Thread: The Mach Delivers ?!

I had to use my Mach when I vacationed in Costa Rica this summer. I didn't want one of my other razors to be confiscated by the TSA.

I worked, and gave a good shave, but it was not as comfortable. It wasn't much faster either. I have to go slow and be very careful with a cartridge or it will irritate the hell out of my face. Also, I end up with my neck only halfway shaved - can't go against the grain with a cartridge or I get tragic irritation.

I am off cartridges for ever. If I need to shave faster, I use one of my DE's. Those are definitely superior to cartridges. More comfortable and can shave almost as close as a straight, if you get a Merkur slant or the new Muhle R41. I have and recommend both. Try one, you won't be disappointed.

Whether I use my straights or DE's, one of the things that I really appreciate is that I'm shaving with a work of art. It's not a crusty, cheap piece of plastic.

Also, what I really hated about the Mach cartridges was that although they start off very sharp, they clog immediately and dull after just a few shaves. The first shave is okay, but if you want to get any value out of them you need to be able to get at least 5 shaves out of a cartridge. By then, the experience is pretty unpleasant. When Friday rolls around, the five days of irritation have really added up.

To sum up why I only use straights and DE's from here on out:
I get the best shaves I've ever had, without irritation, and for the first time since I started shaving, no more ingrown hairs. Cartridge razors turn my face into a minefield of ingrowing hairs.