Thinking about a double edge safety razor? In this video we're taking a look at the Merkur 34C HD. It's one of the most popular and highest rated safety razors around. Is it worth the Hype?
Hey Larry! Very glad you discovered the world of the safety razor! The blades are far more economical and completely recyclable!! I recommend getting a sampler pack of blades to see which suit your face the best. The razors you have reviewed are considered on the mild side. For best results in my opinion, get a vintage Gillette Slim Adjustable!! You can adjust for a very mild shave to an aggressive one. Find the range you like and stick with it or adjust during the shave. I always do 3 passes...with grain, across grain and against grain! Only do against grain when you become more comfortable with the process. Also, use a shave soap over those gels and foams. You'll experience a more comfortable shave and more protective. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! Thanks, Jim
Hey Jim! Thanks for stopping by the channel again. And yes, I’m in on the world of DE safety razors now.🤣 And boy is it a deep wormhole to travel down. However I’m having fun exploring different ways to shave. I really enjoy the Merkur 34c and have had good success with it. I’ve tried it with Gillette, Merkur, and Feather blades. I actually like the Merkur blades the best so far. Thanks for the suggestion of a sampler pack, that’s a great idea. I’ve also started to experiment with different creams and brushes but going to look into soap too. Big thanks for supporting the channel! I got some more razor reviews coming up soon.
@@fitnessnbeer9835 I recently purchased a Henson, medium aggressive. It performs fine for me with one day's growth but not more than that. I have very coarse facial hair so I need a more aggressive razor on general. Trust me on this, acquire an adjustable or a vintage Gillette Adjustable! I love my Gillette Slim Adjustables! You can completely control the shave!
My 1st safety razor was the merkur hd34c. I used it for 6 years Funny thing is I switched over to cartridges about 3 months and I can't go back to a safety razor lol. After years of preaching how much better safety razors are I appreciate the convenience of a cartridge better now
Hey Jason! What’s up sir? Yeah I get it, I appreciate a safety razor but I also don’t think it’s the only way. A cartridge can be the answer for lots of people. I think a safety razor requires more patience. In the case of this Merkur, I thought it was a mild and forgiving safety razor and a good one to start with. Thanks for checking out the video!
@@fitnessnbeer9835 Your channel has become my new favorite. Too bad it took me this long to discover you. One thing about the merkur hd34c is I've never used it to shave against the grain. I've always shaved with the grain with safety razors. Cartridges I feel more comfortable going against the grain
@@Orcasrule6355 Dude much appreciated! I have some new razor stuff coming soon. I’ve tried a couple of new ones that I’m excited to review just haven’t been able to get the videos done because work has been super busy. I think the cartridge vs safety razor conversation is worth having. I think cartridges have some advantages starting with availability and second ease of use. There’s not as much of a learning curve to use a cartridge. I can’t shave against the grain or it gives me razor burn or bumps (I think that may be common to black men or curly hair). But sometimes I wish I could to get that closer shave. Again big thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!!
I would not say cartridges are more convenient. It only takes thirty seconds to change the blade on a safety razor and it is much easier to shave with a safety razor. It obviously it would be different if story if cartridge razors changed the blade automatically and shave you when you are asleep.
Yup the 34C (or King C Gillette for those on a tighter budget as it's regularly on promotion) is a great starter DE razor. For many it's all they will need. They will get a better shave and save a fortune on blades. Personally I use a Rockwell as my daily driver but when I am in a hurry, too tired to pay enough attention or fancy a change then I grab my 34C. My King C Gillette is now only used as a travel razor as it's very mild, I don't mind losing it somewhere and wouldn't bother replacing it.
Agreed 100%. I really like the 34c but not really a huge fan of my Gillette King C. Unfortunately I cut easily with the King C and don’t really use it often. However I have great success with the Merkur with the exception that sometimes it’s a little too mild and have to go over an area multiple times to get a close enough shave. I’m going to have to look into Rockwell I haven’t tried that yet. Currently experimenting with Henson. Thanks a bunch for watching and sharing your experience!
@@fitnessnbeer9835 I have a Rockwell 2C which comes with the 1/3 setting reversable plate although I later bought the 2/4 reversable plate separately. I probably should have just bought the 6C which is cheaper if you want all 3 plates (for 6 settings) but I doubt the 5/6 plate would ever get used. I guess mine is an unofficial '4C'. It's got a nice weight and there are more durable 'S' versions at the higher end. My only complaint is that the reversable plates make the head a bit chunky for getting under my nose but if you are mostly doing head and cheeks that shouldn't be a problem for you.
