After years of cartridge shaving; head and face, and debating a DE razor since I first seen my uncles Gillette flair tip in his bathroom when I was a younger man, I finally made the switch. Unfortunately My uncle passed away however a few days before he did he called me up and said I have something I want to give you. I went to his home and he said here these are for you take care of them and they will take care of you. He gave me a 1920 brass plated Gillette open comb that belonged to my great grandfather, a1955 flair tip SS GIllette, a 1958 Red Tip SS, a 1967 Gillette black handle SS and a 1983 Gillette black handle SS. I took them to my tattoo shop, cleaned and sanitized them, and now I have regained my love of shaving and taking care of my skin, and absolutely love my new obsession (as does my wife, she loves the smell of the aftershaves and shaving soaps on my fresh shaven skin, score for me!!!) I for one will never go back to a cartridge razor!!!
Loved this little story. I too inherited my gillette DE from my grandfather. My dad didn't want it but I loved the idea. I think of my old pops all the time because of that razor.
Jeremy, I too have a 1920's Gillette open-comb razor I showed it to an older man when I got it about 45 years ago, and he told me the plating was gold, and I believe it is because it doesn't tarnish. He said that model cost $5. That was a lot of dough back then. That razor glides over my face so smoothly, I can't even feel it cutting the whiskers. Interesting how not everything improves with time.
Jeremy Richmond man that's incredible 👌 do you shave your head with safety razor ? I been thinking of making a full on switch to DE shaving but that's my only concern I've read that it's difficult and not that efficient for head shaving ?
@@rawr4233 I, almost daily, shave my head with a DE. It took a while, and it was s bit frustrating at first, but I stuck with it and got pretty good at it after a couple of weeks. I found that a heavier and long handled razor worked best. Although it takes longer, my skin does not get irritated like it did before. I recommend giving it a try.
You just demonstrated why, for 20 years, despite all my best efforts, I had razor burn on my neck 75% of the time. Turns out I didn't have sensitive skin, just shitty modern razor products that call for zero building of technique.
Really?? Oh man, I just ordered my first safety razor online and I'm really excited for this. I've been using cartridges for years and my neck suffers a lot. Did the switch really change things for you?
@@vitoramorim4884 Absolutely changed. But not right away. Be prepared for a few rough shaves until you get the hang of it. Also different razors have different "aggressiveness" in the way they hold the blade and how much of the blade is exposed... Since not everyone's face and hair is the same, different types work better for different faces. Mine is very dense, straight and thick (the hairs). The different razors-blades vary as well. Some are sharper. I use a fairly aggressive razor (an old Gillette red-tip) combined with Polsilver "Super Iridium" blades (I've had many types). And that's what works for me like nothing else but it took a year or two to find it. But most combinations gave me better shaves with no irritation compared to cartridges... And I don't even use creams or shave soaps, just shaving oil only. TL:DR yes. no question about it. but it takes some practice.
I am aged 65, so I grew up watching all my male relatives shaving with DE razors, so when I got older I did the same and still do shave with de-razors. I had the advantage of being able to watch and learn how to use these razors, from men who knew no other way. I suppose what I am saying there is a learning curve with a de-razor, fortunately not as steep as a cutthroat, but still a learning curve, but once mastered one very rarely nicks oneself. So to these newbies I would say, take your time, go slow with your De-razor and learn the nuances of the tool and above all enjoy your shave, make the time you are shaving a time of relaxation and contemplation, after all why rush something that you are going to spend your life doing? Yes cartridge razors are more forgiving and maybe a little quicker, but not as satisfying.
After ten months and god knows how many nicks, cuts, scrapes and burns, I'm so happy that I went back to cartridges. I've gone from twenty minute ordeals that yielded a dozen cuts to a five minute process, zero cuts and a smoother face. If DE shaving is your thing, knock yourself out but don't assume that everyone will prefer it.
You're right, will not assume a thing like that in the future. But I want to tell you that maybe you have not tried hard enough with the DE. It's a process, you have to learn the way to do it and go through different razors, blades and soaps to achieve a good shave. I have been wet shaving for more than two years now and I have just started to appreciate it thoroughly (current favorite set up Gillette Super Adjustable, Polsilver blade, PAA soap). The traditional way of shaving is all about the experience, no need to rush. Do what's best for you, your skin will thank you!
I'm with cugamer. I think in general, guys with normal skin and moderate beards will have a better experience with DE shaving. Those with either super sensitive or problem skin, coupled with a 'barbed wire' beard may not find DE shaving beneficial (I count myself within this group). I've personally found shaving with a good cartridge, using proper wet shave method (amply lathering with brush and quality soaps, pre-shave, etc) delivers a perfect shave without 'gotchas' and painful red welts all over the face. Also, those who have continuing issues with DE shaving may impart permanent shaving scars on their skin over time - not good! The only real drawback to cartridge shaving (for most) is cost; however with some online exploration one can often find great deals on the replacement blades. Heck, I just got 9 Fusion carts with a Proshield handle for $25.00 delivered. Yes, carts are more expensive than DE blades, but for some (myself included) comfort, less risk and irritation is worth a few extra bucks.
Happy you've find what suits you best. Personally, I have shaved with cartridges (Mach 3, Original Fusion, Countour/Atra) for years and then I've switched to DE because I was intrigued. After two years and a half I am looking forward to every shave and when I had to shave with the Fusion while flying carry-on only I had a terrible experience. So I think it all comes with what your skin likes best! Dad shaves with a Contour/Atra, Brother shaves with either Mach 3 or Electric (I would turn out red like Santa's robe after one of his shaves) and I use a DE every two to three days. Thank you for replying and have a good one
The guy who cuts himself with the DE is doing it wrong... duhh! It's just pressure and speed though. I've even found that angle isn't too important. You get used to it. Haven't cut myself in 9 years. opened myself up only a couple times in the beginning. now I can whip over my face so fast in a hurry, completely dry, no product and zero irritation. The only thing manlier would be to not shave at all.
I've been a DE shaver for almost 2 years now and recently I gave my Gillette Fusion a try and the result was almost the same - tugging and pulling. Sadly, all the DE shavers I know are from far away and when I talk with my friends and family about DE shaving, they think im crazy since according to them no one is shaving like that anymore and they don't know anyone except me and maybe a few old people.
lol that's the exact same situation with me. Switched to DE safety razors because I couldn't tolerate how overpriced cartridges were and I haven't looked back - infinity times a better and more comfortable shave. My dad and brother think I'm mad though and laugh at me for it.
Emanuel dear, DE gives you best and less irritating shave in a less amount..... I has been shaving for the last 20 years with Gillette disposable but i switched to DE and found it better than disposable razors......
For many guys it doesn’t matter. For those of us with tough beards and/or wimpy skin, double edge is just better. The cartridge razors were “invented” by the marketing department.
@@bobjones8321cartridge razors were invented to make money…period. DE razors were invented to sell blades. If you are getting nicked and cut using a DE razor you have a crappy razor, bad blades, or horrible technique. DE razors are superior to any cartridge. If you don’t agree then you are doing something wrong.
I switched about 3 months ago from a cartridge razor. 27 vintage razors, alot of history, and a lot of learning has led me to the clearest skin I have ever had on my neck and face. I could not believe the difference in the two methods...
I use a DE for cost reasons but a Gillette Fusion always gave me a great shave. I used exactly the same soap and brush I use with the DE and i was able to get a very smooth shave in one pass.
Same, I’ve recently switched to DE, it’s pretty good still got a lot of technique work to do. The fusion was a great efficient shave in one pass. If my hair had grown for like 3 or 4 days I would always trim it down with a trimmer first then shave
Gillette is dead to me. This week, I purchased a German double-edge safety razor to compliment my regular straight edge shave. I use it for the finishing pass. So much better than the multi-blade cartridges I've been wasting time and money on for decades.
I have a Muhle R41 1964 Gillette Slim Adjustable and a 1949 SuperSpeed. Hey there was nothing wrong with Gillette’s manly-ness thoes 2 eras of razors I got lol it’s only recently they got dudes mad. Hell no I’m not going to trash my nice ass Gillette safety razors over a cony ad LOL. I’m wondering if the German DE u got is the R-41 if so welcome to the club
Agreed. DE shaving is far superior. The clogging up of cartridges drove me nuts plus the de just gives you much closer smoother shave. Slight learning curve but definitely worth it.
I got that problem with cartridge and when I go to my barber he uses a straight razor i totally feel the difference of it i feel like my face is more smoother no ingrow hair and pimple either and i been doing my homework on straight razor shave and your videos have convince me to get one. You guys been really educating to me and now I cant wait to get my straight razor from you guys. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
So ive been shaving every day for 21 years for my job. Allways hated using any razor, reusables, disposables, and electric. Electric was never close enough, and pretty much every razor pulled like in your video. About a month ago i switch to a DE razor from merkur. Using astra blades. I was blown away from the first shave, and dont plan on ever going back. Thanks to your video for explaineing everything. I am looking forward to teaching my little guy to use one of these instead of the much more expensive disposables. I always dreaded my monday morning shaves if i hadnt shaved over the weekend. Just recently i went 2 weeks without shaving, and the DE cut through everything easily, and was so comfortable. Thanks for your video.
What made me look into switching was that the single precision blade on the back of my fusion always seemed more comfortable and cut longer hair easier. That was got me thinking in the first plave, and the rest is history
Good man! I started 3 years ago with the DE.....Loved every second... thinking of buying a new one just to try a different brand....found BAILI Wet Shaving Twin-bladed Safety Razor Retro Chrome Long Handle. $13 (amazon)..... plus 5 extra blades.....from what I hear it's a good beginners safety razor. This price is a steal....thus my interest...Fuck Gillette.
