6 Best Safety Razors for Beginners – Tested, Compared & Reviewed

Excellent!

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

Great decision; there are benefits to shaving with a traditional razor, including costs.

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 that’s why I have narrowed down five great options for you that worked great for me when I first got started on my traditional shaving adventure.

I’ve added an additional adjustable and a single-edge razor to expand your awareness of safety razor options. Too many choices would just confuse the matter, and you don’t need that at this stage.

Fortunately, unlike most other websites on the internet that either sell these razors or rehash what others say, I have tested, used, and reviewed the safety razors for beginners included here.

1. Mühle R89 – Best Overall Introduction DE Razor

The Muhle R89 is one you are going to see mentioned frequently in wet shaving forums, and for good reason. I would say it has the right basics for a newbie to start on the traditional wet shaving journey using a safety razor.

To me, the R89 is ideal, as it gives us all the standard hallmarks of a double-edge safety razor: standard length handle and blade head geometry that is a perfect starting point.

The standard 94 mm (3.70 in) handle length will provide the newbie with an idea of whether this length is best suited for them or whether to go for a slightly shorter handle type razor (e.g., Merkur 34C) or a longer handle type. If this length is suitable, then they can explore many other safety razor options in the future that may have a different head and handle style.

The handle design is an engraved type that I found provides some grip and looks attractive. I do like my knurled handles as they provide more grip, but the R89 wins on attractiveness.

Combining a small blade gap of approximately 0.45mm (0.018 in) alongside minimal blade exposure and a curved, non-straight blade angle makes the R89 mild and forgiving.

While I do prefer a razor that is not too mild, I found it easy to step up its mildness when using a Feather blade. When I had about three days of coarse growth, the DE89 did find it challenging. It was a much easier shave with one or two days of growth, and that’s where it performed at its best. If you have finer hair than me, then the R89 will tackle over two days of growth with more ease.

The three-part design is slightly more complex than a two-part or butterfly (TTO – Turn To Open) design. However, I like how I can clean a three-part razor like the R89 thoroughly.

• The main drawbacks: Could be too mild for some gents. The three-part design is slightly more fiddly. The engraved handle does not provide as much grip as knurled.
• My verdict: The ideal beginner’s choice for getting the whole traditional double-edge safety razor shaving experince.

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

You will also find the German-made Merkur 34C mentioned on numerous websites and forums as a good safety razor option for beginners, and for good reason. It’s a good, reliable, and mild type of razor.

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

The handle is knurled, which I find is the best type of safety razor handle, providing a secure grip while shaving and preventing the hands from slipping. The only issue with the handle is that it is shorter than many others. I find it is great for maneuverability, but not ideal for those who prefer a longer handle or have previously used a long cartridge razor handle. I was pleasantly surprised that I really liked the handle, even though I was new to using safety razors.

This was one of the first mild safety razors I used when I first got started, and it really suited me well. The 0.71mm blade gap and curved, non-straight blade angle make it a mild razor, although it is not quite as mild as the Muhle R89 (that is not a negative, just a step down in mildness and a step up in blade exposure).

After using safety razors for some time, you may notice how a short-handle type, such as the 34C, can produce a great shave compared to a razor with a much longer handle. So this razor, in fact, is well suited for seasoned wet shaving gents too.

It gives me a great, mild shave with little threat of cuts or nicks. I quite easily step up to a Feather blade to reduce its mildness, but I can also easily use a Derby or Gillette Silver Blue, among others, and get a fine shave.

• The main drawback: The short handle could be hard to get accustomed to for some men, and maybe those with big hands.
• My verdict: The classic beginner’s choice that is mild enough and has the ability to maneuver around tricky areas better than some long-handle type 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 with wet shaving using safety razors, it makes sense not to overspend and end up wasting money on a razor that’s not suitable, or even finding that safety razors are not the right shaving tool for you. While I would suggest something like the other recommendations I have made, I found that the King C. Gillette is a good razor that requires a small risk investment.

The handle of this razor is longer than that of the DE89 and Merkur 34C. This long handle may suit some individuals, given their familiarity with using cartridge razors, which typically have longer handles.

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

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

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

The blade gap of 0.45 mm and geometry are very similar to the R89, if not identical. I found this naturally makes it very mild and forgiving.

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 provided a better shave, but the free blades included are ideal for beginners.

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 – as weight is partly subjective!

If you’re trying to spend as little as possible without compromising quality, then the King C Gillette could be the razor to get started with.

