4 Best Safety Razors for Beginners To Help You Get Started

Overall purpose

A beginner-focused roundup of 4 mild-to-mild-medium double-edge (DE) safety razors for men new to wet shaving. The reviewer explains why these models are good “gateway” razors and how they differ—mainly in aggressiveness, handle length, weight, grip, and ease of blade loading.

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The 4 razors (unique product points)

1) Merkur 34C (favorite #1)

Positioning / who it’s for

• Strong choice for beginners; widely recommended on forums.
• Designed to be mild, helping reduce nicks/cuts/irritation.

Key features / design

• Short razor: 80 mm (3.14 in), 78 g (2.75 oz)
• Two-part construction (easy blade change vs 3-piece razors)
• Closed comb
• Has a small blade gap (0.71 mm) → contributes to mildness
• Chrome finish; grip via knurling
• Includes a drainage gap to help whisk away shaving debris/cream.

User experience highlights

• Surprised the reviewer by how enjoyable it is despite being short.
• Excellent maneuverability, especially around chin/mouth and for shaping/trimming (goatee-style work).

Pros

• Mild safety-bar/closed-comb feel
• Great maneuverability for a short handle
• Easy blade changing (2-part)
• Good balance of quality and value

Cons / limitations mentioned

• Not the cheapest option (rough pricing: US $50–$60, UK ~£40–£45)
• Short handle may feel challenging for users coming from long cartridge handles
• Very large hands may struggle (though it “mostly needs finger tips/thumb”)

Blades

• Warns beginners might not want extremely sharp blades at first.
• Notes he often steps up with Feather blades once comfortable.

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2) Edwin Jagger DE89 (favorite #2)

Positioning / who it’s for

• “Classic” beginner razor; a standard-length starting point.
• A good entry platform before moving to more aggressive/longer/adjustable options.

Key features / design

• Three-piece razor (slightly more effort for blade changes than 2-piece)
• Multiple versions with different handle options:
  • Standard handle: 93 mm (3.7 in), ~68 g
  • Long handle: 101 mm (4 in), ~70 g
• Knurling/grip (finely knurled; not as deeply gripped as some)
• Chrome described as triple plated and hand polished
• Blade gap described as 0.71 mm (mild but not extremely mild)
• Closed comb; safety bar with guiding ridges.

Aggressiveness

• Feels slightly more aggressive than the Merkur 34C, but still mild-to-mild-medium.
• Described as between mild and medium on the beginner scale (not cutting-aggressive).

User experience highlights

• Better for longer strokes due to longer handle vs the 34C.
• Handle width/thickness is appreciated for control.

Pros

• Reliable “standard” design for beginners
• High quality finish
• Options for handle length and color (gold/rose versions mentioned)

Cons / limitations mentioned

• Three-piece = less convenient blade changes than 2-piece (not a dealbreaker)
• Slightly less maneuverable than the 34C due to longer handle

Pricing

• US $30–$50
• UK ~£22–£45 depending on version/store

Blades

• Mention that the DE89 can come with a Feather blade; Edwin Jagger recommends Feather (though Feather is noted as very sharp in general).

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3) King C. Gillette (favorite #3, most affordable)

Positioning / who it’s for

• Beginner-friendly because it’s very affordable, lowering risk if you don’t like DE shaving.

Key features / design

• Closed comb with a safety bar and notches intended to guide hair
• Longer handle: 101 mm (4 in) (described as “standard/longish”)
• Very weighty: 101 g (3.5 oz) → weight helps the razor “do the work”
• Small blade gap: 0.45 mm → contributes to a mild shave
• Grip on handle, but less grippy than the Merkur’s knurling

User experience highlights

• Pleasantly surprised by shave quality despite not being the reviewer’s favorite.
• Weight helps reduce pressure needed (helpful for beginners transitioning from cartridge razors).

