Gillette Fusion - Credit where credit is due

I just cant get a good shave from a Gillette Fusion Power. Brand new blades feel very un-sharp. I do get a better shave with it now I have learned to use a DE razor (almost), but 3 passes Fusion vs 3 passes DE is no contest.
 
Curious to know if the Flexball /Proglide makes a difference to the shave experience, over the standard Fusion. Read mixed reports where some find it a gimmick.

Never used one myself, and often consider buying a version of the Fusion. Seems to be so much choice! :oops:
 
I prefer the Flexball over the fixed head @Glen_Lee ... but I couldn't tell you why. I think the Power format is a gimmick. I've not tried the heated format of the Labs razor.

Sitting here thinking if I can quantify the difference, perhaps if you're one of those shavers who prefers to make long uninterrupted strokes then the Flexball perhaps has the edge < you need to do less for the razor to follow your contours while maintaining contact and efficiency, but any experienced shaver will be autonomously making those adjustments with a fixed head.

So ... still dunno.

What I do know is that I prefer the ProGlide cartridge over all the others. I can get 15-18 day one type shaves from that after which the gloop strip starts to die off but I can still get another maybe 10-12 shaves off the cartridge before a "three and done ... few exceptions" rule DE shaver starts to feel the cartridge is beyond its best for me.

Curveball? Check out the Labs Exfoliating. This is one I have used and it's a lovely mechanism, fixing all the foibles of the existing Flexball (like tatty rubber skirt over time) and the cartridge lasts (for me) as well as the ProGlide. Roughly 20-30 shaves per cartridge - that's 25p per shave, dropping to 15p per shave (ish) if you squeeze more out. Expensive, yes, compared to DE blades ... but the number that I can get satisfactory shaves from say an Artist Club blade puts that at about 15p per shave (for me).

Oooh! Shiny ... or rather, not shiny. Glowing!


Yoink! Ordered.

... or there's a Limited Edition chrome & black ProGlide on eBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254605932171 < Buy it now (not a live auction)

... or an all-black hypebeast (ProGlide): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185776072167 < Buy it now (not a live auction)
 
Curious to know if the Flexball /Proglide makes a difference to the shave experience, over the standard Fusion. Read mixed reports where some find it a gimmick.

Never used one myself, and often consider buying a version of the Fusion. Seems to be so much choice! :oops:
not so sure about the flexball per se, but I do have the proshield (I think?) that has both the flexball and the power. I bought it because it was on sale although I thought: nah, it must be another gimmick thing. I believe the power makes most of the difference compared to my standard fusion, which I don't use anymore. Moral of the story: I bought another proshield power razor to keep as a spare. Super smooth, comfortable and close shave. For me at least ;)
 
not so sure about the flexball per se, but I do have the proshield (I think?) that has both the flexball and the power. I bought it because it was on sale although I thought: nah, it must be another gimmick thing. I believe the power makes most of the difference compared to my standard fusion, which I don't use anymore. Moral of the story: I bought another proshield power razor to keep as a spare. Super smooth, comfortable and close shave. For me at least ;)
At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. Getting smooth your way.
 
I prefer the Flexball over the fixed head @Glen_Lee ... but I couldn't tell you why. I think the Power format is a gimmick. I've not tried the heated format of the Labs razor.

Sitting here thinking if I can quantify the difference, perhaps if you're one of those shavers who prefers to make long uninterrupted strokes then the Flexball perhaps has the edge < you need to do less for the razor to follow your contours while maintaining contact and efficiency, but any experienced shaver will be autonomously making those adjustments with a fixed head.

So ... still dunno.

What I do know is that I prefer the ProGlide cartridge over all the others. I can get 15-18 day one type shaves from that after which the gloop strip starts to die off but I can still get another maybe 10-12 shaves off the cartridge before a "three and done ... few exceptions" rule DE shaver starts to feel the cartridge is beyond its best for me.

Curveball? Check out the Labs Exfoliating. This is one I have used and it's a lovely mechanism, fixing all the foibles of the existing Flexball (like tatty rubber skirt over time) and the cartridge lasts (for me) as well as the ProGlide. Roughly 20-30 shaves per cartridge - that's 25p per shave, dropping to 15p per shave (ish) if you squeeze more out. Expensive, yes, compared to DE blades ... but the number that I can get satisfactory shaves from say an Artist Club blade puts that at about 15p per shave (for me).

Oooh! Shiny ... or rather, not shiny. Glowing!


Yoink! Ordered.

... or there's a Limited Edition chrome & black ProGlide on eBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254605932171 < Buy it now (not a live auction)

... or an all-black hypebeast (ProGlide): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185776072167 < Buy it now (not a live auction)
I love mine , I’ve got one of each , silver and the black edition , I’ve always had a preference for Gillette over Wilkinson Sword cartridges .
They look good stood in the stands .
 
