Is the time worth it?

[celishave]

I have partially adopted wetshaving with a variety of soaps or creams and proper pre shave routine.

However I still use a fusion. I tried DE shaving and found it took way too long. Also, from reading what others say and my own experience, it takes 3 or 4 passes to get a good shave. If you are doing three passes, then are you not aggravating the skin to the same extent as using a Mach 3 or Fusion? I guess I'm not understanding the hatred for multi blade cartridges.

 

[Hayden]

For me its the enjoyment and the cost of the mach 3 blades. I can get a great shave out of mach 3, but I dont get the enjoyment out of them. For me anyways I enjoy the ritual of shaving a lot more now, what I mean is it doesnt seem like a chore anymore. Everyone is different so shave the way that is best for you and try and get the best advice from this site for the way you shave.

 

[jdlewallen]

I have partially adopted wetshaving with a variety of soaps or creams and proper pre shave routine.

However I still use a fusion. I tried DE shaving and found it took way too long. Also, from reading what others say and my own experience, it takes 3 or 4 passes to get a good shave. If you are doing three passes, then are you not aggravating the skin to the same extent as using a Mach 3 or Fusion? I guess I'm not understanding the hatred for multi blade cartridges.

No, because the multi-blade shavers are doing three or four passes at once, without lathering and without any real control over how it does it. This results in blades scraping layers of skin instead of focusing on properly shaving the hairs.

A DE gives you control over the angle, tends to be a sharper blade, and doesn't do the old "machete yank and chop" on your face that these over-hyped and over-priced modern cartridge razors do.

At best the modern cartridge is a microwave, whereas a DE is a proper oven. Yes, you can cook your dinner in a microwave, and it is often faster and easier, but it is NOWHERE NEAR better...

 

[MedicBill]

I have partially adopted wetshaving with a variety of soaps or creams and proper pre shave routine.

However I still use a fusion. I tried DE shaving and found it took way too long. Also, from reading what others say and my own experience, it takes 3 or 4 passes to get a good shave. If you are doing three passes, then are you not aggravating the skin to the same extent as using a Mach 3 or Fusion? I guess I'm not understanding the hatred for multi blade cartridges.

If you're satisfied with the Fusion, you should stick with it. Ultimately, your shave belongs to you.

Personally, I got into DE shaving because I wanted to learn to shave the way my grandfather did.

I'd give DE shaving another shot if I were you. If you get the technique down, you will be rewarded with a truly excellent shave.

 

[cim_can]

So long as you are shaving where there's cream/soap and not applying pressure, the irritation should be hugely different with DE shaving, even with 3-4 passes.
I find that nowadays, after mastering the learning curve, I get a better, more enjoyable shave at only a slightly greater time expense. I think too, I have found myself paying more attention to my hair-growth and appearance.

Lastly, and most importantly for me, DE wet shaving is fun. I enjoy it immensely and look forward to getting a brushful of fantastic smelling cream or soap on my mug. I have ditched the Mach3 and have never looked back.

 

[mblakele]

If cartridges work for you, keep using them. You can still enjoy wet-shaving.

Some people can't get a CCS with a multiblade razor, usually because the blade hysteresis causes irritation: bumps or ingrowns. These people sometimes get a better shave with a DE, SE, or straight razor.

 

[Topgumby]

If the Fusion is working for you, then by all means, use it.

I can get great, close shaves with a Trac II, Mach III, Fusion or most any cartridge razor.

What I can't get from a cartridge is the joy of finding, restoring and using tools that are really living history.

What I can't get from a cartridge is the Zen of the Double Edge Razor (or single edge, put down the torches, GEM and Injector fans) where I get a great shave and the satisfaction of knowing that my skill has produced it.

What I can't get from a cartridge is the little smirk I enjoy when I walk past the shaving aisle at the corner store and see what they are getting for those replacement cartridges.

What I can't get from a cartridge is the sense of belonging to a group of strange, but incredibly helpful gents who have the same fascination with these outmoded tools and methods that I have.

If you are doing the prep and using a brush, you are miles and miles ahead of most shavers. Congrats and good on ya. You may never need anything else.

You might find, if you stick with the DE for awhile, that even though you can go faster with the traditional razors as you become more familiar with them, you may not want to.

For me, my shave is my time, and about the only time of day where the world stops and nothing matters but the moment. If anything, I'd like it to last longer.

Say I knock out a five minute shave with a cartridge. What would I do with the fifteen minutes I've saved over leisurely shaving with my Dad's old Slim?

For me, nothing as relaxing and satisfying as two more passes, enjoying the scents, the sensations, the challenge.

Is the time worth it? My answer is, I'm worth the time.

