03.Mar.2010 Gillette Fusion Razors vs Gillette Mach 3 Razors
Gillette razors have been around for a long time – 108 years and counting in fact – but when the original Gillette Mach 3 was debuted in 1998 many men believed they had finally found the perfect razor (not to mention the many wives and girlfriends who borrowed it occasionally) The first three bladed razor, complete with its blue lube strip the Gillette Mach 3 has since become the bestselling safety razor ever.
So when in 2006 Gillette introduced the Gillette Fusion and its battery powered brother the Gillette Fusion Power Mach 3 fans had a possibly even more powerful grooming tool at their disposal – after all the Gillette Fusion has five blades – six if you count the single “precision trimming blade” – which has to be better right?
Gillette certainly want you to think so. The Gillette Fusion has become the flagship of their brand, with the likes of Derek Jeter, Roger Federer, Thierry Henry and Tiger Woods (although the company are not too fond of the latter right now) being paid millions to promote it around the world.
But are five blades really better than three? A quick poll of users seems to suggest that the extra blades cut down on the actual shaving time, which means less skin irritation and guys with beards, mustaches or sideburns seem to like that sixth blade quite a lot.
If you opt to go the Gillette Fusion route you have another decision to make – Power or not? Just like the Gillette Mach 3 before it the Fusion comes in battery powered and manual versions. Power fans say that the vibrations that are produced by the Gillette Fusion Power help the blades slide more easily over the skin.
Of course, with the introduction of the Gillette Fusion the prices of the blades for the Gillette Mach 3 fell, which is possibly the biggest reason quite a few users stayed loyal to the “old technology”. I have also heard the Gilette Mach 3 is still a favorite of the Red Sox Nation, as those guys could never bring themselves to use anything that Derek Jeter endorses.