I prefer the Flexball over the fixed head @Glen_Lee ... but I couldn't tell you why. I think the Power format is a gimmick. I've not tried the heated format of the Labs razor.

Sitting here thinking if I can quantify the difference, perhaps if you're one of those shavers who prefers to make long uninterrupted strokes then the Flexball perhaps has the edge < you need to do less for the razor to follow your contours while maintaining contact and efficiency, but any experienced shaver will be autonomously making those adjustments with a fixed head.

So ... still dunno.

What I do know is that I prefer the ProGlide cartridge over all the others. I can get 15-18 day one type shaves from that after which the gloop strip starts to die off but I can still get another maybe 10-12 shaves off the cartridge before a "three and done ... few exceptions" rule DE shaver starts to feel the cartridge is beyond its best for me.

Curveball? Check out the Labs Exfoliating. This is one I have used and it's a lovely mechanism, fixing all the foibles of the existing Flexball (like tatty rubber skirt over time) and the cartridge lasts (for me) as well as the ProGlide. Roughly 20-30 shaves per cartridge - that's 25p per shave, dropping to 15p per shave (ish) if you squeeze more out. Expensive, yes, compared to DE blades ... but the number that I can get satisfactory shaves from say an Artist Club blade puts that at about 15p per shave (for me).

Oooh! Shiny ... or rather, not shiny. Glowing!


Yoink! Ordered.

... or there's a Limited Edition chrome & black ProGlide on eBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254605932171 < Buy it now (not a live auction)

... or an all-black hypebeast (ProGlide): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185776072167 < Buy it now (not a live auction)
Thank you, Paul. Sorry for the late reply.

I was in the local B&M today - they have the Skinguard with Flexiball & Power for a little of 5 British pounds. I was rushing and didnt have time to pay much attention, but for the price I will nip back and get one. Not fussed about the power option, but heads are interchangeable + the Skinguard seems to be held in high regards on this, and other shaving forums. Worth a punt!

I'll also have a look at the exfoliating razor too. Interestingly, I watched a couple of Youtube reviews of the heated razor, and it really appeals to me, but not my wallet!

Richard
 
I buy the cheapest orange fusion 5 blades and use a flexiball handle. I am convinced of the shaving enhancement that the flexiball gives over the rigid head.

IMO, formed over many years, power doesn't add anything noticable to the shave, nor do the ever more elaborate snot strips and micro combs.

A definite advantage can be gained by regularly sloshing the cartridge around in water whilst shaving, as the gap between blades is easily clogged.
 
Thought it was time to try a Gillette 5 blader...

Having the power handle version of the Skinguard - picked up some orange Fusion 5 blades & popped one on. Been shaving with it for the past few days.

Got to say, I'm very impressed. I have been hesitant to try the Fusion. Once used a WS Hydro 5 & disliked the experience. I found the Fusion blade to be night and day compared to the WS.

The power function does nothing for me, and switched it off. Perhaps the weight of the battery added to the experience, not just the heft. Got to say - the shaves are irritation free & closer than any other shave I have probably had. I have read comments on here about it being boring. I guess it is, but I'm enjoying this new setup.
 
I don't think I've tried the Hydro 5, but I have tried the Hydro 3 and disliked it. It was like there was a slightly positive exposure (and I nicked myself with it, even with the least pressure I could use), the blades weren't very smooth, the Hydro gloop really annoyed me, the head was bulky...
Their "Barber's Style The Designer Razor" was much better, but the blades doesn't seem to last very long before getting rougher.
BiC Flex 2 is pretty mech - will do the job, but the blades aren't very smooth.

I remember having used Gillette Mach 3 some seven years ago and remember it lasting for over 10 shaves on the cartridge that with with the handle.
The Guard lasted even longer, about 15 shaves.

But despite all that, something like a Henson Al13 give me comparable results. Even the lowly Baili BD176 does just as well. Except DE blades don't last as long.
The biggest difference is that razors with pivot are effortlessly consistent across the shaved area, whereas razors without pivot require some more work and concentration.

But the Broman, Leaf, Focus Dynamic R48 and possibly the Shavent fill in that gap.
The OneBlade would, too, if the blades wouldn't last so poorly.
 
IMO, the 5 blade Gillette's give a shave that "appears" to be as close as a DE, but with less drama and much quicker.

However, i am convinced the stubble grows back much quicker from a 5 blade cart shave, compared to a DE where i seem to feel "shaved" for much longer - there is also a difference i cant quantify, whereby the DE shave just seems "nicer" afterwards.

I settled some time back on a process of carefull 4 pass DE shave, then wash it all off and let it settle for a minute or two, then run the Fusion 5 lightly over the difficult areas to touch-up and finish, just using very wet face as a lube = the very best BBS shave (for me anyway)
 
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