Thread: Merkur 34c Safety Razor backup arrived today... Wow!

So I've been hooked now. I'm 41 and have had ingrown hairs on my face since I was 13 years old! So some of the comments on here have led me to believe that safety razors might offer the same advantage. So I ordered a Merkur 34c and it arrived this morning.

Lathered
loaded blade
WOW!

Talk about smooth! I think I know now what a truly sharp blade feels like. I went WTG, XTG, and felt NOTHING. So went ATG and felt very little. BBS and no irritation at all!

Now... it lacked the relaxing routine of my straight and I prefer the straight. But if I am in a hurry, or of the straight is away being honed, I have a (hopefully) ingrown-hair-free alternative! I think I'm throwing out my Gillette Sensors for good!

If you mate the right DE with a blade and your face you can get a great shave from a DE. It will never be as close as a straight but it can get real close. I have a 34c and it's a real middle of the road razor. If you get more adventurous try something like the feather Stainless or the Muhle R41 open comb. Also, get yourself a sample pack of blades and find out which is the right one for you.

Love the 34c! Classic stubby - and very easy to handle/balance. 34c, and some Persona blades... equals smooth!!

Interestingly, I don't find a DE shave to be that much faster than a straight shave, but you sure can be lazy compared lol.

When I started DE shaving I got a Merkur 38C, which is virtually the same as the 34C but with a longer handle. Great razor IMO. Much later I bought a 37C, which is the same size and shares the same handle but is a slant bar. That razor takes closeness to a whole new level! I still haven't tried the 34C though lol.

Glad you're liking your new purchase and have fun.

The 34C is a great DE, but I still get better shaves with a straight, and the time difference is minimal.

Originally Posted by earcutter

Love the 34c! Classic stubby - and very easy to handle/balance. 34c, and some Persona blades... equals smooth!!

Interestingly, I don't find a DE shave to be that much faster than a straight shave, but you sure can be lazy compared lol.

Totally true. Whereas with my straight I an super careful and methodical, I found myself going almost as fast as I did with my Gillette Sensor Excel. Oh, one big difference though: the DE actually knocked down my stubble closely. And here I am the next day and no ingrown hairs. YAY!

Originally Posted by ace

The 34C is a great DE, but I still get better shaves with a straight, and the time difference is minimal.

I'm enough of a newbie that it's a noticable (but not great) difference. But the time you do three passes, it's just about the same. I found that with me DE I could co much faster around my chin and that was really the only time-saving place.