MERKUR 25C Double Edge Safety Razor in Bright Chrome with an Open Comb Design, Long Handle, Made in Germany, Plastic-Free, Three-Piece Design, and Straight Bar

The rule of thumb with any sort of alternative shaving method (straight razor, double-edge safety razor, etc) is YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY. Choosing the right shaving equipment is a very personal decision. Everyone's face and skin are different, and what works really well for one person- or even most people- might not necessarily work for you. Even if the reviews are overwhelmingly positive, one needs to know going in that its unlikely they will find the exact right equipment on the first go-round. Instead let the reviews guide you toward which equipment is /well-made/, then go from there in finding what works for you. --Backgound-- I discovered DE (double edge) safety razor shaving after looking for a cheaper alternative to traditional cartridge razors. While they always gave me a nice clean shave, I always hated having to drop $4 per cartridge only to have it dull after a week. While helping a good friend clean out his grandfather's garage, I discovered a 1940's era Gillette razor in basically unused condition. He let me keep it. I took it home, and cleaned it to a nice shine. I then went and bought some Personna blades from the local Walgreens, and off I went. However, I found the handle on the Gillette too short for my liking, and combined with its weight made my fingers cramp. The combination of blade+razor also did shave as close as I would have liked. So I ordered some Feather blades (based off good reviews) as well a sampler package of different blades (definitely go this route starting out) I then went and ordered this. I was initially on the fence about going with an open comb or with a guard. But I figured if I didn't like the open comb, I could always go back to the old Gillette. --The Product-- When I opened the package, I was really impressed. Its a really beautiful looking tool. It feels heavy enough to be substantial but light enough to be deft in one's hands. The finish work is really wonderful, and it looks and feels every bit the German-made tool that it is. It came with a blade that I didn't especially care for, but with the Personna blades it gave a nice smooth shave. It is definitely more aggressive than the old Gillette, and gets to the top lip hairs under my nose that the Gillette couldn't reach. --On Blades-- When I finally received the Feathers and Sampler pack, I found that different blades were picky about which of the two razors I used. One giving a nice shave in the Merkur would be totally ineffective in the Gillette. (like the Personna) Or the reverse: one in the Gillette might give a smooth, comfortable shave but when in the Merkur would shred your face to a bloody mess. (the Feather was the worst offender, but could be controlled with a bit of practice) It was a nice bonus that the threads on the Merkur and Gillette both matched, so that I could use either head with the Merkur's long, comfortable handle, if I needed to. In the end I found that I generally preferred the Merkur. I also found that- much to my immense chagrin- the blades that paired best with it, lasted longest, and gave by fair the best shave, were the Gillettes I so wanted to avoid. --Conclusion-- As I've said, you really can't go off rating alone when purchasing shaving gear, so I've tried to relay as much about my own experiences as possible to help you make an informed decision. My only piece of advice: if you don't already have a safety razor, you might want to start on one with a guard. Once you've got the technique down, you can get a more aggressive one if you decide you really need it. But in the end this is just me, and my advice will only get you so far.

A delightful, gentle razor that is slightly more aggressive than the 33C closed comb version, but much better at removing longer hairs as well as providing a wonderfully close shave on the first pass. More often than not, one pass with this razor in the morning and done! I also use it to shave my pubic, chest, and underarm hair, and it handles the task gently and much more efficiently than the 33C. I have yet to suffer any nicks or razor burn with it in contrast to the carnage I used to suffer from multi-blade cartridge razors. Favorite attributes: -- It's a light razor, and you'll get a lot of blade feedback while using it to help keep it at the proper shaving angle. Heavier razor heads and handles tend to absorb whisker-to-blade feedback, so you never really know what's going on between blade and skin. --Don't let the smaller handle fool you, even if you have big meaty hands. Most shavers hold their razors with just the thumb, index, and middle fingers, so you don't need a "rake handle" to hold onto your razor. If you're actually monkey wrench gripping your razor with your entire fist, than it's probably the last thing you should be using. The 15C is a wonderfully balanced razor and the shorter handle makes it highly maneuverable for precise shaving. --The low profile head makes it very easy to shave right under the nose. The razor gets right in there for a clean swipe without a lot of metal getting in the way. --If you do a lot of bodyscaping, then this razor is idea for quickly removing longer hairs, often with one pass. It rinses cleaner and is less likely to clog than a closed comb razor. Of course razors are like religion, and everyone has their favorite that works specifically for them. That being said, this would definitely make a great razor for someone transitioning from multi-blade cartridges. You'll really have to try hard to cut yourself with it.

