Battle of the Blades: Cartridge vs. Double Edge Safety Razor Comparison
Battle of the Blades: Cartridge vs. Double Edge Safety Razor Comparison
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I switched to double-edge safety razors from cartridges about a year ago. I DO NOT regret it at all! First off, it's cheaper. I bought an inexpensive Merkur ($40). Which is what many multi-pack cartridges cost. Then I ended up going through my grandfather's old cabinets and found well over a thousand unopened Gillette razor blades from the early-mid 1960's. So I have a lifetime supply of blades for free!
The best thing is, I used to get razor burn from the cartridges. But have yet to have a nick or hint of razor burn using the safety razor.
You don't have to keep doing these safety razor v cartridge razor showdowns, Matt. I think you've suffered enough 😂
I’ve been DE shaving over 10 years now. I think I tried every cartridge that was on the market back then (a few electrics too). Ingrown hairs, pimples, irritation, and short lived expensive cartridges with EVERY shave. So I grew a beard for a while and I didn’t care for that either. Then I found the DE/wet shaving world and never looked back. I remember I tried the dollar shave club and with the one and only shave with their product I nearly severed my entire face off my head. So many nicks. Started with a Merkur 34C. The learning curve for a safety razor isn’t that bad and there is just no better way to shave that I’ve found.
Hey Matt, great review and shave but plz don’t use those crapy disposables. A decent cart razor is the regular Skinguard or Schick Hydro. They are some decent cartridges, expensive and not something you will absolutely love but wayyyyy better than those disposables. Also, I say this with a lot of love and positivity; you are a God with Safety razors, but the cart technique needs a little work 😂
Why do people even use catridge razors? I used it too, but since I began using a safety razor, I never went back, except for 1 time. That was to remember myself what a great gift God has given me by discovering the safety razor.
When i first started shaving as a teenager I used an electric shaver. The first time I used a Gillette cartridge razor it blows my mind with the experience of manual shaving. Now around ten years have passed, I switched to DE and it blows my mind again. It makes me wonder how cartridge drives DE out of the market. Anyway it is good to see that safety razors appear to have been coming back.
I can’t imagine using one of those cartridges again, where my hair is coarse and thick, talk about trying to beat the hair out of one of those things lol, I’m loving my factory nickel revamp A2 1955 red tip heavy razor that I got from razor emporium. Matt is a great guy to work with.
How i can get very smooth face? My skin is sensitive and my shaving techique is not very good
Matt, keep us updated of the cartridge razor gave you in grown whiskers. Switched to DE several years ago and never looked back, hardly any in grown whiskers or razor burns. Just started using the Rex 1966 aftershave and loving it.
I switched back to carts after 20 years so much better easy on the face no ingrown hairs and less time standing in front of a mirror and a cost savings not having to buy all the shave gear. Good prep is all you need. Save your money and time.
I have used De for many years I now look forward to a shave and I can get a much better shave just wish I had done this in the British army I wouldn't have got punishment as much for a poor shave thank you again form Scarborough North Yorkshire
Using the Mach III cartridges for over 24 years now (after switching from electric), skin irritation in my case is more down to the direction of shaving and very much the shaving creme/soap/gel used than to anything else.
A cousin of mine has did a 3 years hairdresser/barber apprenticeship years ago, and so she had to learn to shave with a straight razor too. At some point, she needed someone for practice before her exam, and so a few of us male relatives got a barbers shave by her. (they use the straight razors where the blades are changable and not resharpened and have to dispose the blade after each customer). And she did the whole thing with the hot warm towel beforehand and stuff, like they learned to. She did really well, but it still had the lower sides of my neck irritated.
She was utterly shocked and so sorry, and i had to calm her down and explain to her why. (left and right at the height of the adams apple, i can't shave downwards or upwards but have to pull the shaver "backwards" in the direction of the back of my neck)
So when even the professional straight razor isn't going to irritate less, the DE one will neither i guess. And it's easier to keep the correct cutting angle of the blade with the cartridges i think.
A few years ago I spent 20 nights in the Bay Pines VA Hospital. They kept offering me disposables and I kept refusing. I asked if it was okay if someone brought my DE, soap and brush from home and they said "no". I went home with a full beard.
Still using cartridge when fly and has only carryon bag huuuhhh I missed my de that few days of traveling but not for daily uses anymore
I tried the Mach 3 for the first time in 8 years since I switched to DE.. my skin was so pisted at me… 🙄 irritation for 3 days…. never again..
Yes tried double edge, , single blade disposable, three-blade disposables, five-blade disposable. Mild double edge razors along with disposable Gillette Mach3 are the best. Gillette Fusion5 feels like scraping my face and sometimes gave cuts. BIC-1 okay for face shave, if I not mind at least a little irritation, but double edge razors are better.
The naming of the Edwin Jagger "DE89" razors —— but are certain ones of them also known as DE87, DE86, DE83, and DE81 ? All same razor head but different selections of handle?
