Choosing a Double Edge Safety Razor
If you're still using a cartridge razor from the supermarket, a safety razor is one of the most impactful upgrades you can make to your shaving routine. A single double edge blade provides a closer, more comfortable shave than a multi-blade cartridge — with significantly less irritation and a fraction of the ongoing cost. Here's how to choose the right one.
Navigating the world of double edge safety razors can seem daunting. From 1-, 2-, or 3-piece designs to the nuances of open versus closed combs and the choice between straight or slant bars, the options are extensive. This guide is designed to show you how to choose a safety razor that meets your personal shaving needs. Its size, shape, and weight are pivotal in distinguishing one razor from another, influencing the shave's quality and comfort.
Understanding Razor Types
Straight or Slant Bar:
- Straight Bar: Offers a predictable and comfortable shave. Its blade alignment at right angles to the handle suits most users, making it a staple in quality double edge razors.
- Slant Bar: Holds the blade with a twist, adding stiffness and a slicing action that cuts through facial hair more efficiently, often favoured by those with coarse hair or seeking fewer passes.
Razor Construction: 1-, 2-, or 3-Piece
- The construction affects how the blade is secured but has minimal impact on shave quality. Two and three-piece razors are more common, offering easy blade replacement and cleaning. Butterfly (1-piece) razors provide convenience with their twist-to-open mechanism.
Comb Type: Open or Closed
- Closed Comb: Features grooves or a bar that protects the skin, ideal for regular shavers and those with sensitive skin.
- Open Comb: Designed with teeth to guide hair towards the blade, excelling at cutting through longer or denser facial hair.
Adjustable Razors:
- Allow customization of blade exposure and aggressiveness, catering to a wide range of skin types and shaving preferences. Perfect for those seeking a personalized shaving experience.
Choosing Your Razor
For those new to wet shaving, finding the best safety razor for beginners is crucial to a comfortable and safe shaving experience. Your choice should be influenced by several factors, including your skin type, hair density, and shaving frequency. To simplify this process, we've categorized the razors into distinct types, each suited to different preferences and experience levels.
Straight Bar Razors
Ideal for beginners and those with sensitive skin, straight bar razors offer a straightforward and gentle shaving experience. They maintain the blade at a consistent angle, reducing the risk of nicks and irritation.
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Recommended Straight Bar Razors:
- Merkur 34C HD Classic: Well-balanced for ease of use, making it a staple in many shaving kits.
- Edwin Jagger DE89: Known for its elegant design and smooth shaving performance.
- Beard & Blade Classic: A tried and tested design ideal for beginners, ensuring a gentle yet effective shave.
Slant Bar Razors
Slant bar razors introduce a twist to the blade, providing a slicing action that can efficiently cut through coarse beard hair. This type is favoured by those seeking a closer shave with fewer passes, though it may require some experience to use comfortably.
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Recommended Slant Bar Razors:
- Merkur 37C Slant Bar: Offers an aggressive shave ideal for thicker beards.
- Merkur 39C Slant Bar: Same as the 37c, but with a longer handle.
Additional Considerations:
Handle Length and Weight: The size and heft of your razor can significantly impact your shaving experience. Heavier razors glide more easily, reducing the need for added pressure, while the handle length should complement the size of your hands for optimal control.
Aggressiveness: The aggressiveness of a razor is determined by how much of the blade is exposed and the gap between the blade and the safety bar. Those new to safety razors may start with a less aggressive razor to minimize irritation.
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Adjustable Razors for Customized Aggressiveness:
- Beard & Blade HERO Adjustable: Precision engineering and timeless craftsmanship in a fully adjustable design.
- Merkur Progress: Features adjustable settings to cater to a wide range of skin and beard types.
- Rockwell 6C and Rockwell 6S: Offers six levels of adjustability, making it versatile for different shaving preferences.
Understanding these aspects of double-edge safety razors will help you make an informed choice that suits your shaving style and needs. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced wet shaver, there's a razor that's perfect for you.
The Bottom Line
For most men new to safety razors, the Merkur 34C or Beard & Blade Classic are the right starting points — both are forgiving, well-balanced and provide an excellent shave straight out of the box. If you have coarse hair, consider the Merkur 37C Slant. If you want flexibility to dial in aggressiveness as your technique improves, the Rockwell 6C is hard to beat.
Not sure where to start? Our safety razor kits take the guesswork out of it — everything you need in one box, ready to go. Once you've chosen your razor, read our guide on how to shave with a safety razor to get the most out of it.
Browse the full range of safety razors at Beard & Blade. Free delivery Australia wide.
Hi, Brittany! Thanks for the kind words :)
For someone new to double edge shaving, we normally recommend one of our kits as a great place to start. The Beard & Blade Starter Double Edge Shaving Kit contains a Wilkinson Sword double edge razor, which is a great entry-level option and a solid choice for a young man. Like all of our kits, it also comes with a brush, shaving cream and blades so he has everything he needs to get started.