Probably the best thing to come from the dumpster-fire Gillette advert is it will guide so many guys to finally try DE, and likely never go back to cartridges. And the money you can save per year is a real bonus.
The ad that encourages husbands to not beat on their wives and not sexually harass women? Dude, if you were offended by that ad it's because you're a piece of shit.
Good afternoon Matt! This comparison demonstrates the limitations of a cartridge razor. As a daily shaver, a cartridge can be used successfully. If there is more than a few days growth...a cartridge easily clogs and pulls the hair rather than cuts cleanly. In my opinion, the can of goo helps clog the cartridge. A better result can be had by using traditional lather..from a cream or soap. Yes, the DE wins the challenge for the best and most enjoyable shave! Thanks a million Matt.
Switched to DE shaving 6 months ago I'd be afraid to turn back. Couldn't shave more than every other day. Got tons of irritation and ingrown hairs. Now a perfect shave EVERY day. No going back! Matt, you should grow back the goatee- but shape it a bit narrower to make your face look thinner Cheers- thanks for another great video. You helped me learn when I started out!
It took me nearly 10 years and an encounter with my grandpa's old DE razor to get me away from cartridge razors and shaving cream in a can. I have been using a DE razor and a straight razor for almost two years now and I would never go back! I no longer have skin irritation and do not see shaving as a chore anymore. Sometimes the old ways are just the best!
Just got into DE shaving two weeks ago. I purchased a Henson Medium razor and I’m using Astra blades. I love it so far. I shave my face and head and I’m never going back!
nicky21111 Proglide has 5 blades in one big, fat cartidge? Damn. Sensor is the last reasonable cartridge system. Small, narrow 2 blade cartridge, no bullshit. 2 pass shave with sensor is reasonable, results in 4 blade passes. Mach3 is bigger, harder to manouver and 2 pass shave gives 6 passes of the blade on the skin. That's a lot.
Big_Galch I agree, they are overpriced. Also DE blades work by cutting, carts work by scrubbing. Scrubbing feels awful. But it works. Sensor, Mach3 and Fusion can give good shaves. Fusion Flexball is very good for head shavers. Everybody that says otherwise is radical about shaving. Straight Razor is the best, but it takes the most time. Carts are fastest but the experience and quality is bad. DE safety razors are in the middle, the best balance between time and quality.
Big_Galch that's why I use an electronic razor that can remove my facial hair really well. It may surprise you but it's like a microtouch razor they used to advertise that cost 10 dollars. It doesn't get it super smooth but it gets most of the stubble and long facial hair off with ease. It's changed my shaving life I'd highly recommend if you're looking to save money.
Just personally find better value in my safety Razor. Plus really do enjoy the preparation time which I always hated with disposable razors. Feel like I'm back in the 50'60' when using a safety razor. Really want to try going even more old school and try a straight razor.
Cartridge and throw away razors suck! With good technique. A DE beats them hands down. Great example. I have done this test myself. Big difference between the two!!
I literally thought my cartridges were either shitty or blunt cause the cartridge blade kept pulling at my hair as I was shaving it, but from the looks of it, I'm not the only one who's had this problem.
I used to use the Mach 3, it was more comfortable than other cartridge razors but was a nightmare for my sensitive skin (I have VERY sensitive skin). It also left me with ingrown hairs on my neck. Changed to traditional shaving and honestly haven't regretted it once. I still occasionally had razor burn on my neck but switched to using cold water, as I learnt on this channel, now it's a perfect shave every time. I use Edwin jagger de89 with Astra blades.
Same here as with Jay. For the first year or so a DE would take me longer, but no any more. If anything its faster because it doesn't take as many passes.
I have a a couple vintage gillettes, the slim and the regular flare tip as well as a couple of the popular german de and while i love them and now going on 6 years can get really good shaves out of them i too get the closest quickest most comfortable shaves with the mach 3. Gillette really hit the nail on the head as far as cartridges go with the mach 3. Which is why its still around 20sum years later.
I know this is an old video, but I come from the torture that was using those bundles of disposable one-blade razors for most, if not all, my young adulthood in 2000s/2010s. I basically shunned shaving whenever possible as I associated it with pain. Sometimes I opted for an electric trimmer, but I really wouldn't get clean cheeks. Only within the last 2 months did I consider using cartridge razors as I got two trial packs from Dollar Shave Club and Harry's for about $8.50 together, which is about a month's worth of supplies if I shave every day and swap the cartridges out each week (so maybe 2 - 3 months together for my needs). To be fair, I actually had a much better experience and I only nicked or irritated my skin when I started doing two/three passes since I felt my beard was growing back too fast. However, as you demonstrated in this video, I really felt that "you have to paw at it" problem with the cartridge razor and I don't enjoy how much hair I had left on my face. The real benefit of these trial kits is that I got to experience what an actual pre and post-shave does for your skin. So I started watching various YT channels about DE safety razors lately, which was inspired from my recent change from standard soap products for natural soap options, and I got most of the upfront costs out of the way for a "beginner safety razor" set-up at around $42 with a stand, brush, soap, bowl, razor and 35 razors. I still have my first cartridge razor order to help me get started having a better shave and as a fallback option for the next 4 - 6 months, and by that time I am hoping to swap over to DE razors. I think the best thing I can say from my experience with cartridge razors is that they are a nice transitory option to get to the real deal. (Plus, you can apply some of those products that provide enough protection for your skin to your DE razor, so you don't have to change everything at all once like I did.)
This is exactly why I’m looking at your channel. I almost always shave every three days. I’m tired of the triple to five blade cartridge. I have to take them with me when I work but not when I’m home....and not traveling. I went backwards to the two bladed old disposable to see if that helped. It did. Then I decided I needed to check out DE razors for a practical change. Thanks for your channel.
Did my very first DE shave today from 45 years of cartridge shaving! Used to use a Schick Hydro5 and have a light beard. Never get ingrown or irritated shaves - so wonder why switch when I get good shaves from a cartridge .. I know it is cheaper to do DE and love the versatility of shavers and blades - so I bought a Rockewll 6C and shaved on R1 side, with Proraso preshave and Cremo cream... It went well, no nicks or cuts and fairly smooth shave for the first time as I was nervous - I am sure it will get better as I do it. Can see how the whole sensuality of the shaving could be addicting. I am retired now so have more time to do this.... thanks for all your videos... I live in Tucson - see you're in Phoenix.
I started shaving in the early 80's. I would never consider any old-timer solution back then, so I went with the disposable Bic razor with canned cream. Later with Mach3 cartridges and dry electric razors. Guess what : I always felt that shaving was nothing but a chore. I tried DE shaving recently, and that's night and day ! Shaving can be enjoyable, relaxing, pleasurable. It's not only because of the nicer products I use now that the cheeks are really smooth... It's also because of the focus I maintain while DE shaving : it scares the other problems away. And I'm better at fixing them when I'm relaxed.
Why is it the opposite for me i just bought a double edge and it feels like its shaving with a blunt saw hitting 1 out of 100 hairs and dragging over the rest while the disposable is slicing through 100% of hairs like butter
@@RazorEmporium I was using the gillete king c razors that came with the king c could they be a bad batch? I shave every couple days but disposables never have any issue at all I really want to use a double egde though
Im thinking of getting the rex envoy looks the coolest double edge imo! i cant afford the ambassador for adaptability so then i think i will need to try different razors. Is that a good choice?
I just got into double edge razors and it's a world of difference. Why anyone would want to groom themselves with cheap plastic crap when you could use a substantial metal razor is beyond me.
Cartridges are made to shave with every day. They are going to clog up with several days growth. DE s are not going to get as close. When I've gone two days without shaving the way to go is with with a one blade razor. Actually I like the Schick Xtreme 2 a great deal because it has a button to push the whiskers out. That is very effective !! So I shave with the grain with the DE or the Extreme 2 , then relather and shave against the grain. That is a great shave. I can shave all day long against the grain. I used to think I had sensitive skin , bit absolutely do not. I think less people have sensitive skin than they think.
Trunker Dixon not really. I’ve been shaving with a straight razor for a while and it only takes me about 5 or 6 minutes if I haven’t let it go for like 2 weeks. If you tried I’m sure you could do 5
Hi Matt, Great job. I reckon our shaving soaps and creams would clog up the disposable razor more. Since i started DE Shaving 4 years ago my skin looks so much better. I have Eczema and my Dermatologist was very interested as to why my facial skin was in such good condition for my age without any scarring etc. I explained the Razors and products we use and he was very intrigued, so much so that when i returned 6 months later he remembered what i had said and mentioned it to the Nurses. Maybe he is a convert too now. Ha Ha. Steve in Scotland.
I have been shaving for 65 years and have used every razor made , it seems , and I get a much better shave with the cartridge razor. Starting with the Trac 2 and Atra to the Fusion and I will say that I get just as smooth a shave with the Trac 2 as any razor. If you like the DE then I think you should stay with it but I would not make a blanket statement and say it is better, just depends on the person, every beard is different but I will say that from time to time I will shave with a DE to remind me to stay with my Trac 2 or my Fusion.
Then your technique is horrible using a DE. Best shaves I ever gotten is with a DE. Best part is it costs me about $5/year to daily shave my face and head.
Not a fair comparison you needed to use quality shaving cream on both sides of your face not that garbage in a can and you did not use a quality cartridge razor
He also didn't seem to use any pressure, at the start especially. You have you use pressure when shaving with a cartilage, due to the light weight of the head.
