Gillette fusion Proglide Power review

Well, like many on the forum, I was never taught how to shave, so after 2 years here, I thought I would re-visit a cartridge razor, and apply what I have learnt. One of the worst things I recall about the Mk 3 was clogging issues. I only shave probably on average twice a week, so to give this thing a fair go, I shaved with 2 days growth, used my usual prep, and did three passes.
First gripe, they are advertising down here "shaving from as little as $1 a week" with an asterix and some disclaimer at the bottom that I can't read, but at current prices, that means 1 cart would have to last 8 weeks. Calling B/S on that, wouldn't keep the hair on my knuckles at bay for a week.
I didn't realise this was the power model until I unpacked it, so, in the name of science, I used that function. This makes it vibrate, impossible to say if that makes any difference, just a gimmick in my mind, but it does have a cool little blue light when switched on:shrug:.
Surprisingly, it did not clog as much as I thought it would, 4 days growth, I am sure would be a different story.
Second gripe, the cart is so big, I couldn't get in under my nose, no matter how I tried, cleaned up with a straight.
The shave was easy, and close, on the face marginally closer than I can get with a straight (so far), the neck, about the same, one small weeper, almost no irritation. YMMV.

Ease of use - 7/10
Quality of shave - 6/10
Build quality - 5/10 (throw away item, body made in China, reasonably solid)
Wow factor - 2/10 (the blue light)
Value for money - 1/10

So there you have it, will I ever go back to a cartridge razor? No
Will I try to get 8 weeks shaving out of 1 cart? I don't think that is even possible, so, no, where as I know now for a fact I can get 70 out of a straight just on leather.
If you want easy, go for one of these.
If you want cheap and relatively easy, try a DE.
If you want to learn a new skill, and have a whole lot of fun along the way, try a straight.

Hope you enjoyed the read.

Thanks for the review. I have wondered what three passes the old way (schick) would be like.

When I shaved with cartridges I did one pass maybe a bit of touch up. Did you always do several passes? Maybe I was wrong all along

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Originally Posted by JTmke

Thanks for the review. I have wondered what three passes the old way (schick) would be like.

When I shaved with cartridges I did one pass maybe a bit of touch up. Did you always do several passes? Maybe I was wrong all along

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No, I would usually shave in the shower, one pass, missed patches, didn't care. If it was a special occasion, I would make more effort, but not a lot more, never did two passes and never even crossed my mind to try that. I had never even tried a brush or soap till I discovered SRP, it was always that canned rubbish. I don't know if many here were taught to shave by their father or anyone, but I certainly wasn't.

I wish my dad were still around. He used the can but had a gillette fat boy. Bet I could have had him try a straight.

I think the modern cartridges add blades to eliminate second and third passes. Early versions caused irritation so they keep adding gizmos to make them more comfortable.

I may give one a try but I do enjoy the straight shave everyday. I find it hard to get my DEs in rotation

I wouldn't bother even trying one, here is why;

Update, the day after the shave I noticed a pimple on my chin, haven't had one since Adam was a cowboy, by day 2 it looked like something that could hit a mirror at 10 paces, day 3, it was starting to resemble a trailer for the latest alien movie, day 4, people were calling me Quasimodo, day 5, my wife refused to be seen in public with me.......
I read the packaging, and there is MINERAL OIL in the lubricating strip, don't know if that was the cause, but it just doesn't seem right to me.:shrug:

Thanks - that fascinating you posted this.

I wonder what it would be like to shave again with a Mach 3, only using the shaving techniques I now know couple with the knowledge of how my beard grows, along with some nice soap and a badger brush....might be worthy of a mass SRP Mach 3 SOTD.....:o

Phrank, I would say you will get a better result, think I still have one kicking around somewhere. But you and I have been here long enough to know how hard it is to even pick up a DE let alone a cart, too much fun to be had. I was planning it for a while, the proglide sat there for 6 weeks or so, and Geezers SOTD prompted me to do it. A mass Mach 3 SOTD would be hilarious.

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Originally Posted by Grazor

Phrank, I would say you will get a better result, think I still have one kicking around somewhere. But you and I have been here long enough to know how hard it is to even pick up a DE let alone a cart, too much fun to be had. I was planning it for a while, the proglide sat there for 6 weeks or so, and Geezers SOTD prompted me to do it. A mass Mach 3 SOTD would be hilarious.

