Customer Reviews

Gillette Fusion Proglide Power Cartridge, 8-count Package

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

First up, my history. When I first started shaving, I used a disposable manual razor. Twice. After that, realizing shaving wasn't something one could usually get out of by choice, I bought an electric razor, of the rotary type. When the Gillette Mach 3 was introduced, I got that to keep for a backup, or for a closer shave for important events, concerts, shows, etc. Eventually I upgraded my rotary razor to a Braun Pulsonic (expensive) razor. Soon after, I tried the Gillette Fusion Power, to see how it compared. Lets just say it compared just enough to be actually worth comparing. This again went into the cabinet as a special occasional razor. About three months ago, as the cartridge in my Braun Pulsonic was aging beyond it's recommended life cycle and the shave was getting less close, and more painful, I decided to try the Gillette Proglides cartridges. I used them on my Gillette Fusion Power handle, since it's basically the same as the Proglide handle.


Here was my experience with not one but four separate cartridges:

I decided to shave at roughly the same time every day, just to get a real good idea of how it performed in relation to my electric. I also shaved the day prior, with my electric.
The very first shave was very smooth and close, with no tug and pull, just as advertised. I was surprised, but pleased. It did tend to nick up my face pretty bad, but the blades were sharp enough so it didn't affect comfort. I shave well in advance of leaving home, so this wouldn't have been a big deal. The second and subsequent shaves were dramatically different from the first one. All were painful, rough, uneven, and frankly not all that close. I was close to just heading back to the Pulsonic with two year (plus) old cartridge, but I decided to stick it out. As the strip of lubricant wore down significantly, the comfort of the shave improved. It wasn't as close, but it was almost, if not as comfortable as the first. This lasted until the strip was nearly gone, and it was clearly time to replace.
I decided at that point to return to my Pulsonic, and just buy the new cartridge, as it had served me well for two years on one cartridge.

A few weeks later, I had an interview, so I bought a three cartridge set of the Proglide cartridges. I decided that after I used the one for the interview, I would use the other two to do a slightly different test.

With the final two cartridges, I decided to wait varying periods of time between shaves, so the stubble would be a different length each time.
Overall, the results were the same as the first time, with a few differences. Any shave of stubble that was between two days and five days old was much more comfortable and close than it would have been at the same point in the cartridge life cycle with shorter stubble. The longest stubble, which was about six days growth, resulted in a shave that was less close, but as comfortable as the other longer-stubble shaves.

I don't know whether my rate of stubble growth is typical or atypical, but I can grow a nice goatee in about a week.

Overall, I think that Gillette is going in the right direction, but they need to strike a finer balance between shave quality, and longevity of blades in order to make these worthwhile.

After all the hype (which I tried to ignore, but who can, really?) I was expecting something different, and much improved. Frankly, even the few times when I turn to a manual razor, I would probably turn to the old Fusion, just because I didn't have as many guessing games. It worked until it stopped, which was just before the color from the strip was gone. Even for someone who shaves primarily with a manual razor, unless they have money to blow, I wouldn't recommend the Proglide.

Overall, my opinion is that this is a debatable improvement over the previous generation, and that it was so far over-hyped that it created false expectations. Had it not been hyped so much as a dramatic improvement, I might have given it four stars, but that type of advertising really irks me.

NOTE: This was my experience with the product, and since this sort of product depends a lot on individual faces, hair, shaving habits, etc., it's not good to draw a conclusion based solely on a few other reviews. In addition, different people expect different things from a razor. I prefer a balance of longevity, comfort and closeness, while others prefer one over the others. My opinion is: if you're an owner of a Fusion handle, you can always get a small pack of the Proglide cartridges and try them out. They may well work differently for you.

There is no question about Gilette, and their need to provide a better way of men to shave their beards and mustaches, without them cutting their faces so closely, but at times they can definitely be a mixed blessing in disguise. That is proof of the pudding with their Gilette Fusion Proglide Power razor, and their refill cartridges. While the concept is right with the closeness of a shave, the big gripe about it is that the cartridges quickly get dull only after a few uses. That dullness gets very tiresome, even with the toughest of shaving creams and mixes to make it easier for your best shave. I really think Gilette needs to honestly find a better razor blade with their next brand of razor. This one isn't bad, but loses out very quickly in the long shave.

Price: C

Convience: C

Overall: C

First off, I have sensitive skin, and was having problems with razor burn, but this completely eliminates it. It's a smooth shave, and with any shaving cream/gel, it feels like running thick water down your cheek. I've had mine for over a motnth now, and its still sharp, so i don't know about the other review. Maybe its the way i shave. I always wash out the blade after each use, so it probably won't dull as fast as if you don't. But overall, I'm not sure if it's worth the extra for the vibration, it's not that great, and I don't use it as much. But for certain people, it might be better than for me. To each his own.

For some reason, I think the Gillette Fusion was better than this upgrade. I was used to the Fusion Power cartridges and then bought this thinking it would be better. But every time I shave now I seem to have to make multiple strokes and it still is not as smooth of a shave. Would not recommend upgrading from Fusion Power to Proglide Power

i dont know why i keep buying gillette products because none of them seem to work well for me.
i used mach3 razors for years and they pulled - im a typical asian so i dont really even have a lot to shave. i was never really satisfied but i kept buying replacement cartridges for some reason.
about a year or so ago, i think, i tried the fusion powered razors. the fusion still pulls a lot and more hair gets stuck between the razors - kind of annoying. the extra razor at the tip when you flip it is AWESOME.
recently, i tried the proglide. i really dont feel much of a difference. i think im just getting suckered into gillettes marketing.

i have tried so many different razors and i keep going back to gillet fusion bought a 130 dollar electric razor works like a dream but i still go back to gillette they give the best save for the price its worth it to my same for my dad and bro im 18 and shave once a week so my growth is pretty thick and it goes thou it like butter easy clean i shave in the shower and aa quick rinse under the shower head and its clean love the new blades they work even better dont upgrade your razor for the blade the blades fit all razors i have the old one and it fits like a glove but bought the new one just to see how it fills and love it. recommend 100%

I am a loyal Amazon customer and probably have minimum two purchases per month, but I have great concerns about the "subscription" I signed up for in purchasing razors. After signing up for the subscription and purchasing my first order of the razors, I received an email shortly prior to the second month, which I was notified of a price increase. The increase? 38% higher than the original price. So what's the deal?? Does Amazon hook people in for automatic purchases for items similar to this that use the Gillette business model? Get them hooked then increase the cost, in hopes that the consumer doesn't notice or is too lazy to cancel?? I'm extremely disappointed and fairly annoyed. This is a bad business practice. If you're going to offer a subscription on a product at a set price, then try honoring that price, not an immediate increase of 38% once you have the consumer signed up. Bad...bad business Amazon!

For years I had to stick with the Gilette sensor razor because these newer three, four and five blade razors jammed too easily and did not shave as well. Gilette finally addressed that in the Proglide. These do not jam and shave very well. Also, as you may have seen in the ads, you can shave against the grain, as I have to do to get a close shave, and it is quite smooth. My only complaints are that they do not last long (three shaves are usually the max, maybe four, I do have to shave against the grain so each shave is almost like two but the sensors with this usage lasted longer) and they are pricey and the price keeps rising. Knocking off one star for those complaints.

This is the best shaving razor I've used and I've sticked to it for more than a year. Only make sure that the razor and cartridge are both "manual" or "power"

Very good quality, better buy 8 cartridge or more than less, because price will go high.
Each cartridge lasts long, for me when I use it 3 times a week one cartridge works good for about 1,5 - 2 months.