After shaving for almost 4 years with double edge safety razors and straight razors, I decided to try one of my old disposable cartridge razors, using proper face preparation, a shaving brush, soap, and improved technique. Having curly hair, I used to have ingrown hairs using cartridge razors. I wondered if proper preparation and better technique would result in better results. After face lathering, I grabbed the razor and started at my sideburn line. The razor glided down my cheek and felt comfortable. I ran it over my moustache area, and noticed just how effortless it was. I then proceeded to shave my chin area. This is where things got crazy. I ran the razor down my chin about a half an inch before it began to hurt. I immediately felt the tug! Ouch!! I thought I might have to add some pressure to get through the heavy bearded area, only to find that the pressure resulted in even more pain. I then relathered my chin to make sure there was a slick, protective coating of lather, and tried to use a very fast, confident stroke to cut through the growth. Even more tug, and even more pain! This was disappointing! Throwing in the white towel, I grabbed my Merkur Progress loaded with a Persona Med Prep and slid it throught the whiskers on my chin like a hot knife through butter. This experiment definitely exhausted my curiosity about cartridge razors. Anyone else find that a return to carts just did not provide the comfort of a very sharp DE blade?
You're experience is exactly mine when I shaved my chin with a cartridge! Now that I wet shave with a SE, the stubble on the chin is cut like wiping dirt off a window with a soft rag. Effortless and comfortable!
Other than being slightly quicker I can find "ABSOLUTELY" no advantage to using a multibladed cart. Actually while I can't get a BBS with a single pass using a DE or SE, I can get a much smoother and more irritation free shave with one DE/SE pass then with two or more passes from a cart...Until I learned how to shave the correct way I used a Trac2 for over 30 miserable years!!
I haven't found any differences in the quality of my shaves whether I'm using a DE, straight, or trac ii. Actually I've gotten zero razor bumps this past month using an Atra for a week and trac ii the last 3 weeks.
Aw, that's way harsh! Modern multiblades are beautiful, true works of art. If only DE's were as sexy-looking. *sigh* There are actually some gorgeous two-blade, fixed-head handles out there. (I realize this thread's about the business end of the razor, but I am a shallow wet-shaver ) Edit: totally joking!
I am so finished with cartridge shaving. I am pretty certain that, although my prep time & procedure have changed with DE wet shaving (hot towel soak, PSO, brush-applied lather), I wouldn't expect the overall multiblade experience to be any less...irritating. Isn't one definition of insanity ..."doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results..."? With regards to the 'sexy looking' multiblade on the right versus the DE in the photo above, I like the black & chrome simplicity and elegant lines of the DE pictured above. The Gillette has too many odd shapes and curves going on and too much plastic. Let's try an automotive analogy...
Oh, I'm with you! I was just messing around. . I think the 3-5 bladers are hideous. I adore the look of DEs & have some yummy SS-black combos in the Handle Envy thread
Well its reinforced your decision to go DE and you now know it was money well spent (depending how bad you RAD has been in that time lol, but more to the point time well spent) Good on ya for giving it a try.
I would like to throw one more thing in about "modern" multibladed razors...While I personally find the older DE and SE's styles nicer looking. Looks of course are still very much a "YMMV" kind of thing. That said as an "old man" I can assure you beauty is still only skin deep. When the multi bladed monsters hit the 100 yr mark and still function like new, I'll be at least somewhat impressed, but when they can give me a close,smooth, irritation free shave at a "DECENT" price, I'll not only be amazed,but I'll start using one...."MAYBE"