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Yes...do I shave with the new Greaves, the new W&B, or a Mach 3....I will try it, just a matter of when??

Tell ya what,I just got back from a steelhead fishing trip on the washougal River outside of Camas Wash.
Brought along a badger Brush,a stick of Tabac and used my wifes Mach 3,They shave just fine for me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Tell ya what,I just got back from a steelhead fishing trip on the washougal River outside of Camas Wash.
Brought along a badger Brush,a stick of Tabac and used my wifes Mach 3,They shave just fine for me.

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Yeah, I heard those Palmera were only ever any good for guttin' fish.....

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Originally Posted by Grazor

Yeah, I heard those Palmera were only ever any good for guttin' fish.....

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Sadley, something you will never experiance:)

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Sadley, something you will never experiance:)

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Shaaazzzzzaaam!

Now that was a good one.....:rofl2:

I take mine fishin all the time, although I would never dream of using it on that ugly looking sea bug in the background.

Attachment 179769

Just for guttin'

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Grazor

Well, like many on the forum, I was never taught how to shave, so after 2 years here, I thought I would re-visit a cartridge razor, and apply what I have learnt. One of the worst things I recall about the Mk 3 was clogging issues. I only shave probably on average twice a week, so to give this thing a fair go, I shaved with 2 days growth, used my usual prep, and did three passes.
First gripe, they are advertising down here "shaving from as little as $1 a week" with an asterix and some disclaimer at the bottom that I can't read, but at current prices, that means 1 cart would have to last 8 weeks. Calling B/S on that, wouldn't keep the hair on my knuckles at bay for a week.
I didn't realise this was the power model until I unpacked it, so, in the name of science, I used that function. This makes it vibrate, impossible to say if that makes any difference, just a gimmick in my mind, but it does have a cool little blue light when switched on:shrug:.
Surprisingly, it did not clog as much as I thought it would, 4 days growth, I am sure would be a different story.
Second gripe, the cart is so big, I couldn't get in under my nose, no matter how I tried, cleaned up with a straight.
The shave was easy, and close, on the face marginally closer than I can get with a straight (so far), the neck, about the same, one small weeper, almost no irritation. YMMV.

Ease of use - 7/10
Quality of shave - 6/10
Build quality - 5/10 (throw away item, body made in China, reasonably solid)
Wow factor - 2/10 (the blue light)
Value for money - 1/10

So there you have it, will I ever go back to a cartridge razor? No
Will I try to get 8 weeks shaving out of 1 cart? I don't think that is even possible, so, no, where as I know now for a fact I can get 70 out of a straight just on leather.
If you want easy, go for one of these.
If you want cheap and relatively easy, try a DE.
If you want to learn a new skill, and have a whole lot of fun along the way, try a straight.

Hope you enjoyed the read.

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You said something very important: never taught how to shave. My dad used an electric razor so I didn't learn from him.

I have told myself for a couple of years that, since I NOW know how to shave with a straight razor, DE, and SE razor, I'd try a cartridge again for old time's sake. When I get to the store, I say, "Naw, I don't want to do that."

Switching to retro-shaving about 4 1/2 years ago is one of the best things I have ever done. My face and I are now on speaking terms.

Lucky enough that my grandchildren live close by. Hope I get to teach my up and coming boys. One is 9 already. Time flies.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Grazor

Well, like many on the forum, I was never taught how to shave, so after 2 years here, I thought I would re-visit a cartridge razor, and apply what I have learnt. One of the worst things I recall about the Mk 3 was clogging issues. I only shave probably on average twice a week, so to give this thing a fair go, I shaved with 2 days growth, used my usual prep, and did three passes.
First gripe, they are advertising down here "shaving from as little as $1 a week" with an asterix and some disclaimer at the bottom that I can't read, but at current prices, that means 1 cart would have to last 8 weeks. Calling B/S on that, wouldn't keep the hair on my knuckles at bay for a week.
I didn't realise this was the power model until I unpacked it, so, in the name of science, I used that function. This makes it vibrate, impossible to say if that makes any difference, just a gimmick in my mind, but it does have a cool little blue light when switched on:shrug:.
Surprisingly, it did not clog as much as I thought it would, 4 days growth, I am sure would be a different story.
Second gripe, the cart is so big, I couldn't get in under my nose, no matter how I tried, cleaned up with a straight.
The shave was easy, and close, on the face marginally closer than I can get with a straight (so far), the neck, about the same, one small weeper, almost no irritation. YMMV.

