Merkur HD

Most say that this is a great beginners razor, not for me it wasn't. I had to learn my technique with milder razors after using the HD due to its aggressiveness.

Once my technique was sorted I then returned to this razor and got stella results. It mows down every whisker in its path and I don't need anything more aggressive than an HD. Superb, but get your technique first.

Excellent razor for the beginner to the advanced user. Handle takes a week to get used to, but is well balanced.

Simple no frills razor that does what it is designed to do. Would recommend to anyone especially someone who got into wetshaving for the money saving factor. Could not really rate more highly!

My first D/E safety razor and it has been a pleasure to use. I paid too much for it Becasue I got it from AOS. I find it hard to shave directly under my nose but that may be more of a technique issue. For the price this is a great razor.

The HD is the razor that everyone recommends for a beginner, hence my purchase. It is a good tool, but some caveats. The finish and fit is not that great and it is aggressive though not extremely. The latter quality makes it a good learning tool becuase you need to learn how to get the correct angle and the pressure.

I used this for a month or so and managed to get my basics at 90% or so, and tried wit with Feathers, 7 O Clocks (Russian Greens, Blues and Yellows) and the original Merkur blade that came with it. The best blade for me was actually the Merkur, followed by the Russian Blues. The Yellows and the Feathers resulted in a lot of razor burn and weepers.

I have now moved to an EJ Chatsworth which is less aggressive and faster to use.

Bought my HD iate 2007. Had to throw it out end of 2010. I scratched my face one day & noticed that the chrome plating (?) had come away on the head as though it was stiff aluminium foil.
For all the praise for Merkur's quality it seems strange I've struck out with both the HD & Slant (see my other review)
It shaves nicely & as a newbie I quickly learned not to nick myself.

I love this razor which i bought from a b&b member sometime last year and have been using now for a month and i cant put it down for another razor, the razor i bought was in mint condition and it feels solid and a classy tool, the grip is first rate even when your fingers have some pre shave oil on them, nothing complcated about this razor either, unscrew the bottom, pull off the top, put in blade, rescrew and shave and although its quite a heavy razor i would not say its over aggressive but it gives a lovely close shave while feeling solid in your hand and every blade i have put in the razor gives me a great shave, also great for a newbie as it is one of those razors that feel safe in your hands, since my 2nd go of de shaving began last year and also my collection of vintage razors kicked in out of all i have so far tried this to me is the best and i would be happy to use this razor forever, grab 1 if you can.

Do i need to say more?

It is a great everyday razor for both the experienced and new wet shaver. I use it on the days where I don't need a super close shave (thats when I reach for my 37c Slant Bar). Great, high quality razor that will last beyond my lifetime and very aesthetically pleasing with the design and craftsmanship.

The bottom half of this razor is actually very good and solid. But the material used to coat the head at top is cheap and chips off easily, like tinsel. It is hard to believe that Merkur allows such a shoddy finish. I tried two and both began to lose their silver coat on the top after a month or so. I went on to a Futur, and that has the scariest blade replacement system I have ever seen. My poor experiences with Merkur made me go to vintage Gillette adjustable razors---solid, virtually indestructible tools. There is no comparison between the solid construction and craft of the vintage Gillettes and these poorly made Merkurs. The Gillette butterfly blade replacement mechanism cannot be beat. You can obtain the Gillette very reasonably on ebay. Clean and sterilize it and you have a razor for life. Don't waste money on a Merkur.

This is a pure classic. If you don't need adjustable, this one might be one of the best choices available!

First and only DE. It is not adjustable, which I like because it takes some of the variables out of shaving. I have been using it for 1.5 years now, and have no reason to purchase any other DE- I simply enjoy this one too much. I can get a good, irritation free shave with this with 1 WTG pass!

the first DE I've ever bought. after shaving with a Fatboy, a Flare Tip & a Single Ring, I always go back to the Merkur HD. it's still the closest, most satisfying shave I can get with the least amount of irritation. no QC issues with mine. it's 6 months old and looks brand new.

There really isn't much else to say that hasn't already been said. There is a reason why this is one of the few 'go-to' modern razors. It's cost effective, relatively easy to find and it just works. This razor is a fantastic first razor, and I've been finding it hard to come up with a reason to switch away from it.

I would like to compare this razor to my others. Sadly, last night the HD ate all my other DEs. This morning it melted all the Bakelite on my Injectors and ripped the heads off of my other SE razors. I just found 4 Gillette adjuster dials stuck in the garburator
I keep my single ring Old locked up.




Overall a great razor. Slight flaws in the finish, but only if you look close. The two-piece design is the best made IMHO. A less bulky head than a TTO and easier to use than a 3 piece. This razor is also a little more aggressive than other new razors, which is nice. You can also control the aggression by using less aggressive blades.

Simply a quality product, all the way from design to performance.

I'm a newbie, and this is my first razor. It may also be my only razor. I have tried different soaps, creams, aftershaves, etc., trying to find something that fits my tastes, budget, and performance expectations. I have not, however, had the same "sampling" urge regarding razors--why spend the $$ when I don't know that a switch would positively impact my shave?

I can't offer comparisons, but I love what I've got ... hence the high ratings.

i have the barber pole version of this razor, and it has worked wondefully. it is my first de razor, so i guess this is compared to a cartridge razor, but i still think it is an awesome razor. the regular hd might be a bit short for people with big hands, the barber pole is perfect for me. don't think, just buy

Price: At $30, this razor is a bargain. When considering all of the safety razors on the market, this would be a middle priced item. When considering the quality of the razor, this is a bargain price.

Grip: The pommel (to borrow a term from Rich) of this razor is textured which allows a very secure grip while shaving. The handle is gnarled which allows a secure grip while rinsing, blade changing, etc.

Ease of Blade Replacement: Blade replacement is a cinch with the HD. While it isn't as simple as a "Butterfly" razor, it is a major step up from the 1904 Classic. The HD is also a 3 piece razor, but composed differently so you do not have to hold the head of the razor while tightening.

Aggressiveness: Aggressiveness is an interesting issue with razors. Certainly there is a point where a razor can become so tame that it makes getting a close shave difficult, however, there is also a point where a razor can become so aggressive that you have to alter technique to avoid being butchered. I find the HD to be in that "happy medium" place where shaves are close and skin stays healthy.

Balance: I truly love the feel of this instrument. The balance is superb and it has a nice heft.

User Friendly: As stated before, the aggressiveness of this razor is just right for a beginner, intermediate, or advanced shaver to achieve excellent results. Also, the angle on the comb of this razor can help to provide and excellent guide for the appropriate razor angle needed. The weight of the razor allows the user to apply no pressure and still have adequate pressure to cut hair.

Overall Quality: From the moment you remove this razor from the box, you will know that you have a quality item in your hands. Of all the razors I have used, the HD has been the only one to stand the test of time. I will still revisit old razors from time to time and will undoubtedly continue to buy new ones, but it would take a true marvel of engineering to make a razor that could bump the HD off the top of the shaving heap.

This is the perfect razor for beginners, and is pretty darn good for just about everyone else too. Unless you're looking for adjustability, it's hard to go wrong with the HD.

-Nick

If I had to choose one all-around razor this would be it. I think everything about it is just about perfect. It is a great value compared to the prices of some of the gillette's that go on ebay. The aggressiveness is perfect, not overly aggressive but not super tame. I can't think about one thing i'd like to change about this razor. It is probably my favorite, it's what I use to test out blades with and what I'd recommend to anyone starting out.