For the last few weeks, I have been comparing a Gem 1912 and Gem Junior (Single Edge Razors) to my Gillette SS Red Tip (Double Edge Razor). They all give me a very close, comfortable shave. However, I have found one area where the advantage goes to my DE razor: I have a much harder time shaving directly under my nose with a SE.
The difference between the way in which the DE and SE shave under my nose is a direct consequence of the different way the razor blades are held in place. With a DE razor, the entire cutting edge of the blade is exposed. This is possible because the razor is held in place inside the razor, at the center of the blade. With a SE, the cutting edge of the blade closest to the corner cannot be used to shave, because that area of the blade is being blocked by the prongs at the front edge of the cutting surface that are used to hold the blade. This front corner of the blade is what I normally use to shave the hair immediately under my nose. That hair grows right up to the nostril on my face, and is very easy to get with the front corner of my DE (with an E-W/W-E pass). The Single Edge takes significantly more effort and more passes to cut the same hair (in that area only). Not a big problem, but a minor irritation (both literally and figuratively).
I am also wondering if this is the advantage to a Spanish point, Spike point, etc. versus a rounded point in the straight arena. Okay, that's the subject of a different post (I haven't tried a straight, yet).
In the future I will also try a Gem G-Bar and a micromatic, to continue the comparison.
For me, as of this post, I'm giving the slight advantage to my Gillette Red Tip over my Gem 1912 or Junior (the 1912 and Junior have the exact same head). My impressions are limited to my face and my facial hair. The shape of your nose and the way in which the hair on your upper lip grows will make your experience unique to you. This is the ultimate YMMV.
Point: Gillette.
The difference between the way in which the DE and SE shave under my nose is a direct consequence of the different way the razor blades are held in place. With a DE razor, the entire cutting edge of the blade is exposed. This is possible because the razor is held in place inside the razor, at the center of the blade. With a SE, the cutting edge of the blade closest to the corner cannot be used to shave, because that area of the blade is being blocked by the prongs at the front edge of the cutting surface that are used to hold the blade. This front corner of the blade is what I normally use to shave the hair immediately under my nose. That hair grows right up to the nostril on my face, and is very easy to get with the front corner of my DE (with an E-W/W-E pass). The Single Edge takes significantly more effort and more passes to cut the same hair (in that area only). Not a big problem, but a minor irritation (both literally and figuratively).
I am also wondering if this is the advantage to a Spanish point, Spike point, etc. versus a rounded point in the straight arena. Okay, that's the subject of a different post (I haven't tried a straight, yet).
In the future I will also try a Gem G-Bar and a micromatic, to continue the comparison.
For me, as of this post, I'm giving the slight advantage to my Gillette Red Tip over my Gem 1912 or Junior (the 1912 and Junior have the exact same head). My impressions are limited to my face and my facial hair. The shape of your nose and the way in which the hair on your upper lip grows will make your experience unique to you. This is the ultimate YMMV.
Point: Gillette.