Reachy
New Member
Hi All
When will the shaving war stop escalating? When I first started shaving my father bought me a single bladed Wilkinson Sword razor and luckily my still very soft facial hair didn't put up much resistance to it's sharpend steel edge and as such my innocent pubescent face received little trauma other than the odd clumsy nick soon remedied with a small square of toilet paper. As I grew older and my "beard" started to toughen up shaving became a much more painful experience with plenty cuts and rashes. I upgraded to a twin bladed razor and my shaving experience was again, although not what could be described as pleasant, at least bareable. And thats where the cutting edge of shaving technology remained for many years - 2 blades was the best a man could get.
Then about 6 or 7 years ago the remarkable innovation that is the Mach 3 hit the supermarket shelves and took shaving to the next level. Many people poo pooed the breakthrough; surely simply adding an extra blade can't enhance male grooming that much? Many people resisted the change and indeed it was a different experience not only because of the 50% extra bladage but also the way that the blades moved and were hinged; it required a slight change in technique, something that some of the old-timers couldn't get used to. To them the safety razor blade was the first and last revolution in facial hair removal, they couldn't cope with NASA style shaving! For me and a lot a shavers in the UK the Mach 3 did make a significant difference and definitely improved that early morning chore. I couldn't go back to 2 blades and a "conventional" razor and when through necessity I've had to it has been a painful and unpleasant experience.
So now to the next level. Sure we've had the 4 bladed Quattro but that was never really a step change. They simply added an extra 2 blades to their exisitng technology; it wasn't development, it was one upmanship and to my mind it failed.
So my question, is a five bladed razor much better than a 3 or even a 2 bladed version? I only ask because the new Gillette Fusion is about to be launched in the UK and I understand that you guys in the US have had it for the last 6 months. Is it any good? Is it worth the 10% extra they are asking for the already over-priced replacement blades? Does the added functionality with the new cutting device for tricky to get to areas work? Should I buy one? (Of course as an early adopter and gadget freak I will regardless of what you say)
So where next in the razor wars? 6 blades, 7 blades, 10 blades, 100 blades, portable lazer hair removal, where will the madness end??
Cheers
Reachy
Ps. Sorry, I was bored!
When will the shaving war stop escalating? When I first started shaving my father bought me a single bladed Wilkinson Sword razor and luckily my still very soft facial hair didn't put up much resistance to it's sharpend steel edge and as such my innocent pubescent face received little trauma other than the odd clumsy nick soon remedied with a small square of toilet paper. As I grew older and my "beard" started to toughen up shaving became a much more painful experience with plenty cuts and rashes. I upgraded to a twin bladed razor and my shaving experience was again, although not what could be described as pleasant, at least bareable. And thats where the cutting edge of shaving technology remained for many years - 2 blades was the best a man could get.
Then about 6 or 7 years ago the remarkable innovation that is the Mach 3 hit the supermarket shelves and took shaving to the next level. Many people poo pooed the breakthrough; surely simply adding an extra blade can't enhance male grooming that much? Many people resisted the change and indeed it was a different experience not only because of the 50% extra bladage but also the way that the blades moved and were hinged; it required a slight change in technique, something that some of the old-timers couldn't get used to. To them the safety razor blade was the first and last revolution in facial hair removal, they couldn't cope with NASA style shaving! For me and a lot a shavers in the UK the Mach 3 did make a significant difference and definitely improved that early morning chore. I couldn't go back to 2 blades and a "conventional" razor and when through necessity I've had to it has been a painful and unpleasant experience.
So now to the next level. Sure we've had the 4 bladed Quattro but that was never really a step change. They simply added an extra 2 blades to their exisitng technology; it wasn't development, it was one upmanship and to my mind it failed.
So my question, is a five bladed razor much better than a 3 or even a 2 bladed version? I only ask because the new Gillette Fusion is about to be launched in the UK and I understand that you guys in the US have had it for the last 6 months. Is it any good? Is it worth the 10% extra they are asking for the already over-priced replacement blades? Does the added functionality with the new cutting device for tricky to get to areas work? Should I buy one? (Of course as an early adopter and gadget freak I will regardless of what you say)
So where next in the razor wars? 6 blades, 7 blades, 10 blades, 100 blades, portable lazer hair removal, where will the madness end??
Cheers
Reachy
Ps. Sorry, I was bored!
Also my first electric was a WW2 relic from my grandad that had 2 power settings. I switched it to high and had I not taken it away from my face at the particular time I did the 2 rotating cutters would have spiralled into my cheek and shreaded it as they literally drilled their way through the so called protective grill. Deadly! 