Comments on: Stop The Madness!

Stop The Madness!

EatTheWeak — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 12:13:37 -0800

The technology seemed so harmless at first. But as in any war, there was escalation. The pursuit of pointless perfection in shaving comfort now offers our beards only insanity. And now the multiblade wars have spilled over into electrics! Will these shaving firms not be satisfied until they've peeled the skin from our chins? Tell you the truth, I'd rather grow a beard.

By: Kirth Gerson

Kirth Gerson — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 12:20:25 -0800

I have bought a couple of Bell&Howell's recent products. They were cheap imitations of the products shown on their packaging. No more. I agree that the battery-powered, multibladed shavers are not the quantum leap that the advertising claims, but that's not much of a surprise, is it?

By: sotonohito

sotonohito — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 12:21:39 -0800

Speaking as a guy who shaves his head, I love the Mach 3.

By: Flem Snopes

Flem Snopes — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 12:24:30 -0800

When you look at the explosion of the types and varieties of useless consumer products over the past few decades, it makes you wonder if the unemployment rate simply hasn't been high enough all these years.

By: knapah

knapah — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 12:33:54 -0800

Had a Mach3. Haven't used it in about 8 or 9 months. Ginger Beard ahoy.

By: Termite

Termite — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 12:45:20 -0800

What, no link to this?

By: keswick

keswick — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 12:57:35 -0800

I shave with this Refills cost five bucks for a pack of ten. Best shave I ever had.

By: EatTheWeak

EatTheWeak — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 13:15:13 -0800

Oy, Termite, you're right. I've been remiss.

By: scblackman

scblackman — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 13:16:00 -0800

Sure beats the $26 for 16 cartridges for the Mach3 that I just paid [fumes]. According to the Economist, there should be 14-blade disposables by the year 2100. I wonder what those will cost.

By: fire&wings

fire&wings — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 13:16:12 -0800

I have the vibrating Gilette mach whatever and I was skeptical, but it really makes shaving easier.

By: reklaw

reklaw — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 13:18:19 -0800

I bought a whole bunch of cheap two blade disposable razors half a year ago for like £2. They haven't let me down yet. Blade wars suck.

By: trigby

trigby — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 13:26:13 -0800

I laughed out loud when I read that one of the "features" of using the battery in these razors was to automatically turn itself off.

By: furtive

furtive — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 13:40:15 -0800

By: nervestaple

nervestaple — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 13:40:30 -0800

scblackman, isn't the Economist saying that there'll be 14-blade disposables a whole lot sooner than that?

By: deanc

deanc — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 14:00:47 -0800

What keswick said. I got off the Gillette/Schick bladewars train long ago. Anyone wants to buy me this for my birthday is welcome to do so. :)

By: kozad

kozad — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 14:03:13 -0800

Back in the Sixties when the two-bladed shaver was introduced, Mad made fun of it by proposing a three-bladed shaver. Actually, when it finallly came out ten years ago or so, I thought it was great. But I bought the latest 5- bladed monstrosity...a shitty idea. Greed cuts faces.

By: p3on

p3on — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 14:09:40 -0800

I recently abandoned multi-blade razors altogether for wetshaving with a double-edged safety razor, and i have to say I'm content.

By: TheDonF

TheDonF — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 14:31:13 -0800

"The comfort of five blades and the precision of one". So, going by that in(s)ane advert, I'd have really irritated skin all over my face whenever I wanted a precision shave. "Irritating rash at the bottom of your sideburns, sir? Not a problem." I hate shaving.

By: poweredbybeard

poweredbybeard — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 14:34:21 -0800

That ad hade me cursing at my monitor. The number of people going hungry and homeless and loveless and limbless in this world, and we're mainlining our resources in to ads for disposable razors that could've been directed by James bloody Cameron. People really are desparate to pay attention to anything but what's actually going on, aren't we. I wonder how many people that helicopter in the first scene has killed.

