I rarely recommend a cartridge razor, but...

My wife and I were doing our weekly grocery shopping today in Safeway, and as I passed the shaving goods aisle with our grocery cart, a woman appearing to be in her 40s sort of accosted me, walking up to me and starting to talk about her son, who was standing behind her with their cart. I thought she was going to ask me for spare change, but instead she said that her son was now having to shave almost every day, that he wanted a closer shave than he was getting with an electric razor but had somewhat sensitive skin, that the boy's father had died last year, and that she didn't know what to suggest to him for a "straight razor." I explained to her the difference between a straight razor and a safety razor. I asked her son, who looked to me to be around 20 years old, if he had ever used anything other than an electric shaver, and he said no. And I noticed - although I try not to pigeonhole people or make too many assumptions about them - that he appeared to be just a little mentally challenged. (Having been a pediatrician at one time, I learned well how to recognize the subtle and not-so-subtle signs of developmental delay or mental "slowness" in kids and young adults.)

The woman asked what kind of razor I use, and I told her about traditional double edge razors and blades. She asked if her son should use one. Well, with my impression of her son and a gut feeling about the safety concerns of double edge blades, I recommended that he try a Gillette Fusion, saying that men who use cartridge razors spoke highly of it and that it probably would be quite good for a young fellow with sensitive skin. She was very effusive in thanking me for the guidance.

So did I do the right thing? I'm not sure. I hope so.

John, I think your advice was both sound and kind. The Fusion is a good choice for most people who don't want to be concerned about technique, etc., and the new ProShield (or whatever the latest is) has lubricating strips on both sides of the blades, so it should be good for sensitive skin with a modicum of care. Also, almost impossible to get nicks or cuts with it.

I think your advice was very, very sound. In light of him possibly being challenged, a straight is out of the question and a double edged safety doesn't feel right either.

Suggesting a tool for decent results that minimizes risk of hurting himself seems the only wise choice.

John, I think your response is fine for someone you don't know. I would be leery of recommending our type of DE, SE, or straight razors unless asked specifically by the young man himself. If at age twenty or so it is his mother asking then I think you answered correctly.

You done good.


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I think you did exactly the right thing, John.  You helped a mother who was just trying to help her son be more comfortable with his shaves.  It sounds to me that you were very kind, patient, and understanding in dealing with this situation.  I applaud you, sir!  

Thanks for the comments. My response to her was limited by our setting in the grocery store aisle, and I also felt like there was a risk in providing too much information. I guess I could have suggested to her that she find a shaving mentor for her son, but I suspected that she already had thought of that.

Great work...th only thing I would have added was to go with the grain and across the grain. Those damned commercials show the guy shaving against the grain on the neck.

When I was 17 (a long, long time ago) for my very first shave with a Sensor Excel, I did exactly what they were doing on the commercial for the second pass and suffered irritation like you would not believe. I'll never forget that and I wish they would not do that in the commercial.

Great work...th only thing I would have added was to go with the grain and across the grain. Those damned commercials show the guy shaving against the grain on the neck.

Yes, that would have been good advice for him. I didn't think of it. But there's a lot that simply didn't occur to me at the time.

Great advice. The fusion is a brilliant razor IMO.