Ease of use - 7/10
Quality of shave - 6/10
Build quality - 5/10 (throw away item, body made in China, reasonably solid)
Wow factor - 2/10 (the blue light)
Value for money - 1/10

So there you have it, will I ever go back to a cartridge razor? No
Will I try to get 8 weeks shaving out of 1 cart? I don't think that is even possible, so, no, where as I know now for a fact I can get 70 out of a straight just on leather.
If you want easy, go for one of these.
If you want cheap and relatively easy, try a DE.
If you want to learn a new skill, and have a whole lot of fun along the way, try a straight.

Hope you enjoyed the read.

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One thing I definitely remember about the cartridge is that as time progressed the more often you had to change it. At first it was several weeks before that green strip turned white. Toward the end it was a matter of days. The science behind these blades conflicts with what my face told me. I got a job in June that has me on the run all the time, but isn't it strange I always have the time to give myself a great 3 - pass shave with a straight? And my face feels great. An outstanding shave puts me in a good frame of mind and I walk out the door feeling much better.

I think a complex, high - tech looking razor accomplishes nothing other than getting people to buy it at an inflated price.

I reused my schick quattro the other day along with some of my wife's shaving creme. The shave was ok, nothing special but ok. I deliberately used the creme to see what it was like, you just rub it in with your hands and it is non foaming. It gave a reasonable cushion, but maybe not with a straight or d/e.
While my face looked reasonable smooth and the shave didn't irritate me at all it wasn't as close as with a straight.

Ah but my good friend, Ed, why settle for just OK when totally bloody awesome (not to mention a boat load of fun) can so easily take its place? :) For quite some time I've considered a throw back week to cartridge razors but I always talk myself out of it. Besides, do I really need (or want) to stick pig manure under my nose to make sure it still stinks? I'd also have to go out and purchase all the gear as SWMBO has adopted my Merkur Slant for her hair removal chores.

Here's an age old question: I have a fairly coarse and thick beard but I still get five shaves out of a DE blade. Why then can a woman pick up a razor with one shave on the blade, shave her armpits, and the edge on that blade immediately appears to have sawed down a couple acres of chain link fence? IMHO razor sharing is another huge bullet in the arguement for men shaving with a straight razor. SWMBO would sooner walk in a lion's cage with pork chop panties than handle a straight :)

Trying to convince others this is a better way of shaving is near impossible, it seems to me anyway.

Some people, including members here, do have issues with used shaving equipment as well it seems. That has never bothered me.

I'm gradually training her to let me know when she's used the razor so I can change the blade prior to my next shave. This way I won't be expecting a sharp blade and end up shaving with a spoon.

Well you are right, I was in a rush and had the stuff laying around in the bathroom, i almost considered using one of my wife's disposables just for a laugh, couldn't quite do it.
The schick will just moulder otherwise anyway.

Since I started with a straight in April I think I used my Mach 3 once.I have one at my workplace home also collecting dust. It's sitting in the drawer with my old electric that I never cared for. I have been thinking about getting my first DE though, and find myself browsing sites trying to figure out the best first DE for myself.

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Originally Posted by nodakjohns

Since I started with a straight in April I think I used my Mach 3 once.I have one at my workplace home also collecting dust. It's sitting in the drawer with my old electric that I never cared for. I have been thinking about getting my first DE though, and find myself browsing sites trying to figure out the best first DE for myself.

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i wouldnt bother, i bought one and have used it about half a dozen times, for the use it has had i would ha ve been better using up the blades for my schick quattro then worrying about it from there.

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

i wouldnt bother, i bought one and have used it about half a dozen times, for the use it has had i would ha ve been better using up the blades for my schick quattro then worrying about it from there.

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I dont know I use my straights and DE interchangeably. I find that I use my DE more during the week and my straights on the weekends when I have more time. Although realistically I can shave as quickly with a straight as I can witha DE I prefer to go slower and enjoy it which I dont have the time for weekday mornings. Plus it is nice to have for touch ups.