Razor requiring fewest passes?

[SetSail]

Am starting out & was planning on buying the Merkur 34c this weekend, but some of the reviews have said they feel like it requires more passes than other razors.

So my question is, which razor requires the fewest amount of passes -- in a price range of no more than double the 34c? (< $100).

I guess I'm hoping to get from 3 to 2 -- if there is better performance out there, I'm happy to pay for it.

 

[mistercitizen]

Well, it's out of your price range, but for me it's the Above the Tie Atlas R1 stainless steel. The Muhle R41 is close as well, but not as smooth of a shave as the Atlas.

Ben

 

[Maxime D.]

Define fewer ? Usually, you get a DFS in 3 passes with any DE out there. The 34C is affordable, is a razor of quality and will remove everything there is to remove in 3 passes.

PS: 80% of the guys here have a 34C or it's big brother the 38C.

 

[Sir Lurkalot]

Any Gillette adjustable set on 9. Watch for nicks!

 

[Luminose]

A more aggressive razor will probably cut more hair faster but you also increase your chance of nicks & irratation. The best thing to do is to find the right razor/blade combo for you skin and hair.

If you only want to get one razor to start with I'd say sir lurkalot is correct in recommending a Gillette adjustable. Get yourself one of those and either a blade sample pack or blades like the Astra & Gillette's 7 O-Clock Blacks or Blues. That way you can try different blades with different aggressive settings to find what's right for you.

 

[noahpictures]

Muhle R41.

 

[duckdown]

Why are you so rushed for time that you need to eliminate it all with so few passes?

Sounds like a recipe for irritation if you ask me..

 

[Early Morning]

The number of passes it takes to achieve a satisfactory shave is not completely razor/blade dependent. I won&#8217;t argue that it is mostly technique either, but for some people it is, and this is why it might be preferable to start out with a razor that will allow you to develop your technique without discouraging you. The 34C should be a good razor to start out with.

 

[jbradley]

I've got an R41, paired with a Feather it is hard to beat for aggressive. I've also got a Weber DLC, paired with an Astra, it's almost impossible to cut yourself. I can get a BBS shave with either with 3 passes. If I try to stretch the blade, I have to do some buffing. With the R41, this leads to blood. With the Weber, razor burn.

I waxed philosophical about shaving in the Razor of the Month thread, but have found at nearly 50 years old that the 5-10 minutes a day that I have shaving are MINE. I get to relax, think about man stuff (tropical drinks, grass skirts, rock climbing,....) and enjoy them. I advise you to do the same. Don't worry about speed so much.

Just my two cents.

 

[skleice]

R41 = two pass BBS for me (+touch up in a couple spots)

 

[inspiringK]

If you are just looking to start out, perhaps using the most aggressive razor you can find isn't the best option. We all have some demands on time, but many of us are here because we have found that taking a few extra minutes to get a good shave and enjoy using great products to do so requires a bit of time. Once you start, you may be inclined to look forward to spending the extra 5 minutes required to do the job well without rushing.

If you are looking for your first razor, find one that you think you will be comfortable with and enjoy using. Try it out over the weekend or some time when you don't need to rush. If you like using it and eventually become better at it, you might find that a relaxed two pass shave is all you need. At a later stage, you have the option of buying a more aggressive razor, but that probably won't change the amount of time you spend shaving.

Welcome to B&B, hopefully you enjoy being here

 

[JDTTO]

Efficient shaving in 3 passes or less is more down to technique than the choice of DE razor.

Knowing your face and growth pattern, what prep works for you and how to angle the razor are the keys to an efficient and comfortable shave.

By now, I can get closer with a Tech in 2 passes than I could imagine being capable of in 3 passes when I was starting out and I am still improving.

 

[TallyShave]

Closeness/number of passes is determined by the handle side of the razor, not the head side.

