Gillette Fusion Power razor

I think the Fusion is just a result of competition and marketing between Gillette and Schick.

First, Gillette had the Mach 3 and everyone had it. Then, Schick came along with the 4-blade Quattro. Then the Fusion came out. Then the Quattro Titanium (with titanium-coated blades) came out. Then, the Fusion Power, then the Quattro Power.

And this is all in about 10 years!

As far as cartridge razors go, I have arrived at the Quattro Titanium. I perceived the instant upgrade of Gillette to trump the 4 blades that Schick put out as just a marketing move. And I don't really care to wield a gigantic, heavy, vibrating razor, so I'm skipping the power function. The blades on the Quattro Titanium seem sharper and longer-lasting than the regular Quattro. There are also little guard wires going perpendicular across the blades, which basically make it impossible to cut yourself. So my cartridge-razor recommendation goes to the Schick Quattro Titanium.

However, within the past few months, I've gotten in the the whole Double-edged classic safety razor thing over at Badger & Blade. And after trying a few different ones, I'm finding that I look forward to using my Superspeed every day, and am not paying nearly as much attention to the Schick as I used to.

Gillette Fusion Power - Way too big, heavy, and gimmicky for me. I haven't used the Mach 3 in 6 or 7 years, so I can't really remember how it would compare. But it is worth mentioning that just about all of the "luxury" shaving sets from the classic Brittish brands are made for the Mach 3 cartridge.

Personally, I use a DE razor now, but I was a long-time Mach 3 user, and I used a Fusion for about a month and a half when it first came out. IMNSHO...

The Fusion head is too big. I can't see what i'm doing, especially around the nose/mouth area. "Aha, but the single blade on the back!" I hear you (Gillette) say. Nice idea, but they're blunt as hell. All they do is nick your fingers if you pick it up incorrectly, or catch it when it's in it's stand. The handle is also too big for me. It looks ugly and it's unwieldy. If you decide to not use the vibration, which I find distracting, you should really remove the battery. If you remove the battery, it's too light. Mainly because it's a hollow, plastic and if i'm honest, pretty cheap handle.
The Mach 3 has cheaper blades, it looks nicer and it works well. The Fusion isn't a bad shaver, but it gives me too many ingrown hairs and I felt an idiot when I used one. It's just depressingly ugly.

Mach 3 = best multiblade razor Gillette ever made.
Fusion = ugliest and most expensive razor on the market.

I know a lot of people dig the Fusion, and that's great. I just hate ingrown hairs and paying four quid a cartridge. If you don't want to go DE, I would stick with the M3.

Gupts - you don't have to take the power option - there is a 'manual' Fusion 5 blade.

Five blades really are better than 3 - I looked at this as a case study for some post-graduate marketing I was doing. However, someone with a science background can explain it much better than I.

Now, I don't have an answer for you, because I haven't tried it yet myself - still sticking with the Mach 3; however the television ad promoting blades at $1 week makes it very tempting.

I've been using the regular Fusion razor for about 3 years now, and my amount of ingrown hairs went from roughly "a ton" to zero once I gave up the crappy Gillete Shave Gel for wet-shaving with Proraso Shave Cream and a brush. No ingrown hairs and the smoothest shave of my life nearly every time.

I'm using a Schick Quattro Titanium that I got for $9.99 at Woolies! I thought it was a steal but the next time I went in I found the Fusion on sale at the same price! I didn't buy it though. 4 cartridges for the Quattro cost nearly as much as a new handle and the 3 razors that come with it too... As for performance, I think it does its job. I'd certainly contemplate purchasing the Fusion if I found it on sale again though.

Gupts - Sorry to disappoint - I haven't seen the blades for $1.

The ad currently screening on free-to-air (the Fusion Phenom ad) has, towards the end this promo: "Get the blades for Gilette's most comfortable shave for as low as $1 a week"

The small print says this is "based on the average national retail price of fusion power refill cartrigdes and consumer consumption".

Perhaps those blokes who use a blade a month bump the average?

You'll see it in orange on this link - it's about the last image to load:

http://www.gillettefusion.com.au/en-...compare.shtml/

If you want a really good shave, try one of these:



Never buy another blade for the rest of your life.

I think it was originally made for women but they decided to sell it for men as well.

- Al

How long does it take to shave with that thing?

I use a Mach 3 TURBO - takes about 1 minute to shave after lathering up with some Nivea shaving cream.

