Upgrading from my razor after 15 years..

[Adz11]

I’ve been wet shaving since 2008 and have only ever used this red Mekur 38c with Astra blades sometimes Feather.

I have thick course facial hair meaning a 5 o’clock shadow is prominent. I have a beard atm so I only shave my cheeks and neck beard line daily.

I tend to shave WTG and then ATG - particularly for my neck I find I can’t get close unless I shave ATG.

I guess after all these years I’m looking for someone more aggressive then what I have for daily use on these areas.

Any recommendations?
I want a close shave and think after 15 years I can handle something more aggressive but also not something that is going to tear up my skin but a noticeable upgrade on what I’m using now.

Thanks.

​

 

[Hms123]

Welcome to B&B. I am sure someone will be along shortly with good recommendations.

 

[Jay21]

I have similar hair as you and I have also shaved with the Merkur and its cousins (Muhle r89, EJ DE89, King C. Gillette) and find it (them) to be very mild and inefficient.

A nice step up cutting performance for me has recently been the Maggard SS70, which is a clone of the RazoRock Mamba 70. Either one is worth a look. Lots of folks also like the RazoRock Game Changer and Lupo. They come in different blade gaps so you can find one that works best for you.

 

[Adz11]

Thanks but it appears none of the razors you mentioned are sold in Australia.

I should also have added im not really interesting or see the point of an adjustable razor. My facial hair grows the same every night so why would I need an adjustment feature when I would refer to the same setting each morning.

I have similar hair as you and I have also shaved with the Merkur and its cousins (Muhle r89, EJ DE89, King C. Gillette) and find it (them) to be very mild and inefficient.

A nice step up cutting performance for me has recently been the Maggard SS70, which is a clone of the RazoRock Mamba 70. Either one is worth a look. Lots of folks also like the RazoRock Game Changer and Lupo. They come in different blade gaps so you can find one that works best for you.

 

[AU55IE]

It depends on your budget but I suppose you could go with A razorock Game Changer in .76p which is fairly new as they previously had a .68p and .84p which are also still available. italian Barber has a razor chart on their website but it doesn't rate the .76p yet. I enjoy the Lupo .58 but once again Razorock have you covered with plenty of choice in the lupo range and if neither of them seem of interest to you then they sell plenty of other razors most of which are stainless steel and fairly affordable whilst representing excellent value for money. You can also choose from a variety of handle designs.

Razorock rate your current razor as Medium aggressive so going by their scale you could perhaps choose something above that and should be good.

RazoRock Razor Scale - The Bottom is the Mildest and The Top is the Mo – ItalianBarber

If you are looking for placement on the scale for the new RazoRock Superslant razors, please see below:L1, L1+, L1++, L1++OC - MILD-MEDIUM(L1 being the ...

www.italianbarber.com

Another option is a Rockwell 6S, you get the benefit of being able to adjust your shave by swapping the plates that are provided complete inside the box which should have you covered.

Karve also have a starter kit available with a similar concept of replaceable base plates so you will be able to adjust the level of shave accordingly.

That's all that comes to mind right now whilst keeping within a certain budget.

 

[Jay21]

Thanks but it appears none of the razors you mentioned are sold in Australia.

I should also have added im not really interesting or see the point of an adjustable razor. My facial hair grows the same every night so why would I need an adjustment feature when I would refer to the same setting each morning.

A friendly pointer: nowhere in your post or profile information did it state you were in Australia. That will definitely affect the razors that will be recommended based on availability, as you noted. A lot of our members use artisan razors that are only available in certain markets.

 

[flash75]

Thumbs up for the Rockwell 6s.

 

[AU55IE]

I have sent you a PM regarding Australian vendors and am available for advice if need be.

You could also go with a Merkur Progress (adjustable. Zamak), Parker Variant (adjustable. Brass) or a Merkur 37C or 39C (Zamak. Same metal as you have now) which are slant razors. Another option is a Muhle Rocca or Edwin Jagger 3ONE6 both of which are both stainless steel.


If you check out the link I sent above regarding Razorock razor scale you will see where your current razor is ranked and others that may not even be from Razorock such as the 6S and what may be above your current razor in terms of efficiency.