I'm 67 years old. Up until a year and a half ago, I always used a cartridge type or disposable razor. Now, I use a DE. (I will start experimenting, i.e. doing an apprenticeship, with a straight razor probably within 4 to 6 months.) I had a question about the reasonable number of shaves to get from a good DE blade. For me, because I'm careful, I go slowly and mindfully when shaving. In addition to being a refreshing activity every 3 to 4 days, it seems like a nice "meditation." Because I go slowly, carefully, mindfully, a "streamlined" shave is not my aim or experience (and that's fine). Because of this, I am fine with the 15th or 16th shave I get with the same DE blade. Presently, tomorrow, I'll get my 16th with an Astra blade. Before this blade, I used a Van der Hagen blade, again for 16 shaves. My shaves are slow, but, again, mindful, careful, sure and enjoyable. Does the use I get out of one blade sound wrong to an advanced wet-shaver? (I don't do it out of any desire or attempt to be frugal.)
nice video mate love your videos keep it up man and me too i used to shave with a cartridge razor but it always gave me skin irritation and a lot of ingrown hairs and thats why i changed my shaving style
haha, the manual vs automatic is exactly the metaphor that also came up to me when I got used to my safety razor. A manual requires more skill but the amount of control is greater and it's more fun too. Although I think that there still is a difference between let's say a gillette sensor style razor and a gillette mach 3 style of razor where the pivot point is so misplaced that there is a dragging kind of feeling with virtually no control over the amount of pressure (and indeed a tugging feeling as a result and with more then 3 blades the clogging is terrible) vs the sensor style blade where the pivot is right in the middle of the 3 blades and you have more control. So my opinion (so far) is that for a quick close shave with the least skill acquired a sensor 3 type blade is the premium choice (or a wilkinson xtreme 3). And I really don't understand the mis-design of the gillette mach stile razors and I even dare to say that the comeback of the double edge razors is due to this terrible mistake of gillette. If you're prepared to put some skill and fun in shaving, a double edge razor is the premium choice. At this moment I shaved let's say 10 times with a double edge razor and indeed I am hooked also.
I switched to cartridge razors after 30 years of DE shaving. Why did a wait so long. Key is face prep and a good soap or cream. Additionally the time savings you get with a cartridge is substantial. Marketing Marketing Marketing!!!!!!
I tried to shave my 3-4 days beard with a DE for the very first time... That was difficult and had to do so many passes... I am not sure I will continue this or not tbh.
I have used straight razors, single edge safety razors, double edge razors and 5 and six blade cartridges cartridge razors, I shave daily face and head I could get a month out of each cartridge, I am presently going back to the double edge, have a feeling after a couple of months I will be going back to cartridge, I am 75 so I have had a lot of shaving experience. I have never notice this pulling you are talking about.
I started using my Dad's DE Gillette razor he got in 1946 or '47. The only place on my face I've been hesitant to shave with it is under my nose, so I still use the single blade on the top of the Mach 4 cartridge to shave there.
I think we all have different ideas on shaving and what works. I had a dermatologist tell me one time after he discovered I was a de shaver that stretching your skin is like shaving with a 2 blade cartridge razor. As the first blade stretches and second blade cuts, and it is the stretching that causes in grown hairs. I am not sure of the science behind his thoughts, but I quit stretching my skin and have not had an ingrown hair for years. I rarely got them anyway, so who knows if there is any truth to his words of wisdom. I think we should all do what works best for us. I know I am looking forward to trying my new adjustable razor that I am hoping is in the mail real soon. Can't wait to try my new Ambassador.
Haven't been able to shave since my early 20's because of ingrown hairs. I finally tried DE shaving and I'm hooked. No burn or ingrown hairs. I'm in love.
I took the straight razor plunge with your beginner kit, I'm looking forward to getting it and trying it out! Hopefully I can master it and get away from these terrible shave club blades... They last like 2 shaves before they start tearing my face apart.
I completely feel you man... the pulling and tugging of cartridge is on another level... i used to shave with cartridges... until one day i bought a 5-blade cartridge for about 1$. Not a famous brand though. I tried to shave with it. Uh man it was a disaster. It pulled and tugged like it was trying to tear my face. I finished with a lot of pain... and that was my starting point of DE. Oh and another thing... i bought gillette fusion proglide with flexball technology... on cheeck area it does good... i was going to say wow im impressed... then i shaved my chin... omg... i dont forget that... it dragged my chin(you dont believe how slow i perform shaving)... and then i saw my chin is bleeding in several points... i truely understand that tugging and pulling pain... its not good man... thank god that i was introduced to DE. And another thing that you noticed is that burning sensation with cartridge... it burns like hell... and im not bragging... cartridge is not for me... i know that by now
I kinda thought he was playing it up a little with the cartridge razor but if you watch his cheek, you can see it shaking a bit where the razor was catching and pulling.
the gillette trac ii and other razors that are similar to the trac ii have a safety razor feel to them even though they are twin blade catridge razors,they have no pivoting head and some catridges don't even have the lubrication strip but finding good catridges for them is hard since major companies don't support twin blades catridge as much. Please try these old twin blade razors out they are so much better then they're modern counterparts by a mile.
Skin stretching works because, on certain parts of the face, the skin is relaxed and softer, with more possibility of binding and getting a nick. When you stretch the skin, it firms the shaving path allowing for a smoother glide with less chance of nicks. Stretching eliminates that by creating a flatter surface.
this morning used a safety for the first time since 1990. after my skin felt sore after a really close shave. know I will have to relearn the right angle to get the glide. your right about the cartridge blades getting clogged reason I switched
Just did my first wet shave with a shavette switching directly from a cartridge today and ill never go back. The 5 blades irritated my skin so bad especially the neck going with the grain. Against the grain was just out of the question but i had the best shave of my life today even with my inexperience with a straight style razor (no nicks at all to my surprise). Sometimes the classic way is the best way. Would reccomend to all even just for the experience. Its pretty cool to do. Im a freshman in college and this works for me fine with dorm living to any teenage people thinking about switching as well.
Will I get a closer shave with a straight razor(the one with the strop), or with a DE? Im now using straight razor, but the ones with replace blades(i use astra), and i cant get a close shave, (shaving with the hair, not against)
It's crazy how much a DE will save you over a lifetime compared to using modern shaving equipment, and it seems that you have such a better experience shaving traditionally too. I just bought a 1964 Gillette Slim adjustable, with some Astra Platinum blades, and I can't wait to shave
I am going to be brave in admitting I am an adult woman with severe PCOS symptoms since I was 12. For two decades I've tried exclusively electric shaving--and I had a couple of good ones, except after those I could never get good shaves again even from expensive devices built for men. And cartridge shaving is an absolute no for me, the very moment it touches my face I feel that awful tug and nope out (I *felt* those sounds your face made, oof). Tugging, burning, bumps, every electric shave even using multiple-purpose heads leaves me suffering. I've finally had it and I'm researching these safety razors (I am not brave enough for straight razor yet, no accidental Sweeney Todd'ing for me thanks) and it's been comforting to see even women (albeit with less severe hair) making the switch to these old school bad boys. And maybe I hope this comment could bring more awareness for women with my condition to find better ways of managing it, and to find non-judgemental help in finding the solutions that work for each of us.
6 years ago, when I still used multi-blade shavers, I'd have to use an old toothbrush to unclog the stubble from between the blades Double edge razors rinse clean every time
tbh even though i switched to a DE recently and i love it, i must say you're using the cartridge razor totally wrong. Cartridge razors work better with longer single strokes. The reason they are tugging and pulling is because they're designed that way. One blade pulls and the other cuts and so on and so forth. With a cartridge razor you can have a BBS shave very fast. The downside though is an uncomfortable shave with razor bumps, irritation and ingrown hairs because they cut under the surface of the skin, and of course you miss out on the experience a DE shave can provide. I love the ritual now while before i loathed it even though my shave would take a fraction of the time, especially for me because i also shave my head. (head+ face) Cartridge razor time: 5 minutes, DE razor time: 20 minutes. But yeah that's a half hour that i enjoy and that joy carries over for the few hours
I use a Wilkinson Sword Classic and a badger brush from whippeddog. The razor always drags below the chin and on the neck. Is it the lack of a proper lather, my technique with the razor or poor prep that causes irritation?
Hey there. I guess I'm the only one on here who thinks the cartridge razor gave me a smoother shave. I guess I must be doing something wrong. I just shaved with safely razor and it definitely doesn't feel as close. Maybe I need to switch to proraso sensitive skin? I don't know but this is only my second time. Any pointers?
I don't have the same experience as you. I use a DE for face and a disposable for my head. I have a mole on my head and on the side of my face. Until I get them surgically removed, I find it easier, and safer, to use the disposable razor for these. After I get them removed I will use exclusively DE razor.
The Gillette fusion is very close only difference I could find is the massive price difference in the U.K £18 to £24 for 8 I bought 20 double edge for £3.99
I usually use a newfangled AC style safety razor nowadays. Usually a Brass General. And my backup is a DE, Vintage Slim. I also occasionally use my Ralf Aust straight. The only halfway decent cartridge razor nowadays, at least IMO, is Harry's. I still use new ones as they come out every few years just to see what they're like. I dont particularly like the Fusion due to aggression and the Dorcos from Dollar Shave are a little to mean on my skin as well but the Harry's is great for a cart.
