Shaving: comparing the Gillette Contour (Plus) with the Gillette Mach 3
For shaving I have always used the same “system” since I started shaving over 20 years ago, the Gillette Contour. Recently there’s been a dearth in blades, especially the regular, cheaper Contour ones, so it was time to upgrade. After consulting the internets to see which system people liked, and asking the lady behind the counter which blades people actually buy I settled on the Gillette Mach 3.
When I got I home I decided to see if there was a difference between the two, so I shaved the left side of my face with the old system, and the right side with the new system. As you can see from the before and after photos, the results are pretty much the same. To the touch, the side shaved with the Contour blades is slightly smoother, but barely noticeable.
The difference while shaving was pronounced though. I usually use shaving foam, but decided to go without for the test. The Contour shave was considerably more painful than the Mach 3 shave. It’s what you’re used to of course. I had shaved without foam before, and having had nothing to compare it with, I never considered it horribly painful. It’s only when contrasted with the Mach 3 that the Contour stood out in the pain department.
Before, about three days worth of growth:
After:
(Right side, my left, was shaved with the Contour Plus. Left side, my right, was shaved with the Mach 3. Note that the Contour Plus comes with a lubricating strip—it’s what the plus stands for.)
January 12th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Thank you.
Fabio (Italy)
August 1st, 2011 at 8:01 pm
I would say using shaving foam isn’t ideal for wet shaving – it’s drier than properly using warm water, and applying cream or even normal soap with a shaving brush.
For this test you didn’t use anything at all? Didn’t you even wet your face? I wouldn’t consider that a fair way to test a razor of any kind, to be honest with you.
August 10th, 2011 at 9:51 am
I honestly cannot remember, it’s been too long ago.