Merkur Safety Razor

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If you aren't daring enough to go back to the days of straight razor shaving, then perhaps the Merkur safety razor will excite you. This razor is actually a replica of the 1904 Gillette safety razor. These are German razors that can give you a shave like a traditional cut throat razor.

This particular safety razor comes in many different styles that are very similar. The price can range from $20 and up but let me break down the most common models for you.

The Merkur 1904 Classic Safety Razor uses nickel plated chrome and the blade is 3 inches long. One of the greatest things is that this one is made for thick hair and beards. I have naturally thick hair and this razor cuts through it with no problem thanks to its teeth design on the opposite side. The only problem I had with this razor was its size.　The size of it is small and my hands are bigger than the average man. Changing the blades is a breeze since all you have to do is unscrew a screw and put the new razor blade in. It is that simple.

The Merkur safety razor #34c has the same double edged razor and easy to use handle as the others but it feels like it was aimed for beginners. Comparing the shave to a straight razor doesn't do it justice because it better compares to a high end disposable razor. The sharpness and quality of its safety razor blades is pretty good which I think is better for a beginner because there is less chance to do damage to your skin.

If you have large hands, then the Merkur 180 will suit you perfectly. This particular safety razor has a long handle for you to grip on to. The shave is better than a disposable razor. The only problem that you will have is the time it takes to learn how to use this razor. It is slightly different than throw away razors so you will have to go slow until you have mastered it.

A common question is, "can I use different razor blades inside of this razor?" Unfortunately the Merkur double edge razor blades are best suited for these safety razors. You can try others but you will notice that the shave won't be close to your skin and may cause razor burn or other skin problems.

There are other models like the Merkur safety razor model 178. However, the difference is very subtle. The difference between this and the 170 is that it is smaller and has a chrome finish.