Knowing Fish and Mach 3

One day Chuang Tzu and a friend were walking by a river. "Look at the fish swimming about," said Chuang Tzu, "They are really enjoying themselves."
"You are not a fish," replied the friend, "So you can't truly know that they are enjoying themselves."

"You are not me," said Chuang Tzu. "So how do you know that I do not know that the fish are enjoying themselves?"


Before I used a Mach 3 all razors that I’d tried were flawed. The DE didn’t get so close as the Bic twins. The Bic twins would fill up with stubble and stop working until I cleaned them out. The Panasonic wet/dry electric was nice but slow and never quite got so close as the fixed blades. The Whal was the best electric for me. I liked the Whal better than the Norelcos that cost four times what the Whal cost. The Whal was fast and if I took my time or shaved while I commuted I could get very close. None of the electrics were satisfying. Maybe it’s because the wet blades exfoliated too? The single blade disposables were not good at getting close or at staying unclogged. The twin blade disposables were only a little better than the singles. The Mach 3 is for me the pinnacle of wet shaving. With a fresh cartridge and the same setup I use with a straight I could do a nice job with the Mach 3. I never had the ingrown hair issue that others report. For me the Mach 3 is in many ways superior to the straight. I, however, prefer the straight. I haven’t used the Mach 3 since I’ve had a straight ready to shave with. I don’t think I will go back to the Mach 3. But I wont forget that it was the best shaver I’ve had.

I can’t say that the Mach 3 is the best shaver for anyone but me. I can’t deny that other people prefer their shavers over the Mach 3

Nicely put. Bravo. As for me, I enjoy shaving with a DE more than I did with a Mach3. It might be because I switched to a vulfix 2234 and quality shaving soap when I switched, or maybe it's because I enjoy the fact that with the DE I need to concentrate and shave "correctly". I suspect it's a combination but that the latter is a big part of it. Which is why I'm working on switching to the SE.

I used a silvertip, shave soap and creams with a Mach3 and I know for me it sucked big time. Nicks, razor burn and bumps galore. Switched to a Merkur DE and shave improved, but still had nicks, razor burn and some ingrowns. Now just switched to straight razors. I get some nicks and cuts, but less burn and no ingrowns. Choosing to stick with the straight is very easy. Not to mention the satisfaction I derive from the act of shaving (something unfamiliar to me during the Mach3 period.)

My dad swears by his Mach3. Water shave, dry passes, whatever - he says he doesn't get burn, bumps, or nicks. I don't know how he does it. He is actually trying to get me to go back to the Mach 3. Right, hold me back...