Cartridge Razor Review

Gillette ProGlide Shield Power Review

Continuing the crusade to find the best cartridge razors has naturally led to picking up a Gillette ProGlide Shield Power, also known as the Gillette ProShield Power.

The original ProGlide, also known as Fusion5 ProGlide, came on the market a year after the Fusion5 in 2014, and the Fusion5 ProShield followed a year later in 2015. So, we can see these are all variations of the original Fusion5 (2006).

The ProGlide Shield Power goes one up on the previous ProGlides (an advanced handle of the standard ProGlide Shield, actually) and Fusions and adds battery-powered vibrations. The vibrations aim to reduce friction and enable the razor to move more smoothly along the face. 

My first thought when purchasing this razor was –is this just a sales marketing gimmick, or can an actual electric-powered cartridge razor be of any benefit or even work?  

While I view all of Gillette razors after the Mach3 as products that keep Gillette at the number one spot worldwide in the razor market business, any new razor always offers something different that a user/buyer will benefit from, although not required for getting a good shave. 

I was pleased to see the Gillette ProGlide Sheild Power does provide something different that has an effect. More about that further along!

This Gillette ProGlide Shield Power review will look closely at the all-important features and test out the razor for facial shaving on various days of beard or stubble growth and head shaving. Then finally, recommend who the razor would be best suited for within the final thoughts. 

Gillette ProGlide Shield Description & Features

Unboxed in the package I bought, I got the razor handle, nine cartridge blades, and a single AAA battery. So I had everything needed to keep me shaving for quite some time.

• Blades: Gillette states the five martensitic stainless steel blades have an anti-friction coating that allows the blades to last up to a month. Each blade is closely aligned to prevent skin bulging, and a spring-mounted base helps the blades adjust to the skin’s irregularities. 
• Precision Trimmer: Gillette has added an extra blade on the top back for users to trim sideburns, under the nose, other hard-to-reach areas, and styling. 
• Lubrication: The lubrication strip on all Gillette cartridge razors is a thin strip along the top that gels when wet. The Sheild feature of this razor also provides a lubrication strip on the bottom.
• Handle: The silver handle has rubberized sections, which offer users plenty of grip when shaving. The bottom section screws on and off and fits the battery inside.
• Micropulse Technology: This is the power aspect of this razor and what causes the vibrations. 
• 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 to get the best blade angle.
• FlexBall: What Gillette calls the Flexball technology is the cartridge blades’ ability to move left and right with the various contours of the face.
• Microfin Strip: The microfin strip at the bottom of the cartridge blade prepares and slightly stretches the skin. This stretching enables the blade to cut hair closer to the skin. 
• Microcomb: The Mircocomb is not easily visible. It is placed just after the microfin strip under the blades and is a hard-grooved plastic strip. This feature aims to guide the hair before it is shaved. 
• 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. 

Anything to Add About the Features?

There are a few features I would like to add and expand on. It’s worth understanding the technical jargon and, more importantly, how well the features function. 

Micropulse Technology 

Adding Power to a cartridge razor did seem peculiar as it has no blades to rotate or move blades between foils like electric shavers. However, once I discovered it was to produce vibrations to enable the razor to move more smoothly, it made sense or at least gave me an idea of what to look for when shaving. 

Surprisingly the vibration does make a difference. I would not say a huge difference, as the ProGlide is a smooth razor anyway, but it did help it along. 

If you shave with slow strokes along the cheeks or neck, you should notice the vibrations having an effect and helping the razor glide –even if only slightly.

Handle

The handles on Gillette cartridge razors have improved greatly over the years and have great modern designs. 

The ProGlide Sheil handle has a very good rubberized grip and a nice bit of weight. Myself and others like a bit of weight on our razors.

The head section arches forward, which helps provide an ergonomically friendly design. 

Being quite large, even guys with giant hands will find the handle size a comfortable fit.

The bottom section of the handle that twists open to replace the battery is nice and inconspicuous—simple design and easy to replace batteries. 

FlexBall

The Flexball is a section attached to the handle that a cartridge blade attaches to. This feature enables the cartridge blade to move left and right and should move with the direction of shaving along the various contours of the face. 

However, I could not notice the FlexBall on this razor, the original ProGlide, and the GilletteLabs Exfoliator FlexDisc (the same type of feature) working. It may move slightly left or right without seeing it, but I have tried to see this feature at work many times.

The FlexBall is not an important feature in my eyes compared to the head or cartridge blade needing to flex.

FlexHead

The cartridge flexing back and forth is a standard feature on all cartridge razors, and it really helps to improve the shave experience. The FlexHead allows us to put varying amounts of pressure when shaving while keeping the blade close to the skin to cut hair.

Trimmer

The trimmer is an extra blade on the top and back of the cartridge blade. I have come to appreciate how easily this feature on cartridge razors trims those extra harder-to-reach hairs underneath the nose.