Pretty much. I just don’t understand why anyone would ever use a cartridge razor after finding a safety razor. I’m pretty sure safety razors will soon dominate again
Why switch in my case? I never had ingrown hair or irritation 🤷🏻♂️ and I simply don't buy the claim that cutting the hair slightly UNDER the skin level will deliver a LESS smooth shave than the DE cut AT skin level. If cost is the only advantage left for me, then why switch? A hundred dollars more a year are worth the greater convenience, for me. It would be different if the DE shave were ACTUALLY smoother than the cartridge, but I simply don't buy that, sorry 🤷🏻♂️
@@RazorEmporium you seem honest. And fair. I use a Fusion Pro-glide Can you say that a DE shave will feel smoother, all other parameters being equal? With sincere heart, I seek the closest shave. If you affirm that, yes, a DE Will feel smoother, I'll go ahead and try, and I will then revert honestly. What DE set up should I test?
Your videos, among others, contributed to my decision to switch to DE. But the fact that I have my granddad’s DE somewhere, and have found the Old Spice shaving cup, was just as important. Still waiting for my new stuff to arrive from Amazon. However, although I think your points are valid all around, a cartridge really doesn’t do a bad job. I’m never in a close shave contest. And I shave in the shower. Often using shampoo as soap. And so I get the job done while relaxing in the shower. And that is the part I’ll miss. It will be interesting to see if I like the DE so much that I give up using the cartridge for an extremely quick and relaxing shave in the shower.
Aaron Thoming as he said it doesn’t work for everyone, but for me I have to shave every other day, and I have gone through dozens of dozens of cartridge razors. No matter the prep I will always get drag, cuts, and irritation, and never really smooth shaving.
I went from cartridge to Straight Edge over a year ago because I felt used and cartridges it's darn expensive in comparison with a SE over a lifetime. And I went into SE with the mindset that if millions of Muppets have successfully shaved with a knife for hundreds of years, why should I not be victorious in that field... Sure it is took me a month to get the hang of the basics and the Mrs called me Scarface. 😎 But now there is no settling for the third choice: Cartridges... 👍
I used to use a cartridge, before I made the switch to a safety, and, a safety razor wins, every time, hands down. Furthermore, the fact that I’m not paying an arm, and a leg for each time I shave with a safety razor really makes me, and my wallet feel better. Safety razors do have a big of a learning curve at first, but, it's much more efficient, and close than a cartridge razor.
just started traditional shaving a few months ago. looking back the Gillette cartridges i used dont compare to a DE or an SE. But more than that is the whole experience its relaxing. i like to shave after a long days work ( i work till late). Just super nice.
I beg to differ. I just tried this experiment and saw that the Gillette razor worked just as well as the double edge razor. AND I cut myself with the double edge razor a lot more than I would have with the Gillette. I am conflicted since I've been told that the double edge razor is the cleanest shave you can go (other than single blade razors). I feel a lot more irritation with the double edge. For my experiment, I cleaned my face with a tea tree oil/sugar scrub, rinsed, and applied barbasol cream. I then shaved one side with a double edge razor and the other with a Gillette razor. AND the Gillette seemed to work better! I hate to play into capitalistic ideals but for me the Gillette razor seemed to work better. Is there something that I am doing wrong? Maybe I am just inexperienced since this was the second time shaving with a double edge; but, I think that gillette razors are not as bad as these guys play them to be. Sure they cost more and appeal to this "American" and "manly" archetype, but they do work. Any insight?
Matt: It appears that you just got a lousy cartridge. Recently, I had a GEM SE carbon steel blade that came out of the wrapper dull like the razor in this video, and was quickly discarded, but I've generally had good results with GEM SEs. It would be interesting to see your channel compare DEs with better cartridges, like the Fusion, the TrackII (which Gillette still makes in India and calls the 7 O'clock PII), and the Gillette Guard single blade. I've done comparisons with each, and I think your viewers would like your comments on them. For my part, just now I'm alternating days with a vintage Schick Injector having an NOS Personna 74 blade, and a Gillette Guard cartridge. The 74 has done nine shaves and still performs almost as new, but the surprise is that the Guard has kept pace fully. I've gotten nine equally outstanding shaves with each, and expect to continue doing so. This morning, for comparison, I used a Black Handle Super Speed with a drug store blade (which is suspect is a Personna platinum chrome in disguise) and got the same outstanding result as with the injector and the Guard. So the performances of all three are indistinguishable. I would never give up my DEs and SEs, but I suspect that the issue really comes down to price, and, secondarily, environmental impact (cartridges are expensive and use a lot of plastic). And fun: I agree, cartridges are no fun, particularly trying to maneuver under one's nose.
You are preaching to the converted.I used to use carts and I remember when I tried to shave with some cheap cart LIDL was selling. I needed two carts to finish a shave.
used double edge with gillette shave cream. Lots of knicks. Would the cream be the reason or is it my inexperience. want to switch but if the knicks keep happening don't know if i want to continue using double edge razor
I used this video as a tutorial and have had no knicks or burns yet. The key is patience and angle of approach. Also shaving cream is a must ruclips.net/video/KZDPEogOU34/видео.html
Also make sure you aren't using too much pressure. If you are using the same amount of pressure as your cartridge razors it's too much. You may also have too aggressive a blade. Try a sample pack. This type of shaving lends itself to more experimenting; it's way more customizable to your face.
Great review. I have used a 2 edge for years and use to use a Mach 3. It’s nice to have a better explanation of the differences between the 2 shaves. The price difference between the 2 edge blades and the cartridges is crazy.
Not entirely a fair test perhaps. The multi-blade cartridges do poorly on 3+ days of growth. You're supposed to use them everyday or every other day, otherwise the blades clog from the longer hairs.
I just don’t like the cheap disposable razors, when it causes an ingrown hair, razor burn, and nicks. Also, I preferred the safety razor blades for a comfortable close shave and I liked using it.
All disposable razors did for me was give me razor burn and ingrown hairs until I found the DE's 20+ years ago. Bought a straight razor a while back and now have stones, leather and pastes to make strops, but it definitely wasn't shave ready new and reminded me of the old days of using disposables. Hope to have my straight sharp before too long, as well as every knife in the house.
Sorry, but I use a Fusion in the shower with Dial soap and I get a closer, faster shave than what it looks like you're getting. I would say I have a moderate to heavy beard as well. I have tried the "professional" shave methods and I've always been unsatisfied with the shave while spending more money. :/
Anytime you shave in the shower it's gonna be fast and easy. The hair and skin is so soft. It comes down to a quality DE blade though to make the dry shave possible. So quick.
The shaving cream makes a big difference. I use proraso puck and its a much, much smoother shave opposed to can shaving cream. I use a Gillette Fusion Proglide Styler and i get a nice, close shave and I never get cut. I am thinking about investing in a safety razor but reluctant. If it's not broke, you know.
After years of cartridge shaving; head and face, and debating a DE razor since I first seen my uncles Gillette flair tip in his bathroom when I was a younger man, I finally made the switch. Unfortunately My uncle passed away however a few days before he did he called me up and said I have something I want to give you. I went to his home and he said here these are for you take care of them and they will take care of you. He gave me a 1920 brass plated Gillette open comb that belonged to my great grandfather, a1955 flair tip SS GIllette, a 1958 Red Tip SS, a 1967 Gillette black handle SS and a 1983 Gillette black handle SS. I took them to my tattoo shop, cleaned and sanitized them, and now I have regained my love of shaving and taking care of my skin, and absolutely love my new obsession (as does my wife, she loves the smell of the aftershaves and shaving soaps on my fresh shaven skin, score for me!!!) I for one will never go back to a cartridge razor!!!
Loved this little story. I too inherited my gillette DE from my grandfather. My dad didn't want it but I loved the idea. I think of my old pops all the time because of that razor.
Jeremy, I too have a 1920's Gillette open-comb razor I showed it to an older man when I got it about 45 years ago, and he told me the plating was gold, and I believe it is because it doesn't tarnish. He said that model cost $5. That was a lot of dough back then. That razor glides over my face so smoothly, I can't even feel it cutting the whiskers. Interesting how not everything improves with time.
Jeremy Richmond man that's incredible 👌 do you shave your head with safety razor ? I been thinking of making a full on switch to DE shaving but that's my only concern I've read that it's difficult and not that efficient for head shaving ?
Reading this after shaving with a Parker Variant that I got today. Amazing story well told.
@@rawr4233 I, almost daily, shave my head with a DE. It took a while, and it was s bit frustrating at first, but I stuck with it and got pretty good at it after a couple of weeks. I found that a heavier and long handled razor worked best. Although it takes longer, my skin does not get irritated like it did before. I recommend giving it a try.
I remember my very first shave, felt like I was diffuseing a bomb with the mission impossible theme song
You just demonstrated why, for 20 years, despite all my best efforts, I had razor burn on my neck 75% of the time.
Turns out I didn't have sensitive skin, just shitty modern razor products that call for zero building of technique.
Lmao... That call for zero building of the technique... Yeeh, yes. It is sensitive skin but it's also because of what you said
Same just on my checks and under neck.
Really?? Oh man, I just ordered my first safety razor online and I'm really excited for this. I've been using cartridges for years and my neck suffers a lot. Did the switch really change things for you?
@@vitoramorim4884 Absolutely changed. But not right away. Be prepared for a few rough shaves until you get the hang of it. Also different razors have different "aggressiveness" in the way they hold the blade and how much of the blade is exposed... Since not everyone's face and hair is the same, different types work better for different faces. Mine is very dense, straight and thick (the hairs). The different razors-blades vary as well. Some are sharper. I use a fairly aggressive razor (an old Gillette red-tip) combined with Polsilver "Super Iridium" blades (I've had many types). And that's what works for me like nothing else but it took a year or two to find it. But most combinations gave me better shaves with no irritation compared to cartridges... And I don't even use creams or shave soaps, just shaving oil only.
