it. I have too many memories of being in the field, in winter, trying to unclog a multi-blade razor by swirling it around in a canteen cup of water. When I think of how far LESS miserable those shaving sessions could've been with a Merkur Progress or Super Speed, I grind my teeth.
Kind of going through a similar thing to you. Have been using the norelco one blade on workdays with aloe vera gel, thin lather or even just nothing and dry shaving. I’m enjoying the mix up!
Use what works for you, even if it is Broken Glass with Duck Tape handle.
I forgot about the clogging. Thanks for the reminder. Yeah, I hate carts for anything over like 24.5 hours growth.
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