Great review, just found the channel, really informative. For about the same price ($50) you should check out the Rockwell 6C…you get three base plates which gives you 6 different levels of aggression/efficiency so it will adapt with you as your skill and experience with wet shaving grows, as well as giving options depending on how much hair growth you’re trying to shave off, meaning you’ll never need another razor ever again. I have over 50 different safety razors in my collection and the Rockwell 6C (also comes in a stainless steel version called the 6S) is my desert island GOAT razor. I shave my head daily and the Rockwell is probably my favourite safety razor to use, along side the Henson AL13 Mild. For pure head shaving (it’s not too good for face shaves due to the size) the Leaf 3 blade razor simply can’t be beaten, but like I said, it’s kinda specialised towards head shaves so maybe not an outright winner for all your other shaving needs. Have a great day 👍
Love this information. I haven’t tried Rockwell but I am testing out an AL13. I really think the Henson is cool, prolly better than Merkur. Maybe even the best safety razor so far. The safety razor wormhole is a deep one and I’m just getting my feet wet. Thanks a bunch for checking out the video and for sharing!!
Great comparison. Little fun that packs a big punch! The 34c is still my favorite DE safety razor. I’m looking forward to trying a longer handle version.
Excellent review Larry it’s (Rk516) changed my handle. Glad your experience was positive with the Merkur! You can try that razor with a feather DE blade which is the sharpest blade out there. This will give you a bit closer shave in one pass. You definitely try the Merkur progress which an adjustable razor, you will be able to dial in the aggressiveness you like. Kudos for not cutting yourself, I told my barber to try this razor because he’s a cartridge shaver and the Merkur cut him up, I was kind of shocked, but like you said it may not work everybody. Hope your Thanksgiving was great.
Happy thanksgiving Ron!! Hope you and your family had a great holiday. Funny you mention feather blades, that’s mostly what I used. I found that I liked the Merkur blades better but the Feathers were cool too. Interesting that the Merkur cut up your barber. I thought it was pretty mild and forgiving. Definitely proves that everyone is different.
@@fitnessnbeer9835 Thank you Larry, I was surprised too that my barber cut himself, there are so many variables with shaving, I don’t head shave but was impressed how you used the Merkur, that seems harder to do than a face shave. Keep up the shaving videos!
Great video man! There's always a beautiful nostalgic feel about safety razor. Which shaver would you say stand out the most right now for you, aesthetics and performance wise?
Yo big thanks for watching and leaving this comment! My safety razor experience is still growing but so far maybe the Henson AL 13. Right now I’m still working on it so I’m not entirely sure yet. I think the Merkur is worth a go for the price. And I’m not loving the Gillette King C after using both of the Merkur and Henson.
@@andyferdinand5043 it’s sleek man! I can only say that off of first impressions. I haven’t used it consistently yet because I’m working on a Schick hydro video. But the first shave was impressive. Better thank the Merkur in my opinion.
The merkur 34c is a good shaver and a well respected shaver by most users. I know you have done a lot of cartridge razor reviews, so I really hope you will try the Henson AL13 mild sometime. The Henson AL13 shaves like a cart, but it's a DE razor. It is also an excellent head shave. From one head shaver to another, I really think you'd love it. I love your videos and honest reviews man ! I also love the McLovin T and family background music lol.
Love this comment and thank you! I just ordered a Henson AL13 recently. I was so impressed by their website that I had to get one and try it out. I'm working on Schick Hydro now then Henson. I don't think I'll be spending 30 days with the Schick like I did with the Merkur😆. And you caught the McLovin tee, LOL🤣
@@fitnessnbeer9835 Awesome, can't wait to hear your opinion on the Henson. I wasn't to impressed with the RK blades that come with the razor. Astra blades are really good in the Henson, both the Astra Blue and Green. The Henson is a very intuitive razor, but you do have to try putting different amounts of pressure on it, unlike most other DEs. You won't have any trouble with the shave angle at all. Also, it's nearly impossible to cut yourself with it and it is surprisingly efficient. Great videos man, keep up the good work !
@@brianh2287 that’s what’s up. I’ve been working with Merkur, Gillette King C, and Feather for blades. I liked the Merkur blades best so far. I thought the Feather blades were just okay. I didn’t spend the extra $10 on the blades and have been kinda regretting it. So glad to hear, gonna look into the Astra blades. Glad to know another head shaver!
@@fitnessnbeer9835 The astra blades are pretty sharp and they are cheap as well. 100 blades for around 10$ . Before buying 100 of anything, I suggest buying a sample pack of blades. Amazon has a lot of good DE sample packs. Just take a look at them and try to get a pack with blades like Astra, perma sharp, gillette platinum, and voshkod. This will help you drill down to the ones you like.