TL:DR yes. no question about it. but it takes some practice.
omg, at 50 I'm just learning about this. my shaves have been a disaster for 30 years
I am aged 65, so I grew up watching all my male relatives shaving with DE razors, so when I got older I did the same and still do shave with de-razors. I had the advantage of being able to watch and learn how to use these razors, from men who knew no other way. I suppose what I am saying there is a learning curve with a de-razor, fortunately not as steep as a cutthroat, but still a learning curve, but once mastered one very rarely nicks oneself. So to these newbies I would say, take your time, go slow with your De-razor and learn the nuances of the tool and above all enjoy your shave, make the time you are shaving a time of relaxation and contemplation, after all why rush something that you are going to spend your life doing? Yes cartridge razors are more forgiving and maybe a little quicker, but not as satisfying.
After you switch to DE shaving, nothing will bring you back to cartridge!
After ten months and god knows how many nicks, cuts, scrapes and burns, I'm so happy that I went back to cartridges. I've gone from twenty minute ordeals that yielded a dozen cuts to a five minute process, zero cuts and a smoother face. If DE shaving is your thing, knock yourself out but don't assume that everyone will prefer it.
You're right, will not assume a thing like that in the future. But I want to tell you that maybe you have not tried hard enough with the DE. It's a process, you have to learn the way to do it and go through different razors, blades and soaps to achieve a good shave. I have been wet shaving for more than two years now and I have just started to appreciate it thoroughly (current favorite set up Gillette Super Adjustable, Polsilver blade, PAA soap). The traditional way of shaving is all about the experience, no need to rush. Do what's best for you, your skin will thank you!
I'm with cugamer.
I think in general, guys with normal skin and moderate beards will have a better experience with DE shaving. Those with either super sensitive or problem skin, coupled with a 'barbed wire' beard may not find DE shaving beneficial (I count myself within this group).
I've personally found shaving with a good cartridge, using proper wet shave method (amply lathering with brush and quality soaps, pre-shave, etc) delivers a perfect shave without 'gotchas' and painful red welts all over the face. Also, those who have continuing issues with DE shaving may impart permanent shaving scars on their skin over time - not good!
The only real drawback to cartridge shaving (for most) is cost; however with some online exploration one can often find great deals on the replacement blades. Heck, I just got 9 Fusion carts with a Proshield handle for $25.00 delivered. Yes, carts are more expensive than DE blades, but for some (myself included) comfort, less risk and irritation is worth a few extra bucks.
Happy you've find what suits you best. Personally, I have shaved with cartridges (Mach 3, Original Fusion, Countour/Atra) for years and then I've switched to DE because I was intrigued. After two years and a half I am looking forward to every shave and when I had to shave with the Fusion while flying carry-on only I had a terrible experience. So I think it all comes with what your skin likes best! Dad shaves with a Contour/Atra, Brother shaves with either Mach 3 or Electric (I would turn out red like Santa's robe after one of his shaves) and I use a DE every two to three days. Thank you for replying and have a good one
The guy who cuts himself with the DE is doing it wrong... duhh! It's just pressure and speed though. I've even found that angle isn't too important. You get used to it. Haven't cut myself in 9 years. opened myself up only a couple times in the beginning. now I can whip over my face so fast in a hurry, completely dry, no product and zero irritation. The only thing manlier would be to not shave at all.
I've been a DE shaver for almost 2 years now and recently I gave my Gillette Fusion a try and the result was almost the same - tugging and pulling. Sadly, all the DE shavers I know are from far away and when I talk with my friends and family about DE shaving, they think im crazy since according to them no one is shaving like that anymore and they don't know anyone except me and maybe a few old people.
It's catching on with the young guys who don't want to grow full beards. It's gonna make a serious comeback.
Emanuel My family tells me the same thing. They tell me no one uses safety razors anymore.
lol that's the exact same situation with me. Switched to DE safety razors because I couldn't tolerate how overpriced cartridges were and I haven't looked back - infinity times a better and more comfortable shave. My dad and brother think I'm mad though and laugh at me for it.
Emanuel dear, DE gives you best and less irritating shave in a less amount..... I has been shaving for the last 20 years with Gillette disposable but i switched to DE and found it better than disposable razors......
Literally everyone says I’m crazy because I shave with a safety razor. It’s not even that crazy!
For many guys it doesn’t matter. For those of us with tough beards and/or wimpy skin, double edge is just better. The cartridge razors were “invented” by the marketing department.
@@bobjones8321cartridge razors were invented to make money…period.
DE razors were invented to sell blades.
If you are getting nicked and cut using a DE razor you have a crappy razor, bad blades, or horrible technique.
DE razors are superior to any cartridge. If you don’t agree then you are doing something wrong.
I switched about 3 months ago from a cartridge razor. 27 vintage razors, alot of history, and a lot of learning has led me to the clearest skin I have ever had on my neck and face. I could not believe the difference in the two methods...
I used an electric razor for about 15 years because cartridge razors were so uncomfortable. Then I found out about DE razors. I'll never go back.
Anyone else find yourself contorting your face to help him shave?
It's been 4 years now since I started wet shaving with a DE razor and I've never looked back since.
Me with cartridge razors: Hated shaving.
Me with safety razors and shavettes: Love shaving!
f s me exactly
I can relate to this.
I use a DE for cost reasons but a Gillette Fusion always gave me a great shave. I used exactly the same soap and brush I use with the DE and i was able to get a very smooth shave in one pass.
Same, I’ve recently switched to DE, it’s pretty good still got a lot of technique work to do. The fusion was a great efficient shave in one pass. If my hair had grown for like 3 or 4 days I would always trim it down with a trimmer first then shave
Gillette is dead to me. This week, I purchased a German double-edge safety razor to compliment my regular straight edge shave. I use it for the finishing pass. So much better than the multi-blade cartridges I've been wasting time and money on for decades.
I have a Muhle R41 1964 Gillette Slim Adjustable and a 1949 SuperSpeed. Hey there was nothing wrong with Gillette’s manly-ness thoes 2 eras of razors I got lol it’s only recently they got dudes mad. Hell no I’m not going to trash my nice ass Gillette safety razors over a cony ad LOL. I’m wondering if the German DE u got is the R-41 if so welcome to the club
Agreed. DE shaving is far superior. The clogging up of cartridges drove me nuts plus the de just gives you much closer smoother shave. Slight learning curve but definitely worth it.
I got that problem with cartridge and when I go to my barber he uses a straight razor i totally feel the difference of it i feel like my face is more smoother no ingrow hair and pimple either and i been doing my homework on straight razor shave and your videos have convince me to get one. You guys been really educating to me and now I cant wait to get my straight razor from you guys. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
So ive been shaving every day for 21 years for my job. Allways hated using any razor, reusables, disposables, and electric. Electric was never close enough, and pretty much every razor pulled like in your video.
About a month ago i switch to a DE razor from merkur. Using astra blades. I was blown away from the first shave, and dont plan on ever going back. Thanks to your video for explaineing everything.
I am looking forward to teaching my little guy to use one of these instead of the much more expensive disposables.
I always dreaded my monday morning shaves if i hadnt shaved over the weekend. Just recently i went 2 weeks without shaving, and the DE cut through everything easily, and was so comfortable.
Thanks for your video.
What made me look into switching was that the single precision blade on the back of my fusion always seemed more comfortable and cut longer hair easier. That was got me thinking in the first plave, and the rest is history
Gillette's new ad sent me here for a new brand to use.
Good man! I started 3 years ago with the DE.....Loved every second... thinking of buying a new one just to try a different brand....found BAILI Wet Shaving Twin-bladed Safety Razor Retro Chrome Long Handle. $13 (amazon)..... plus 5 extra blades.....from what I hear it's a good beginners safety razor. This price is a steal....thus my interest...Fuck Gillette.
Gillette can blow me. Double Edge Razors and better and Cheaper.
Probably the best thing to come from the dumpster-fire Gillette advert is it will guide so many guys to finally try DE, and likely never go back to cartridges. And the money you can save per year is a real bonus.
The ad that encourages husbands to not beat on their wives and not sexually harass women? Dude, if you were offended by that ad it's because you're a piece of shit.
@@Weeble_Warbles You Leftists are Vile Scum Bags. Nothing Good can come from you. The Dead can only wish death on others.
Good afternoon Matt! This comparison demonstrates the limitations of a cartridge razor. As a daily shaver, a cartridge can be used successfully. If there is more than a few days growth...a cartridge easily clogs and pulls the hair rather than cuts cleanly. In my opinion, the can of goo helps clog the cartridge. A better result can be had by using traditional lather..from a cream or soap. Yes, the DE wins the challenge for the best and most enjoyable shave! Thanks a million Matt.
Switched to DE shaving 6 months ago
I'd be afraid to turn back.
Couldn't shave more than every other day. Got tons of irritation and ingrown hairs. Now a perfect shave EVERY day.
No going back!
Matt, you should grow back the goatee- but shape it a bit narrower to make your face look thinner
Cheers- thanks for another great video.
You helped me learn when I started out!
It took me nearly 10 years and an encounter with my grandpa's old DE razor to get me away from cartridge razors and shaving cream in a can. I have been using a DE razor and a straight razor for almost two years now and I would never go back! I no longer have skin irritation and do not see shaving as a chore anymore. Sometimes the old ways are just the best!