Pros

• Very mild (small gap) and beginner approachable
• Affordable / easy to “take a chance”
• Handle length suits cartridge/multiblade users

Cons / limitations mentioned

• Not as grippy as more aggressively knurled options
• Personal preference: handle thickness differs from other models
• Reviewer has a mild preference against brand success, but still acknowledges it performs well

Pricing

• ~£20 in UK, possibly less (reviewer once noted ~$13)
• Found in common retail stores (e.g., Walmart in the US mentioned)

Blades

• Includes blades in the box (pack of five mentioned).
• Reviewer used Feather for demo; says included Gillette blades are “good enough” and standard.

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4) Merkur 23C (favorite #4)

Positioning / who it’s for

• For beginners transitioning from long-handled cartridge razors.
• A “closer to cartridge feel” option due to length and mildness.

Key features / design

• Long handle: 105 mm (4.1 in)
• Slim handle, “nailed” grip at bottom (knurled)
• Three-part razor (blade changing is more involved than 2-piece; requires correct alignment)
• Closed comb with grooves for guiding/gliding hair
• Light weight: ~60 g (2.1 oz)
• Mild and manageable; safety bar provides protection and guidance.

User experience highlights

• Feels familiar to cartridge users (length + relatively light feel).
• Not the reviewer’s favorite because he prefers a thicker handle, but understands why others prefer the slimness.

Pros

• Very similar to cartridge razors in handling for many people (length, slimness)
• Mild and manageable
• Useful for long shaving strokes

Cons / limitations mentioned

• Three-piece = more difficult blade loading than 2-piece
• Slim/thinner handle may not suit everyone
• “Watch your wives/girlfriends” joke: women like long-handle razors for leg shaving

Pricing

• ~$35–$45 US
• ~£35–£40 UK

Blades

• Reviewer recommends beginners not start with Feather due to sharpness plus the razor being 3-part.
• Suggests Derby/Astra or similar.

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Comparisons made (explicit)

• Merkur 34C vs Edwin Jagger DE89

  • DE89 is slightly more aggressive and less maneuverable due to longer handle.
  • Both are mild with 0.71 mm gap cited for both.

• Handle-length fit

  • 34C (short) = best maneuverability, but feels different for cartridge users
  • DE89 (standard/long variants) = middle ground
  • King C. Gillette (101 mm) = close to cartridge handle length
  • 23C (105 mm) = strongest cartridge-transition match

• Blade-change convenience

  • 2-piece razors (34C) are easier than 3-piece razors (DE89, King C., 23C).

• Mildness drivers

  • Mostly tied to blade gap (34C ~0.71 mm, DE89 ~0.71 mm, King C. ~0.45 mm) and general design (closed comb + safety bar).

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Pros/cons summary across the roundup

Overall Pros (for beginners)

• All four emphasize mild to mild-medium shaves to reduce irritation.
• Variety of handle lengths for different user transitions (short vs standard vs cartridge-like long).
• Closed-comb designs with safety bars for guidance/protection.
• Many are positioned as good value compared to cartridges + blades.

Overall Cons / trade-offs

• Some models are 3-piece, making blade changes slower and requiring alignment care.
• Some are not “budget-cheap”; the reviewer avoids the very cheapest options to prevent beginners from being turned off by poor performance.

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Pricing/values mentioned (no ratings score)

• Merkur 34C: US $50–$60, UK £40–£45
• Edwin Jagger DE89: US $30–$50, UK £22–£45
• King C. Gillette: ~UK £20, sometimes around $13 mentioned; widely available
• Merkur 23C: US $35–$45, UK £35–£40

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Verdict / recommendation

• If you want the safest, simplest beginner start: Merkur 34C (mild, easy blade changes, very maneuverable).
• If you want a classic standard feel: Edwin Jagger DE89.
• If you want maximum affordability and low risk: King C. Gillette (very mild via small gap + weight helps).
• If you’re transitioning from long-handled cartridge razors: Merkur 23C.

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Overall “unique takeaway” advice from the video (not a razor feature)

• Keep it simple at the start: get a razor + shaving cream/soap + a brush.
• If DE shaving doesn’t work for you, you may need to stick with cartridges—but wet shaving products can be more enjoyable than canned foam.

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Speakers

• Single speaker: Jason (ShavingAdvisor.com), who provides all razor evaluations, comparisons, and recommendations.