The top lubrication strip creates a gap between the blades and nose section, making hair harder under the nose to shave off, which the trimmer makes easier.

This trimmer can also be used for styling a beard. Simple and useful feature!

Lubrication Strips

The ProGlide Power has two lubrication strips. One works to provide lubrication before the microfin strip and blades (enhanced lubrastrip), and the next strip is above the blades.

It makes a lot of sense to me to provide lubrication before blades hit the skin, and I always wondered why they have a lubrication strip at the top after blades hit the skin. The lubrication above the blades does make sense, though, as it is there for added lubrication rather than the only source of lubrication (we use shaving soap, and cream of foam, don’t we).

Having both the upper and lower lubrication strips does provide a better glide for the razor. In addition, these strips surrounding the blades are likely to reduce razor aggression and make a better shave for sensitive skin type gents prone to irritation. 

The main issue with these and other lubrication strip is they wear after a few shaves, and this does reduce the performance of the razor

Microfin Strip and Microcomb

The Microfin strip is very useful and is placed between the blades and the first lubrication strip. This strip stretches the skin slightly before the blades make a cut. 

The thin piece of plastic ‘Microcomb’ with comb-like teeth that comes just before the blades after the Microfin strip –aims to guide the hair before the cut. While it is hard to know or see this feature working, it makes sense. 

Changing Blades

The ProGlide Shield Power uses the same blade replacement method as other Gillette cartridge razors. The push button on the back of the razor pops the old blade off, and then we clip the new blade on via the cartridge case.

We can also manually put a blade on without the cartridge case, but it can be a little fiddly, so watch your fingers don’t get cut.

No dramas there! 

If you see ProGlide Shield Power and ProGlide Shield blades for sale, they are the same blade and fit the handles. The same applies to Europe with the ProShield Power or just ProShield. 

It’s useful to know that the handle on this razor is compatible with razor heads from the PRO, Fusion5, and SkinGuard ranges. If you wish to try a different cartridge razor blade, that’s no problem –you have options.

Cleaning and Maintenance 

Cleaning is easy; the blades only need running warm water from a tap to wash out all the debris and shaving soap or foam. After each use, it pays to dry off the blades just by patting the blade section on a towel –this will help maintain the lubrication strips and blades.

An additional maintenance task for this razor is changing the AAA batteries when needed. 

How Does Gillette ProGlide Shield Power Perform and Shave?

The main thing I had in mind when first using this razor was how this vibration feature would work and if it would have any effect. 

How Often Did You Shave with the ProGlide Shield Power?

I shaved with the ProGlide Power with three and two days of growth. Despite not being a fan of daily shaving, I also tried daily shaving on consecutive days.

I could not see much action from the vibration feature on the first shave. However, I did feel a better glide. 

On the second and third shaving occasion, I shaved the longer strokes slowly, and I could see that the micro-vibrations did help glide the razor.

The razor gave me a great shave with two and three days of growth –easily and quickly. A nice and close end-result shave!

Daily shaving is always an issue for me as it causes irritation and razor burn. While I was fine on the second day, the razor flare-up started on the third, which is how my skin normally reacts. However, this razor will shave fine daily if you have normal to tough skin.

How Was Head Shaving with this Razor?

Being a balding guy, I get to test these razors for head shaving. 

This razor gives a great head shave, although the vibration thing is odd at first, and the sound made me feel like I was using an electric head shaver. The power feature feels more useful when shaving the head slowly, and it is a good thing that makes me slow down and not rush the shave.

All of the Gillette razors from the Mach3 and up give a great head shave, and the Proglide Sheild Power continues this trend.  

Value for Money?

These cartridge razors –especially the blade replacements get pricey once we get above the Mach3 Gillette razor.

 You’ll have various options when buying a starter kit (i.e., handle and initial blades). For example, some stores sell a handle with one blade and a handle with four or more blades, while others sell other options.

—Handle + 1 Cartridge Blade (approx.):  $16.99 US, £15 UK, and €18 EU*

—4 Blade Refills: $20 US, £17 UK, and €20 EU*

*Prices vary a lot from store to store for the starter kits.

A good starter kit option is the handle with four blades. One is not enough, and more than four is an expense wasted if you don’t continue to use the razor for whatever reason. 

Final Thoughts – Who do I recommend buys and uses the Gillette ProGlide Shield Power?

This razor from the growing Gillette cartridge razor range gave a great shave that was comfortable. 

While this razor’s vibration power feature is unnecessary, as it does a great job when the Power is switched off, it is an additional feature that did work (even if it does not make a huge difference).

If a person is considering buying the ProGlide Shield, then buying the model with Power could make sense unless a person really does not want the vibrations. 

The ProGlide Shield Power does lean toward being suitable for those with sensitive skin. However, it is best suited for those with normal to tough skin, as I suggest looking at the Gillette SkinGuard for sensitive skin gents.

If you are one of those guys who likes to try out new and different razors on the market like me, then this razor is worth trying.

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