Just got into DE shaving two weeks ago. I purchased a Henson Medium razor and I’m using Astra blades. I love it so far. I shave my face and head and I’m never going back!
This would have been fairer if you’d used a Mach 3 or Sensor Excel.
ShabbaRanks MF It would not have changed anything.
fusion proglide
nicky21111 Proglide has 5 blades in one big, fat cartidge? Damn. Sensor is the last reasonable cartridge system. Small, narrow 2 blade cartridge, no bullshit. 2 pass shave with sensor is reasonable, results in 4 blade passes. Mach3 is bigger, harder to manouver and 2 pass shave gives 6 passes of the blade on the skin. That's a lot.
Big_Galch I agree, they are overpriced. Also DE blades work by cutting, carts work by scrubbing. Scrubbing feels awful. But it works. Sensor, Mach3 and Fusion can give good shaves. Fusion Flexball is very good for head shavers. Everybody that says otherwise is radical about shaving. Straight Razor is the best, but it takes the most time. Carts are fastest but the experience and quality is bad. DE safety razors are in the middle, the best balance between time and quality.
Big_Galch that's why I use an electronic razor that can remove my facial hair really well. It may surprise you but it's like a microtouch razor they used to advertise that cost 10 dollars. It doesn't get it super smooth but it gets most of the stubble and long facial hair off with ease. It's changed my shaving life I'd highly recommend if you're looking to save money.
Just personally find better value in my safety Razor. Plus really do enjoy the preparation time which I always hated with disposable razors. Feel like I'm back in the 50'60' when using a safety razor. Really want to try going even more old school and try a straight razor.
Cartridge and throw away razors suck! With good technique. A DE beats them hands down. Great example. I have done this test myself. Big difference between the two!!
I literally thought my cartridges were either shitty or blunt cause the cartridge blade kept pulling at my hair as I was shaving it, but from the looks of it, I'm not the only one who's had this problem.
I'm 5 years too late, but at the exact moment you made the analogy to manual vs automatic transmissions, I was thinking the same thing.
I'm very grateful for the update at the end!
Wish you would of done the mach3. I love wet shaving straight and safety but I still find the mach3 the best shave and done in half the time.
I used to use the Mach 3, it was more comfortable than other cartridge razors but was a nightmare for my sensitive skin (I have VERY sensitive skin). It also left me with ingrown hairs on my neck. Changed to traditional shaving and honestly haven't regretted it once. I still occasionally had razor burn on my neck but switched to using cold water, as I learnt on this channel, now it's a perfect shave every time. I use Edwin jagger de89 with Astra blades.
Same here as with Jay. For the first year or so a DE would take me longer, but no any more. If anything its faster because it doesn't take as many passes.
The mach 3 turbo to this day gives me the best shave. I have tried to get into DE but it just can’t shave my heavy beard as well no matter the blade:
I have a a couple vintage gillettes, the slim and the regular flare tip as well as a couple of the popular german de and while i love them and now going on 6 years can get really good shaves out of them i too get the closest quickest most comfortable shaves with the mach 3. Gillette really hit the nail on the head as far as cartridges go with the mach 3. Which is why its still around 20sum years later.
@@uglyvision Have you tried an open comb razor like the R41?
I know this is an old video, but I come from the torture that was using those bundles of disposable one-blade razors for most, if not all, my young adulthood in 2000s/2010s. I basically shunned shaving whenever possible as I associated it with pain. Sometimes I opted for an electric trimmer, but I really wouldn't get clean cheeks.
Only within the last 2 months did I consider using cartridge razors as I got two trial packs from Dollar Shave Club and Harry's for about $8.50 together, which is about a month's worth of supplies if I shave every day and swap the cartridges out each week (so maybe 2 - 3 months together for my needs). To be fair, I actually had a much better experience and I only nicked or irritated my skin when I started doing two/three passes since I felt my beard was growing back too fast. However, as you demonstrated in this video, I really felt that "you have to paw at it" problem with the cartridge razor and I don't enjoy how much hair I had left on my face. The real benefit of these trial kits is that I got to experience what an actual pre and post-shave does for your skin.
So I started watching various YT channels about DE safety razors lately, which was inspired from my recent change from standard soap products for natural soap options, and I got most of the upfront costs out of the way for a "beginner safety razor" set-up at around $42 with a stand, brush, soap, bowl, razor and 35 razors. I still have my first cartridge razor order to help me get started having a better shave and as a fallback option for the next 4 - 6 months, and by that time I am hoping to swap over to DE razors. I think the best thing I can say from my experience with cartridge razors is that they are a nice transitory option to get to the real deal. (Plus, you can apply some of those products that provide enough protection for your skin to your DE razor, so you don't have to change everything at all once like I did.)
You can literally see how much closer the DE side is over the cartridge. No way I would have used the cartridge on my neck...
This is exactly why I’m looking at your channel. I almost always shave every three days. I’m tired of the triple to five blade cartridge. I have to take them with me when I work but not when I’m home....and not traveling. I went backwards to the two bladed old disposable to see if that helped. It did. Then I decided I needed to check out DE razors for a practical change. Thanks for your channel.
Did my very first DE shave today from 45 years of cartridge shaving! Used to use a Schick Hydro5 and have a light beard. Never get ingrown or irritated shaves - so wonder why switch when I get good shaves from a cartridge .. I know it is cheaper to do DE and love the versatility of shavers and blades - so I bought a Rockewll 6C and shaved on R1 side, with Proraso preshave and Cremo cream... It went well, no nicks or cuts and fairly smooth shave for the first time as I was nervous - I am sure it will get better as I do it. Can see how the whole sensuality of the shaving could be addicting. I am retired now so have more time to do this.... thanks for all your videos... I live in Tucson - see you're in Phoenix.
I started shaving in the early 80's. I would never consider any old-timer solution back then, so I went with the disposable Bic razor with canned cream. Later with Mach3 cartridges and dry electric razors. Guess what : I always felt that shaving was nothing but a chore. I tried DE shaving recently, and that's night and day ! Shaving can be enjoyable, relaxing, pleasurable. It's not only because of the nicer products I use now that the cheeks are really smooth... It's also because of the focus I maintain while DE shaving : it scares the other problems away. And I'm better at fixing them when I'm relaxed.
Thx for sharing
Why is it the opposite for me i just bought a double edge and it feels like its shaving with a blunt saw hitting 1 out of 100 hairs and dragging over the rest while the disposable is slicing through 100% of hairs like butter
What blade did you use?
@@RazorEmporium I was using the gillete king c razors that came with the king c could they be a bad batch?
I shave every couple days but disposables never have any issue at all
I really want to use a double egde though
Im thinking of getting the rex envoy looks the coolest double edge imo! i cant afford the ambassador for adaptability so then i think i will need to try different razors. Is that a good choice?
@@bobjones8321 i bought the rex envoy and its perfect dood. now the cartridge razor feels bad :D
I just got into double edge razors and it's a world of difference. Why anyone would want to groom themselves with cheap plastic crap when you could use a substantial metal razor is beyond me.
Cartridges are made to shave with every day. They are going to clog up with several days growth. DE s are not going to get as close. When I've gone two days without shaving the way to go is with with a one blade razor. Actually I like the Schick Xtreme 2 a great deal because it has a button to push the whiskers out. That is very effective !! So I shave with the grain with the DE or the Extreme 2 , then relather and shave against the grain. That is a great shave. I can shave all day long against the grain. I used to think I had sensitive skin , bit absolutely do not. I think less people have sensitive skin than they think.
i suppose the 5 minute challenge would have been a bloodbath?
Trunker Dixon yes it would have been 😵
Trunker Dixon not really. I’ve been shaving with a straight razor for a while and it only takes me about 5 or 6 minutes if I haven’t let it go for like 2 weeks. If you tried I’m sure you could do 5
Shaving is to be enjoyed. Its not to be rushed.
Trunker Dixon with the double edge
@@RazorEmporium i use a cartridge razor i dont like diposable razors
Fusion for me, head and face. They last about 12-15 shaves. I use and old toothbrush to clean while rinsing.
Hi Matt,
Great job. I reckon our shaving soaps and creams would clog up the disposable razor more.
Since i started DE Shaving 4 years ago my skin looks so much better. I have Eczema and my Dermatologist was very interested as to why my facial skin was in such good condition for my age without any scarring etc.
I explained the Razors and products we use and he was very intrigued, so much so that when i returned 6 months later he remembered what i had said and mentioned it to the Nurses.
Maybe he is a convert too now. Ha Ha.
Steve in Scotland.
I have been shaving for 65 years and have used every razor made , it seems , and I get a much better shave with the cartridge
razor. Starting with the Trac 2 and Atra to the Fusion and I will say that I get just as smooth a shave with the Trac 2 as any razor.
If you like the DE then I think you should stay with it but I would not make a blanket statement and say it is better, just depends
on the person, every beard is different but I will say that from time to time I will shave with a DE to remind me to stay with my
Trac 2 or my Fusion.
Then your technique is horrible using a DE.
Best shaves I ever gotten is with a DE.
Best part is it costs me about $5/year to daily shave my face and head.
Not a fair comparison you needed to use quality shaving cream on both sides of your face not that garbage in a can and you did not use a quality cartridge razor
Vince Villani was thinking the same thing. At least use a fusion or maybe a mach 3.
Actually, the results with the best cartridge razors with a proper lathe are just as good. Just chose what you enjoy most.
I agree that the results can be just as good, but the irritation and cost are definitely not.
He also didn't seem to use any pressure, at the start especially. You have you use pressure when shaving with a cartilage, due to the light weight of the head.