By: Alvy Ampersand

Alvy Ampersand — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 14:35:27 -0800

It'd be a lot easier to take those boycotters seriously(?) if, y'know, they had a picture of a bearded man on their site, instead of that stubbly, alkali-patched poseur.

By: gdav

gdav — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 14:51:14 -0800

men, brace yourselves for the Quintippio!

By: orchidthief

orchidthief — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 14:55:25 -0800

I'm old school...two blades...2x where I started a long time ago, but way behind the cool kids today. Then again, do the cool kids have whiskers? How many blades does it take to rake in a soul patch?

By: papakwanz

papakwanz — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 15:12:00 -0800

I'll admit, I've been suckered by the shaving Man for years. Had the Mach 3, then upgraded to the Quattro, then received the battery operated Fusion as a gift. It's kind of difficult to give it all up, though. It's like heroin!

By: diddlegnome

diddlegnome — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 15:13:05 -0800

Back in the early days of "Saturday Night Live," the show ran a mock commercial for a three-blade razor, a concept that at the time seemed over-the-top crazy. The ad for the Triple Track got all technical in explaining what each blade did to your beard. The tagline? "The Triple Track: Because you'll believe anything." I now use a Mach 3 (in the shower, with soap and not shaving cream). I like it just fine, but I think of that ad a lot.

By: eddydamascene

eddydamascene — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 15:17:45 -0800

Thus, any blade in between the first and third blades and with an exposure greater than that of the first blade and less than that of the third blade is a "second" blade in the claimed subset of blades. The accused QUATTRO® device, in fact, has two "second blades" because both of the middle blades in the accused device meet the definition of the "second blade" set forth in the claim. Any subset of three blades in a blade unit meeting these definitions is a "group of blades" as defined by the clear language of the claim. This claim is not ambiguous. (Gillette Co. v. Energizer Holdings Co., pdf)

By: Acey

Acey — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 15:19:51 -0800

Where will the madness end? Three sounded crazy, then it happened. Then 4, 5 and now 6. With one perpendicular to the other 5, at that. I for one look forward to the 14-blader!

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 15:44:43 -0800

i'm just glad i have a norelco ...

By: Foosnark

Foosnark — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 15:45:09 -0800

I like my Mach 3. Admittedly, it doesn't do much for the really tough persistent hair on my neck, but it serves me well enough for my face and head. I'm too much of a klutz to even contemplate shaving old-school.

By: bluefin

bluefin — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 15:47:29 -0800

It not the size, it's the motion. In other words learning how to wet shave is going to help, no matter how good the blade

By: Urban Hermit

Urban Hermit — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 15:55:38 -0800

contemplate shaving old-school .

By: delmoi

delmoi — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 15:58:16 -0800

I tried a Gillette fusion, and say what you want about blade wars the shave was amazingly smooth. Regarding the ad though, The subtitle should be "I'm in UR Base shaving all UR DOODS".

By: delmoi

delmoi — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 16:03:54 -0800

So, going by that in(s)ane advert, I'd have really irritated skin all over my face whenever I wanted a precision shave. It's really not like that at all; the "precision" blade is very different from a normal, single-blade razor. It's not irritating at all. Really, if you haven't actually tried it you really shouldn't be talking, it's definitely not a gimmick. I didn't notice much of a difference going from a sensor-XL to the mach-3 but the fusion is just in a whole other class. Of course, it's absurdly expensive to use on a day-to-day basis if you're not rich, but if you are. But you should at least try it before knocking it.

By: mr_crash_davis

mr_crash_davis — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 16:05:43 -0800

I'm still a die-hard Bic original single-blade user, but that's more 'cause I'm cheap than it is any other reason.

By: aladfar

aladfar — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 16:07:01 -0800

Note that the advertisement, in a break from previous razor ads, makes no mention of a "closer" shave. Instead, they claim only that 5 blades spreads out the pressure of the razor for less irritation. It's the same concept as laying on a bed of nails - the distributed pressure makes it possible to avoid injury. In my experience, however, more blades require more pressure and scrupulous cleaning (so many more places for things to get gummed up). I've been very happy with my single bladed (double if your count the flip side) Merkur and can't imagine going back to the con game of multiple blades. I reduce pressure the old fashioned way - I simply don't dig my razor into my face like an idiot.

