Cartridge Razor Review

Schick Quattro Titanium Razor Review – Mild and Priced Nice

A campaign to find the best cartridge razors would not be complete if razors from the company Schick were not playing a part. One of the most popular from the company is the Schick Quattro Titanium Razor –up for review now.

If you are from Europe and have seen a Wilkinson Sword Quattro Titanium Razor on sale or use one, you are looking at the same razor here. Schick and Wilkinson Sword are both owned by Edgewell Personal Care.

I had lowish expectations on the Quattro Titanium Razor because it is much cheaper than the Gillette cartridge razors I have used and reviewed. However, I was pleasantly surprised, and it exceeded those expectations.

This review will look closely at the all-important features and show how tests for the razor for facial shaving on various days of stubble growth went. Then, finally, recommend who the razor would be best suited for within the final thoughts. 

Video

The YouTube video I created for the Quattro might provide some additional information, and/or the visuals might help you out.

Description & Features

This Quattro Titanium is an updated version, but the packaging has only changed. If you see a model on sale with the other packaging, it is fine to buy–it is the same razor.

The starter pack I bought had the handle and three cartridge blades. Three is enough, and not too many –the right balance for trying a new razor.  

• Blades: Four titanium and diamond-coated blades. Titanium coating provides anti-corrosion, and both coatings may enable the blades to last longer.
• Edging Blade: An extra blade on the top section of the cartridge blade can be used for trimming tricky areas.
• Lubrication: A lubrication strip above the blades containing Aloe Vera, Vitamin E, and B-5 improves the lubrication on top of the soap, foam, gel, or shaving cream used. 
• MicroFin Strip: The term “microfin strip” originates from Gillette and refers to a rubber-lined strip designed to gently stretch the skin before cutting hair with the blade. Schick does not mention this specific feature in its specifications or product details.
• Handle: The handle is a lightweight metal with an ergonomically friendly design and rubberized grip.
• Pivoting Head: The razor head provides a pivoting action when shaving.
• Changing blades: The blades can be clipped on easily and removed via the push and slide button on the top of the razor.

Anything to Add About the Features?

Absolutely! 

There are a few things to explain about the features, how they function, and, more importantly –are they useful, and do they improve the shave experience?

Handle

The shiny chrome metal handle is just as good as most of the Gillette razors. Its shape is ergonomically friendly, and both rubberized sections on the top and bottom of the handle provide plenty of grip while shaving.

Nothing to complain about there!

Pivoting Head – FlexHead

The FlexHead that we find on all cartridge razors is a must-have. Its simple movement back and forth makes all the difference when shaving along the various contours of the face. 

The FlexHead design on the Quattro Titanium differs somewhat from many other razors. Rather than flip on a hinge like some other razors, it does not have the hinge –it slides or pivots.

This is a very good practical design.

Lubrication Strip

The lubrication strip placed above the blades section that provides added lubrication while shaving is quite thin on the Quattro. It’s slimmer than many other razors, but it has been sufficient enough and does what it should –lubricate.

I felt the lubrication strip weaken and provide less lubrication after the fourth shaving run with this razor. That’s about normal! 

MicroFin Strip

The rubberized strip with fins at the bottom of the blade head enables the skin to be stretched slightly before the blades cut through the hair. This is a useful protective feature that I am always pleased to see on a new cartridge razor.

Fine Support Bars

You will find the blades have seven very thin vertical wire-like bars along the blades. Schick does not provide any information about the purpose of these.

One benefit of these wire-like bars could be that they hold all the blades in line so they cannot move forward, and a kind of safety aspect that may be useful. The wires are likely to be why this razor is geared toward those with sensitive skin, as less blade protrusion or gap can reduce nicks, cutting the heads of small pots, and irritation.

While these fine wires are an advantage for those prone to nicks, the downside is they seem to be why the blades clog up on the razor more than most others. 

Detail Trimmer

Like many other cartridge razors now on the market, the Quattro has an extra blade on the top, which works well at trimming under the nose or cutting in sideburns.

A useful feature for cutting in under my nose. This is because the lubrication strip is a few millimeters wide, creating a gap between the blades and under the nose –and the detail trimmer makes this easier.

Changing Blades & Blade Care

I like the simplicity of removing and replacing the blade on the Quattro. We don’t get the popping-out thing we get with the Gillette razors (they pop out a few inches when pressing the release button). 

Blade care is simple. Just clean up the blades under running tap water when the shave is done, and you can pat the blade on a towel (only pat once, and don’t rub it dry). Then leave it to dry fully –away from damp and wet surfaces. 

Because the blades are titanium coated they should not corrode easily when the blade is left unused for a while. 

I like the slide-on plastic protective blade cap that comes with the Quattro. Do make sure the blade is dry properly before putting the cap on.

Cartridge Longevity

Schick states we can get more than 2400 strokes on the Quattro packaging. How the heck do we measure strokes –I’m certainly not counting!

How long the cartridge blade lasts will differ from person to person based on hair growth and type. Coarse longer hair is going to dull the blades quicker.

I get 4 shaves with two or three days of quite coarse stubble growth, and the blade has to be renewed on the fifth or sixth shave (after four is best). Others will get a lot more than I do, as I choose to keep blades fresh and sharp.

How Does The Quattro Titanium Perform and Shave?

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I had quite low expectations of this razor –only because it is much cheaper than some other cartridge razors I have used and reviewed.

I tried out shaving my face on various days of growth, including two and three days, and daily shaving for consecutive days. 

If I grow more than 3 days, I tend to trim with an electric trimmer first as there is no point in making blades and razors overwork, so three was the limit with this razor.

On my first shave, I tackled 3 days of growth and found straight away that this razor was smooth, but I was left quite patchy. However, the patches were soon cleared up after two passes and a good few extra clearing-up strokes. This initial patchy shave on heavy growth is to be expected with a mild razor suitable for sensitive to normal skin.

The razor preferred two days of growth, but I did need to go over the same areas a few times.

Daily shaving was okay, but I did (as I often do) pick up some redness. Two consecutive days were my limit just for testing purposes –to prevent further irritation. While I am not good for daily shaving with most razors, many other guys will find the Quattro ideal because of its mildness.

Rinsing Often and Lubrication

While shaving, I had to rinse the razor under the tap often to keep the blades free from clogging, as the Quattro does clog up quickly. As mentioned above, the fine wires are likely to encourage clogging.

You will find that lighter shaving foams or gels work better with this razor which washes away more easily compared to higher-performing soaps and creams that offer great lubrication but tend to be thicker. 

Value for Money – Costs?

This is one point where the Quattro shines. It’s good value compared to some of the more expensive Gillette razors, and the quality balance with costs is decent.

• Handle + 3 Blades: $9.99 USD*
• 6 Cartridges: $11.49 USD*

*The official Schick website prices 

Final Thoughts – Who do I recommend buys and uses the Schick Quattro Titanium Razor?

The Schick Quattro Titanium was a pleasant surprise and was a better razor than I expected. 

While it is not the best for heavier coarse growth, it does shine for those with sensitive skin that pick up nicks and irritations easily. The razor has a kind of protective nature, likely because of the fine vertical wires. It does not have the same level of mildness as the Gillette SkinGuard (very mild), but the Quattro provides a closer shave than the SkinGuard.

If you usually shave daily without skin flare-ups, this razor is definitely one to consider.

I like that the Quattro has only four blades; it is plenty enough, and we get no real extra benefit from five.

Last but not least. It’s a top razor based on price, and hard to find better without losing quality. If you are saving your pennies, this is a money-saving cartridge razor (if it’s all about saving money, think about a safety razor).

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