MÜHLE Traditional R89 safety razor | double edge safety razor | sustainable eco-friendly and reusable | fits all standard DE razor blades | for men and women | chrome handle

Absolutely brilliant double edged razor. If you were wondering whether to change from cartridge razors to a double edged, then this is the one for you. Perfect for both beginners and experts, this gives a close comfortable shave. The razor is very well manufactured, with a good finish and well balanced. It is perfect in terms of closeness - not too aggressive and yet close enough, and importantly very comfortable. I've tried a few double edged razors, but this is my go-to razor most days. Some aggressive ones are fine with a few days growth, but this is perfect for daily use.There are many benefits of double edged razors over cartridges. They are much cheaper in the long run. They are also better for the skin as the way cartridge razors work is that they grab the hair with one blade which lifts it, and then the next blade cuts it below the surface of the skin - this means the hair has to push up through the skin when growing, which gives rise to irritation and/or spots. Double edged razors cut the top off, and leaves the skin in much better shape. Also, typically you do a maximum of 3 passes, as opposed to a cartridge with 5 blades which is effectively doing 5 passes, if not more. I mean seriously - 5 blades! Why stop there; why not 6 or 7 or more? Getting silly, and double edged razors were good enough for your ancestors, and importantly they work very well. Yes, there is a learning curve, but get on YouTube and watch a couple of the popular videos, and you will be shaving like a pro in a week. It also becomes a pleasurable experience and a great zen way to start the day.Go the whole experience and get yourself a shaving brush and some decent shaving soap. The aficionados will talk about badger or boar brushes, but it doesn't matter too much and I use a synthetic brush, which is easier to take of and lasts practically forever (make sure to rinse properly as leaving soap on it shortens the life). Shaving soaps - go for a soft cream with a nice fragrance (pick a popular one on Amazon), and you can't go too wrong. Again, much better for your skin than the aerosols/cans. Round it off with an alum block. Then you're all set and it will all last you a long time for a small upfront investment. And importantly, you will enjoy the shaving experience and your skin will thank you for it.

Decided to try a double edged razor after long-term use of Wilkinson Sword Hydro 5 (which I’ve used for ages and am super impressed with). Tried DE partly because I’ve seen so many positive reviews I thought I was missing out, and partly because the razors look really cool!Approached this with some trepidation, and expected at least a couple of nicks and cuts. I was genuinely stunned that I didn’t get any - just a very smooth shave. First try wasn’t as close as the Hydro 5, but very close to it. As technique and confidence are improving, it’s getting better and better.Razor itself is incredibly well made and high quality.Points to note:Do watch a video on how to use them properly.Technique is a bit different - shorter strokes, less pressure - letting the weight of the razor do the work.I used Astra blades which seem terrific.Expect the process to take a bit longer than a cartridge - but more involving and enjoyable.I’ll keep using the Hydro 5 occasionally, especially when in a hurry, but this is really great, and very cheap for an incredibly high quality razor. Highly recommended.

Review title says it all, really! I'd been reading about DE shaving for a while and the Muhle r89 kept cropping up in forum threads as one of the best beginners' DE razors on the market, so when I finally decided to ditch the cartridges and get a shaving kit together this was the winner. Well, after a few shaves all I can say is that I wish I'd known about this much earlier - I'd have spared myself years of razor rash and ingrown hairs for sure, and possibly saved quite a few bob on cartridges.The razor looks uber-sleek in an old-fashioned sort of way, weighs nicely in the hand and the mirror-polished chrome finish is a pleasure to look at; cuts an impressive figure (no pun intended) in the bathroom and feels like it's going to last for years. It also looks fearfully sharp with the blade it comes with, but ll in all it's much more gentle than I'd have expected. Even an absolute beginner like me managed a smooth, rather effortless first shave with just one pass with the grain, no irritation whatsoever and no nicks - not even on my bulging Adam's apple, where I would ALWAYS get nicks and cuts with any cartridge razor I've used. I have a goatee and being able to actually see the edge of the blade also means that it's a lot easier to shape the edges of any existing facial hair.Plus, I've found that the whole ritual of wet shaving is quite fun - a great way to start the day with boatloads of confidence or to unwind at the end of a hard day's work.Well worthy of five stars and definitely recommended to anyone who wants to try this way of shaving.

Great razor offering a good close shave with minimal nicks, until it broke