Nope. The blade is what you see: a solid piece of steel honed to a razor sharp edge, sharper than a disposable blade if you know what you're doing.

They're sexy as hell but not for me at this current point in time. That straightedge is probably in the neighborhood of $100, then you'll need a strop for another $50+ and, if you want, a sharpening stone or few for another $100. Granted you'll never have to buy more blades again for the rest of your life (if you can help yourself) so the up-front cost is probably recovered in 5 or 10 years.

I've been relatively happy with the Mach 3 for quite a while now, especially after I moved to a brush and shave soap, but I've been contemplating a move to a double-edged razor. What's the learning curve on something like that? I don't mind saying that I still knick myself once in a while with the Mach 3. How will I bleed with a DE before I finally figure it out?

There's a number of factors involved when learning to use a safety razor. I bought a safety razor starter set from a member at Badger and Blade in January and a blade sample set in February.

While i've settled on a 1959 Gillette Fatboy for the razor, I am still hunting for a blade that works for me. I've been through 6 kinds so far and have only found 1 that really works well. By "well" I mean it provides a close shave with little to no nicks. Pretty much every day I have a little spot or two of bleeding, but they stop quickly after I rinse with cold water.

Honestly the most difficult learning curve i've had so far is mastering technique. I have spots where the hair seeming grows in swirls making shaving in only one direction useless. Then I also have hair that grows parallel to the skin down by my neck which is a pain (literally), but has always been a problem with any razor i've used in the past.

Overall i'm happy with switching. It has taken me a couple months to get to a point where I can consistently achieve good shaves. On better days I can honestly say the shave is closer and less irritable than I have ever had pre-safety razor.

With a straight razor it takes me about 15 minutes to get a really good shave, but it's a better shave than I've ever achieved with a cartridge razor.

Mach 3 in my case and I'm cool with that.

I have the Gillette Fusion Power Razor and like it... Like with anytime you switch razors, there is a 2 or 3 shave "adjustment period" where your face gets used to the new blade. The "power" portion is battery operated and make the razor vibrate. I have no idea what purpose this serves... I always thought it might be to help people who are used to electric razors... It's been a while since I've used the Mach 3, so I can't really say how much better it is... Although it can't be any worse, otherwise I'd have gone back to the Mach 3...

I have no problems with it.

The "power" part is just a gimmick, I found it did not give me a closer shave. When they first came out Gillette made a claim that the vibrating would "excite" the hairs on your face into standing up and would provide a closer shave. Schick filed a lawsuit and won and Gillette was forced to drop that claim. I am not sure what (if any) asinine claims they are making about it now.

The 'power' is indeed just a gimmick, since Gillette got in trouble for their advertising over it. It's just a cash grab.

The Mach3 is still the best cartridge razor on the market, imo.

edit: lol, I just saw the post above mine. yeah, what he said

I have my grandfather's Gillette safety razor and I went through the same blade sampling experience. I prefer the Merkur double edge blades. I also learned that rinsing the blade after each stroke is the key to a close shave without cuts, irritation, ingrown hairs, etc.. I use a Mach II or III style pivot blade on my head though.

As for the power Fusion blades, I'll pass and remain a Luddite because it sounds like more ways to cut myself.

One of the biggest faults of razors on the market in big box stores is their lack of weight.

I personally am a DE and Straight user. I still have my M3, but it rarely gets used.

I got a Fusion Power too. Anyone need it?

I use Mach 3 also with a shaving brush.

I'll weigh in that the Fusion Power works quite well when you get used to it. The improvement over a Mach 3 is likely marginal. But it is better.

I don't know if there are huge benefits to the vibrating or not. My memory on shifting to the Fusion from the M3 was that the shave seemed to go a little easier, less work with the razor.

But like a couple of other guys in this thread, I'm a Badger&Blade guy and in the process of converting to DE.

It's not for everybody. It takes more time, focus and patience. But it is an overall better shave once you get the hang of it.

But I would say I'm still not as good with the DE as I am with the Fusion.

The biggest issue with the Fusion is that the blades are a fortune. I've noticed nowadays they're practically under lock and key in most stores- no doubt due to heavy shoplifting by kindly folks who wouldn't normally steal food if they were hungry.

I'd bet Gillette sells the power Fusion razors at a near loss to hook you on the blades.

I just bought 100 of my favorite DE blades for $18. That buys me 5 Fusion blades.

DE or a Str8

If DE use Feather Blades Baby Butt Smooth