Cartridge Razor Review

Gillette Fusion 5 Review – Upgraded Blade Design Any Better?

Next up on the cartridge razor campaign up for review is the Gillette Fusion 5. The first five-blade razor of its kind was introduced to the market in 2006.

The Fusion 5 ranked among the best cartridge razor results on the roundup page for its quick shaving results and ability to handle heavy growth and tough skin.

The last cartridge razor I reviewed was the Gillette SkinGuard, a razor designed for sensitive skin types that experience issues such as razor burn, razor bumps, or other skin irritations. The Fusion 5 is a distinctly different razor, although it shares some notable similarities with it.

The Fusion 5, within the Gillette range of cartridge razors, followed the number one most popular Gillette Mach 3 razor, which first came to market in 1998. The most significant change the Fusion 5 had was that it had five blades rather than three.

This review will examine the all-important features and test the razor for facial shaving on various days with different levels of beard or stubble growth, as well as for head shaving. Finally, I will recommend who the Gillette Fusion 5 would be best suited for within the final thoughts. 

2024 Upgrade/Change vs Old Style

In 2024, Gillette made a significant change to the Fusion 5 blade design. I touted the Fusion 5 as a great razor for its aggressiveness and being a good option for dealing with coarse growth.

The reason I had it listed as a good option, or rather why I felt it dealt with coarse/heavy growth well, was due to the wider bottom microfin strip, which enables the skin to be pulled taut somewhat before the blades cut. The microfin strip is now narrower (see photo below) and has a more similar design and appearance to the Gillette ProGlide.

The new style also has a wider lubrication strip at the top.

I’ve used the old and new styles side by side to get a good comparison of these and to see if either was better, and if the new Fusion 5 compromised its effectiveness for coarse growth.

It took me a couple of shaves to pick up the differences, and the main (and maybe only difference I found is that the new style is more comfortable.

The additional comfort from the new Fusion 5 will be welcomed by most, and I must admit that I prefer it now. However, is there any need for the ProGlide blade, as they are now so similar (I am not sure yet)?

The bottom line is I get the same shave as the old Fusion 5, but with more comfort.

Until I know the old-style blades won’t be available anymore, I will need to cover both old and new in this review. The availability of the old style is dwindling!

Description & Features

The razor may come with a handle and various numbers of blades, as well as different packaging. For example, the Fusion 5 I bought came with seven cartridges, but I could have bought one for much less that came with only one blade. However, one was not enough, and no other options were available, such as a four-pack set.

• Blades: Gillette states that the five blades have an antifriction coating, which enables them to last up to 20 shaves. They also claim that the five blades are evenly spaced, which reduces skin bulge, and these blades are mounted on springs to accommodate the irregularities of the skin.  
• Precision Trimmer: Since the Mach 3, Gillette has added an extra-thin blade on the top and back of the cartridge, known as a precision trimmer. Gillette states that this blade can be used to cut inside the sideburns or any other difficult areas, such as under the nose, and shape around beards. 
• Lubrication: The top section of the cartridge features a hardened lubrication strip, which, when wet, gels up. After gelling, the strip provides added lubrication to a user’s existing lubrication (i.e., shaving foam, soap, gel, or cream). After a number of shaves, the strip fades and no longer provides sufficient lubrication.
• Handle: The metal handle is lightweight and features rubberized sections to provide a non-slip grip during shaving. The handle I have is a slick black color.
• Flex head: The head flexes back to around 60–70 degrees, enabling the razor blades to shave along the various contours of the skin and achieve the best blade angle.
• Microfin Strip: The microfin strip at the bottom of the cartridge blade prepares and slightly stretches the skin before a blade cuts the hairs.
• Changing blades: A small push button on the top of the razor easily releases the blade, and then a new blade is best attached via the cartridge case. 
• Interchangeable: Some Gillette blades and handles are interchangeable, including the Fusion 5 with SkinGuard and the ProGlide.

Anything to add about the Features?

First off, I like the modern black look with the orange strip around the blade release button and the matching orange microfin strip on the bottom of the cartridge. This is just cosmetic stuff, though!

