With a closed comb or standard DE, the part that supports the blade ends in a solid bar-like edge. With an open comb, this part looks like the teeth of a comb. Open comb razors tend to be more aggressive than standard or closed bar but not necessarily so in every case. And open comb razors tend to do a better job if you have a heavy or thick beard. But again, not necessarily so in every case. And.... Welcome to TSD!
The shaves I get from an open comb razor tend to stay smooth longer. I generally shave every other day when using an OC. The shaves I get from my solid bar razors typically aren't as close, but when I use them I tend to shave every day. In my opinion, both are wins!
Agreed. An interesting similarity in the various designs of both open comb and solid bar designs is the varying degrees of efficiency from model to model. It’s one of the many things that add to the enjoyment of my shaves.
I believe the theory behind the OC is that the stubble isn't "flattened" against the skin. (I could be all wet). OC's also don't wipe away as much lather before the blade makes contact with the stubble. I have some aggressive open combs and others that are pussy cats. IMO, it's the blade gap, not the safety bar that determines the level of aggressiveness and/or "blade feel". BTW, welcome to TSD.
This. ^^^ There is no aggression difference between the two types. An open comb razor won't "choke" when shaving multiple days worth of growth. A bar guard razor is more suitable for daily shaving, and can tend to get clogged if it's used on 3+ days of growth. The bar guard is less susceptible to damage if dropped on a corner of the razor.
I used to call them closed-combs, but that terminology seemed to draw ire from some. Now I try to say "safety bar". Now -- there are safety bars that are smooth, some that are serated, some that are scalloped, etc. But --- If you are a cap-rider, does the type of bar really matter? Or, if you're careful, does the gap really matter?
Well, still, at least in theory, an open comb wouldn't clog as easily if for ex. you're dealing with a couple day's growth.
I've used and liked a few open-combs, but I don't use them regularly. Since I shave everyday, I've always felt that the open-comb is an unnecessary feature for me. That being said, if a razor shaves well for me, the type of bar, or comb, is really irrelevant. N'est-ce pas?
Exactly. If you get great shaves from the top of a tin can from last night's soup, then all power to you!
True. I think of 'closed combs' as a completely separate variation of the bar/safety guard. The Eclipse Red Ring is my go to example: The Mühle R41 being a less extreme example.