 

[Neffarious]

If you have never DE shaved before that last thing you want is a super aggressive razor. You WILL regret it. Start with something adjustable like a slim. The price is good and you will learn. After 6weeks- two months you will develop knowledge on what works for you and you can go from there. Also Don't start with Feathers, sharper is not always better.

 

[alex2363]

I would say Atlas or Titan razors may be the ticket. (r1 plate)

 

[Masterblaster]

Am starting out & was planning on buying the Merkur 34c this weekend, but some of the reviews have said they feel like it requires more passes than other razors.

So my question is, which razor requires the fewest amount of passes -- in a price range of no more than double the 34c? (< $100).

I guess I'm hoping to get from 3 to 2 -- if there is better performance out there, I'm happy to pay for it.

The new Motorized Safety Razor with Oscillating Blade does the trick - Every time !

Also, note the lawnmover-esque razor lightly circled in the second picture. That's a 1-pass razor for sure.

 

[john shea]

A more aggresive DE razor shaves closer, but at a greater risk of irritation and nicks. For me, the closest shaving DE razors that I have used without unacceptable risk of nicks and irritation are:
Mercur Vision (expensive, special maintenance),
Mercur 37C Slant (more aggresive than 34C),
Merkur 34G (same as your 34C)

I recommend the 34C for new DE wet shavers and I could live with my 34G being my only DE razor. There are many DE razors that I have not tried, I try to make comments based only on my personal experience.

I suggest that you go slow at first and use no greater skin pressure than the weight of the razor. Nicks and irritation happen when pressure is applied trying to compensate for inadequate preshave preparation (shower with shampoo is very effective), letting the lather start to dry out, or a dulling blade. Irritation also happens when too many passes are made over the same area of skin. As a general rule, the greater the pressure used, the fewer the number of passes that can be made over the same skin area without irritation. I have to use less skin pressure than the weight of my DE razor and very short light strokes too shave the area around my lip and under my nose.

To get a very close DE shave, I do the usual WTG, XTG, ATG passes. These passes do not necessarily require that I relather 3 times, I may do WTG on fresh lather and XTG on lather film and residues, however I will relather anytime the lather on my face gets thick and starts to dry as drying hairs get more difficult to cut. I will also spot relather immediately before shaving a particularly sensitive or difficult spot to ensure that my hairs are as soft (easy to cut) as possible.

After I get as close as I can using ATG, I rinse my face with cold water after which I usually can feel more stubble. I then use very light pressure ATG clean-up and buffing on my wet face to remove the final stubble. It is important to keep the hairs wet. I stop shaving any areas where I can detect any irritation beginning rather than risk an uncomfortable shave. These techniques give me a BBS or a DFS very close to BBS, without irritation and usually no nicks or weepers.

By-the-way, I usually straight shave first unless I am in a rush or tired. If I staight shave before DE, I usually get a smoother shave that stays smooth for a longer time before stubble begins to reappear, but the shave is also good using DE alone. I never use a straight when tired or rushed and will stop straight shaving on a rare day when the straight shave is not going well. Straights are something to consider later after gaining good DE skills.

How many passes you will need to make depends on many factors the most important being deciding how close you need to shave to be satisfied with your shave. Major beard reduction (WTG, XTG) happens quickly. Most of my time using my DE is spent on ATG and final cleanup to get as close to BBS as possible without irritation or nicks. Shaving only with the DE (no straight), a shower and a BBS/DFS shave takes me about 20 - 30 minutes. If I am in a rush and will accept getting a DFS/SAS, I can be done DE shaving in 5 - 10 minutes.

HTH

 

[santamariasteve]

Almost any razor may require more or fewer passes than some other razor.

You may be over analyzing the issue.

 

[ERVARGASNY]

In that price range you can try a Weber or a 39c but none come as close as to the The above the tie razors Like the Titan with the H1 plate or R1 plate, you can practice with weber, Merkur 39c of even your 34c then save up for a Titan? Hope that helps )

 

[Ski-Patroller]

A Merkur Progress will give you choices between fairly mild to serious blood letting.