After recently testing and using the Gillette SkinGuard, I like the simple single lubrication strip along the top, unlike the SkinGuard, which has a large one along the bottom (great for some users, though).

The microfin strip along the bottom of the blade is significantly larger than what we find on the Mach3. While I am not sure this adds any improvement compared to the Mach3, it does not cause any problems either.

A notable feature of this razor is its five blades. I will be honest: I never desired to use a five-bladed razor, but I found the Mach 3, and its three blades are good enough. I also took the path of using traditional safety razors, and they use only one blade, so the thought of five blades did not enter my mind.

I find the ergonomics of the handle to be very good, although I still prefer the curve offered by the Gillette Mach 3. The Gillette Fusion 5 is straighter than the Mach 3.

I have no complaints about the grip the Fusion 5 handle offers. The rubberized grip ensures the razor stays securely in the hand while maneuvering during use.

The simple flex head feature helps shave along the various contours of the face. While the flex head simply moves backward and forward, it significantly improves how the razor shaves. The flex head is one reason these cartridge razors work better for me when shaving my head than with a safety razor (they are solid with no movement).

The Fusion 5 also has a trimmer blade at the top and back of the cartridge blade. I don’t need to trim as the razor works fine, cutting in the sideburns and under the nose without the trimmer, but I have tried it out. After trying the trimmer out, I found that it cuts the sideburns very well and can help get the line more accurately. It also makes cutting in under the nose very easy. The trimmer might make a good feature for those shaping around various beard styles, especially a goatee beard.

Shaving Experiences

I had no real expectations or idea about how the Fusion5 would perform in terms of shaving. Would five blades make the shave better, as Gillette states? Well, we shall find out!

How Often Did You Shave with the Fusion 5?

Anyone who has followed my electric shaver or razor reviews will know that I usually test them out on a three- or more-day growth, a two-day growth, and then daily shaving. However, on this occasion, with the Gillette Fusion 5 review, I did not even attempt daily shaving.

The reason I did not attempt daily shaving was that on the first shave with the Fusion 5, I had three days of growth, and I found the razor to be aggressive, knowing it would likely cause neck irritation if I shaved daily. 

The aggressiveness of the Fusion 5 is significantly higher than that of the Mach3 and loads more than the Gillette SkinGuard I recently used. This is absolutely fine, as I like an aggressive razor (you can see I shave like a charm with a Muhle R41) on two or more days of growth.

With two or more days of growth, the Fusion 5 quickly removes hair and stubble, resulting in a super-close shave. 

I experience more tugging with the Fusion 5 than with the Mach 3, but this is fine and requires the user to take slower strokes.  

Lubrication 

The lubrication strip at the top of the cartridge blade provides a lot more lubrication than I thought it would. And, like the SkinGuard razor I recently used, I had to use less shaving cream lather. 

I still prefer using traditional shaving soaps and creams with these cartridge razors, as they are of much higher quality than the canned foam products. However, I have to keep in mind that I don’t need to apply a thick layer of lather.

I do get some of that gooey gel effect from the strip, especially when the Fusion 5 blade is new. However, after about the 5th shave, the lubrication strip offers less gel-like lubrication, which is noticeable.

The new Fusion 5 blade has a wider lubrication strip, so we get a bit more added gel on teh face while the razor is being used. That might be part of the reason I feel more comfortable with the new type of blade (maybe).

How Was Head Shaving with the Fusion 5?

As a balding individual, I sometimes shave my head down to the scalp, especially with a new shaver or razor, to test it out for a review. The Mach3 has been the number one choice for many years, which gives me the closest and most comfortable head shave.

The Gillette Fusion5 did blow me away with how fast it shaved my head and how close the shave was. Additionally, it was significantly more efficient than any other razor I have used.

If I need a very close head shave, then the Fusion5 is my new go-to razor. It has beaten the rest hands down, and the aggressiveness mentioned in this article is only a benefit when shaving the head, as the head does not experience the same irritation issues as the face.

