Best DE for A NEWBIE

[johnnyyt]

ive done some research and it seems like i've narrowed it down to a few

Merkur 34C or 23C
Edwin Jagger DE89 (not sure which of the 3 to get, they all look the same....almost)
Merkur 1904

i found a decent deal on the 1904 so that's why i'm throwing it in there but i would like to find some more info on it. how nice is it for first-timers?

 

[EloquentRune]

I'm a big fan of the 34C the weight is very comfortable in my larger hands.

 

[OkieStubble]

While all of your choices are excellent ones, saving a few bucks on the 1904 shouldn't be a deciding factor in your razor choice unless it is a huge savings. This is the razor that will be helping you decide if you want to even buy another razor someday. It will be the razor that will help you decide if you want to even continue shaving this way.

Pick the razor you know in your gut that you want the most, feel like you will get the most out of, and the one that you think will help you to perfect your technique and hone your shaving skills. It will be the razor that you admire so much, you won't walk out on it because you had a bad shave.

 

[johnnyyt]

While all of your choices are excellent ones, saving a few bucks on the 1904 shouldn't be a deciding factor in your razor choice unless it is a huge savings. This is the razor that will be helping you decide if you want to even buy another razor someday. It will be the razor that will help you decide if you want to even continue shaving this way.

Pick the razor you know in your gut that you want the most, feel like you will get the most out of, and the one that you think will help you to perfect your technique and hone your shaving skills. It will be the razor that you admire so much, you won't walk out on it because you had a bad shave.

i think i'm leaning towards the DE89 because ive been reading reviews and they say the quality on EJ razors are impecable.
if i were to choose the DE89, which one would i choose..

 

[DrAwkward]

Both the 34C and the EJ DE89 are excellent. If you want a great razor for very little money, try a Lord 1822 (aka L6). $14 on Amazon. Shaves great and the price is rock bottom.

 

[John Von Wuggz]

I enjoyed my Merkur 180. Long handle made the transition easier.

 

[JCinPA]

I'm a big believer that it makes no difference except avoid the aggressive ones (R41, red tip, FaTip, slant) and adjustables.

Just get anything else and DO NOT SHAVE WITH ANOTHER RAZOR FOR TWO MONTHS. This will help you hone your technique. Swapping razors screws up the learning process. After that, experiment to your heart's content.

That said, it is hard to beat an Edwin Jagger DE89. Wrap a rubber band around it a few times for the first couple weeks while you get your razor handling and technique down. You'll lose it later.

Oh, and SKIP the blade samplers. You cannot evaluate different blades now anyway, and if you keep changing them you won't know what is attributable to the blade and what is poor technique. Get 100 Astras and stick with those for two months, too. They may not end up being your favorite later, but they won't hurt you, and sticking with one razor and one blade will do amazing things for helping you learn faster.

 

[wagstaff]

I'm a believer in SuperSpeeds for beginners. Just because I've given a few away to people who ended up sticking with them. The "Twist to open" silo doors are cool, it's one piece and easy to change blades, it's made of brass and built like a tank, it's inexpensive, it seems to be a good amount of "mild" for many newbs and experienced folks alike.

That said, I love my three piece razors, because (in part) I like aftermarket handles. But a basic flair tip SuperSpeed is a great first- and maybe only- razor.

Of the razors listed in the OP, I havne't used either of those Merkurs. I like the Jagger, for what it's worth. The heads on all of them are the same; the handles are different. So pick according to what handle appeals, if that's your choice of razor in the end. The models with the "11" in them have lighter handles, marginally different shape (a hint of "ball end") t han those without. The "L" means it's "lined", the "BA" means it's got a "barley" pattern. If there's a "BL" or "bl" in the model number, that means it comes packaged with 5 Derby blades. Hope that helps.

 

[Kent Kimmons]

Merkur 1904 was my first choice, no regrets. It is still one of my favorites.

 

[aihpcfl]

You won't go wrong with the DE89, but any of the razors recommended frequently for beginners will be satisfactory.

The advice to use only that razor for a while can't be stressed too strongly. Especially don't start switching razors thinking it will solve a problem. Learn to use the starter first.

As far as models, I have the one with the lined handle. I really like the looks of the barley handle. But as mentioned, the heads are the same.

 

[Mick]

Any one of the razors on your list would be a good choice. They are all very similar in design and how they will shave.

If you want one that is a step above in looks then Edwin Jagger is the choice.

You will enjoy looking at a DE89 much more than any of the others even if it shaves the same

 

[OkieStubble]

i think i'm leaning towards the DE89 because ive been reading reviews and they say the quality on EJ razors are impecable.
if i were to choose the DE89, which one would i choose..

The one you like the most.

 

[wagstaff]

The one you like the most.

+1. Absolutely.

 

[franz]

The best DE for a newbie is the one that comes with good technique.

Those are all fine -- mild to moderate aggressiveness, and of good quality. I second the recommendation to avoid anything too aggressive for your first razor. If you have a Fred Flintstone beard, I'd say the same for razors known to be very mild. The Goldilocks strategy would be the way to go.

 

[rand77]

DE89 is a great first razor.

Alternatively if you can find a vintage Gillette Tech on the B/S/T that would also be a good option. It's even milder than the 3 razors you mentioned and a good starting point - especially for sensitive skin.

 

[Cedar]

I bought the EJ89L for my first, and I like it. I would not get a smooth handle one, too hard to hold onto with soap and water.

 

[YMMV]

I started with an EJ89, then moved on to the 34c which I prefer more. I would start with either of these two. Good luck

 

[Holt]

I like the Merkur 23c a lot. It's not particularly light or heavy in weight, it's neither particularly aggressive or mild, and I find the long handle easier to work with. I'm likely to replace it with the heftier 38c (or just buy a heavier handle), but I feel like owning such a well-balanced razor helped me figure out what I need most from the next one.

 

[Chadao]

The best DE for a newbie is the one that comes with good technique.

Those are all fine -- mild to moderate aggressiveness, and of good quality. I second the recommendation to avoid anything too aggressive for your first razor. If you have a Fred Flintstone beard, I'd say the same for razors known to be very mild. The Goldilocks strategy would be the way to go.

+1 That said, I love the DE89 series, I have had one of almost all of them. The 89BA11 Barley is my favorite.

 

[Warren]

I decided to go with a birth-year Gillette Super Slim Adjustable. To remove any factors for technique I am leaving it on 3 (which I am told is pretty equivalent to the recommended mild razors like the DE89 and 34C).

I felt it would be more versatile in the future and pretty cool to pass down someday.

I'm a whole 4 shaves in to my DE experience and so far so good!