 

[bdehne]

Have you considered the Muhle R41? They come in both Zamac and SS depending on your price requirements. They have a reputation for being very aggressive but in my experience, they are just very efficient and when used daily, they are easy to get used to. They will provide one of the closest shaves in my experience and have a large usable angle range that lets you tune the shave to your preference. For me, a neutral angle has always worked well. When I use mine, I have found the Astra SP pairs well.

 

[Leverspro]

I also shave daily because I need to no matter how close of a shave I get. After years using different DE's the single edge formats have really served me well, the GEM and Artist Club.

 

[thegeneral]

Thanks but it appears none of the razors you mentioned are sold in Australia.

I should also have added im not really interesting or see the point of an adjustable razor. My facial hair grows the same every night so why would I need an adjustment feature when I would refer to the same setting each morning.

I found vshod.com, they sell Razorock in Australia not sure if they are in stock.

 

[Rosseforp]

I’ve been wet shaving since 2008 and have only ever used this red Mekur 38c with Astra blades sometimes Feather.

I have thick course facial hair meaning a 5 o’clock shadow is prominent. I have a beard atm so I only shave my cheeks and neck beard line daily.

I tend to shave WTG and then ATG - particularly for my neck I find I can’t get close unless I shave ATG.

I guess after all these years I’m looking for someone more aggressive then what I have for daily use on these areas.

Any recommendations?
I want a close shave and think after 15 years I can handle something more aggressive but also not something that is going to tear up my skin but a noticeable upgrade on what I’m using now.

Thanks.

​

If Razorock is available, I would recommend either a Game Changer 84-P or a Lupo 95 SB to get a feel for how aggressive you are looking for. The Mühle R41 will also step up your game if you want close, the R41 is it. If you are interested in an open comb razor, a Fatip like a Piccolo or Grande is the place to start as they efficient and inexpensive.

~doug~

 

[ivan_101]

Thanks but it appears none of the razors you mentioned are sold in Australia.

I should also have added im not really interesting or see the point of an adjustable razor. My facial hair grows the same every night so why would I need an adjustment feature when I would refer to the same setting each morning.

I don't see the adjustment feature as intended to be changed every morning or during the shave. It is to find a setting for a particular blade and beard type / skin. Once you find it, you don't change it unless you change to a different blade model.

I would have pointed you towards a Merkur Progress, but I see you are prejudiced against adjustables.

 

[BigJ]

Have you considered the Muhle R41? They come in both Zamac and SS depending on your price requirements. They have a reputation for being very aggressive but in my experience, they are just very efficient and when used daily, they are easy to get used to. They will provide one of the closest shaves in my experience and have a large usable angle range that lets you tune the shave to your preference. For me, a neutral angle has always worked well. When I use mine, I have found the Astra SP pairs well.

+1! This was also my first thought on reading your requirements!!

 

[Calyshaver]

Hello and welcome to the BnB.

I think the open comb suggestion is good since you have a course beard and looking for more effectiveness/aggression. I also like the Fatip suggestion as you can get them reasonably cheap in Australia so you could try both the regular open comb Fatip and the venerable Fatip open comb slant (aka FOCS) without breaking the bank. The slant will give an additional bump up in performance without sacrificing comfort. As a side note the Fatips are plated solid brass construction.

If you want to stay with Merkur, the 39c is a slant version of what you have already, but it is more expensive than the Fatip and has a zamak head.

 

[TOVT]

Wish I would have tried the Merkur Progress earlier. It is a good, affordable razor. But you don't care for an adjustable.

Both Blackland and Timeless Razor in the USA ship internationally.

 

[StewB]

Others have said it also, but in my opinion the Mühle R41 might be a good option. With a very light touch it can provide a very close and efficient shave without being overly expensive.

 

[gpjoe]

The Razorock Game Changer might be an option since it is available with different plates, and would allow you to use the same handle and top cap to try different gaps, and safety bar versus open comb.

If you bought one complete razor, the extra base plates are $30US, so you could get a razor and two additional plates for just north of $100US.

Which plates? Unfortunately that is subjective and personal. I started with a 68P, 68OC, and 84P and landed on the 68P and 76P but only after using them all.

 

[Adz11]

Others have said it also, but in my opinion the Mühle R41 might be a good option. With a very light touch it can provide a very close and efficient shave without being overly expensive.

Is this a razor you can use every day though?

 

[Rosseforp]

Is this a razor you can use every day though?

With a light touch, yes.

~doug~