Vince Villani what a quality cartridge razor?
I'm 67 years old. Up until a year and a half ago, I always used a cartridge type or disposable razor. Now, I use a DE. (I will start experimenting, i.e. doing an apprenticeship, with a straight razor probably within 4 to 6 months.) I had a question about the reasonable number of shaves to get from a good DE blade.
For me, because I'm careful, I go slowly and mindfully when shaving. In addition to being a refreshing activity every 3 to 4 days, it seems like a nice "meditation." Because I go slowly, carefully, mindfully, a "streamlined" shave is not my aim or experience (and that's fine). Because of this, I am fine with the 15th or 16th shave I get with the same DE blade. Presently, tomorrow, I'll get my 16th with an Astra blade. Before this blade, I used a Van der Hagen blade, again for 16 shaves. My shaves are slow, but, again, mindful, careful, sure and enjoyable. Does the use I get out of one blade sound wrong to an advanced wet-shaver? (I don't do it out of any desire or attempt to be frugal.)
nice video mate love your videos keep it up man and me too i used to shave with a cartridge razor but it always gave me skin irritation and a lot of ingrown hairs and thats why i changed my shaving style
11:12 if you look closely, you can see the plastic razor actually tugging! That looks painful!
haha, the manual vs automatic is exactly the metaphor that also came up to me when I got used to my safety razor. A manual requires more skill but the amount of control is greater and it's more fun too. Although I think that there still is a difference between let's say a gillette sensor style razor and a gillette mach 3 style of razor where the pivot point is so misplaced that there is a dragging kind of feeling with virtually no control over the amount of pressure (and indeed a tugging feeling as a result and with more then 3 blades the clogging is terrible) vs the sensor style blade where the pivot is right in the middle of the 3 blades and you have more control. So my opinion (so far) is that for a quick close shave with the least skill acquired a sensor 3 type blade is the premium choice (or a wilkinson xtreme 3). And I really don't understand the mis-design of the gillette mach stile razors and I even dare to say that the comeback of the double edge razors is due to this terrible mistake of gillette. If you're prepared to put some skill and fun in shaving, a double edge razor is the premium choice. At this moment I shaved let's say 10 times with a double edge razor and indeed I am hooked also.
EVERY Gillette "improvement" was 100% related to patents and not shaving technology....since 1904.
Yeah, that was a great analogy
Btw on Amazon, you can get 100 DE blades of various brands for
I switched to cartridge razors after 30 years of DE shaving. Why did a wait so long. Key is face prep and a good soap or cream. Additionally the time savings you get with a cartridge is substantial. Marketing Marketing Marketing!!!!!!
You do realize that this is a marketing video, don't you? The man sells DE shaving gear and put on this performance to hype his product.
Great point and i like your choice of words hype his products.
My first time using DE, instantly switched and never going back. By far the superior shaving method
I tried to shave my 3-4 days beard with a DE for the very first time... That was difficult and had to do so many passes... I am not sure I will continue this or not tbh.
I have used straight razors, single edge safety razors, double edge razors and 5 and six blade cartridges cartridge razors, I shave daily face and head I could get a month out of each cartridge, I am presently going back to the double edge, have a feeling after a couple of months I will be going back to cartridge, I am 75 so I have had a lot of shaving experience. I have never notice this pulling you are talking about.
Why use the cheapest cartridge? Why not use a fusion? I’m not a fan of cartridge but this was infomercial material.
Tomorrow's video is with a Fusion. Wish = granted.
I started using my Dad's DE Gillette razor he got in 1946 or '47. The only place on my face I've been hesitant to shave with it is under my nose, so I still use the single blade on the top of the Mach 4 cartridge to shave there.
great comparison. could never go back to carts, just got my wife into de shaving. she can keep her hands of my 6s tho.
I think we all have different ideas on shaving and what works. I had a dermatologist tell me one time after he discovered I was a de shaver that stretching your skin is like shaving with a 2 blade cartridge razor. As the first blade stretches and second blade cuts, and it is the stretching that causes in grown hairs. I am not sure of the science behind his thoughts, but I quit stretching my skin and have not had an ingrown hair for years. I rarely got them anyway, so who knows if there is any truth to his words of wisdom. I think we should all do what works best for us. I know I am looking forward to trying my new adjustable razor that I am hoping is in the mail real soon. Can't wait to try my new Ambassador.
Wisconsin Shaver that makes sense
Haven't been able to shave since my early 20's because of ingrown hairs. I finally tried DE shaving and I'm hooked. No burn or ingrown hairs. I'm in love.
Do u have sensitive skin or not?
I took the straight razor plunge with your beginner kit, I'm looking forward to getting it and trying it out! Hopefully I can master it and get away from these terrible shave club blades... They last like 2 shaves before they start tearing my face apart.
Would have been great to compare both razors using both shaving cream to have a straighter point of comparison.
Brice Denize just what I was going to say. The Edge gel is horrible. Use the full prep on both sides of your face then compare cartridge and DE.
I completely feel you man... the pulling and tugging of cartridge is on another level... i used to shave with cartridges... until one day i bought a 5-blade cartridge for about 1$. Not a famous brand though. I tried to shave with it. Uh man it was a disaster. It pulled and tugged like it was trying to tear my face. I finished with a lot of pain... and that was my starting point of DE. Oh and another thing... i bought gillette fusion proglide with flexball technology... on cheeck area it does good... i was going to say wow im impressed... then i shaved my chin... omg... i dont forget that... it dragged my chin(you dont believe how slow i perform shaving)... and then i saw my chin is bleeding in several points... i truely understand that tugging and pulling pain... its not good man... thank god that i was introduced to DE. And another thing that you noticed is that burning sensation with cartridge... it burns like hell... and im not bragging... cartridge is not for me... i know that by now
Matt is so drama! LOL
I kinda thought he was playing it up a little with the cartridge razor but if you watch his cheek, you can see it shaking a bit where the razor was catching and pulling.
the gillette trac ii and other razors that are similar to the trac ii have a safety razor feel to them even though they are twin blade catridge razors,they have no pivoting head and some catridges don't even have the lubrication strip but finding good catridges for them is hard since major companies don't support twin blades catridge as much.
Please try these old twin blade razors out they are so much better then they're modern counterparts by a mile.
I would like to try proraso white for sensitive skin!!
I'd also like to try their after shave!
Skin stretching works because, on certain parts of the face, the skin is relaxed and softer, with more possibility of binding and getting a nick. When you stretch the skin, it firms the shaving path allowing for a smoother glide with less chance of nicks. Stretching eliminates that by creating a flatter surface.
this morning used a safety for the first time since 1990. after my skin felt sore after a really close shave. know I will have to relearn the right angle to get the glide. your right about the cartridge blades getting clogged reason I switched
"Disposable Cartridge".
It actually says the meaning by itself. Dispose it.
DE Forever. Good video sir.
hahah good!
Just did my first wet shave with a shavette switching directly from a cartridge today and ill never go back. The 5 blades irritated my skin so bad especially the neck going with the grain. Against the grain was just out of the question but i had the best shave of my life today even with my inexperience with a straight style razor (no nicks at all to my surprise). Sometimes the classic way is the best way. Would reccomend to all even just for the experience. Its pretty cool to do. Im a freshman in college and this works for me fine with dorm living to any teenage people thinking about switching as well.
Tyler Harrison which shavette are you using?
Will I get a closer shave with a straight razor(the one with the strop), or with a DE?
Im now using straight razor, but the ones with replace blades(i use astra), and i cant get a close shave,
(shaving with the hair, not against)
Have you tried different blades?
@@RazorEmporium Just astra, gillete silver, persona(worst). Also tried with hot towel but i cant get close shave. Im shaving downwards of course
Try cold water shaving
@@RazorEmporium I´ll try it. Thanks from Madrid
It's crazy how much a DE will save you over a lifetime compared to using modern shaving equipment, and it seems that you have such a better experience shaving traditionally too. I just bought a 1964 Gillette Slim adjustable, with some Astra Platinum blades, and I can't wait to shave
I am going to be brave in admitting I am an adult woman with severe PCOS symptoms since I was 12. For two decades I've tried exclusively electric shaving--and I had a couple of good ones, except after those I could never get good shaves again even from expensive devices built for men. And cartridge shaving is an absolute no for me, the very moment it touches my face I feel that awful tug and nope out (I *felt* those sounds your face made, oof). Tugging, burning, bumps, every electric shave even using multiple-purpose heads leaves me suffering. I've finally had it and I'm researching these safety razors (I am not brave enough for straight razor yet, no accidental Sweeney Todd'ing for me thanks) and it's been comforting to see even women (albeit with less severe hair) making the switch to these old school bad boys. And maybe I hope this comment could bring more awareness for women with my condition to find better ways of managing it, and to find non-judgemental help in finding the solutions that work for each of us.
oil on the skin + if not from the smaller more gentle epilators, a normal one?
6 years ago, when I still used multi-blade shavers, I'd have to use an old toothbrush to unclog the stubble from between the blades
Double edge razors rinse clean every time
Great video. I was wincing along with you!
tbh even though i switched to a DE recently and i love it, i must say you're using the cartridge razor totally wrong. Cartridge razors work better with longer single strokes. The reason they are tugging and pulling is because they're designed that way. One blade pulls and the other cuts and so on and so forth. With a cartridge razor you can have a BBS shave very fast. The downside though is an uncomfortable shave with razor bumps, irritation and ingrown hairs because they cut under the surface of the skin, and of course you miss out on the experience a DE shave can provide. I love the ritual now while before i loathed it even though my shave would take a fraction of the time, especially for me because i also shave my head. (head+ face) Cartridge razor time: 5 minutes, DE razor time: 20 minutes. But yeah that's a half hour that i enjoy and that joy carries over for the few hours
I use a Wilkinson Sword Classic and a badger brush from whippeddog. The razor always drags below the chin and on the neck. Is it the lack of a proper lather, my technique with the razor or poor prep that causes irritation?
probably angle. maybe try different blades too
@@RazorEmporium Thanks.