• The main drawbacks: The handle is slimmer and does not have the same feel as many other DE razors (soem may prefer this, though). It could be a bit weighty for soem guys.
• My verdict: The affordable beginner’s choice that is mild enough and has a longer handle suitable for those transitioning from a multi-blade razor

4. Leaf Twig Razor – Best Mild And Tamed Single-Edge Option

I was hesitant to throw the Leaf Leaf twig in the mix due to not being a traditional double-edged razor, and it not giving a user the initial learning curve of getting the blade angle right when shaving.

However, I decided that not needing to get the blade angle right is one of the reasons to include it here, as I know some guys can quit trying to get shaving right with a safety razor (too many nicks, cuts, and/or razor burn), and something much easier to learn to use could be just the right tool.

Having a pre-angled blade made this razor very easy to shave with. It provides a set 30-degree angle, and the head design provides minimal blade exposure. It is much easier to not get nicks or cuts with this compared to a standard DE razor.

I really like the twist-to-open design with a magnetic blade holder section and found it was great to not have the separate parts other razors have. This design works smoothly when I am inserting a single-edge blade too.

One Issue I had, due to having used many safety razors, is that I required that freedom to use the razor at various angles, and the Twig just does not cut hair when moving the angle, but that is the trade-off for having a pre-angled design.

The handle has two deeply lined sections, which provided me with plenty of grip when shaving.

I was pleasantly surprised that it shaved coarse three-day growth very easily. I really expected it to struggle, but it did not at all. I found it suitable on three and two days of growth, and it is mild enough for shaving daily.

I did find the weight (it is quite bottom-heavy) was not really required, as it is not a razor where the weight of the top head encourages and supports the shave. However, the weight had no effect on it, giving me a comfortable and easy shaving experience.

The Leaf Twig is a great option if you are worried about the transition to a safer razor from a multi-blade razor. Plus, it is a very good option for experienced wet shaving gents wishing to try a single-edge razor.

• The main drawbacks: The bottom-heavy weight seems unnecessary. The learning curve being missed may not be best for everyone wanting to fully experince a DE razor experince.
• My verdict: The beginner’s choice for those who want an easier transition into safety razors and ramp up the safety aspect. I really appreciate the design of this, especially the blade-changing mechanism.

5. Merkur 23C – Best Light, Long and Mild Razor

I’m aware that I am giving the company Merkur a lot of press; however, the 23C deserves some attention for this beginner’s safety razor roundup. It’s a good option for those switching from a cartridge to a safety razor, thanks to its lightness and long, slim handle.

As you can see from the specs, the Merkur 23C, also known as the Merkur 180, features a fairly long handle and a relatively light weight. This compares well with the lightweight cartridge razor handles and their weight, which could make transitioning a little easier.

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

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, such as 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.

The 23C may be too mild for some individuals, and if so, they can switch to a sharper blade. The right blade can make all the difference.

• The main drawbacks: The long handle makes it not so efficient when shaving tricky areas. It could be too mild for some gents, especially those with longer, coarse hair.
• My verdict: 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, thanks to its long handle and mild nature.

6. Merkur Progress – Best Adjustable Razor for Beginners

The Merkur Progress offers five different settings (i.e., blade gap adjustments), ranging from very mild (setting 1) to more aggressive (setting 5). These beginner razor recommendations have been geared toward mild razors, and the Progress is very mild on its first setting, with the option to step up to a more aggressive shave available.

Two-handle length options cover those who like a shorter handle and those who prefer a longer one. We 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 remains strong to this day.

The Merkur Progress was the first adjustable safety razor I had ever used, and I was very impressed with it.

If a user has thicker or coarse beard growth, they can adjust the razor setting to a higher level and then adjust it back down if needed on the next pass.

I have tried all settings and use a higher setting on the first pass, like setting 4, and drop to setting 2 for the second and third pass. I have switched the settings combo around at times, which has been fun.

Shaving under the nose was the main tricky aspect of the Progress because of the head being quite bulky. However, I have no issue wth that as I just move my nose across for each side.

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

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

The primary purpose of including this in the roundup of beginner razors was to offer an alternative and provide something for you to consider. I am also very fond of it because it was my first adjustable.

• The main drawbacks: Having blade gap adjustments could complicate the learning process for some newbies. The head is quite bulky for shaving under the nose.
• My verdict: The mild settings 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. A definite recommendation for a first adjustable razor.

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.

Comments

Label

{} [+]

Name*

Email*

Δ

Label

{} [+]

Name*

Email*

Δ

2 Comments

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

John

4 months ago

This was very helpful! Thanks! I’m returning to wet shaving and bought a Merkur 34c and I’ve been using Darby blades. The entire experience has been very pleasant, although I’m finding the handle length on the 34c a bit small. It’s very maneuverable though.

1

Reply

View Replies (1)