Do You Have Any Dislikes?

I don’t particularly appreciate that I cannot use a lot of lather on the face due to the lubrication already provided by the lubrication strip. However, it is not a deal breaker, and I have learned to adjust to using less.

If I were a daily shaver, then I would not be happy with the aggressiveness of the Fusion 5. Now that the new cartridge blade is more comfortable, it could be a suitable option for guys who shave daily. However, I only shave daily for razor reviews, as my skin is sensitive to daily shaving, and I prefer the aggressiveness that comes with two or more days of stubble.

I am not a big fan of how the Gillette razors that followed the Mach 3 are a bit more tricky to replace a blade. The Fusion 5 and others require the user to clip the blade on from the cartridge pack, whereas the Mach 3 can also be attached manually. However, this is not a deal breaker, and I have learned to adapt.

Overall Shaving Experience?

The Gillette Fusion 5 gave an impressive shave that was quick and very close. It definitely gives a faster shave with fewer strokes than the Mach 3 and SkinGuard razor.

While I love this type of aggressiveness in a razor, I see guys with more sensitive skin possibly having irritation issues. 

Cartridge Longevity?

Gillette states that the blades can last up to 20 shaves, which is considerably more than the blades of Gillette’s previous razors. Then they also say they last up to a month, but I would say the number of shaves as a measurement would be more accurate than a time period (everyone does not shave the same number of times monthly).

Since picking up a Fusion 5, I have only had five shaves, including a head shave. The lubrication strip gel has reduced somewhat, but I am okay with that, as I can use more of my shaving soap. I will see how it goes, and I estimate ten shaves until the blades lose their comfort and begin to dull too much.

The density of the beard, hair thickness, and skin toughness are some aspects that affect how long a person can use the same blades. It differs from person to person.

Caring for the Blades

There is not much to do in terms of maintenance. What helps keep the blades and lubrication strip in better condition is keeping them dry after shaving. Dabbing the blades lightly on a towel and keeping them away from water and damp does the trick.

Value for Money – Costs?

The Gillette Fusion 5 costs significantly more for the initial starter than the Mach 3 and its refills. The difference is around 20% more for the Fusion 5.

*Cost (handle + 4 blades): Approx $19 + USD – £14 + UK – €16 EU.

*Cartridges cost (4 pack): Approx $15 USD – £12 UK – €15 EU.

*Prices can vary from store to store, depending on the country and the razor’s packaging.

Whether that price increase is worth it will depend on what the individual benefits from the quicker shave they get from the Fusion 5. Maybe the person also gets more shaves from the Fusion 5, which will save on cartridge costs in the long term.

I think how well the Fusion 5 shaved my head justifies paying the extra. However, if a cartridge razor were to join my regular facial shave routine, then I am not sure I would switch from the Mach 3, but then again, that head shave was something else.

I would recommend that most guys purchase the set, which comes with four blades. It only costs slightly more than a single blade and handle set. Then, other sets with more cartridges increase the cost quite considerably for a person just trying out the Fusion 5 (a little cautious, as money could be wasted if a person does not like the razor).

Final Thoughts – Verdict (Whose It For?)

After reviewing and using the Gillette SkinGuard immediately before the Fusion 5, I noticed a significant difference in razors in terms of shaving speed, aggressiveness, and comfort. Very interesting and different shaves!

I see the Fusion 5 as a razor for those with normal to tough skin that is not irritated easily (not sensitive skin types). Additionally, men who shave every three or more days, with decent whiskers appearing, are likely to benefit from the added aggressiveness of this razor. 

If you are currently using the Mach 3 and don’t need the extra 20% (unless you get more shaves from a Fusion cartridge), sticking with the Mach 3 might be the best option.

If you shave your head, then the Fusion 5 is well worth trying, just to see how fast and close it shaves compared to others.

Next on the journey of cartridge razor reviews is the Gillette ProGlide, which resembles the Fusion, but with differences that I will explain in the article.

Please share your thoughts in the comments below if you have anything to add or would like to ask a question.

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