By: Balisong

Balisong — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 16:14:03 -0800

Ahh, memories.

By: azazello

azazello — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 16:14:41 -0800

delmoi: it's d00ds, newb. l2p.

By: azazello

azazello — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 16:15:36 -0800

actually d00dz. * runs out crying *

By: aeschenkarnos

aeschenkarnos — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 16:17:53 -0800

I'm never going to voluntarily grow a beard. Mine looks terrible. I've contemplated going the laser hair-removal route and getting rid of the damn hairs on a permanent basis. Anyone done this? Know anyone who has? How'd it work out?

By: Pseudoephedrine

Pseudoephedrine — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 16:28:31 -0800

I use a straight razor. Due to an unfortunate misharpening, it's currently dull and I'm forced to use my back-up, a Mach 3. It's really rather awful in comparison.

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 16:30:16 -0800

Well, some wet shaver always has to jump into these sorts of threads. This time it's me. I changed to wetshaving last Christmas. I'll never go back to cartridges.

By: delmoi

delmoi — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 16:46:37 -0800

Wet Shaving is the Apple of shaving.

By: bwg

bwg — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 17:06:04 -0800

The only thing preventing me from switching to a straight razor is the lack of time for maintenance. I can't picture myself with a strop hanging in the bathroom. However, years ago I did switch to using shaving soap and badger-hair brush, and they make a big difference. I still use the Mach 3, and have zero desire to "upgrade" to additional blades.

By: Schlimmbesserung

Schlimmbesserung — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 17:07:23 -0800

What we need here is a return to simplicity. Whatever happened to Occam's Razor?

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 17:26:33 -0800

Cool. I use a Mac, too. Like double-edge blades, they just work.

By: Justinian

Justinian — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 17:30:19 -0800

I shave using a sharpened rock I found behind my house, using water from a cold mountain stream. You haven't lived until you've shaved like that. Damn girly men with your "razors" and "wetshaving". Might as well get a bikini wax you pansies.

By: spaltavian

spaltavian — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 17:38:12 -0800

Just grow a beard, goddammit. It's free.

By: rikschell

rikschell — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 17:46:09 -0800

I got an old double-edge razor at a junk store for 5 bucks, and it's the best shave ever! Why did people give this up for the multi-blade crap? 'Cos they were sold it by companies who could patent new blades every few years and charge a lot. It's all in the patent law. I wonder what other modern wonders we've given up...

By: Deep Dish

Deep Dish — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 17:57:09 -0800

I stuck with the two blade shavers, until I ran out of blades and used a three-blade shaver that came with a student welcome pack some time ago - It was a nicer shave. But my friends, I am now convinced that the blades have nothing to do with a comfortable shave. Get a fog-proof mirror and shave in the shower, its fast, easy, close and the blades last a long time that way.

By: ROU_Xenophobe

ROU_Xenophobe — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 19:02:04 -0800

I'm old school...two blades Pfft. When I bother using a blade at all, I just use half a blade -- the straight portion of a rusty old k-bar blade. I'm sure there's some way to shave with no blade, or with less than no blade. Perhaps if I sharpened a portion of the k-bar's handle and shaved with that, it would count as using less than no blade. Or I could use a rock and pummel my beard into submission. I shave using a sharpened rock Sharpen the rock? That's for wusses and other momma's-boys. I find that I achieve the most satisfactory depilation by shouting obscenities at Chuck Norris until he shoots me a dirty look, which is sufficient to rid me of facial hair for a time.

By: Pastabagel

Pastabagel — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 19:26:20 -0800

Well, I use and electric, after the bloodlettings of the Gillette Sensor and complete impatience for the wet shaving ritual after doing that for about three weeks. Frankly the electric (I've used the braun in the past, but now use the norelco) has given me a far closer shave with far less discomfort than anything else, and in a pinch, I can even shave in the car. And I'm not the only one who's ever done that. The norelco comes with a car lighter power adapter.

