# Mach 3 razor **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 25, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232 "2003-11-25T19:03:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232/1 "2003-11-25T19:03:03Z")
I got a free one in the mail last week, I think, and finally got around to using it this morning. I must say that it gives a very close shave. I was a little awkward using it because the head is shaped differently, but I eventually got the hang of it. Very close shave and, I think, I required fewer strokes to get there. So, I will use my trusty Gillette Sensor until the refills are gone, then the ol’ Mach 3 is taking over. Yippee. Did I mention I was a “preferred customer”? I must be something else, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232/2 "2003-11-25T19:16:04Z")
I like the Mach 3 very much, but keep in mind the reason they send you the free one – the refill razors are HELLA expensive. A four-pack of refills typically runs me in the neighborhood of $9, and there is almost never a measurable price-break in buying the 8 or 12 packs. I still use them, but I grumble and grouse about buying the damned things. My advice is to bite the bullet and buy a good quality electric. You can get nearly the same level of closeness, and it’s a one-time expense as opposed to all the nickel and diming. ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232/3 "2003-11-25T19:37:52Z")
Dissenting view here. I used the Mach 3 for a while, and it does get your face smooth as a baby’s behind, but I started to get a rashy feeling. I think the problem is that the Mach 3 actually gives you _too close_ a shave. I didn’t have a problem with nicks, just a rash-like feeling, as if someone had taken sandpaper to my face. I do have facial hair the density and consistency of steel wool, so that may have entered into it. I went back to twin blades. ---
**Author:** ![White\_Ink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@White\_Ink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Ink)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232/4 "2003-11-25T20:02:04Z")
I like the Mach 3 as well, it was superior to the others, though I don’t know why. I find the only way to get the refills affordably is at costco. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232/5 "2003-11-25T20:05:58Z")
I posted this in a BBQ thread somewhere…but [shavethis.com](http://www.shavethis.com) has pretty good deals on the Mach 3. ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232/6 "2003-11-25T20:43:12Z")
Ah, yes, the razor pusher… “The first one’s free, but ya gots to pay afterwards.” They’re priced about the same as crack, I think. ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232/7 "2003-11-25T20:48:08Z")
And they thoughtfully included a $1 off coupon. I’ll have to check Sam’s Club next time. I only shave once or twice a week (I’m cheap and lazy and no one cares much - I could shave every day, I just don’t) so I think I’ll be able to squeeze it a little. Adn I have a Mach3Turbo, which has “lower friction blades” and improved lubricating strips, perhaps they’ve fixed the “rashy” feeling you experienced **Hyperelastic**. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232/8 "2003-11-25T20:52:10Z")
I got one free in the mail, too. Since my SO uses an electric razor, I decided to give it a go on my legs (I’m female). I like it, it is comparable to my Venus razor. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232/9 "2003-11-26T00:45:24Z")
You losers are still using only _three_ blades?? 3 Blades is so last millenium. Get with the times. ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232/10 "2003-11-26T03:15:18Z")
My main problem with the mach3 and it’s clones is that they’ve displaced perfectly good twin blade razors on the store shelves. I’ve got no particular need for a triple blade razor, so aside from giving it a try when they first showed up, I stuck with the Bic Soft Twin. It gives a good shave and doesn’t cost too much. With 3 women in the house, razors disappear faster than the metaphor of your choice. But now, I can’t find the relatively inexpensive Bic at the stores and have to buy a 3 blade razor or the crappy generic twin blades. Now with the 4-blade razor :rolleyes:, the triple blade will likely give way to something even more expensive and less necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Brad\_Pittiful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b3f665/32.png) [@Brad\_Pittiful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brad_Pittiful)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232/11 "2003-11-26T03:28:35Z")
ive used the mach 3 and now im using the schick quattro…i have a coarse beard and the quad works betta ---
**Author:** ![Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji_Kitakyusho)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232/12 "2003-11-26T03:38:18Z")
I got fed up with the whole damned thing and grew a beard. ---