Yo thanks for the comment! Edwin Jagger, noted! Haven’t tried that brand before. Better than Henson? Trying a Henson now and I’ve been impressed but it’s not perfect. I really appreciate the recommendation. Jagger here I come!🤣
Fun fact, your first pronunciation of Merkur in the bathroom was closer to the actual pronunciation of the word than your correction post shave. That's not your fault though, it's on Google for giving you the American way to say it rather than the original German pronunciation, so it was funny seeing you correct yourself. Other than that, I was a fan of the review. Have you ever considered trying other shave products as well in your reviews such as different shave creams, foams, soaps and aftershaves? It'd be interesting to see your views on how much they'd affect your shaves either positively or negatively as well with the razors you regularly use
🤣Awe man I try to get it right. Thanks a bunch for the info. I really try to share helpful opinions, so it’s really appreciated when guys contribute knowledge to the conversation. And that’s a great suggestion. I have been experimenting with different creams and brushes lately but haven’t broached the video topic. When I started making shaving videos I had no idea how deep the wormholes goes. Definitely need to expand the conversation. Thanks for watching and sharing!
I thought the Merkur 34c is a great DE safety razor. I used it with Gillette, Merkur, and Feather blades. I liked the Merkur blades the best but it preformed respectably with all of them. And agreed, non aggressive. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thank you for this review on shaving your head. All the other reviews I seen are only the face. I also shave top of my head, so was a must for me to try to find a good double edge razor to shave me without nicking it too much.
I had a mostly good experience with the Merkur. Sometimes I had a little trouble getting the very top of my head clean, it seemed like a little difficulty with the curvature. But no cuts, so I’ll take it! Let me know what you think after trying it? Thanks for watching and leaving a comment!
try the Leaf Twig it feels more like cartridge plus cheaper to run one side blade also move up from Merkur would be the Rockwell 6c
Hey Larry! Very glad you discovered the world of the safety razor! The blades are far more economical and completely recyclable!! I recommend getting a sampler pack of blades to see which suit your face the best. The razors you have reviewed are considered on the mild side. For best results in my opinion, get a vintage Gillette Slim Adjustable!! You can adjust for a very mild shave to an aggressive one. Find the range you like and stick with it or adjust during the shave. I always do 3 passes...with grain, across grain and against grain! Only do against grain when you become more comfortable with the process. Also, use a shave soap over those gels and foams. You'll experience a more comfortable shave and more protective. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! Thanks, Jim
Hey Jim! Thanks for stopping by the channel again. And yes, I’m in on the world of DE safety razors now.🤣 And boy is it a deep wormhole to travel down. However I’m having fun exploring different ways to shave. I really enjoy the Merkur 34c and have had good success with it. I’ve tried it with Gillette, Merkur, and Feather blades. I actually like the Merkur blades the best so far. Thanks for the suggestion of a sampler pack, that’s a great idea.
I’ve also started to experiment with different creams and brushes but going to look into soap too. Big thanks for supporting the channel! I got some more razor reviews coming up soon.
Also what do you think of Henson razors?
@@fitnessnbeer9835 I recently purchased a Henson, medium aggressive. It performs fine for me with one day's growth but not more than that. I have very coarse facial hair so I need a more aggressive razor on general. Trust me on this, acquire an adjustable or a vintage Gillette Adjustable! I love my Gillette Slim Adjustables! You can completely control the shave!
My 1st safety razor was the merkur hd34c. I used it for 6 years Funny thing is I switched over to cartridges about 3 months and I can't go back to a safety razor lol. After years of preaching how much better safety razors are I appreciate the convenience of a cartridge better now
Hey Jason! What’s up sir? Yeah I get it, I appreciate a safety razor but I also don’t think it’s the only way. A cartridge can be the answer for lots of people. I think a safety razor requires more patience. In the case of this Merkur, I thought it was a mild and forgiving safety razor and a good one to start with. Thanks for checking out the video!
@@fitnessnbeer9835 Your channel has become my new favorite. Too bad it took me this long to discover you. One thing about the merkur hd34c is I've never used it to shave against the grain. I've always shaved with the grain with safety razors. Cartridges I feel more comfortable going against the grain
@@Orcasrule6355 Dude much appreciated! I have some new razor stuff coming soon. I’ve tried a couple of new ones that I’m excited to review just haven’t been able to get the videos done because work has been super busy.