By: Pastabagel

Pastabagel — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 19:27:54 -0800

I will echo deep dish's comment though, even a cheap single blade razor in the shower is better that any kind or number of blades over the sink.

By: horsewithnoname

horsewithnoname — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 19:29:08 -0800

I find that I achieve the most satisfactory depilation by shouting obscenities at Chuck Norris until he shoots me a dirty look, which is sufficient to rid me of facial hair for a time. Big deal. I'm so secure in my manhood, I shave with an electric razor while sipping an appletini and wearing a skirt.

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 19:42:03 -0800

Big deal. I'm so secure in my manhood, I shave with an electric razor while sipping an appletini and wearing a skirt. that's nothing ... i do all that and sing broadway songs AND sit with my legs crossed

By: crunchywelch

crunchywelch — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 19:58:38 -0800

Fuck Everything, We're Doing Five Blades

You think it's crazy? It is crazy. But I don't give a shit. From now on, we're the ones who have the edge in the multi-blade game. Are they the best a man can get? Fuck, no. Gillette is the best a man can get.

// my favorite example of how our society is actually just a parody of itself

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 20:07:04 -0800

I have a Toshiba battery-powered foil razor in the car for those times I've forgotten to shave properly. It does a fine job, surprisingly so for my expectations. Also surprising is how long the batteries last: I'd have expected a run time on the order of minutes; it seems to keep ticking year after year on the same batteries, in the same abusive (hot/cold) environment.

By: Jumpin Jack Flash

Jumpin Jack Flash — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 20:29:05 -0800

I just use a hammer. I pound the whiskers in and bite them off.

By: ROU_Xenophobe

ROU_Xenophobe — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 20:33:47 -0800

Well, I use and electric, after the bloodlettings of the Gillette Sensor In real life, I have cut myself with more than one electric razor.

By: Bugbread

Bugbread — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 20:42:25 -0800

delmoi : "Wet Shaving is the Apple of shaving." Wet shaving is the Radiohead of shaving.

By: diddlegnome

diddlegnome — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 20:51:30 -0800

I just use a hammer. I pound the whiskers in and bite them off. posted by Jumpin Jack Flash at 8:29 PM PST on September 3 [+] [!] Yeah, but in the shower or over the sink? Claw or ball-peen? And wouldn't you get greater accuracy with a nailset? Details, man, details!

By: tdtd

tdtd — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 22:15:44 -0800

Let's not forget this discussion...

By: clevershark

clevershark — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 15:14:44 -0800

I just stand before a mirror and scowl at my facial hair until it withdraws back into the skin out of sheer terror.

By: soyjoy

soyjoy — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 09:56:51 -0800

As I said in the AskMe thread about this a while back, I'm generally anti-consumerism, but the Mach 3 is one of two or three consumer products that I judge to have actually improved my life. Shaving before it, with whatever device (including, yes, straight razor, shaving soap & brush) left my face bleeding and/or patchy. Afterwards, close shave, no blood. Don't really see a need to try the next level or the next, but I also don't retain the knee-jerk opposition to "new and improved" products. As for the cartridge refills as some sort of scam, I was just today thinking, "Hmmm, I probably oughta replace my cartridge tomorrow, having used this one all summer long." It's hilarious to me that Gillette made the cartridges work so smoothly for so long that they had to start an ancillary ad campaign trying to convince users to change their blades every week.

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 20:38:45 -0800

All summer? You must have the wispiest of baby fuzz adorning your chin. In all honesty, I should probably change blades with every second or third shave. I always notice a marked improvement in smoothness and closeness when I use a new blade.

By: soyjoy

soyjoy — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 12:08:43 -0800

So do I, but it takes till now for the blade to get to the point where I actually notice it not being close & smooth. And don't worry, there's plenty to shave there every day, but seriously, I'm sure I haven't changed this cartridge since the end of June or so.