MERKUR 33C Double Edge Safety Razor Three-Piece Design Closed Comb Short Handle Bright Chrome Finish Made in Germany

Ok, so after catching that Pawn Stars guy Rick Harrison hawking the Micro One Touch razor on TV, I started thinking and realizing that he had valid points about razors these days. So I popped online and started reading reviews about safety razors and started researching the different styles (say no to the Micro Touch) and settled on this one. With it I picked up the "16 FEATHER DERBY 7 O'clock ASTRA NACET BIC BLUEBIRD Blade Sampler" also offered since blade quality was a frequent topic and placed my order on a Thursday. Now, I have a difficult time with razors as my stubble will kill any razor I tried if I go over 1 days worth of growth. Since I ordered it on a Thursday I figured I would challenge this razor when I received it. I stopped shaving and received the razor Monday afternoon and waited until Tuesday morning to shave. Being the brilliant person I am, I decided to make it more of a challenge so I jumped in the hot shower, washed my face as usual and when I got out proceeded to shave using no lubricant at all and a 4 day old beard. The razor took it. I loaded the Feather razor blade turned on the water and started shaving with no cream or soap.(This NOT RECCOMENDED) Having never used a safety razor before I was tentative but the upper cheeks went well and I started the chin and neck. The razor took it, not only worked well but thrived. I ran it under the water and the stubble washed right out. My hard to hit areas are the best they ever were and I walked away with no cuts, scrapes, or razor burns. The unit is solid and I was a little leery that the 3" handle was so short but it turned out to be a non issue. The handle length turned out to be a real benefit, especially under the jaw where other razors have scraped. Clean up was a breaze, I just loosened the handle a bit and rinsed. I did remove the handle and take out the blade to verify the hair was cleaned out but needn't have.On the whole I am very pleased with the razor and consider it a great investment. Observations - Solid razor, good heft and well built - Handle unscrews easily and inserting the blade was a snap. - The alignment posts were meaty and didn't allow the blade to shift. (Was worried after reading about issues loading the butterfly style.) - Handled 4 day old growth like a champ - Super easy cleanup Can't comment on blades right now since I have used one style of blade exactly once so I have no reference as to how long they last or which is better. Read more

Okay, internet, you really pulled the wool over my eyes on this one. All of the back and forth about "this is a BLADE you will cut yourself"--and the insistence on "two pass v. three pass"--and the hullaballoo around badger-hair brushes and voluminous foam--and the YouTube videos. Oh my god the YouTube instructional videos. THEY ARE ENDLESS. It took me a long time to get up the guts to try this baby out, cuz it just seemed like A Really Big Deal. (And also I'm a girl, can girls even USE safety razors??The internet is inconclusive.) Well, let me tell you, the internet definitely has its knickers in a twist over safety razors. Yet this razor IS A Really Big Deal, but not because of voluminous foam or badger hair brushes or whatever. 1) It just works really, really well. Great shave and it's incredibly easy. Seriously, what's with the thousands of YouTube videos? 2) The razor replacements are incredibly cheap, and so much better for the environment than that plastic crap. 3) It's easier to clean (no hair getting stuck in the blades), so that means fewer infected hair follicles (and I've been to the hospital because of infected hair follicles before, it seems to be my curse). 4) So far it seems to be gentler on my skin, so no more ingrown hairs (which I ALWAYS get). And ZERO cuts (which is fewer than I get with a brand new regular razor). If you're wondering if this is a good idea, and if the internet seems to be telling you that this thing is gonna be a crapload of work--trust your instinct, this is a good idea, and ignore the internet. I don't even think shaving with it takes THAT much longer than a regular razor. And this particular brand of safety razor is NOT difficult to assemble/disassemble (just a simple screw on/screw off). Just do it. Buy it. It's great. (Also, I just used Barbasol from a can. Ignore the badger hair brush people. IT IS IRRELEVANT. ) Read more