Thread: DE vs Gillette fusion

Will you get a closer more comfortable shave with a double egde or cartridge?
What's a good starter DE?

I can get an equally close shave with either the Gillette Pro Fusion or a DE, in this case the Merkur 34C. It takes longer with the DE, but I can get it down to under 5 minutes if I work at it. Using a DE is just more fun and more interesting. Once I got proficient with a DE, I moved on to straights.

Generaly, I would assume that most of us are firm believers that one blade is always better than more - less is more, as the architect Mies van der Rohe said. Otherwise we would not be here in this forum about straight razors. Therefore, I would confidently say that a DE is always a better option than any cartridge razor. The reason is simple: you learn how to master the angle of the razor, preparation for the shave, lathering and other things. It will teach you that a light touch will go a long way... Plus, it is cheaper and ultimately better for the environment because you will not be throwing away lots of junk in the form of plastic and metal that cannot be recycled. The shave will be closer and smother - although there is a learning curve involved. And, if it opens your appetite, you may well end up going straight...
Concerning the starter DE I cannot help you much - others will soon chime in though. I suggest you keep an eye on eBay, for instance, and look for old gilletes, wilkinsons and other brands. I hear that Edwin Jager has good DEs as well. But you might profit a bit more if you were to check out the DE section of this forum.
I hope this helps.
And welcome to SRP!

What's your budget? What criteria are you using for "good" ?

I bought an old 3-piece Gillette DE razor for $5 at an antique shop.

It's not fancy (old nickel plate, not chrome), but put a Feather blade in it, use _no pressure on the blade_, and it works fine.

You can get really classy DE razors for $30-$40 (Merkur, Jagger, etc). I don't know if they're any better.

If you want something _really gentle_, get a Weishei razor (about $12 on eBay). I have one. You have to be aware of the angle of the razor on your face, or it won't shave. But once you get the blade against your skin, the shave is very nice.

The things you really want to know to evaluate a razor:

. . . What is the blade angle?

. . . How much of the edge is exposed?

the manufacturers won't tell you.

Charles

If you want alternative opinions, there's lots of DE shavers on the "Badger and Blade" website.

Charles

Those replies pretty much answered my questions!

Thanks guys.

If you like old stuff the gillette superadjustable razors are pretty nice (I use straights but have one for sentimental reasons). They come in a 'long handle' version, which I prefer, and you can control the blade angle with a dial with 9 steps. Usually you can get them for around $20, or up to $30 if it's really nice (at least that was the case when I sold my extras).

The Merkur 34c (also known as the HD or heavy classic) is a great starter razor for about $40. I find the Edwin Jagger DE89 to be a little more gentle, but its still a great razor and runs about $32.

Remember the kind of site this is so expect few fans of a fusion razor here.

Of course I agree with the others get a DE.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Remember the kind of site this is so expect few fans of a fusion razor here.

No doubt!
I am not a fan of the fusion either and ready to jump ship!
So much so that I bought the Edwin Jaggar DE89 to keep me occupied while I save for my straight set up.