# SDMB Guys: Electric or Blade -- What do you shave with? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 25, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904 "2003-01-25T20:40:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904/41 "2003-01-26T13:00:54Z")
Blades. Electric hurts too much. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904/42 "2003-01-26T13:01:43Z")
Electric. Less blood and I find a good one gives me a closer cut. ---
**Author:** ![roadrunner70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@roadrunner70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roadrunner70)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904/43 "2003-01-26T13:14:56Z")
I use both. I’ve got a Braun 'lectric that I use when I’m in a hurry, and a Gillete Trac II that I’ve had since I was a kid. One of the benefits of the blade, is that my wife finds it incredibly sexy when I’m standing there in a towel, with a face full of foam, shaving, and… I don’t get it either, but I ain’t complaining. ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904/44 "2003-01-26T14:10:45Z")
Gillette Sensor Excel. I tried Mach III, which just doesn’t fit my face very well (I know this sounds weird, but with three blades it’s actually a bit to wide to shave my jawline properly). Never used electric, although one of my grandfathers has for as long as I can remember; I always liked the hot-water-on-the-face feeling and never saw the need to change. Oh, and a friend of mine used an electric and bitched about it no end, so I actually taught him to use a blade - which he infinitely prefers. ---
**Author:** ![haardvark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5ac83/32.png) [@haardvark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/haardvark)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904/45 "2003-01-26T15:06:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Musicat \* > \*\*_Baby oil?_ Who needs baby oil when you can store your blade in a pyramid? Don’t you know that [a pyramid keeps a blade sharp forever?](http://www.ablentrust.com/pyramid.htm) > > \*\* I guess I have been hanging here too long…I knew when i wrote this that a pyramid reference would get trotted out, and even considered making a preemptive attempt myself, but was too tired to work up anything worthwhile 🙂 Upon reflection, a pyramid would take up more space in the medicine cabinet than my current baby-food-jar-lid of baby oil. (Besides, the space-time gradients created by the pyramid to keep the razor blade sharp would probably just cause the anti-aging cream _just beside_ the pyramid to turn into **aging cream** , or something. Mrs. 'vark wouldn’t like that.) ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904/46 "2003-01-26T16:20:28Z")
Never an electric. Like people say, they just don’t get the job done. I still have stubble all over my face, and quite frankly, what the heck is the point if I still have stubble? I use two types of razors. Mach 3 for my normal shaving duties. It doesn’t get any closer than anything else I’ve ever had, but it does cause **much** less irritation on my neck. The only downside is if you haven’t shaved in a few days, the Mach 3 will start pulling your beard out instead of cutting. Very painful. So for those occasions, I keep my trusty Sensor XL and it works like a dream. But I can’t use that for every day use because it chews up my neck if I don’t have long growth for it to cut. I used to use that Schick crap until Gillette sent me free samples of first the Sensor XL and then the Mach 3. I have been a Gillette man ever since. And I use Edge gel. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904/47 "2003-01-26T16:29:53Z")
Mach II blades and aloe shaving gel, which I use in the shower for the same reasons as other posters. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904/48 "2003-01-26T16:45:05Z")
Mach III, purchased in bulk from Costo after re-financing the house. As an aside, how many of you have Cosmological anomalies on your face that make it mathematically impossible to shave? I’ve got a section underneath my chin and to the right (sorry–mirror–left.) that the worlds brightest minds can’t get shaved. I’ve used an electric razor in the past, but have found I can get more mileage on a blade shave. ---
**Author:** ![TVGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/82dd89/32.png) [@TVGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904/49 "2003-01-26T17:03:07Z")
I started out with an electric Norelco way back when - Dad gave me my first one from Christmas one year. I kept using electrics up until my mid twenties when the battery on the one I was using at the time finally wouldn’t hold a charge anymore. I was out of cash right then so a new electric was out of the question. A trip to the corner grocery store for Bic shavers and a can of foam and I was all set for $4.00 I’ve been blade shaving ever since (although now with one of those high-tech triple blade gizmos, not the Bic shavers anymore) ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904/50 "2003-01-26T18:03:36Z")
Another Mach III \* turbo\*. And remember, razors aren’t just for faces … ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904/51 "2003-01-26T18:11:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tapioca Dextrin \* > \*\*And remember, razors aren’t just for faces … \*\* If you’re not talking about legs, I don’t want to know. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904/52 "2003-01-26T18:28:19Z")
Mach III turbo. though I’m out of turbo blades right now and am using the older Mach III blades. It’s hands down the closest, most comfortable razor I’ve ever used. I can’t stand using an electric, they don’t give a close enough shave and the irritate the hell out of my skin. I seem to remember in one of my old _Straight Dope_ books from the 80’s, Cecil claimed that double blade razors did not shave closer than single blades(by extension one would assume that it would follow that triple blades aren’t better than doubles). I don’t know, I think he was wrong on that one. Forgive me Cecil! ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904/53 "2003-01-26T18:32:08Z")
Ah found it, It was on page 183-4 of _The Straight Dope_ from 1984. I’m not sure if it’s in the Archives here though. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904/54 "2003-01-26T18:34:41Z")
sorry for the multiple posts, the article is [here](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_183.html) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904/55 "2003-01-26T18:35:02Z")
That article can be found [here.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_183.html) ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904/56 "2003-01-26T19:45:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*If you’re not talking about legs, I don’t want to know. \*\* Well, since you asked… in addition to the Sensor I use for my beard, I have a Mach III used exclusively for my naughty bits, the extra cost is worth it to protect the boys. ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904/57 "2003-01-26T19:47:04Z")
**Mach III** The blades are expensive, but they seem to last much longer than other blades I have used. It also helps that I usually just shave every other day even though I have a fast growing heavy beard. I never have a nick with the Mach III unless I use it for a really long time before replacing the blade. I can hack away at my face really quickly with, against, and across the grain without any worry about getting a nick. [hijack] What is the supposed improvement in the Mach III **Turbo**? I can’t imagined the regular Mach III being improved upon. Plus I’m hoping that with the Turbo blades out now, the price of the regular Mach III blades will drop. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/2bfe46/32.png) [@Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xavier)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904/58 "2003-01-26T20:12:12Z")
Another **Mach III** user here. It even looks cool emboldened. ---
**Author:** ![MadScientistMatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@MadScientistMatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadScientistMatt)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904/59 "2003-01-26T20:12:15Z")
Another Gillette Sensor Excel user. I used to use Edge’s unscented gell, but haven’t been able to find it recently so I have been trying out other gells. ---
**Author:** ![Azael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a8b319/32.png) [@Azael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azael)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904/60 "2003-01-26T21:01:49Z")
Gillette Mach III Turbo. Jesus what a stupid name for a razor, works nice though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-guys-electric-or-blade-what-do-you-shave-with/150904.md?page=4)