The Schick Hydro 5 Power SelectTM razor is the world’s first three-speed custom vibration wet razor.
What: Schick Hydro 5 Power SelectTM razor and Schick Hydro Skin Protect Shaving Gel
How much: Schick Hydro 5 Power SelectTMrazor, RRP $14.99, Schick Hydro 5 refills (pack of 4), RRP $17.99, and Schick Hydro Skin Protect Shaving Gel, RRP $5.99.
The promise: The ultimate power tool for shaving.
The verdict: As one of the company’s most advanced products, Schick claim that the Hydro 5 Power SelectTM razor is about power, precision and hydration. Six years of research and development, hundreds of hours of consumer trials and focus groups, and over $10 million have been invested to ensure this new razor stands up to the expectations of men globally.
The Schick Hydro 5 Power Select razor is the only wet shave razor on the market to include three vibration settings, allowing the consumer to customise the vibration level not only for comfort, but for varied hair coarseness on different areas of the face and neck. The razor incorporates an LED screen to vibration settings and battery power, although the vibration is easily felt through your hand when using the razor.
For such an elegant razor, it is jam packed with technology. A hydrating, water-activated gel reservoir keeps skin lubricated and hydrated throughout each shave, and five Ultra Glide Blades help control skin flow and reduce skin irritation. Unique Skin Guards, which sit on top of each blade and double the points of contact to smooth out skin before the blade moves along the skin, help reduce irritating razor burn, nicks and cuts. A Flip Trimmer housed under the gel reservoir means that, at the flick of your thumb, all five edges of the blades are revealed to provide a precision trimming tool that rests naturally in your hand for meticulous grooming.
Also available is Schick’s new Skin Protect Shave Gel. This is a dermatologically tested gel that softens hair and skin, preparing it for a close, smooth shave, whilst treating your skin to healthy skin nutrients including Vitaman E and Aloe.
So how does this combination actually work?
Pressing the button on the shave gel can allows you to precisely control the amount of product to minimise wastage, and only a small amount – enough to cover a 10 cent piece, is more than enough to cover the face. The gel doesn’t foam quite as enthusiastically as some other products the Bella Guinea Pig (BPG) has used lately, but this isn’t a negative, as the main aim of any shave gel is to soften the beard and provide lubrication for the razor and the Skin Protect Shave Gel succeeds in this area. Good shaving technique usually requires shaving cream be left on the face before shaving, and this gel will continue to soften the beard the longer it is left before shaving.
BGP is usually a twin blade razor user, so noticed an immediate difference in how the five blade head of the razor sits on the face. The razor is a good weight when held, and is easy to control. The vibration level control is positioned on the handle and can be changed mid stroke. The BPG found the middle setting good for the tougher beard areas, and the lowest setting the best around the more tender areas on the lower neck. With the brand new blade there was no razor drag or irritation anywhere.
With a twin blade razor, BPG usually runs the razor in both directions to achieve a really close shave, but with the Schick Hydro 5 Power Select this wasn’t necessary.
BGP’s favourite feature of the razor is the flip trimmer. The gel reservoir at the top of the razor flips back out of the way, so that sideburns and other facial hair can be precisely manicured. Saving the time of having to use a separate blade, or electric trimmer to achieve the same result.
So how do we rate it? The Bentley of wet razors. Smooth, powerful, well engineered and worth the upgrade.
