Safety Razor Review

Top 5 Best Safety Razors for Beginners – Tested, Used & Reviewed

Excellent!

You’re thinking about it or have already decided to join the wet shaving revolution with a safety razor.

Great decision; there are many benefits from shaving with a traditional razor.

The first question for most people starting out is, ‘What’s the best safety razor for beginners?’ and rightly so. There are so many options, and it’s so easy in the shaving game to choose the wrong razor and make a really bad start on your new wet shaving adventure.

I’ve kept this as simple as possible and narrowed down four great options. I’ve added an additional adjustable razor to expand your thoughts on safety razors. Too many choices would just confuse the matter, and you don’t need that at this stage.

Fortunately, unlike most other websites on the net that are either selling these razors or rehashing what others say, I test, use, review, and recommend safety razors for beginners and other users.

Video

The YouTube video I created for beginner razors might provide some additional information, and/or the visuals might help you out.

1. Merkur 34C – Best Mild Short-Handled Razor

You will find the Merkur 34C mentioned on a number of websites and forums as being a good safety razor option for beginners, and for good reason. It’s a good, reliable, mild type of razor that helps a user define what might work for them best.

Brief Description & Features –

The Merkur 34C is a double-edged closed-comb razor that has a very mild nature. It comes apart in two pieces for changing blades, which is easy enough to complete and easier than other three-part razors.

The handle is knurled, which is the best type of safety razor handle, offering enough grip while shaving and preventing the hands from slipping. The only issue with the handle is that it is short compared to many others. It is great for maneuverability but not so great for those who prefer a longer handle or have previously been using a long cartridge razor handle. I was pleasantly surprised that I really liked the handle even though I was new to using safety razors.

Shaving Experience –

This was one of the first mild safety razors I used when I first got started, and it really suited me well. The mildness and minimal blade gap were perfect for a beginner like me.

The short handle does assist with maneuverability while shaving. However, some guys and maybe those with large hands may prefer something a bit longer.

After shaving with safety razors for some time, you might see how a short handle type like the 34C can make a great shave compared to a razor with a much longer handle.

It gives a great mild shave with no threat of cuts or nicks.

Merkur 34c Final Thoughts

The perfect mild razor for beginners to get started with, although the short handle needs to be right for them as well. If it is overly mild, then a user can step up with a sharper blade.

A Merkur 34C costs around $40 (£35 – €42). It is not the cheapest and definitely not the most expensive razor money can buy for a good quality razor from a well-known German brand.

It’s definitely one to consider if the features and specs match the person’s needs.

2. Edwin Jagger DE89 – Best Standard Size And Various Handle Options

The Edwin Jagger DE89 is made in Sheffield, England, and sold worldwide. It is another mild razor similar to the Merkur 34C. While it has the same mildness as the Merkur 34C, it excels in the options it offers buyers in regards to choosing a handle that suits a person best.

Brief Description & Features –

The Edwin Jagger DE89 is a solid brass razor coated in chrome, much like other razors I recommend in this review. It’s a three-part razor which is a little more fiddly when blade changing than a two-part or others, however, blade changing is not difficult at all.

As you can see below, the three handle options offer buyer options (there are also other options, including Barley, Octaganol, and a short handle). The classic offers less grip while the knurled offers the most, and the octagonal offers exceptional grip differently compared with the knurled while looking attractive.

Compared with the first razor, the Merkur 34c, the DE89 is slightly longer but somewhat lighter. The longer handle is more of a standard length, which you’ll find that safety razors have, which will suit many users.

This standard length and design is a good starting point for beginners as they will have a good reference point from here on.

Shaving Experience–

The Edwin Jagger gives a very mild shave, and when paired with a sharper blade like a Feather, it ups its game a little. Beginners might want to start with a blade that is much milder, though, like a Derby or Astra blade.

The standard handle length is going to suit beginners very well. Although it’s not as grippy as a deeply knurled razor, there was no slipping, and most users should be fine.

Edwin Jagger DE89 Final Thoughts

The DE89 joins the roundup without much thought. The mild nature coupled with handle options that a new person using safety razors might find meet their needs makes it stand out as a viable newbie recommendation.

An Edwin Jagger DE89 costs around $45 (£30 – €40).

It is slightly light. However, it will still be weighty enough for those transitioning from light cartridge razors.

3. King C Gillette – Best Cheapest Beginner Razor

I tried a few razors that leaned more toward being cheap, including the WEISHI Nostalgic, and none met my expectations, apart from the King C Gillette Safety Razor.

When getting started in wet shaving with safety razors, it does make sense not to overspend and end up wasting money on a razor that’s just not suitable, and/or you prefer to return to multiblade razors or electrics. However, you would be better off with something like the suggestions I have made to give it a good go, rather than an extremely cheap option.