I think the cartridge vs safety razor conversation is worth having. I think cartridges have some advantages starting with availability and second ease of use. There’s not as much of a learning curve to use a cartridge. I can’t shave against the grain or it gives me razor burn or bumps (I think that may be common to black men or curly hair). But sometimes I wish I could to get that closer shave. Again big thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!!
I would not say cartridges are more convenient. It only takes thirty seconds to change the blade on a safety razor and it is much easier to shave with a safety razor. It obviously it would be different if story if cartridge razors changed the blade automatically and shave you when you are asleep.
Yup the 34C (or King C Gillette for those on a tighter budget as it's regularly on promotion) is a great starter DE razor. For many it's all they will need. They will get a better shave and save a fortune on blades. Personally I use a Rockwell as my daily driver but when I am in a hurry, too tired to pay enough attention or fancy a change then I grab my 34C. My King C Gillette is now only used as a travel razor as it's very mild, I don't mind losing it somewhere and wouldn't bother replacing it.
Agreed 100%. I really like the 34c but not really a huge fan of my Gillette King C. Unfortunately I cut easily with the King C and don’t really use it often. However I have great success with the Merkur with the exception that sometimes it’s a little too mild and have to go over an area multiple times to get a close enough shave.
I’m going to have to look into Rockwell I haven’t tried that yet. Currently experimenting with Henson. Thanks a bunch for watching and sharing your experience!
@@fitnessnbeer9835 I have a Rockwell 2C which comes with the 1/3 setting reversable plate although I later bought the 2/4 reversable plate separately. I probably should have just bought the 6C which is cheaper if you want all 3 plates (for 6 settings) but I doubt the 5/6 plate would ever get used. I guess mine is an unofficial '4C'. It's got a nice weight and there are more durable 'S' versions at the higher end. My only complaint is that the reversable plates make the head a bit chunky for getting under my nose but if you are mostly doing head and cheeks that shouldn't be a problem for you.
Great review, just found the channel, really informative.
For about the same price ($50) you should check out the Rockwell 6C…you get three base plates which gives you 6 different levels of aggression/efficiency so it will adapt with you as your skill and experience with wet shaving grows, as well as giving options depending on how much hair growth you’re trying to shave off, meaning you’ll never need another razor ever again. I have over 50 different safety razors in my collection and the Rockwell 6C (also comes in a stainless steel version called the 6S) is my desert island GOAT razor.
I shave my head daily and the Rockwell is probably my favourite safety razor to use, along side the Henson AL13 Mild. For pure head shaving (it’s not too good for face shaves due to the size) the Leaf 3 blade razor simply can’t be beaten, but like I said, it’s kinda specialised towards head shaves so maybe not an outright winner for all your other shaving needs.
Have a great day 👍
Love this information. I haven’t tried Rockwell but I am testing out an AL13. I really think the Henson is cool, prolly better than Merkur. Maybe even the best safety razor so far. The safety razor wormhole is a deep one and I’m just getting my feet wet.
Thanks a bunch for checking out the video and for sharing!!
@@fitnessnbeer9835 Leaf Twig is another one to get
T-Shirt already a classic!
Yall remember in Men in Black when J gets the cricket gun and its super powerful? Thats this razor. So worrh it
Great comparison. Little fun that packs a big punch! The 34c is still my favorite DE safety razor. I’m looking forward to trying a longer handle version.
Excellent review Larry it’s (Rk516) changed my handle. Glad your experience was positive with the Merkur! You can try that razor with a feather DE blade which is the sharpest blade out there. This will give you a bit closer shave in one pass. You definitely try the Merkur progress which an adjustable razor, you will be able to dial in the aggressiveness you like. Kudos for not cutting yourself, I told my barber to try this razor because he’s a cartridge shaver and the Merkur cut him up, I was kind of shocked, but like you said it may not work everybody. Hope your Thanksgiving was great.
Happy thanksgiving Ron!! Hope you and your family had a great holiday.
Funny you mention feather blades, that’s mostly what I used. I found that I liked the Merkur blades better but the Feathers were cool too. Interesting that the Merkur cut up your barber. I thought it was pretty mild and forgiving. Definitely proves that everyone is different.
@@fitnessnbeer9835 Thank you Larry, I was surprised too that my barber cut himself, there are so many variables with shaving, I don’t head shave but was impressed how you used the Merkur, that seems harder to do than a face shave. Keep up the shaving videos!
Great video man! There's always a beautiful nostalgic feel about safety razor. Which shaver would you say stand out the most right now for you, aesthetics and performance wise?