**Author:** ![Call\_me\_Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Call\_me\_Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Call_me_Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232/13 "2003-11-26T04:00:21Z")
Hey, they sent me one in the mail “For my birthday”, how they knew when my birthday was is beyond me, but…I still use it when I have the time. If I’m in a hurry I just use my electric razor. It _is_ a nice shave, though… ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232/14 "2003-11-26T04:52:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bear\_Nenno \* > \*\*You losers are still using only _three_ blades?? 3 Blades is so last millenium. Get with the times. \*\* Yeah. Personally, I prefer the powerful Mach 5. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232/15 "2003-11-26T05:47:57Z")
**Rhubarb** , I’m gonna try that Bic Soft Twin, just 'cause you said it worked. Me, I _have_ to shave daily, and I agree, the Mach 3 blades are damn expensive. When I’m on vacation, I grow a 5 or 6 day beard just for the hell of it, and have to use an electric Norelco just to “take it down” before a razor can touch it. Daily, on my face, I make two passes with a Mach 3. If it saves me $15 bucks, I don’t mind making 3 passes with a 2-blade razor. But I have to ask one thing. . . What do you guys use for aftershave? Lately, I’ve picked up Eternity and Perry Ellis 360\* aftershave balm. I like it, but is there something better? Tripler I’ve been using the same razor and aftershave for years. I’m open to suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232/16 "2003-11-26T06:18:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chastain86 \* > \*\*My advice is to bite the bullet and buy a good quality electric. You can get nearly the same level of closeness, and it’s a one-time expense as opposed to all the nickel and diming. \*\* My advice is to ignore that advice. 🙂 My wife bought me a $70 Remington electric razor last Christmas. I _hated_ that evil device with a fiery passion. It would always miss little hairs here and there and I’d end up going over the same area of my face five time trying to get them. It took forever to shave with that thing and it wasn’t as close as a blade. Also, if I tried to use the Remington with a few days of growth on my face, it was downright painful. So I stuck with my Mach3 and paid a premium for the blades. Two months ago, my local Winn-Dixie that I never patronize sent me a free one. Good deal. My old one had soap scum stains all over the handle and I’d been meaning to get some blades anyway. I love the triple-blade (and dual-blade before them) razors becaue they’re just so damn comfortable. I haven’t purchased a can of shaving cream in 8 years. The old Simpsons episode where Homer walks out of the bathroom with dozens of pieces of toilet paper on his face seems almost foreign to me now. Mach3 cartridges could cost $5 apiece and I’d snap them up in a second without even considering those ancient, 39-cent Bic skin-peelers. ---
**Author:** ![scotcho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@scotcho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotcho)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232/17 "2003-11-26T08:51:30Z")
What a great time for me to read this thread - I got a Mach III Turbo (ooh… turbo…) in the mail today. I think i’ll try it out in a day or two. scotcho ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232/18 "2003-11-26T13:55:08Z")
Does no else wonder, now they’ve released the new 4-blade razor, just where this madness will end? So the thinking goes, “Ok, so two blades works well, what if we add a third blade? Ooooh, that’s even better! So, in theory, if we add a fourth blade…YES! The closest shave yet!! So how about a fifth blade…” And then before you know it, razors will be the size of meat clevers and we’ll be surrounded by men with no skin left on their faces. ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232/19 "2003-11-26T14:28:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by neutron star \* > \*\*My advice is to ignore that advice. 🙂 > > My wife bought me a $70 Remington electric razor last Christmas…\*\* No offense intended, but I wouldn’t consider a $70 razor to be a “good quality, top of the line electric.” Try looking for something in the $140-$160 range, and then we can talk. I had a $70 razor once upon a time, and it sucked, too. That’s why I’m back with the Mach 3 Turbo. ---
**Author:** ![DaToad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@DaToad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaToad)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232/20 "2003-11-26T14:37:33Z")
The Mach 3 it is. I get a very close shave and I use either Aveeno shave gel, or Noxema unscented. Both are very good and prevent any irritation. I agree that the refills are a bit pricey, but I’ve found that they last a lot longer so the cost evens out. And last, if someone sends me a freebie four blader I’ll give that a try and if it’s better I’ll switch. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mach-3-razor/215232.md?page=2)