 

[mdunn]

three passes, carefully controling the direction, pressure and angle.

also not three blades at once, which cuts the hair below the skin and can cause irritation

it does take time to learn, but its worth it

 

[Drubbing]

three passes, carefully controling the direction, pressure and angle.

also not three blades at once, which cuts the hair below the skin and can cause irritation

it does take time to learn, but its worth it

+1

3 passes with a single blade = 1 from a Fusion. They use cheaper steel in the blades, and these can be prone to irritate some more than others.

I used a M3 for years and it was fine, but the carts are getting too expensive, and making shaving a chore.

Most people don't do it to save time, but to take time. When you don't have much of it to yourself, that becomes more important.

I get satisfaction from completing a shave by my own hand, as opposed to a pivoting blade doing it for me. And when I can do it well enough, that my After Shave feel just like water (which never happened with carts), that's a cool way to start the day, IMO.

 

[Luc]

+1

3 passes with a single blade = 1 from a Fusion. They use cheaper steel in the blades, and these can be prone to irritate some more than others.

I used a M3 for years and it was fine, but the carts are getting too expensive, and making shaving a chore.

Most people don't do it to save time, but to take time. When you don't have much of it to yourself, that becomes more important.

I get satisfaction from completing a shave by my own hand, as opposed to a pivoting blade doing it for me. And when I can do it well enough, that my After Shave feel just like water (which never happened with carts), that's a cool way to start the day, IMO.

+1

I always saw shaving as a waste of time and a chore. Now I don't!

 

[Ignatius]

Got to disagree with all the 'use it if it works for you' comments. A single blade is better and less expensive. Its worth the effort...

 

[jmit]

I would suggest you look into the injector type razors if de is not working for you. I find wet shaving relaxing, sort of like using old hand powered tools to build with. I get a real kick out of using a razor that was manufactured before I was even a gleam in my fathers eye.

 

[spinyeel]

A single blade just feels infinitely nicer.

 

[faster_than_u]

I started using a de because the cost of carts was outrages. Now that I'm using a de I'm enjoying shaving and its cheap.

 

[DFrancis]

No, because the multi-blade shavers are doing three or four passes at once, without lathering and without any real control over how it does it. This results in blades scraping layers of skin instead of focusing on properly shaving the hairs.

A DE gives you control over the angle, tends to be a sharper blade, and doesn't do the old "machete yank and chop" on your face that these over-hyped and over-priced modern cartridge razors do.

At best the modern cartridge is a microwave, whereas a DE is a proper oven. Yes, you can cook your dinner in a microwave, and it is often faster and easier, but it is NOWHERE NEAR better...

+1 to this.

There is also an enjoyment in using a DE that I never had with a mach3, also I get a much closer shave with a DE, 8 hours after a DE shave I'm still smoother than right after a cartridge shave.

So yes the time is worth it, also at 50 cents for a good blade, the price is certainly worth it.

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

I have partially adopted wetshaving with a variety of soaps or creams and proper pre shave routine.

However I still use a fusion. I tried DE shaving and found it took way too long. Also, from reading what others say and my own experience, it takes 3 or 4 passes to get a good shave. If you are doing three passes, then are you not aggravating the skin to the same extent as using a Mach 3 or Fusion? I guess I'm not understanding the hatred for multi blade cartridges.

I do 2 passes and get a CCS or DFS, depending on the blade I use. Takes about 10 minutes. But I really enjoy shaving now. Was not like that when I was still on 3 blade cassettes. Like it so much I am thinking of doing 3 passes in the weekends...

 

[talibeard]

I tried DE shaving and found it took way too long. Also, from reading what others say and my own experience, it takes 3 or 4 passes to get a good shave.

At first; when you are happy with your Fusion that is fine with everybody hear I guess.

There is a DE learning curve and once you get to know what you are doing you will find that you need less passes and every pass will be faster than it is now. So you have to invest some extra time in shaving before it really works but it is time well spent.

 

[johnmrson]

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Yes

 

[njpaddy]

3 reasons for why the answer is yes for me:

#1. I shave at night and for the first time in 40+ years I'm actually taking my time and enjoying it. I look forward to those 30-40 minutes of relaxation.
#2. My skin is better than it's been in years.
#3. DE's are timeless and cartridge razors are soulless. No one is going to be passing their cartridge razor onto their kids or grandkids. It's just landfill fodder.

 

[HIT]

DE RAZOR

1. You can choose which blade works best for you from a wide variety of blades.

2. Cost per blade is abt 1/5 less than per catridge.

3. Inferior blade quality of catridges

4. Multi blade catridges tend to stretch the skin more than needed causing more irritation

5. A cheap light plastic catridge multi-blade razor cannot be compared with a heavy steel made DE Razor. Compare a zastava with a mercedes, they both get you were you want the question is how.

6. Environmental impact?