Hey there. I guess I'm the only one on here who thinks the cartridge razor gave me a smoother shave. I guess I must be doing something wrong. I just shaved with safely razor and it definitely doesn't feel as close. Maybe I need to switch to proraso sensitive skin? I don't know but this is only my second time. Any pointers?
What blades did you use? What razor? Thx
Hey thanks for the quick response. I used the King C. Gillette razor with the King C. Gillette blades
I don't have the same experience as you. I use a DE for face and a disposable for my head. I have a mole on my head and on the side of my face. Until I get them surgically removed, I find it easier, and safer, to use the disposable razor for these. After I get them removed I will use exclusively DE razor.
The Gillette fusion is very close only difference I could find is the massive price difference in the U.K £18 to £24 for 8 I bought 20 double edge for £3.99
Compared a new Mach 3 with a DE and new feather blade after one day of growth on my medium beard. Both work well just different.
I usually use a newfangled AC style safety razor nowadays. Usually a Brass General. And my backup is a DE, Vintage Slim. I also occasionally use my Ralf Aust straight. The only halfway decent cartridge razor nowadays, at least IMO, is Harry's. I still use new ones as they come out every few years just to see what they're like. I dont particularly like the Fusion due to aggression and the Dorcos from Dollar Shave are a little to mean on my skin as well but the Harry's is great for a cart.
Yeah, the cartridge razor is just sad in comparison. Why it was even invented is beyond me. Only reason I can see is corporate greed.
Pretty much. I just don’t understand why anyone would ever use a cartridge razor after finding a safety razor. I’m pretty sure safety razors will soon dominate again
it's because King Gillette, got a contract with the US army in WWII
Why switch in my case?
I never had ingrown hair or irritation 🤷🏻♂️ and I simply don't buy the claim that cutting the hair slightly UNDER the skin level will deliver a LESS smooth shave than the DE cut AT skin level.
If cost is the only advantage left for me, then why switch? A hundred dollars more a year are worth the greater convenience, for me.
It would be different if the DE shave were ACTUALLY smoother than the cartridge, but I simply don't buy that, sorry 🤷🏻♂️
That's fine. It's not for everyone.
@@RazorEmporium you seem honest. And fair.
I use a Fusion Pro-glide Can you say that a DE shave will feel smoother, all other parameters being equal?
With sincere heart, I seek the closest shave.
If you affirm that, yes, a DE Will feel smoother, I'll go ahead and try, and I will then revert honestly.
What DE set up should I test?
Your videos, among others, contributed to my decision to switch to DE. But the fact that I have my granddad’s DE somewhere, and have found the Old Spice shaving cup, was just as important. Still waiting for my new stuff to arrive from Amazon.
However, although I think your points are valid all around, a cartridge really doesn’t do a bad job. I’m never in a close shave contest. And I shave in the shower. Often using shampoo as soap. And so I get the job done while relaxing in the shower. And that is the part I’ll miss. It will be interesting to see if I like the DE so much that I give up using the cartridge for an extremely quick and relaxing shave in the shower.
I like DE but this video is not just comparing de vs cartridge. A cartridge will give you just as decent if not a better shave with the same prep.
Aaron Thoming perhaps it will do great for you but not for everyone.
Aaron Thoming as he said it doesn’t work for everyone, but for me I have to shave every other day, and I have gone through dozens of dozens of cartridge razors.
No matter the prep I will always get drag, cuts, and irritation, and never really smooth shaving.
I went from cartridge to Straight Edge over a year ago because I felt used and cartridges it's darn expensive in comparison with a SE over a lifetime. And I went into SE with the mindset that if millions of Muppets have successfully shaved with a knife for hundreds of years, why should I not be victorious in that field... Sure it is took me a month to get the hang of the basics and the Mrs called me Scarface. 😎 But now there is no settling for the third choice: Cartridges... 👍
I used to use a cartridge, before I made the switch to a safety, and, a safety razor wins, every time, hands down. Furthermore, the fact that I’m not paying an arm, and a leg for each time I shave with a safety razor really makes me, and my wallet feel better. Safety razors do have a big of a learning curve at first, but, it's much more efficient, and close than a cartridge razor.
Bit* not big, sorry.
just started traditional shaving a few months ago. looking back the Gillette cartridges i used dont compare to a DE or an SE. But more than that is the whole experience its relaxing. i like to shave after a long days work ( i work till late). Just super nice.
I beg to differ. I just tried this experiment and saw that the Gillette razor worked just as well as the double edge razor. AND I cut myself with the double edge razor a lot more than I would have with the Gillette. I am conflicted since I've been told that the double edge razor is the cleanest shave you can go (other than single blade razors). I feel a lot more irritation with the double edge. For my experiment, I cleaned my face with a tea tree oil/sugar scrub, rinsed, and applied barbasol cream. I then shaved one side with a double edge razor and the other with a Gillette razor. AND the Gillette seemed to work better! I hate to play into capitalistic ideals but for me the Gillette razor seemed to work better. Is there something that I am doing wrong? Maybe I am just inexperienced since this was the second time shaving with a double edge; but, I think that gillette razors are not as bad as these guys play them to be. Sure they cost more and appeal to this "American" and "manly" archetype, but they do work. Any insight?
You missed to use after shave based alchol to really show the difference .you will feel huge burns on the cartidge side
Matt: It appears that you just got a lousy cartridge. Recently, I had a GEM SE carbon steel blade that came out of the wrapper dull like the razor in this video, and was quickly discarded, but I've generally had good results with GEM SEs. It would be interesting to see your channel compare DEs with better cartridges, like the Fusion, the TrackII (which Gillette still makes in India and calls the 7 O'clock PII), and the Gillette Guard single blade. I've done comparisons with each, and I think your viewers would like your comments on them. For my part, just now I'm alternating days with a vintage Schick Injector having an NOS Personna 74 blade, and a Gillette Guard cartridge. The 74 has done nine shaves and still performs almost as new, but the surprise is that the Guard has kept pace fully. I've gotten nine equally outstanding shaves with each, and expect to continue doing so. This morning, for comparison, I used a Black Handle Super Speed with a drug store blade (which is suspect is a Personna platinum chrome in disguise) and got the same outstanding result as with the injector and the Guard. So the performances of all three are indistinguishable. I would never give up my DEs and SEs, but I suspect that the issue really comes down to price, and, secondarily, environmental impact (cartridges are expensive and use a lot of plastic). And fun: I agree, cartridges are no fun, particularly trying to maneuver under one's nose.
You are preaching to the converted.I used to use carts and I remember when I tried to shave with some cheap cart LIDL was selling. I needed two carts to finish a shave.
used double edge with gillette shave cream. Lots of knicks. Would the cream be the reason or is it my inexperience. want to switch but if the knicks keep happening don't know if i want to continue using double edge razor
I used this video as a tutorial and have had no knicks or burns yet. The key is patience and angle of approach. Also shaving cream is a must
ruclips.net/video/KZDPEogOU34/видео.html
Also make sure you aren't using too much pressure. If you are using the same amount of pressure as your cartridge razors it's too much. You may also have too aggressive a blade. Try a sample pack. This type of shaving lends itself to more experimenting; it's way more customizable to your face.
Great review. I have used a 2 edge for years and use to use a Mach 3. It’s nice to have a better explanation of the differences between the 2 shaves. The price difference between the 2 edge blades and the cartridges is crazy.
Not entirely a fair test perhaps. The multi-blade cartridges do poorly on 3+ days of growth. You're supposed to use them everyday or every other day, otherwise the blades clog from the longer hairs.
Is there any stubble left from the Safety Razor? with the Cartridge razor there is always stubble left if I don't also shave against the hair growth
I just don’t like the cheap disposable razors, when it causes an ingrown hair, razor burn, and nicks. Also, I preferred the safety razor blades for a comfortable close shave and I liked using it.
All disposable razors did for me was give me razor burn and ingrown hairs until I found the DE's 20+ years ago. Bought a straight razor a while back and now have stones, leather and pastes to make strops, but it definitely wasn't shave ready new and reminded me of the old days of using disposables. Hope to have my straight sharp before too long, as well as every knife in the house.
I just tried a Dorco Classic - 7 Blades!
It was actually pretty good!
I normally use an Ed Jagger 89 for reference.
Sorry, but I use a Fusion in the shower with Dial soap and I get a closer, faster shave than what it looks like you're getting. I would say I have a moderate to heavy beard as well. I have tried the "professional" shave methods and I've always been unsatisfied with the shave while spending more money. :/
Anytime you shave in the shower it's gonna be fast and easy. The hair and skin is so soft. It comes down to a quality DE blade though to make the dry shave possible. So quick.
First time I used a DE i got horrible razor burn. But after the minor learning curve I will never go back to cartridge shaving
The shaving cream makes a big difference.
I use proraso puck and its a much, much smoother shave opposed to can shaving cream.
I use a Gillette Fusion Proglide Styler and i get a nice, close shave and I never get cut.
I am thinking about investing in a safety razor but reluctant. If it's not broke, you know.