Shaving Products
I Want to Like Double-Edge Shaving
I've used Gillette products since 1995. I finally worked up the courage to test double-edge razors, and the results were shocking!
I really want to like double-edge (DE) shaving. I really do. But double-edge shaving has me questioning my grandfather’s and father’s choices lately. Why didn’t they switch to electric razors and cartridges? Double-edge razors were standard issue starting around World War I, so I guess old habits die hard.
Until now, my go-to razors have been a Gillette Fusion 5 and a Braun electric razor. I’ve realized I have sensitive skin, but I didn’t even know it until I started shaving with a DE razor. My quest for the best shave with sensitive skin has led me to try other razors, and this post is my home base for reviewing each one. For the record, I’m not claiming to be a shaving expert. I’m simply giving a beginner’s opinion and my real-life experiences with each product.
My shaving history
These are the products I’ve used since whiskers first showed up on my face:
- 1995: Gillette Trac II Plus
- 1996: Gillette Sensor Excel
- 1998: Gillette Mach3
- 1999: Remington MicroScreen 3 TCT
- 2002: Philishave Cool Skin (2000 edition)
- 2007: Gillette Fusion
- 2010: Braun Series 7
- 2010: Gillette Fusion ProGlide
- 2015: My wife bought me an updated Braun Series 7
After using everything above, I now alternate between the Braun Series 7 and the Gillette Fusion ProGlide for my daily shave. I also kept the Gillette Mach3 as a travel buddy.
The quest begins
It wasn’t until 2017 that I started exploring more options. Now I’m on a quest for an awesome shave.
- 2017: Van Der Hagen DE razor (read my review)
- 2018: Harry’s (review coming soon)
- 2018: Feather Popular (read my review)
- 2018: OneBlade Core (read my review)
The quest led me back to my original setup
After trying each of the four products above, I can tell you I still love my Gillette Fusion and Braun Series 7. Between the two of them, I get an awesome shave.
I want to like double-edge shaving, but…
I tried all these products hoping to dethrone my Gillette Fusion. I wanted to find the holy grail of shaving in a DE razor. The problem is, for me, it just doesn’t exist. I love reading posts about people getting a “BBS” (baby-butt smooth) and “BSE” shave with a Feather blade. I did end up getting decent shaves from DE and single-edge (SE) razors, but they just don’t top my Gillette Fusion and Braun Series 7 combo.
So why write about this?
My original goal was to ditch my Gillette for something better. As far as the razor goes, it didn’t happen! But I did find some awesome things along the way that make shaving with my Gillette Fusion an even better experience. Here they are:
- Take a hot shower before you shave.
- Use a pre-shave oil before applying shaving cream.
- Use a better shaving cream, like Cremo or Taylor of Old Bond Street.
- Use a shave brush to apply the shaving cream. Seriously, it works great! Here’s the one I use, and here’s a cheaper version for anyone who can’t break the bank.
- Use aftershave! I use the one that came with the Taylor’s set. (Watch the video that was featured here on YouTube.)
- Use a post-shave balm about 15 minutes later. (I’m using Harry’s.)
- Use a sensitive-skin lotion with a light sunscreen. (I’m using Dove Men+Care.)
There you have it. I now get the best shaves of my life, but that won’t stop me from trying new things to dethrone the Gillette Fusion. What I learned is that the products really do matter, and that I’d already found the best razor combo for my face and skin type. I also learned that what works for some people may not work for me. DE shaving might work for most of you reading this (I’m truly jealous!), but I wrote this for anyone who’s getting discouraged because DE shaving just wasn’t the best option for them.
Want the short version? See DooDude’s Favorite Razors.
