MERKUR 37C Double Edge Safety Razor | Slant Bar Design - Standard Handle | Made in Germany | Plastic-Free | Two Piece Design

TL;DR version: The 37c gives me the most comfortable, closest shaves I've *ever* had. *BUT* 4 years ago when I first got the 37c and tried shaving with it - as someone relatively new to double-edge shaving - it was terrible. The shaves I got resulted in a lot of cuts, razor burn, etc. What changed in those four years? My skills and technique shaving with a double edge razor.=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Longer version: I recently decided to try to up my double-edge shaving game. I ran across a recommendation that *experienced* double-edge shavers should give slant razors a try. I already owned a slant razor - a Merkur 37c I had purchased four years earlier. I wasn't using it because when I originally tried it four years ago (admittedly as someone relatively new to double-edge shaving) it did not go well. I don't remember exactly what happened, but I do remember getting lots of shaving nicks and razor burn. I put the razor aside and didn't touch it for four years.With a bit of trepidation, I decided to try the 37c again. I put my current blade of choice - Personna Lab Blue - into my 37c and gave it a try.*And got the best shave of my life* - by far! The shave I got was *extremely comfortable*, and *extremely close*. And there were no nicks, no weepers, no razor burn - no nothing! And every shave since then it's been the same. There is *no* going back to my old razor for me...I then tried some other blades in the 37c: I put in my previous blade of choice - Astra - and shaved with that. I got a good shave, but not as good as I got with the Personna. The Astra felt coarse, a bit rough. I had a couple of small 'weepers', and I noticed a bit of razor burn when I was done (a bit of razor burn used to be normal for me). To be sure, the Astra shaved better in the 37c than it did in my old razor, but it wasn't as good in the 37c as the Personna. I then tried the blade I originally used in the 37c when I first tried it four years previously - Feather. In the 37c the Feather shaved comfortably, but I did get a shaving nick with the Feather (the only nick I've had with any blade in the 37c this go around), and the slightest feeling of razor burn. In my testing I preferred the Personna over the Feather and liked the Feather much more than the Astra. Or course, your mileage may vary.One other thing -- my face tends to be very oily. Always has been. After I started using the 37c the oiliness of my face got a lot better. I had originally chalked it up to some changes I had made in my after-shave care, but when I decided to try another non-slant razor the oiliness was back - even with my new after-shave care. For some reason, it appears that the 37c isn't causing my face to get oily - which is GREAT. Maybe the shaving comfort I've noticed is responsible for the change. No matter - my 37c is here to stay!So, what is my beard like? One thing for sure - it grows every which way and usually NOT in the 'classic' directions. It's pretty coarse in spots, and less so in others. Some areas seem to grow faster than others. I've had to learn which direction to shave on each part of my face.When I shave, I do the recommended 3-pass shave - with the grain, across the grain, and finally against the grain. Again, because of how my beard grows, the 'correct' direction I need to shave varies depending on what part of my face I'm shaving. I shave every day, mostly because I've found I enjoy shaving with a double edge razor.Summary: I *really* like my Merkur 37c - even though my original experience with it four years ago with it wasn't so good.

great for beginners

I remember when I got my first safety razor about a year ago. I was astonished at how much closer I could shave versus an expensive cartridge razor, and believe me I tried all of them. They all worked, some better than others, and I could get a decent shave pretty quick if I had shaved in the past few days, but pretty much they were all very expensive and to me just we’re doing what I felt they should do for that kind of money. So after much research into safety razors I put down about 100 bucks on an entire set up: safety razor, a bunch of blades, soap mug, some soap, a razor and brush holder, a couple creams that I don't use anymore, and definitely some barber alum. The first few strokes with my new safety razor were astonishing. I couldn't believe the difference between a cartridge and a safety razor. Well, I'm here to tell you that I felt that same difference when I got this slant razor. And just like the safety, after a few uses, I got the hang of it and my shaves are closer than ever. Literally, when I'm done, I wet my hand and rub my face and neck, and not one stubble. Baby’s bottom people. It's so close, I have no problem shaving the night before and going to work the next day. In fact if I know I will be tight on time the next morning, that's exactly what I do. Plus, I easily get that hard to reach spot right under the nose. Trimming altogether is the easiest with the slant I suppose due to the way the blade touches, is slanted, and you can easily judge where the cutting will take place…for lack of better description. Let me put it this way: If a cartridge razor were a BB gun, a safety razor is a .22 caliber, making a slant razor a sniper rifle. Except it's less costly. Well, do you have to be more careful? Duh. Nonetheless I can shave now in maybe 5 min extra time than with a cartridge and, I haven't needed barber alum since my third shave with a slant. There were several 30 minute practice shaves and a few boo boo’s no doubt though. Here's another noteworthy point. I find that because there is more space between the blade and razor, it doesn't clog up. So if I go a week without shaving, with the slant, no problem. The scruff comes off just about as quick. Whereas with a cartridge and even with a safety they will clog and you spend more time rinsing. Also, I don't know if it matters, but personally I almost always shave after a shower; and after I shave I always always always wash and rub fairly vigorously my face and neck with a rag and face soap, and then another final rinse. No pimples, no irritation, no problem. (I should note that I'm a white guy with a thick beard. Think: light a match off my face) Sorry brothers, this will probably send you to the hospital if you're a big ingrown hair guy. And if you are a young person, in general, make sure you do the face and neck wash with a rag and face soap after anytime you sweat, and always before bed, and when you wake up - and that will take care of almost all pimples. And if that isn't enough to clear things up after a few weeks, stop eating junk food, drink a gallon of water a day, and change your pillow cases and sheets at least once a week. That said, I recommend buying a cheap safety razor, get good at shaving with it, and then buy a nice slant razor. Be manly and save money.

I own several razors with a range of aggressiveness, from mild to aggressive, including the mild Feather Stainless Steel Double Edge Razor AS-D2, to the aggressive MÜHLE TRADITIONAL R41, and others razors with varying levels of aggressiveness.One standout in my collection is the Merkur Slant Bar Double Edge Safety Razor. It offers a close shave without being overly aggressive, making it a great option for those who want precision without irritation.If, like me, you enjoy switching up your razor depending on your shaving needs, I highly recommend adding this razor to your collection. It provides a well-balanced shave that suits a variety of preferences.