Brief Description & Features –

The handle of this razor is longer than the DE89 and Merkur 34C. This long handle may suit some guys, coming from the familiarity they have had with using cartridge razors, as they generally have longer handles.

The deeply lined design that winds on the handle offers enough grip, although I do have a preference for knurled mostly.

Based on its price, it’s a great-looking razor that is designed well.

Shaving Experience –

I was pleasantly surprised when using this razor, and it exceeded my expectations. It is mild to medium in aggressiveness, which should be fine for most beginners.

I felt the handle was not what I get from the 34C and DE89 mentioned above in terms of feeling better in the hand and having a good grip.

The pack of King C Gillette blades that came with the razor was okay and kind of mild. I put a Feather blade in, and that blade gave me a better shave, but the free blades included are ideal for the beginner.

King C Gillette Final Thoughts

If you are trying not to spend as much as possible and not be too thin on quality, then the King C Gillette could be the razor to get started with.

The razor costs $23 USD, £20 GBP and €22.00 EU*

*Prices might vary at different stores. Mine was a bargain and cost £13.33 in the UK from Amazon –cheaper than some cartridge razors.

One aspect a user may find challenging, although I like this feature with razors, is its heavy weight. You could really like the weightiness, though!

4. Merkur 23c – Best Light, Long and Mild Razor

I’m aware that I have given the company Merkur press as it is; however, the 23c deserves some light shone on it for this beginner’s safety razor roundup. It’s a good option for those switching from a cartridge to a safety razor with its lightness and long slim handle.

Brief Description & Features –

As you can see by the specs, the Merkur 23C, also known as the Merkur 180, has a fairly long handle, and its weight is quite light. This compares well with the lightweight cartridge razor handles and the weight of them which could make transitioning a little easier.

The handle is knurled and offers plenty of grip, and it is fairly slim compared to most other safety razors. The slimness of the handle may also be likened to many cartridge razors.

Shaving Experience –

The 23C most definitely gives me a very mild shave with no concern about getting any nicks or cuts. The long handle is great for long shaving strokes; however, other areas like under the nose and chin area are not ideal for longer handles like this one compared to shorter handle razors.

While this razor enjoys removing one or two days of beard or stubble growth, it’s not the best at tackling heavier growth. This is the nature of many mild razors, though.

Merkur 23C Final Thoughts

The Merkur 23c is one of the best safety razors for beginners transitioning from a cartridge razor to a safety type. It’s also an ideal razor for women, with its long handle and mildness for shaving their legs.

The 23c could be too mild for some guys, and if it is, they can change over the blade to something that is sharper. The right blade can make all the difference.

It is a very affordable razor and costs around $30 (£29 – €31).

5. Merkur Progress – Best Adjustable Razor for Beginners

An adjustable razor might not seem like the right option to throw in the mix of a roundup for the ‘best safety razors for beginners.‘ However, the Merkur Progress is an option that has a lot going for it for those new to wet shaving with safety razors, as well as those who have been using DE razors for many years.

Brief Description & Features –

The Merkur Progress offers five different settings or blade gap adjustments from very mild (number 1) to more aggressive (number 5). While I do try to keep razor recommendations geared toward mild razors, the Progress is very mild on the first setting, and the option of stepping up to get a closer shave is available.

Two-handle length options cover those who like a shorter handle and those who prefer longer. You can compare the short handle model (500 model) with the Merkur 34C and the long handle (510 model) with the King C Gillette Razor.

This razor was first made and sold back in the 1950s. It has a proven positive track record and is still going strong today.

Shaving Experience–

The Merkur Progress was the first adjustable safety razor I had ever used, and I was very impressed with it. The mild settings, now that I think about it, are ideal for those starting out with safety razors, and the higher settings give some flexibility to learn what kind of blade gap (aggressiveness) is best suited for an individual.

If a user has thicker beard growth, they can dial up the razor and then adjust it back down if needed on the next pass.

The long handle model is the most popular and the model I tested. The length was perfect.

Merkur Progress Final Thoughts

It is a very good option for beginners, with the additional benefit of trying various levels of blade gap, which affects aggressiveness.

The progress costs around $70 (£40 – €52) for the short-handle model and $85 (£65 – €70) for the long-handle version. It’s not overly expensive for an adjustable razor, although that could be a little too pricey for some gentlemen new to using safety razors as a first buy.

If this is not the first razor you want to try as a beginner, it could be the first adjustable you take on a shave in the near future.

The main point of including this was to provide an alternative and give you something to ponder.

That just about covers it for the Best Safety Razor for Beginners review and roundup. Adding too many razors would have overcomplicated the choosing process, so I have kept things relatively simple. And I hope the variations have provided some food for thought on your search for the most suitable razor to get you started.

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