This is it! I have a very sensitive face and a curly beard. I have been shaving with a safety razor for over a decade. Mostly been using an Edwin Jagger DE89 (a Merkur 34C clone -- close comb) and a plastic Feather travel razor (bar) with Bic Chrome Platinum blades. I wanted to try an open comb for some time but was concerned that it would be too aggressive. This razor is amazing and is my new forever razor. It is easy to find the edge and aggressive enough that I can normally get everything with one pass without being so aggressive on my sensitive face. I like the long handle as it is a nice counter balance and give me room for my big hands when I go against the grain on my neck. My only pet peeve is that the handle has a hole in the end which seems odd to me as all my others are solid at the end. It is also a little light (not as heavy as my Edwin Jagger but way heavier than my Feather travel razor). Neither of this would keep me from using this forever or looking for any other razor.

UPDATE: After using this razor for a long while, I've come to appreciate it as a first-pass razor (that is, lather, shave, and rinse). For the classic one-and-done one-pass shave, it does a good job -- as good as any. For those like me with sensitive skin; it may shave just a bit harshly on subsequent passes (that is, re-lather, shave again, rinse) despite otherwise mild characteristics. I now use this fairly regularly as a first-pass razor or for those rare days when I shave one and done. For my second pass (after most first-pass-use razors), I tend to prefer a very mild finishing razor such as the Weishi 9306-F or the Dorco one-piece twist-to-open razors to get near baby smooth without much risk of irritation or wounds. I also keep this 15C at hand because of its unlimited open-comb capacity to trim my back hairline and the back of my neck. If you have really sensitive skin as I do, this may not be your first choice as a multi-pass razor. This Merkur 15C open-comb razor has a classic handle at about 3 inches in length and the smaller, classic diameter of about 3/8 inch over most of the barrel -- the same handle that's on the Merkur 33C and many other razors of classic proportions. This means that the normal finger-tip grips will work best. (Don't hold it like a paint scraper. :-) The harshness of this razor seems to be moderate, not low (as I said, I prefer it for a single-pass shave or as a first-pass razor); though it's otherwise a very mild shave, which can still be reasonably close. The open-comb baseplate doesn't restrict the razor's capacity, however. This means that even those who skip a few day's shaves don't need to use a more harsh, higher capacity razor; the comb, instead of the usual safety bar, doesn't limit the length of hair that this razor can handle. Good for shaving longer-growth hair, trimming beards, back of neck, mustaches, etc. If you have a tough or dense beard, be sure to use a sharp blade. If you have sensitive skin, use a blade coated for smoothness. If you have both a tough beard and sensitive skin (as I do), then use sharp, coated blades, but it still may not be enough to avoid a little irritation if you make multiple passes. If your shaving technique is good, this razor should work for about everybody. Happy shaving! See my articles at shavelikegrandad[dot]blogspot[dot]com (substitute periods for the [dot]s)

