Safety Razor: which one should I buy?

[rudeguy]

I am going to buy one of these tonight. Please decide for me since I have no idea what I am doing.


Option 1:
Merkur Long Handled Chrom
http://www.amazon.com/Merkur-Model-1...s=safety+razor

It looks pretty. It has a ton of good reviews.

Option 2arker 96R - Long Handle Butterfly Open Double Edge Safety Razor
http://www.amazon.com/Parker-96R-Han...s=safety+razor

Not as many reviews. It looks old timey which I dig.

Option 3: Parker 99R - Long Handle SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT Butterfly Open Double Edge Safety Razo
http://www.amazon.com/Parker-99R-Han...s=safety+razor

Its shiny. Has more reviews and more stars.

 

[drbrock]

Have you thought about getting an old Gillette. I have one and love it. If you don't like that I would go with option 1.

 

[Scotteq]

I have the first one - zero complaints. I've found Feather replacement blades to be best. Surely the next poster will have a different opinion, if only to start a flame war.

Take your time, work off the Top of a DE rather than the edge, and learn the value of Pre-Shave oil.

pro tip -Castor oil & a couple drops of Sandalwood essence gets you pretty much the same stuff salons sell. Add a couple drops of olive oil if you're dating a vegetarian and want to smell like salad...

 

[Broheim]

with these three models it basically just boils down to personal preference.

 

[Drako]

Gillette Mach 3

 

[OCGuy]

For some reason a "safety razor" makes me think the person using it wears a helmet 24/7.

Is that just a term or what is the deal? I am always open to getting away from this Fusion on principal alone.

 

[Insomniator]

check these guys out:

http://www.maggardrazors.com/

I bought http://www.maggardrazors.com/index.php/product/maggard-razors-mr20-chrome-safety-razor/

seems to work fine! half the price of the merkur...

 

[Broheim]

For some reason a "safety razor" makes me think the person using it wears a helmet 24/7.

Is that just a term or what is the deal? I am always open to getting away from this Fusion on principal alone.

it's because back in the day you only had straight razors, but safety razors came along with an enclosed blade which meant you could only carve up your face to a certain point.

DE razors are actually cheaper to use than cartridge razors.

 

[rudeguy]

check these guys out:

http://www.maggardrazors.com/

I bought http://www.maggardrazors.com/index.php/product/maggard-razors-mr20-chrome-safety-razor/

seems to work fine! half the price of the merkur...

you son of a...

Looks like I know where my discretionary spending is going this week.


never mind. Check this out:
http://www.maggardrazors.com/index.php/product/budget-starter-kit/

For the same price as the ones I linked to, I can get a kit with a brush and everything.

 

[Broheim]

check these guys out:

http://www.maggardrazors.com/

I bought http://www.maggardrazors.com/index.php/product/maggard-razors-mr20-chrome-safety-razor/

seems to work fine! half the price of the merkur...

Dat Dovo Bergischer Lowe *bites lip*

 

[Phanuel]

you son of a...

Looks like I know where my discretionary spending is going this week.


never mind. Check this out:
http://www.maggardrazors.com/index.php/product/budget-starter-kit/

For the same price as the ones I linked to, I can get a kit with a brush and everything.

Make sure you get a stand for the brush at least so you can hang it up bristles down.

I also recommend a razor blade sample kit, e.g. http://www.amazon.com/FEATHER-Oclock...r+blade+sample

I also ended up with Feathers and highly recommend them.

DE razors are actually cheaper to use than cartridge razors.

$28 for 100 Feather razor blades at 3-5 uses per blade = 1 year of shaving for <$30. It's insanely cost effective.

 

[mmntech]

For some reason a "safety razor" makes me think the person using it wears a helmet 24/7.

Is that just a term or what is the deal? I am always open to getting away from this Fusion on principal alone.

Straight razors require technique and regular stropping to ensure you don't slice your head off. Safety razors encase the blade so only a small portion of it is exposed so you don't carve up your face. The blades were also disposable so they don't need stropping when they get dull. They're also a bit easier to handle.

The general consensus is straight razors give the best shave while cartridges give the poorest. Safety razors are a happy medium between convenience and a great shave. Plus they're just far more manly. Makes you want to put on some expensive cologne, a nice suit, and a non-ironic fedora.

 

[TwiceOver]

Gillette Mach 3

This. Or even the Mach3 Disposables. You'll get a better shave in half the time.

I'm probably a little jaded because DE shaving absolutely didn't work for me.

 

[Broheim]

$28 for 100 Feather razor blades at 3-5 uses per blade = 1 year of shaving for <$30. It's insanely cost effective.

the only thing more cost effective is a straight razor (it'll last generations), but it's much more convenient to use a DE razor, cartridges are ridiculously expensive.

of course there's always electric shavers but I've never really liked them, they also never last for me.

 

[Sluggo]

you son of a...

Looks like I know where my discretionary spending is going this week.


never mind. Check this out:
http://www.maggardrazors.com/index.php/product/budget-starter-kit/

For the same price as the ones I linked to, I can get a kit with a brush and everything.

In my experience the razors with no knurling on the handle are difficult to handle when your hands are wet.

I have the top one in your OP and like it.

 

[rudeguy]

In my experience the razors with no knurling on the handle are difficult to handle when your hands are wet.

I have the top one in your OP and like it.

check out the MR20 in pic of all the different handles. That was the one that caught my eye.

I take it knurling means the details on the handle that make it not slippery.

 

[Phanuel]

Correct. Knurling refers to that cross hatch or an exaggerated roughening of a surface for additional grip or friction.

I have a smooth handled Merkur razor right now and it can get slippery by the end of the first pass down half of my face but just rinsing the handle quickly solves that problem. I'd get a knurled one if I was buying another one, except now I'm looking at that Merkur Futura and that's smooth as well... :s

 

[rudeguy]

Did toy look at the mr20? I'd like your opinion since you have some experience

 

[jcwagers]

I also have the Merkur that you linked in your first post. I've been very pleased with it so far. At this point, I've only used Derby and Astra blades but I've heard great things about the Feather blades as well as the Crystal Super + which are apparently known as Israeli Personna blades. I may pick up some Personna and Crystal Super + to try out soon. I can't say anything about the others that you linked cause I don't know much about them but the Merkur is a solid feeling razor. Good luck with your choice!

 

[rudeguy]

I see. I'd imagine the feel is just as important as anything with these. And I'm sitting here trying to cheap out over $20. I'll piss that away on gas station pop this week.

It looks like #1 is going to win. Thanks guys and I'll post when I start using it.

 

[Insomniator]

3-5 uses per blade.. interesting. Should prob replace mine... still the first one i put on there... maybe 10 uses so far? Pretty thin unmanly facial hair on me so its still seems sharp

Knurling is REQUIRED... i like the extra weight of the mr20 also.

But yea 20 bucks more isn't much if the merkur is really better, I just can't imagine the diff between that and the maggard.

I woulda got the kit but I dont want to bother with making cream and brushing etc etc. The DE works fine with regular old shave gel (though I guess the cream and brush is probably cheaper?)

 

[QueBert]

OP I have about 8 different handles, the 1st link's a superb one especially for the price. I still use it a lot of times over ones I paid 3x the price for.

 

[schneiderguy]

I use the Mekur + Feather blades.

 

[gorcorps]

buy the safer one

 

[jlee]

I have the Merkur one. I like it.