[ed: UPDATE. You must register at Gillette.com before you can come back to get the free razor. Sorry for the confusion. C
Go to http://Gillette.com and register all your name address phone email address and password info there. Then come back here and hit the get yours button then put in your registered email and password under the invite code and you will be passed on to the rest of the registration process to get your ProGlide razor free. Everyone needs to already be registered at http://Gillette.com to complete this application.]
Dear Readers,
The marketing descendants of King Gillette have asked that we participate in a little give-away. You’ll find the counter and widget up at the right of your screen, where I’ll leave it until it hits “0”. Gillette will be collecting the necessary information to send you your free razor. I’ve got mine, along with a nifty press kit that let me install the widget and get the low-down on the new products. Included for my benefit is a can of foam and some exfoliating facial scrub. I don’t think you all get those bits.
As long-time readers know, I’m a fan of wet shaving. In fact, the model of razor that I use is a Gillette that is not substantially different from that pictured in the patent drawing above. It was my father-in-law’s when he was in the Navy. I also use a heavier Merkur adjustable, both models outfitted with double-edged blades from Japan, Germany, or somewhere else.
My shaving routine involves a bowl, soap, a mug, a badger brush and three passes — with, across and against the grain. I get a fine close shave most days. The problem with that routine is that it takes time and there are days when time is not on my side. On those rare occasions, I do reach for my Fusion razor and a tube of Trader Joe’s Moisturizing Shave Cream or Kiehl’s Close Shavers shave cream and make do with one or two quick passes. I like the little trimmer blade on the back which lets me get pretty close up under my nose.
But, was there any way to improve upon the design? The folks at Gillette think so. Mercifully, they haven’t added more blades, simply made them thinner and finer. Which, I presume, makes them more flexible and therefore less dangerous to anything but the stubble on your face. A skin stretching “snowplow” and microcomb (much like the larger version on the drawing above) help to channel shaving soap and hair to the right places. A new handle is supposed to make it easier to flip about. Blade stabilizers keep all of them in the proper orbit and help them to adjust to our Sam Shepard-like craggy visages. There’s more lubrication, too. ‘Nuff said.
Now, about this challenge, Gillette Fusion ProGlide would like us to use the new razor (it’s not due in stores until June), review it, Tweet about it, Friend them and generally generate a lot of buzz for the razor. They hope it’s a positive shaving experience and we’ll give glowing testimony.
Well there you go. Have at them (I’m not sure if international readers are eligible. The letter refers to me as one of “the most influential bloggers in the country“, emphasis mine). If you’ve time, leave me comments to let me know that you’ve received your razor and how you find the shave. I’ll be sure to post my honest review.
You may be right about it being a US-only competition. I tried to register, and got the nonsense response ‘your details do not match our records’ as if I were an existing ‘member’ trying to log in.
In my twenties, I used to dry shave, until a colleague surprised me by insisting that wet shaving was quicker. He was right, and I went through a variety of different tools for the job.
For a long time, I use BiC disposables because they were sharper than traditional blades, and lasted longer – and to complete the minimalism I just used ordinary soap, and my fingers to apply it. Worked very well, and meant I could travel light.
Then I tried the early floating heads(by Gillette, if I remember correctly)which were a nonsense – the hinge was in the wrong place, so the drag automatically tilted them to the maximum angle. It doesn’t say much for either product design or testing departments that they ever got launched.
Two years ago, my elder son passed me his Fusion razor, saying that for him it appeared to be too effective – he got the impression that it was cutting his beard off below skin level, and it was painful when it started to grow back. For me, the vibrating head was the first real improvement I’d seen in many years.
I doubt if I would notice any minor difference Gillette introduced now.
I’ve been using cans of foam for many years, but really think I should follow my younger son and use a proper brush and shaving soap – it’s ecologically sound, for a start.
I am U.S. based and attempted to log in (several times!) as well — but had the with same results as our U.K. friend Mike Kingdom-Hockings (above): ‘your details do not match our records’ as if I were an existing ‘member’ trying to log in.
DPHF
Mike,
Go to http://Gillette.com and register all your name address phone email address and password info there. Then come back here and hit the get yours button then put in your registered email and password under the invite code and you will be passed on to the rest of the registration process to get your ProGlide razor free. Everyone needs to already be registered at http://Gillette.com to complete this application.
Nope….I got the same response and I’m in the States.
I’m not entering any contest, but as a hairy beast who hates dragging razors over his face every day… that Fusion thing with the 7 million blades is by far rhe best thing engineered to shear my face wool EVER!
What used to take an hours worth of hot water to soften the face and bristles, then a gallon of cream, and ten nicks and cuts=done.
Now, little cream, couple passes= Mr. smoothness.
My Gillette Power Fusion blades were $5.00 each. The last batch I bought were defective but not before hacking out a piece of my chin. I recently moved to a Merkur safety razor ($40 or the cost of a Gillette 8 pack) and Derby blades which are .50 cents each.
It’s an amazing difference with badger brush and hard shaving soap. I’ll never go back to shaving with a 5 blade vibrator although the handle might be of use in other pursuits.
Hey guys – we’re terribly sorry if you’ve experienced any difficulty entering the ProGlide Challenge to redeem your free sample. Thanks to the great community at EasyandElegant for providing such clear instructions and assistance. If you continue to have any trouble registering at ProGlideChallenge.com, please feel free to e-mail me directly at greg.tedesco at porternovelli dot com or send me a direct Tweet at twitter dot com / Gillette. We’re excited for you to take the ProGlide Challenge and turn shaving into gliding 🙂
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its funny the clips you have on tv with the proglide challenge the guys you have on ther they have no hair on there face they guys on there are clean shaving get ppl with hair on there face then shave it will look more real
I love this razer I wont use any other best shave I’ve ever had