There are many razor
options out there, and each
will offer a slightly different shave.
Basically razor performance boils
down to the handle and the blade.
A good grip can be
critical to a good shave.
While basic disposable
razors have plastic grips,
more advanced razors like this one
use rubber and similar materials
to provide additional grip
and a feeling of control.
Some guys prefer heftier handles like
those found in our refillable razors
because they feel they give them more
sense of control and responsiveness.
Meanwhile, disposable razors
usually have light plastic handles,
which are designed to be thrown away.
Power handles are battery powered,
with a tiny motor to emit vibrations.
These soothing micro-pulses reduce
friction and improve razor glide.
Going over to the blade, the
thinner the blade the less tug
and pull you will feel.
Our engineers have worked hard over
the years to create thinner blades.
The first four blades of the ProGlide razor
are our thinnest, finest blades ever.
They're actually thinner
than a surgeon's scalpel.
Guys always ask us why our
razors have so many blades.
Does it really matter?
As each blade cuts through a hair, it
also extends the hair a small amount
so that the next blade
achieves a close cut.
Ideally, this means a guy does
not have to shave in the same area
multiple times, leading to
less feel of irritation.
It's not just the number
of blades that matters.
It's how those blades are positioned.
In general, less space between
the blades, the better.
Why?
As the blades travel
over your skin, bulges
can form between them, contributing
to the feel of irritation.
With less spacing and
a precise blade angle,
you'll get less bulges and
less feel of irritation.
Finally, we have to physically mount
the blades to the rest of the cartridge.
On our most basic razors, the
blades are fixed in place.
However, our more advanced razors us
blades that are mounted on springs.
These spring-mounted blades work
like shock absorbers in a car,
allowing each blade of the
razor to individually adjust
to the contours of your face.
Other parts of the cartridge work
to improve the shaving experience.
One essential part is the pivot.
The most basic razors
do not have a pivot.
Our entry level pivot razors
are designed with center pivots
to adjust to facial contours.
Our top of the line razors are
designed with a front pivot
that transfers pressure on the skin
from the blades to the skin guard.
The amount of blade pressure on the
skin is very important for comfort.
And the less pressure, the more
comfortable the shave will be.
You'll notice that many razors
have a skin guard below the blades.
These guards pull the skin taut so the
blades pass over a smoother surface,
just like you might with your hand.
These guards come in a
variety of sizes and shapes.
We've continued to evolve our skin
guards as we have developed the more
advanced Mach3 and Fusion razors.
Many razors include built
in lubricating strips
above the actual blades for
a more comfortable shave.
These strips leave behind
lubricating materials,
which make repeat strokes less likely
to cause the feel of irritation.
Lastly, some razors
include precision trimmers.
One pitfall of multiple blades
is that the shaving surface
is a little too wide to tackle hard
to reach spots like under your nose.
To address this, our Fusion
and Fusion ProGlide razors
feature a separate
single blade on the back.
Many guys prefer the added versatility
this trimmer gives them and use it
to define clean edges
on sideburns or beards.
Clearly, you're the expert
on what's best for you,
but we hope we made the razor aisle
a little less overwhelming for you.
