Picking the right cartridge

You’ve been shaving for years using your favorite brand. It gives you a great shave. New models gets introduced with more blades and more features that you are not really convinced that you need. You stick with your old brand until it becomes so hard to find replacement cartridges, you are forced to adopt a new model. The new model comes with a step-up in prices. This repeats a few times and your blades are now expensive enough to be kept behind glass cases or at least within view of the register.

Because the blades are expensive, you stick with an old one long after the lubricating strip’s indicator has worn off. It is only after the shave is uncomfortable do you notice that it is time to switch to a new razor. And once you run out of razors, you are once again confronted with the price. There has got to be a better way, right?

Fortunately, there is. There are now a few choices in Singapore beyond Gillette and Schick. There are double-edged (DE) safety razors, the olde-timey kind used in old Westerns, modern hipsters, and guys who are just looking for a cheaper shave. DE razors offer the cheapest shave, with blades typically costing about S$0.10 each. DE razors can be a viable alternative to cartridges, but they do have a learning curve, tend to give you more nicks, are harder to find, and take a lot more time to use. There are already great blogs out there dedicated to this, so this blog concentrate on the search for an affordable cartridge that gives a great shave.

I have tested a lot of blades. My experience is unique to me due to my specific hair/skin. I have sensitive skin, but coarse, fast-growing, thick beard hair.  So my needs are for a good shave that is not too aggressive to irritate my skin.  So I need a sharp blade that can cut through heavy hair, but be engineered well so the sharp blades irritate/nick my skin less. 

My favorite cartridges are the following:

Fusion ProGlide Power

Do all those blades and all those features make a difference? It is hard to say if they individually do, but this razor gave me the best shave. Gillette makes a fantastic products. It is just a shame about the S$7.21 retail price per cartridge.  I do not use this razor because its price is - frankly - insultingly high.

Gillette Mach 3

Mach 3 gives a smooth hassle-free shave. It’s blades are sharp, the engineering is impeccable, and it is a more affordable range for Gillette’s quality. It used to be my favorite blade. At S$4.29, it is less expensive than the Fusion range, but it is still more than what I personally want to spend. So I don’t.

Dorco 4

Dorco has a horrible name, but makes a good razor. Its handle is a bit heftier. Depending on who you are, this is either a welcome heft that makes it easier to wield, or an aesthetic negative. The cartridge clicks at the middle, which means that cleaning/rinsing is a bit more difficult compared to Gillette and Schick. It’s head is also a bit bulkier, so you have to stretch your skin out a bit to get under your nose. But it gives a good shave that I thought was a half-step below Gillette. For some people, this will matter. I think most people will not notice the difference.  But what people will notice is the cheaper price. Dorco 4 blades are S$60 for 25/year at shaveclubsg.com, which equals S$2.40/each (includes free shipping). That's a great bargain and is now my everyday razor. 

Schick Hydro 3

Schick Hydro 3 gives a very good shave and at S$3.61/cartridge retail, it is even more affordable than the Mach 3. Is it as good? In my opinion, it is much too gentle of a shave, but some will sensitive skin may appreciate that feature. As another strike against it, it is hard to find replacement cartridges in Singapore as Schick tends to stock the more expensive Hydro 5 series (or perhaps they just sell out quicker).