Yo big thanks for watching and leaving this comment! My safety razor experience is still growing but so far maybe the Henson AL 13. Right now I’m still working on it so I’m not entirely sure yet. I think the Merkur is worth a go for the price. And I’m not loving the Gillette King C after using both of the Merkur and Henson.
Thanks for replying man! What makes Henson razor your first choice? In your opinion, what makes a good shaving experience?
@@andyferdinand5043 it’s sleek man! I can only say that off of first impressions. I haven’t used it consistently yet because I’m working on a Schick hydro video. But the first shave was impressive. Better thank the Merkur in my opinion.
Merkur steel goods is a great manufacturer for razors and blades.
Agreed 100%
The merkur 34c is a good shaver and a well respected shaver by most users. I know you have done a lot of cartridge razor reviews, so I really hope you will try the Henson AL13 mild sometime. The Henson AL13 shaves like a cart, but it's a DE razor. It is also an excellent head shave. From one head shaver to another, I really think you'd love it. I love your videos and honest reviews man ! I also love the McLovin T and family background music lol.
Love this comment and thank you! I just ordered a Henson AL13 recently. I was so impressed by their website that I had to get one and try it out. I'm working on Schick Hydro now then Henson. I don't think I'll be spending 30 days with the Schick like I did with the Merkur😆. And you caught the McLovin tee, LOL🤣
@@fitnessnbeer9835 Awesome, can't wait to hear your opinion on the Henson. I wasn't to impressed with the RK blades that come with the razor. Astra blades are really good in the Henson, both the Astra Blue and Green. The Henson is a very intuitive razor, but you do have to try putting different amounts of pressure on it, unlike most other DEs. You won't have any trouble with the shave angle at all. Also, it's nearly impossible to cut yourself with it and it is surprisingly efficient. Great videos man, keep up the good work !
@@brianh2287 that’s what’s up. I’ve been working with Merkur, Gillette King C, and Feather for blades. I liked the Merkur blades best so far. I thought the Feather blades were just okay. I didn’t spend the extra $10 on the blades and have been kinda regretting it. So glad to hear, gonna look into the Astra blades. Glad to know another head shaver!
@@fitnessnbeer9835 The astra blades are pretty sharp and they are cheap as well. 100 blades for around 10$ . Before buying 100 of anything, I suggest buying a sample pack of blades. Amazon has a lot of good DE sample packs. Just take a look at them and try to get a pack with blades like Astra, perma sharp, gillette platinum, and voshkod. This will help you drill down to the ones you like.
love the 34c.. but the best razor IMO is the Edwin Jagger 3ONE6
Yo thanks for the comment! Edwin Jagger, noted! Haven’t tried that brand before. Better than Henson? Trying a Henson now and I’ve been impressed but it’s not perfect. I really appreciate the recommendation. Jagger here I come!🤣
Fun fact, your first pronunciation of Merkur in the bathroom was closer to the actual pronunciation of the word than your correction post shave. That's not your fault though, it's on Google for giving you the American way to say it rather than the original German pronunciation, so it was funny seeing you correct yourself. Other than that, I was a fan of the review. Have you ever considered trying other shave products as well in your reviews such as different shave creams, foams, soaps and aftershaves? It'd be interesting to see your views on how much they'd affect your shaves either positively or negatively as well with the razors you regularly use
🤣Awe man I try to get it right. Thanks a bunch for the info. I really try to share helpful opinions, so it’s really appreciated when guys contribute knowledge to the conversation.
And that’s a great suggestion. I have been experimenting with different creams and brushes lately but haven’t broached the video topic. When I started making shaving videos I had no idea how deep the wormholes goes. Definitely need to expand the conversation. Thanks for watching and sharing!
I love this razor and my favourite blade in it is the parker blade. Not as sharp as others but very smooth. Non-aggressive.
I thought the Merkur 34c is a great DE safety razor. I used it with Gillette, Merkur, and Feather blades. I liked the Merkur blades the best but it preformed respectably with all of them. And agreed, non aggressive. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thank you for this review on shaving your head. All the other reviews I seen are only the face. I also shave top of my head, so was a must for me to try to find a good double edge razor to shave me without nicking it too much.
I had a mostly good experience with the Merkur. Sometimes I had a little trouble getting the very top of my head clean, it seemed like a little difficulty with the curvature. But no cuts, so I’ll take it! Let me know what you think after trying it?
Thanks for watching and leaving a comment!
Love this razor. An OG
Yes, I enjoy using my Merkur also! Big thanks for checking out the video and commenting.
Great Review 🍻
This razor is cool if you want to try a DE safety razor. Great one to start with.