I've long been a fan of the Gillette New, and a lot of of them have passed through my den over the years. I've had the New Improved, the New Deluxe, an American long-comb New, a British Raised Flat Bottom (RFB) New, and a British flat-bottom New. All of them have left my den except for the flat-bottom New, which I liked just as much as the RFB, so the RFB was sold.
In all that time, I had never tried a Short Comb New. I know a lot of people like it, especially those who prefer razors that hold the blade very rigidly and close to its edge.
I FINALLY picked up a SC New off the B/S/T.
Full disclosure: I shave with replaceable blade straight razors, and have done so every shave since September of 2019 EXCEPT when on vacation (which, unfortunately, has not been much). I use DEs for touch-up only. It has been so long since I have done a full DE shave that I actually forgot how I used to do it (didn't forget how to shave with a DE, just where I started and what directions I went for each pass, etc; used to be second nature but this morning i realized I can't really remember how I did it, lol).
Anyway, after a few tries with the SC New for my touch-ups, I decided it would be fun to pit the SC New against my beloved flat-bottom LC New, which I will admit is one of my favorite DE razors.
To make the comparison as fair as possible, I got brand new, fresh Polsilver blades for each razor. I would have loved to have the exact same handle for both razors but I don't have two copies of any particular handle, so I used an iKon bamboo for the LC and a Wolfman hybrid for the SC. I chose these two handles because they were approximately the same weight.
For lather I used one of my new favorites, Blue Devil Shave Company tallow soap in the Peach and Pear scent. I made a beautiful lather, applied it, and started the shave. For today I chose to use the SC New on the left side of my face and the LC on the right.
Face feel was definitely different. I know a lot of people find the SC to be milder, but to me there is a lot more "comb feel" with the SC. Therefore, to me, the LC feels smoother on the face, probably because of the way the combs bend down more near the edges.
After the first pass, both sides had about equal reduction. I lathered up again and did a second pass. Same thing: the LC felt "smoother" on the skin, but both razors did a good job. I got a very tiny weeper on the right side of my chin from the LC, but it was so small that I couldn't find it after I rinsed. Feeling both sides revealed that both sides were about equally smooth. I did only a tiny bit of touch-up and was done.
I don't usually use alcohol-based aftershaves but I did so today to look for sting. Really none on either side.
I did get a little irritation at the base of the left neck. There was a tiny area that looked irritated on the left mid-neck but it felt fine and didn't sting with the aftershave.
The verdict? I'd have to give the first shave to the LC New for two reasons: 1) it felt smoother during the shave, and 2) I had slightly more irritation on the left side, which was done with the SC (to be fair, it is in an area that has caused problems in the past).
My plan is to do this at least one more time, and probably two or more, switching sides, blades, and handles. At the end of three or four direct comparison shave-offs, I should be able to decide which of these wonderful open comb Gillette razors is best for ME.
I have to add that I do like the LOOK of the SC slightly better, but the LC wins the first shave.
I will post the other shaves after I do them. I shave four times a week so it won't take long to get it done.
Any of you that have both a SC and a LC New in your stable, I'd love to have you join me in the shave-off, so people can hear your opinion as well.
In all that time, I had never tried a Short Comb New. I know a lot of people like it, especially those who prefer razors that hold the blade very rigidly and close to its edge.
I FINALLY picked up a SC New off the B/S/T.
Full disclosure: I shave with replaceable blade straight razors, and have done so every shave since September of 2019 EXCEPT when on vacation (which, unfortunately, has not been much). I use DEs for touch-up only. It has been so long since I have done a full DE shave that I actually forgot how I used to do it (didn't forget how to shave with a DE, just where I started and what directions I went for each pass, etc; used to be second nature but this morning i realized I can't really remember how I did it, lol).
Anyway, after a few tries with the SC New for my touch-ups, I decided it would be fun to pit the SC New against my beloved flat-bottom LC New, which I will admit is one of my favorite DE razors.
To make the comparison as fair as possible, I got brand new, fresh Polsilver blades for each razor. I would have loved to have the exact same handle for both razors but I don't have two copies of any particular handle, so I used an iKon bamboo for the LC and a Wolfman hybrid for the SC. I chose these two handles because they were approximately the same weight.
For lather I used one of my new favorites, Blue Devil Shave Company tallow soap in the Peach and Pear scent. I made a beautiful lather, applied it, and started the shave. For today I chose to use the SC New on the left side of my face and the LC on the right.
Face feel was definitely different. I know a lot of people find the SC to be milder, but to me there is a lot more "comb feel" with the SC. Therefore, to me, the LC feels smoother on the face, probably because of the way the combs bend down more near the edges.
After the first pass, both sides had about equal reduction. I lathered up again and did a second pass. Same thing: the LC felt "smoother" on the skin, but both razors did a good job. I got a very tiny weeper on the right side of my chin from the LC, but it was so small that I couldn't find it after I rinsed. Feeling both sides revealed that both sides were about equally smooth. I did only a tiny bit of touch-up and was done.
I don't usually use alcohol-based aftershaves but I did so today to look for sting. Really none on either side.
I did get a little irritation at the base of the left neck. There was a tiny area that looked irritated on the left mid-neck but it felt fine and didn't sting with the aftershave.
The verdict? I'd have to give the first shave to the LC New for two reasons: 1) it felt smoother during the shave, and 2) I had slightly more irritation on the left side, which was done with the SC (to be fair, it is in an area that has caused problems in the past).
My plan is to do this at least one more time, and probably two or more, switching sides, blades, and handles. At the end of three or four direct comparison shave-offs, I should be able to decide which of these wonderful open comb Gillette razors is best for ME.
I have to add that I do like the LOOK of the SC slightly better, but the LC wins the first shave.
I will post the other shaves after I do them. I shave four times a week so it won't take long to get it done.
Any of you that have both a SC and a LC New in your stable, I'd love to have you join me in the shave-off, so people can hear your opinion as well.