Thread: DE vs Gillette fusion

Initially, the expensive cartridges that require no skill. A month down the road, probably close to the same. The DE is a lot cooler and much less expensive long term. I like the Merkur HD (34C). The choice of blade is important, and people have their likes & dislikes. I dislike Merkur, but other folks love them. I love Derby, some folks hate them. Everybody seems to agree the Feather blades are wicked sharp.

I got a sampler of the blades so I can try out a few.

I have read that the feather blades are super sharp. Those will be the last blades I try in the pack so I can gain experience.

How many shaves on average do you get per blade? 3 or 4?

I can get 5 or 6 days out of DE blades, but then I used to get two months worth out of a Pro Fusion cartridge and the shaves were still fine.

I understand that this is a partisan site, but I was perfectly happy with everything about the Pro Fusion including the shave quality and economy of using them. I switched to DEs and then straights for fun, not for economy.

i know i'm chiming in late on this one..

anyway.. a de will get a much closer shave with proper technique.. however.. without the right technique.. the fusion or any other cartridge will seem like a better shave..

double edge safety razors require skill.. infact.. i it took me quite awhile to achieve the level of shave i was being provided by my straight..

the de89l is a very handsome razor.. i'm sure you'll enjoy it.. just don't get frustrated with the learning curve.

With a little practice the DE shaves better than all the multi-blade plastic thingies. I HATE the Merkur blades. I usually use Wilkinson or Israeli blades.

My Gillette Aristocrat

I consider myself a straight shaver, but I'm a bit surprised by the negative press given here to the Pro Fusion cartridge razor. I'm not in favor of it necessarily, and don't want to spark any arguments, but it seems to me that the two major points brought here against it don't hold. First, it shaves fine for me when I'm pressed for time. It certainly requires no skill, just a hand on the steering wheel and all the pressure you care to apply. I shaved with mine this morning and as close a shave as I've ever had in less than two minutes. I'll go back to my straight tomorrow, but there was nothing negative about this experience, no nicks, no razor burn, a wonderful, fast shave.

Secondly, the point made here about cartridges being expensive misses the fact that, with some care, they can be made to last two months or more. Some claim a year's use out of one cartridge. My personal record is three months, still with good shaves. Whatever a cartridge costs, divide that by 90 and the cost is not that bad.

Another plus: it's hard to get addicted to cartridge razors.

And, as for how much money can be saved with straights, tell that one to my checkbook!

90 Days from 1 cartridge? What kind of whiskers do you have?
I get 4 maybe 5 shaves out of the fusion.

I average 4 shaves/blade (DE and SE). DE shaving gives me a more comfortable shave due to the way the hair is cut, and as a result I don't get many (if any) ingrown hairs...which was ALWAYS a problem on my neck when using cartridge razors. It also led to wicked irritation when wearing a collared shirt. Now it is gone. Also I find (my personal oppinion) that the sharper the blade the better the shave. For my De I use Red Israelis, but for my SE I only use Feathers (once my stock of personnas are gone...I will only use Feathers for my DE too).

But I hear straights result in even less irritation...etc.

Originally Posted by GreenLightJerky

90 Days from 1 cartridge? What kind of whiskers do you have?
I get 4 maybe 5 shaves out of the fusion.

My whiskers are probably about average. I can have a pretty good start on a beard in a week or so. I have to shave every day. There are ways to extend the life of the cartridges, for example keeping them out of the bathroom area where the humidity is rough on the edges. I don't keep my DEs and Straights in the bathroom either. Also there are those who claim that the cartridges can be buffed on blue jean material. I never bothered with that because it was never necessary to get what I was getting out of my cartridges.

Originally Posted by fpessanha

Generaly, I would assume that most of us are firm believers that one blade is always better than more - less is more, as the architect Mies van der Rohe said. Otherwise we would not be here in this forum about straight razors. Therefore, I would confidently say that a DE is always a better option than any cartridge razor. The reason is simple: you learn how to master the angle of the razor, preparation for the shave, lathering and other things. It will teach you that a light touch will go a long way... Plus, it is cheaper and ultimately better for the environment because you will not be throwing away lots of junk in the form of plastic and metal that cannot be recycled. The shave will be closer and smother - although there is a learning curve involved. And, if it opens your appetite, you may well end up going straight.!

Spot on! Well played good Sir! As far as a starter DE there's basically two tracks available that as far as I know will yield fairly similar results. Track 1 is the higher end new production DE razors (i.e. EJ, Merkur, et al.) and Track 2 is vintage Gillette pieces which are typically quite a bit less expensive but (IME) clean up nicely and do a fabulous job. I can't speak intelligently about Track 1, except to say the both Edwin Jagger and Merkur razors enjoy an almost cult like following on other (more safety razor oriented) sites. Track 2 is and always has been where I'm at relative to safety razors. A vintage Gillette has never disappointed me and I actually have several of them picked up for less than $10 at Flea Markets. It seems they can all be counted on for consistently remarkable shave quality. If you really feel froggy, try out a single edge or two. I own several of these as well and while the shave is indeed quite a bit different than that of a DE, I can honestly say that it's different in a positive way. Single Edge razors seem to be a sweet spot in the middle of a Gillette Tech DE at one extreme (leaning towards the mild) and a scary sharp straight razor on the other (super aggressive). All of the above are great shavers. As far as the original question (DE vs. Gillette Fusion) is concerned however, it just doesn't seem like a fair comparison. Perhaps an accurate analogy would be a question like "What would make a better dinner? A 16 ounce T Bone Steak, with a Maine Lobster, Baked Potato, a Salad, and a Cold Draft Beer OR the sun dried genitals of a decomposing goat?" My shaving habits will continue to run the gammit of SE and DE safety razors as well as straight razors (and even occassionally, the much maligned shavette). It all just kind of depends on my mood. However, I can honestly say that plastic cartridge abominations will never again touch my face. The alterntatives are just too effective and far too fun.