Matt, I've been shaving my face for 56 years and I always get a kick out of you young, whippersnapper beginners when you constantly extoll the benefits of DE wet shaving. When I started shaving, there were, of course, no such thing as cartridge or plastic razors. My dad had fought in both World War II and the Korean war. My first razor was the government-issued Gillette my dad first received just before storming the beach at Sicily. Luckily, he kept it because the Army was too cheap to replace it before dad prepared to give his life on the frozen battlefields of Korea. He could've been covered from top to bottom in mud, blood, yuck and mule manure, just as long as he was clean-shaven as per Army regulations. When inspection time came around, I'm sure he wouldn't have cared a flying f… if the razor he shaved with was a DE or cartridge…as long as he passed muster. He also wouldn't have cared about a little redness you could barely tell was there. So, years later, when he gifted me with his old Army razor, I was more than honored to accept it. I shaved with that razor for the next thirty years before even thinking about buying a new one. In the meantime, I've tried cartridge razors, and I never found them to be as horrible as you make them out to be. The Gillette Fusion Proglide Power and the Defender cartridge razors are as good as any DE razor as long as the beard isn't too long. I realize you'll more than likely take this post down as soon as you read it, but if you really want an authentic opinion and aren't too shocked to let others read it…here it is.
Hands down, a DE razor is a closer, more comfortable shave
Confessional : It's been two plus years since I've used a cartridge razor and I'll never go back. I actually look forward to shaving now. It used to be a chore that had to be accomplished. Now it is a part of a better lifestyle.
I switched to double edge razors a long time ago. I still consider myself a "newbie", because until recently I didn't have even one high quality, superbly crafted razor. Now I have one: an Envoy XL. I am enjoying it, too!
OK – here we go – I always use a DE and on the 3rd pass finish sensitive spots (neck) with a cartridge. Some notes:
– DE shaving is an experience – it relaxes me and overall is a better shave
– Cartridges just need need a different technique and – for me anyway – they DO work – the experience is worse but the net result for me is pretty much the same
– DE razors – even if a shave is nick free – takes skin slicing to the edge – it needs more healing and post-shave care
– Cartridge redness comes with the territory – but can be minimised with an oil shave
– I can cartridge shave in the shower and don't need a mirror
– It's ALWAYS about the prep – but for a cartridge shave is best with an oil
– For me – a Cartridge is always the faster, more 'practical' shave but nowhere near as fun as DE
Hey Matt! They actually rebranded the Good News razor as the Gillette Sensor 2. Exact same razor, under the Sensor name. It was just a remarketing ploy to sell the razors at a higher price. For nostalgic purposes, I still have 2 packages of the original Good News disposables. In a pinch, they will get the job done, but no way do they compare to the economy, comfort, nor efficiency of a double edge in my opinion!! Thanks for the video! JimG
You need to work on your death grip. Just kidding. Long live double edge vintage shaving!
I use both styles of razors. The DE is used on my face, the Harry’s razor is for my bald head shaving needs.
I wish I had found traditional wet shaving back when I was in the military. Unfortunately I didn't know any better and only use multi blade cartridge razors back then. And daily shaving with them to stay within military regs, i grew to hate shaving. A few years ago I tried my first DE (a Henson) hoping it lived up to the hype. I'm so glad I gave it a try. Now I love shaving. I find it meditative. The process of prepping for the shave, building a lather, the skill and technique used to get an irritation free BBS is just awesome. On my days off when I have the extra time I like to Straight Razor Shave. Any other time it's a DE. My days are always better when I start the day off with a shave. For some it's a chore. For me it's a relaxing, Zen way to start my day.
I really enjoyed this video Matt, but you should really raise the stakes and use like a Gillette Fusion Proglide in my opinion.
I don't like electric shavers though!! I know your dad uses one but i have never been able to find one that really worked for me!!
I mostly use a Gillette disposables or cartridge refills because its what my skin is used to, And Barbasol of Gillette gel or cream for sensitive skin!! Now occasionally I'll use a safety razor.
I'm a fan of Gillette disposables… It fits great with my budget! I use a can of Barbasol sensitive skin! So I'm interested to trying their new disposables!!
Thanks Matt! I switched to DE a few months ago in large part to your videos on many topics. And your reasonably entertaining but informative. Look forward to using razor emporiums revamp service for 2 gillette that kicked this all off that I inherited. A 1963 slim adjustsble and 1958 flare tip. Good stuff compared to many cheap modern razors
1 is smart the other is a waste of money.
Been five years I switched to DE razors for ingrown hairs. Ever since my face is awesome
Cartridges Razors are bad mojo.🤮
Multiple blade cartridges = Norelco / rotary electric razor = skin irritation. 1st blade lifts & tears, subsequent blades attempt clean up. If you're here, then you likely know the ensuing problems caused by this type of shave. BTW, does anyone have a solution to air travel and DE razors? Getting good blades where from a brick and mortar store is almost an impossibility these days.
I used to hate shaving having experimented with both cartridge and electric razors. Plus being a cheap bastard, I was sick of sky high cartridge prices. When I saw the Henson ad on YT, I dove into the traditional wet shaving world 2 years ago this month. I shave every 2nd day and have followed many of your helpful tips. I love it when you said: “Just get started”.
I have since given my Henson AL 13 mild to my nephew along with 80 blades or so. He was using a Gillette Fusion and getting ingrown hairs. He now loves his “new” DE razor.
My one and only razor is the Karve Overlander – aluminum with a 4 inch handle. It is superbly made, reasonably priced, and shaves like a dream.
My mantra is to constantly improve my technique. My wife is getting tired of me saying: “I’ve had the best shave ever”.
I felt sorry for your face as you dragged that cartridge around. You could actually see the tugging action. We appreciate you being the sacrificial lamb. I hope you don’t get ingrown hairs on the left side of your face.
Don’t need irrational defense bar cause it doesn’t cause irritation 👏