Thread: Gillette fusion Proglide Power review

Well, like many on the forum, I was never taught how to shave, so after 2 years here, I thought I would re-visit a cartridge razor, and apply what I have learnt. One of the worst things I recall about the Mk 3 was clogging issues. I only shave probably on average twice a week, so to give this thing a fair go, I shaved with 2 days growth, used my usual prep, and did three passes.
First gripe, they are advertising down here "shaving from as little as $1 a week" with an asterix and some disclaimer at the bottom that I can't read, but at current prices, that means 1 cart would have to last 8 weeks. Calling B/S on that, wouldn't keep the hair on my knuckles at bay for a week.
I didn't realise this was the power model until I unpacked it, so, in the name of science, I used that function. This makes it vibrate, impossible to say if that makes any difference, just a gimmick in my mind, but it does have a cool little blue light when switched on.
Surprisingly, it did not clog as much as I thought it would, 4 days growth, I am sure would be a different story.
Second gripe, the cart is so big, I couldn't get in under my nose, no matter how I tried, cleaned up with a straight.
The shave was easy, and close, on the face marginally closer than I can get with a straight (so far), the neck, about the same, one small weeper, almost no irritation. YMMV.

Ease of use - 7/10
Quality of shave - 6/10
Build quality - 5/10 (throw away item, body made in China, reasonably solid)
Wow factor - 2/10 (the blue light)
Value for money - 1/10

So there you have it, will I ever go back to a cartridge razor? No
Will I try to get 8 weeks shaving out of 1 cart? I don't think that is even possible, so, no, where as I know now for a fact I can get 70 out of a straight just on leather.
If you want easy, go for one of these.
If you want cheap and relatively easy, try a DE.
If you want to learn a new skill, and have a whole lot of fun along the way, try a straight.

Hope you enjoyed the read.

Thanks for the review. I have wondered what three passes the old way (schick) would be like.

When I shaved with cartridges I did one pass maybe a bit of touch up. Did you always do several passes? Maybe I was wrong all along

Originally Posted by JTmke

Thanks for the review. I have wondered what three passes the old way (schick) would be like.

When I shaved with cartridges I did one pass maybe a bit of touch up. Did you always do several passes? Maybe I was wrong all along

No, I would usually shave in the shower, one pass, missed patches, didn't care. If it was a special occasion, I would make more effort, but not a lot more, never did two passes and never even crossed my mind to try that. I had never even tried a brush or soap till I discovered SRP, it was always that canned rubbish. I don't know if many here were taught to shave by their father or anyone, but I certainly wasn't.

I wish my dad were still around. He used the can but had a gillette fat boy. Bet I could have had him try a straight.

I think the modern cartridges add blades to eliminate second and third passes. Early versions caused irritation so they keep adding gizmos to make them more comfortable.

I may give one a try but I do enjoy the straight shave everyday. I find it hard to get my DEs in rotation

I wouldn't bother even trying one, here is why;

Update, the day after the shave I noticed a pimple on my chin, haven't had one since Adam was a cowboy, by day 2 it looked like something that could hit a mirror at 10 paces, day 3, it was starting to resemble a trailer for the latest alien movie, day 4, people were calling me Quasimodo, day 5, my wife refused to be seen in public with me.......
I read the packaging, and there is MINERAL OIL in the lubricating strip, don't know if that was the cause, but it just doesn't seem right to me.

Thanks - that fascinating you posted this.

I wonder what it would be like to shave again with a Mach 3, only using the shaving techniques I now know couple with the knowledge of how my beard grows, along with some nice soap and a badger brush....might be worthy of a mass SRP Mach 3 SOTD.....

Phrank, I would say you will get a better result, think I still have one kicking around somewhere. But you and I have been here long enough to know how hard it is to even pick up a DE let alone a cart, too much fun to be had. I was planning it for a while, the proglide sat there for 6 weeks or so, and Geezers SOTD prompted me to do it. A mass Mach 3 SOTD would be hilarious.

Originally Posted by Grazor

Phrank, I would say you will get a better result, think I still have one kicking around somewhere. But you and I have been here long enough to know how hard it is to even pick up a DE let alone a cart, too much fun to be had. I was planning it for a while, the proglide sat there for 6 weeks or so, and Geezers SOTD prompted me to do it. A mass Mach 3 SOTD would be hilarious.

Yes...do I shave with the new Greaves, the new W&B, or a Mach 3....I will try it, just a matter of when??

Tell ya what,I just got back from a steelhead fishing trip on the washougal River outside of Camas Wash.
Brought along a badger Brush,a stick of Tabac and used my wifes Mach 3,They shave just fine for me.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Tell ya what,I just got back from a steelhead fishing trip on the washougal River outside of Camas Wash.
Brought along a badger Brush,a stick of Tabac and used my wifes Mach 3,They shave just fine for me.

Yeah, I heard those Palmera were only ever any good for guttin' fish.....