Stepping up from that, our Essentials Double Edge Shaving Kit includes a Merkur 34C razor which is the world’s most popular double edge razor for good reason. It gives a great, smooth shave and will work just as well on sensitive skin as it will with coarse facial hair when paired with a sharp blade such as Astra or Feather.
If it’s just the razor you’re looking to purchase, either of those (Wilkinson Sword, Merkur 34C), the Edwin Jagger DE89, Muhle R89 or our own Beard & Blade BB89 are excellent choices for your brother.
I hope that helps and that he loves his gift!
Hi! I’m looking to buy a safety razor for my brother for his 19th birthday, and I don’t know how to choose from all the options! His facial hair is still ‘’in progress’’ lets say, but he does need to shave a couple times a week. His hair isn’t very thick or coarse at this stage, but I figure his hair growth will speed up and thicken with time…He’s never used a safety razor before so it would be new to him. His skin can at times get irritated and he still gets occasional breakouts or in-growns. Which razor would you recommend? I am so grateful for your help, and I love what you’re doing. All the best! Brittany
Hi Liz, thanks for the question! You’ve heard correctly — many women have made the switch to double edge razors to reduce waste and to benefit from the many advantages of double edge razors over multi-blade cartridge razors.
For body shaving in general, we recommend a long handled razor such as the Merkur 23C. The long handle makes it easy to grip in the shower, and also to reach awkward areas such as the legs. Paired with Astra blades, you’ll enjoy a great shave.
I hope that helps! :)
Hi, I recently read that some women have swapped to safety record to shave body hair to reduce waste. Is this a good idea and if so which razor would you recommend on this case?
Hi Hailey, thanks for your question! For effectively cutting through longer growth, it’s recommended to use a razor with a more ‘aggressive’ blade angle. This will make it less likely to clog with cut stubble, so will take off more hair per pass.
With the larger blade gap, he’ll just need to be a little more careful that he doesn’t nick his skin by pressing the blade too firmly against the cheeks — the weight of the razor should do most of the work.
A very popular option is the Muhle R41, which has a great-looking chrome finish. It’s also worth looking at the Rockwell 6C, which has adjustable plates that will allow him to dial in exactly the level of aggressiveness he prefers.
Whichever razor you choose, his thick stubble will need a sharp blade from either Feather or Astra. These will help to cut through the hairs with very little effort, making for an enjoyable shave.
I hope that helps!
Hi, I am looking at buying a safety razor for my husband for Father’s Day. It’s a surprise so can really pick his brain regarding preferred type. He has looked at getting one before and become overwhelmed with options and given up.
Could you suggest a model for him please?
He has thick, course facial hair. Not easily irritated (usually shaves with just water or dry and uses a cheap, nasty disposable). something easy to use, that will cut through thick growth as he often leaves it a while between shaves 😂
Thank you
I purchased a Rockwell 6S this week. It gave me my best shave in my 25 years of shaving. As a professional mechanical engineer from Melbourne, looking to fight my own war on waste, I can say that I am extremely satisfied. The razor is extraordinarily well designed and manufactured. The materials and finish are superb. There are so few parts and none of them look like they could ever fail unless I backed a truck over them. The razor is well balanced in the hand and a joy to use. I fully expect my razor could become a family heirloom for centuries. You can’t get more sustainable than that.
Hi Dom, you’re making a great choice in making the switch to double edge shaving! The Feather blades are well-suited for coarse growth, as they have a very sharp edge that easily cuts through the hairs.
The Muhle R41 is an ‘aggressive’ razor, which means that it has a larger gap between the blade and the guard. This makes it better suited efficiently removing longer growth, but is more likely to cause nicks and so is recommended for experienced DE shavers. Given your stubble is slow growing, the less aggressive R89 would be my choice.
I hope that helps! :)
Hello, I’ve been shaving for over thirty years and never enjoyed it. My stubble is slow growing and very coarse. Standard cartridge blades tend to become blunt and useless after a couple of uses, the exception being the Schick Quattro Titanium, an expensive razor which lasts about 4/5 uses.
I’m deciding between the DE Muhle R41 or R89 coupled with the Feather Hi-Stainless DE Blades.
Your thoughts and suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.
Hi Scott, thanks for your question! Your story is a fairly common one in terms of wanting to make the switch to safety razors, so you’re definitely not alone.
It’s hard to look past either the Edwin Jagger DE89 or Merkur 34C as recommendations for a first razor. Both are very well made, and produce a great shave with little or no irritation. Astra and Feather blades are our most popular blades, and will work well in each razor.
If your budget can stretch to it, it’s worth taking a look at an adjustable razor such as the Rockwell 6C. By being able to change the blade angle, you can dial in the perfect ‘aggressiveness’ for your particular blade brand, hair and skin type which helps to get that perfect shave.
If you have any other questions, we’re available on Live Chat or by email on our Contact Us page and are always happy to help :)