On Dec 8, 2023, I bought the Merkur Razor Double Edge Safety Razor, MK-25C (Open Comb) But let me tell the WHOLE STORY ........ I bought the Merkur 23C Double Edge Safety Razor on Nov 17, 2023, after having bought my first double edge safety razor of another brand on Oct 21, 2023, which cut me up really good, blood everywhere! Being new to double edge safety razors, I decided to do some research, and from my research, everyone said to buy the Merkur 23C Double Edge Safety Razor if you are new to double edge safety razors. When I received my Merkur 23C on Nov 18, 2023, I unboxed it, and shaved with it for the first time, and got NO CUTS, and NO BLOOD, just a perfect shave! The Merkur 23C closed comb razor is not a real aggressive razor, so I did have some problems in spots that were hard to get to! So on Dec 8, 2023, I bought the Merkur 25C open comb razor, which is a more aggressive razor, It solved my problems with the hard to get to spots! So I suggest having both the Merkur 23C closed comb razor, and the Merkur 25c open comb razor! I am very pleased with having both of those razors !! There are to many variables as to what the best blade is for each user, but my favorite blade is the Astra Platinum Double Edge Safety Razor Blades! FIVE STARS for all three items mentioned in this review! After 40 years of shaving, I finally enjoy shaving !! This is the only way to shave, and the most economical way to shave!! I feel so ripped off by the shaving products that I have used for the last 40 years !! Make the switch to a Double Edge Safety Razor, TODAY !! GOOD LUCK, AND HAPPY SHAVING !! SIDE NOTE: Woman, these razors are great for shaving your legs !!

I, like so many others, have decided to go back to shaving with a double edge safety razor. I am tired of paying the high price of the multi-blade refills. I am old enough to have learned to shave with one of these, so my experience will be different than someone who is buying one for the first time. I researched many razors before selecting this one. Prices varied from $19.99 to $100+. Two features I wanted were a long handle and a removable head vice the butterfly opening head. The Merkur 25C fit both of those desires. The razor itself is very well made and has, for me, just the right amount of heft. In my opinion, the removable head holds the blade more securely than the butterfly style does and this is important when shaving with a double edge. This razor has an open comb (rounded teeth) vice a closed comb (bar) and I was a little concerned about that as back in the day I used a closed comb style. No worries. I have not noticed any difference from what I recall with a closed comb. Having said that, if you are new to a safety razor do not press and drag as hard as you do with the multi-blade razor you have been using. You will end up looking like you shaved with an angry cat. I have not nicked or cut myself yet and while the shave was a bit uncomfortable the first couple of days it is nice and smooth now. I think this was more a matter of technique than anything else. Use plenty of soap (cream) and water and let the razor do the work. It has the weight to give you close, comfortable shave by itself. Cleanup is a breeze (won't clog like those multi-blades) and I recommend a razor stand to store it on between shaves. If you are looking for a well-made safety razor, look no further. You won't be disappointed with Merkur.

Update... It's been well over 7 years and i'm still loving this razor. I have attached pics from today, over 7 &1/2 years later, and it still works and looks like new. This is one of those buy it for life items. My son was just a little kid when I bought this and I bought him one just like it last december because he's shaving now. He likes his a lot, and has no issues. It's crazy cheap to get replacement blades. I tried some various sample packs, but finally bought a 100 pack of shark blades for like 20 bucks years ago. I am finally getting to the end of that pack. Also, I no longer have issues with my neck breaking out every time I shave like I did before switching to this style razor. As long as I take the time to prep, the shave ends up smooth and bump free. I really like the creamo shaving cream with this razor. Oh, and in the original review I talked about wanting the handle to be longer, but after using it long term I like it just fine as it is. I have found that you end up using it differently than other razors, and it's just not an issue. *See below for original review* I wasn't sure about trying these razors, but a buddy talked me into it. Combined with shark blades I really like this razor. I got the long and was surprised that it is still shorter than the regular razor I was using. I do wish the handle was a little longer. The smooth end that slides along your face feels good because it holds the heat from the hot water, and I get a good shave. I have used it for a few weeks now and have not cut myself yet. I see no need to go back to the multi-blade wonders that cost a fortune for replacement blades.

Very disappointed. First of all the box game tour open like a two-year-old got a hold of it. Second I was told an open comb was gonna be something to get used to with practice. I already use a safety razor. It’s a cheap one my son got me For Christmas. I think he got it at the dollar store and it shaves 10 times better than this thing does. I even bought the feather razors and I had to keep going over my face going over trying to get it to give me a clean shave. I had to get my old safety razor out and finish the job. I wouldn’t be worried about giving this razor to someone who’s never shaved before because it would be almost impossible to cut yourself. Definitely will be returning.