Best safety razor for a noob?

Hi all,

This topic may seem a bit confusing for some of you due to my other thread about shaving soap. So I must admit that so far, I've been doing a semi-wet shave. By this I mean that I've been using a shaving soap and a brush to apply it, but I'm still using a cartridge razor to shave with. (I know, that must be considered blasphemy here.)

I'm sure this question/topic has been addressed ad nauseam, but I'd like to ask you guys what you think is a good "starter" safety razor. I've seen so many recommendations, and I'm not sure what to think. (Thank you, internet people!)

For me, part of my confusion stems from the fact that it seems dependent on what type of facial hair you have—at least to some extent. My beard and mustache doesn't grown in real thick, and my facial hair doesn't grow all that fast.

Another thing that confuses me is the idea of an "aggressive" razor. What does that mean? One of my main concerns is that if I get a razor that's too aggressive, then I'll end up peeling the skin off my face like skin off of fruit with a peeler.

I've read online and seen on the YouTube that the Parker 99R DE razor is good for beginners, but I'm still not sure. Knowing what you know from what I've said above, can you guys tell me what I should be looking for based on me being a noob to the wet shave and what type of facial hair I have? Thanks.

 

Hi again..personally I'd steer towards the Edwin or Muhle 89's and avoid Parker. Though there are people that have made the brand work for them, I've had nothing but trouble there and as someone new to the game, the one thing you want is your first razor to be something you can really depend on for a good reliable fit and proper customer service. The EJ's also now come with some sure grip handles, another valuable thing for helping when developing technique...

 

Thanks for your insight here, Slipperyjoe. I forgot to mention that the Edwin was another brand that came highly recommended for newbies. It just seemed like the Parker 99R had a slight edge in the recommendation department. Another thing I forgot to ask about in my initial post is what style of "head" (is that the right term?) should I be looking for? When I ask this, I mean should I be looking for something with a straight edge, or a comb edge (I hope that makes sense)?

I could be wrong, but it seems like for a newbie like me, I should probably avoid the ones with a comb-like edge to it. Am I correct in assuming this? Thanks.

 

The 89 series only comes with the solid bar..which is a very good place to start...

 

Okay, thank you for the info here.

 

Schick Injector razors are a great option if you don't mind using something from 1970s ...The later models from that era are not that aggressive but they are very efficient & user friendly...An aggressive razor is not necessarily the measure of an efficient razor... Injectors are Single Edge Razors and they are some of the smoothest & most efficient razors ever made...These are plentiful on EBay & Price friendly and current blades are easily available as well..You can even purchase one that has never been used in Brand New Old Stock Condition...These are a Modern Design as well as they were away ahead of their time..

Billy

 

In my opinion you can't go wrong with any of the Closed Comb (what you called straight edge) Razors from Mühle, Edwin Jagger or Merkur.

Mühle and EJ use the same head, EJ is usually slightly cheaper and offers more variation in the handle department. With Mühle it's basically either normal or long (grande), metal or plastic handle. Merkur razors (34c short handle and 23c long handle) are usually considered slightly more aggressive (means you might feel the blade a little more), but still mild enough for a newbie.

Some people will advise newbies to stay away from Open Comb (those fork-like) razors, but I can wholeheartedly recommend both the Merkur 15c and the Phoenix DOC here. Both are mild razors, the Merkur being even less aggressive than its CC brothers 34 and 23c.

But in the end it pretty much doesn't matter which one of these razors you choose. They're all capable of close and smooth shaves. So pick the one that feels most comfortable to hold, if you have any chance to buy them offline and try a few. To me, the Mühle R89 offers an almost perfect combination of handle length and weight, for others it might be the Merkur 23c or the Phoenix.

Completely different approach: Buy an inexpensive vintage Gillette Super Speed from Ebay. You should be able to get one in good condition for about $ 20-30, and they are mild, but effective razors.

More important is that you devolop the proper technique and find a good blade. My advice here: Go to tryablade.com and order 2 blades each of either their Russian blade sampler or their Top 10 sampler (http://tryablade.com/samplers) and use each blade variety for about a week (2 of each because sometimes you might get a faulty blade). After that you should know what works for you and you can place a bulk order for a certain blade and stick to that setup for a few weeks. Maybe participate here: 30 Day Focus

 

I'd say find a slim, but the super speed is good also.

 

I always recommend the razor I started with, the Razorock Mission from ItalianBarber.com. I found it to be a good value at $20 and it includes 20 blades. It has some nice heft and is similar to the EJ.

 

Why not just get a Gillette slim adjustable, this way you can grow into the razor. You can taylor your shave to your needs and level of experience as you go. You will also have a classic finely made shaving tool to be proud of. Just my humble opinion. BTW they can be had on the bay or etsy at very good prices.

 

All good advice so far. EJ and Merkur are good choices.

 

I've been using my slim for a while,I like it on seven. has my learning stopped?
an adjustable is nice, can be changed to your personal tastes, and changed between passes. and good advice to dial in by starting low and increasing till your happy, but the grow into statement is what gives me pause for thought.
if that were true, all the long time guys would all be using FaTip( mean for many) razors.

 

The Edwin Jagger is a great razor for beginners and experienced users alike. It's well made, properly balanced and gives great shaves. If you have a light to medium beard, it might feel a bit too aggressive for you. YMMV. I find that the Merkur 34c is a bit milder than the EJ. That's just my impression. Both are great razors.

If you have no objection to vintage, then a Gillette super speed is the way to go. They're TTO razors and last forever. The regular super speed (the ones with the silver tip twist to open knob) is what you're probably going to be happy with. You can find a decent one on eBay for $20 or so. I might have a spare that my son picked up a few months back that he doesn't use as he likes his Gillette slim as his daily razor. PM me if you're interested.

 

A-ha! This one ---> *click*

 

No, you're wet shaving if there's water involved. It makes no difference if you're using cartridges.

My first DE razor was a Merkur 25(?)and it was fine. Mild but efficient. They're reasonably priced as well. In my opinion, most of the mass market modern DE razors like EJ, Merkur, and such are pretty much the same. It seems the main difference is the handle. The heads all look like they come out of the same building. I'm a vintage user myself and will always recommend a Tech or Super Speed for a beginner. They're less costly and better built than today's mass market offerings.

 

I'm going to recommend an inexpensive, modern alternative. Maggard Razors has a solid bar razor that is fairly mild, yet efficient enough to give a nice shave. The V2 or V3 head with any handle would be fine.

 

I started with an Edwin Jagger DE89lbl and still use it. I'd also recommend you buy a vintage Gillette Flare Tip Super Speed, you can still find one in good shape for under $20. Also check out our classified section HERE your going to need blades, but a blade sample pack. Pick anyone from the pack and have at it.
Btw, I use a cartridge razor when I shave my head.

"It's your shave. Enjoy your way" @swarden43

 

Techs are very mild Super Speeds slightly less so. My Super Speed gives me BBS every shave. I've only used one modern razor but I wouldn't recommend it. It was a Gillette Stirling. I would avoid that one.

 

Which one RaZorBurn123? I'm a daily head shaver myself. Today I used the Dorco Pace 6

 

If ever considering vintage. If double edge blade, TTO Schick Krona or Gillette Flare (non color tip). If 3 piece Gillette Tech "Made in USA" If SE, Schick L type injector is mild.