I have spent the last month using the Paradigm SE razor, with about twenty shaves under my belt, so my thoughts regarding this razor come from some decent usage. I will break down the review into categories in order to keep my thoughts in order. The tldr; version of this review is at the very bottom.
Appearance
The razor is made of Titanium and buffed to a high gloss, mirror like finish. The shape of the razor isn’t entirely unique, as it does share style designs from other razors (some even compare the design to carts), but to me its design does stand out among the pack. It is unique, and I really like how it looks.
Assembly Design
The top cap slides on, using ball detents to keep the top cap in place. This is a unique design, and time will tell how long the ball detents will last. I have had zero issues with it so far, and I don’t expect to have issues with it in the future.
Feel
The razor doesn’t have much in the way of knurling, but the razor feels great in the hand and not at all slippery when wet. I have had zero issues with grip on the razor during my shaves.
The razor also feels light. Not as light as my Schick injector, and not as heavy as my SS Timeless, but somewhere in between the two. For me the weight is perfect, and I do not have to add extra pressure to get a close shave like some have mentioned they have to do with their Titanium Timeless razors.
The razor feels buttery smooth on my face. No other razors that I have ever owned or used comes anywhere near the level of comfort and smoothness this razor offers. It is truly incredible how smooth this razor feels. If you could convert cutting butter with a hot knife into a feeling, that is what it would feel like. Really incredible.
The Shave
The first shave I had with this razor, using Feather Pro’s, I told myself that the shave was good but not $400 good. My second shave, though, completely flipped that idea on its head.
The second shave is where I realized the potential this razor offers. For the first time I received a truly, 100% blood and irritation free BBS shave. I have come close with my Timeless .95 OC razor, but the Paradigm SE does better. My neck hair is a problem area, but this razor knocks my neck hair down with complete ease and comfort. I was surprised by this, and even more so that I was able to achieve this result every day with no “irritation build up.”
Efficiency
The only thing that will keep me from giving this razor a 10/10 score is its efficiency. Shaving two or three days worth of growth is no problem at all. Very efficient, very smooth.
Day two and onward, though, is where the only flaw in this razor shows itself. Certain areas on my face require too many touch ups in order to achieve the level of closeness I am looking for. Razors such as The General, Gamechanger and Timeless can knock down the hair on those areas in two passes, but the Paradigm struggles in its efficiency, requiring three or more passes to get the job done. The area in question: the hair on each side of my chin - the goatee area.
Final verdict
I initially borrowed this razor with an option to buy it if I wanted to. I now own it, and that could be enough of a review in and of itself since the razor is nearly $400. I have no regrets about purchasing the Paradigm SE, none at all. It is smooth, comfortable and looks phenomenal. The only thing I wish this razor had, assuming the comfort and smoothness remain unchanged, is a slight bump in efficiency.
Has it cured my RAD? Not entirely. I still want to try a Blackland Vector for comparison since it is supposed to be a bit more efficient while still remaining comfortable. If the Paradigm SE more efficient, my answer would be yes because it kills the competition in every other category.
tldr: although the Paradigm SE is a winner in every way, its slight lack of efficiency only allows me to rate it a 9/10.
So, why do you shave "under your belt"?
