Whoops, sorry I didn’t make that clearer. I own both a powered Mach 3 and a powered Fusion. I’ve tried them both on manual and on the power settings - the power setting is a little bit closer of a shave than manually. Both are bested by the Custom Pivot Plus, both on his face and on my underarms and legs. He has a moderate and I a slight preference to the powered Mach 3 for “down there” shaving.
The Mach 3 used either way is better than the Fusion used either way, which (naturally) boggles the mind.
Of course, in trying the Custom Pivot Plus I expected nothing, what with one razor costing 1/3 to 1/2 of a Mach 3 blade and being a disposable. I was very surprised.
ETA: Inner Stickler, I’ve read mixed things on the blue jeans things, so I opted not to do it. It’s good for people to look into, still.
I recently picked up what I think is the best disposable I’ve ever had-the Bic Hybrid Advanced. It is unusual in that it comes with six cartridges, but is still disposable because you can’t buy the cartridges separately from the razor. It has three blades and a nicely curved handle, it rinses off easy, and I am still on the same first blade out of the six after using it daily for the last three weeks. I paid $7 for it, and at this rate it’ll last for 4 1/2 months or so.
Whether you are using disposable blades or the full disposable razors, you can increase their lifetime considerably by stropping them. There are a lot of techniques, but my favorite is this, simply because it is so convenient, but if you look at the suggested videos you will see a lot of alternatives. I do agree that most disposable razors suck and should be used only in an emergency.
I wanted to try the Bic Sensitive single blade because they had a lot of positive reviews but I can’t bring myself to after the last Bic I used in high school. The Bic Solei - not a close shave and then hours later my legs were on FIRE. I always exfoliate (wash cloth rubbed gently in circles on my leg) before shaving but these somehow gave me horribly irritated skin and no less than 6 ingrown hairs on my legs when I’d never had an ingrown hair on my legs before or since.
These Bic Metal’s have excellent ratings - anyone used them?
Bumping this thread to thank ethelbert for the link. I’ve been using the same Schick Hydro for 2 months now of daily use. Whenever it starts to pull, I just strop it against my arm and it’s almost good as new. It will be interesting to see how long I can make it last.
I use those pink ones with two blades that come in a plastic bag. They may be Bic, but I’m not sure. One lasts me quite a long time, but then I have a beard, so it’s just neck and cheek shaving. I’ve tried other disposables, but they last maybe two shaves. Oh, and I only shave using hot water after a shower: no shaving cream.
There is no fundamental difference between disposables and cartridge razors.
Also - you mentioned you make sure your razors are dry? How? If you wipe them with anything, in any direction, you’re dulling the blade. Just give them a good rinse and a good shake. Don’t touch the blade to anything except your skin.
If you’re worried about rust and whatnot, you can keep your used razor immersed in a cup of rubbing alcohol between uses.
Everyone’s mileage will vary considerably when it comes to razors - the ph of your water, what you’re using for soap/cream, the ph of your skin, the density of your hair will all affect a blade’s longevity.
For most people it’s just trial and error until you find what works for you. You’re lucky you like disposables - they’re cheap. And you don’t necessarily get what you pay for. Just keep trying different brands until you find what works for you.
With the Bic sensitive disposables (the yellow handle/white head ones), there’s a large component of blade/face angle that you don’t or can’t really mess with if you have a pivoting head razor. That’s how you get a really, really close shave- you learn how to do it just right, so that it cuts really close, and doesn’t scrape you.
That’s also why so many people have bad results with those razors- they’re used to the pivoting style that you just place against face & drag, with no real technique involved, other than knowing which way your hair grows, so you don’t drag the wrong way.
I’veused about every kind of disposable razor iI’ve beenable to ffind and I finally found one I absolutely love. The AXE disposable razors are simply amazing! I’m a girl and obviously don’t have facial hair and I don’t shave my head, but for any other areas that a girl normally shaves this razor is awesome. it is such a smooth shave and the razor takes forever to dull. i like them so much I had to post about them.
