25C Double Edge Safety Razor in Bright Chrome with an Open Comb Design, Long Handle, Made in Germany, Plastic-Free, Three-Piece Design, and Straight Bar

The rule of thumb with any sort of alternative shaving method (straight razor, double-edge safety razor, etc) is YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY. Choosing the right shaving equipment is a very personal decision. Everyone's face and skin are different, and what works really well for one person- or even most people- might not necessarily work for you. Even if the reviews are overwhelmingly positive, one needs to know going in that its unlikely they will find the exact right equipment on the first go-round. Instead let the reviews guide you toward which equipment is /well-made/, then go from there in finding what works for you. --Backgound-- I discovered DE (double edge) safety razor shaving after looking for a cheaper alternative to traditional cartridge razors. While they always gave me a nice clean shave, I always hated having to drop $4 per cartridge only to have it dull after a week. While helping a good friend clean out his grandfather's garage, I discovered a 1940's era Gillette razor in basically unused condition. He let me keep it. I took it home, and cleaned it to a nice shine. I then went and bought some Personna blades from the local Walgreens, and off I went. However, I found the handle on the Gillette too short for my liking, and combined with its weight made my fingers cramp. The combination of blade+razor also did shave as close as I would have liked. So I ordered some Feather blades (based off good reviews) as well a sampler package of different blades (definitely go this route starting out) I then went and ordered this. I was initially on the fence about going with an open comb or with a guard. But I figured if I didn't like the open comb, I could always go back to the old Gillette. --The Product-- When I opened the package, I was really impressed. Its a really beautiful looking tool. It feels heavy enough to be substantial but light enough to be deft in one's hands. The finish work is really wonderful, and it looks and feels every bit the German-made tool that it is. It came with a blade that I didn't especially care for, but with the Personna blades it gave a nice smooth shave. It is definitely more aggressive than the old Gillette, and gets to the top lip hairs under my nose that the Gillette couldn't reach. --On Blades-- When I finally received the Feathers and Sampler pack, I found that different blades were picky about which of the two razors I used. One giving a nice shave in the Merkur would be totally ineffective in the Gillette. (like the Personna) Or the reverse: one in the Gillette might give a smooth, comfortable shave but when in the Merkur would shred your face to a bloody mess. (the Feather was the worst offender, but could be controlled with a bit of practice) It was a nice bonus that the threads on the Merkur and Gillette both matched, so that I could use either head with the Merkur's long, comfortable handle, if I needed to. In the end I found that I generally preferred the Merkur. I also found that- much to my immense chagrin- the blades that paired best with it, lasted longest, and gave by fair the best shave, were the Gillettes I so wanted to avoid. --Conclusion-- As I've said, you really can't go off rating alone when purchasing shaving gear, so I've tried to relay as much about my own experiences as possible to help you make an informed decision. My only piece of advice: if you don't already have a safety razor, you might want to start on one with a guard. Once you've got the technique down, you can get a more aggressive one if you decide you really need it. But in the end this is just me, and my advice will only get you so far.

A delightful, gentle razor that is slightly more aggressive than the 33C closed comb version, but much better at removing longer hairs as well as providing a wonderfully close shave on the first pass. More often than not, one pass with this razor in the morning and done! I also use it to shave my pubic, chest, and underarm hair, and it handles the task gently and much more efficiently than the 33C. I have yet to suffer any nicks or razor burn with it in contrast to the carnage I used to suffer from multi-blade cartridge razors. Favorite attributes: -- It's a light razor, and you'll get a lot of blade feedback while using it to help keep it at the proper shaving angle. Heavier razor heads and handles tend to absorb whisker-to-blade feedback, so you never really know what's going on between blade and skin. --Don't let the smaller handle fool you, even if you have big meaty hands. Most shavers hold their razors with just the thumb, index, and middle fingers, so you don't need a "rake handle" to hold onto your razor. If you're actually monkey wrench gripping your razor with your entire fist, than it's probably the last thing you should be using. The 15C is a wonderfully balanced razor and the shorter handle makes it highly maneuverable for precise shaving. --The low profile head makes it very easy to shave right under the nose. The razor gets right in there for a clean swipe without a lot of metal getting in the way. --If you do a lot of bodyscaping, then this razor is idea for quickly removing longer hairs, often with one pass. It rinses cleaner and is less likely to clog than a closed comb razor. Of course razors are like religion, and everyone has their favorite that works specifically for them. That being said, this would definitely make a great razor for someone transitioning from multi-blade cartridges. You'll really have to try hard to cut yourself with it.

04/06/2016 - another update. I've been mostly using my Merkur 37c Slant and decided to try the 15c again. That only confirmed my earlier findings - it shave very well, but really doesn't get you as close as other razors, perhaps it's on the "safe side" and might be good for some people. If I were you, I wouldn't pay more than about $20. Italian Barber website has the RazoRock "Jaws" open comb razor for $20 - that might be a more interesting OC razor to try. 12/14/2015 - I don't know why I've been neglecting this razor - I've been using my cheap plastic Feather razor, which is quite good. Occasionally would use my Merkur Slant. Yesterday I decided to try the open-comb 15c again. Very nice, zero injuries (used Proraso again). My only comment: it is not as close (ever so slightly) compared to my other razors. I mean my face looked clean and was smooth to touch WTG, but I could feel a little abrasiveness with my hand against the growth. This despite shaving first WTG and then ATG - it's really as close as this razor gets. 06/06/2015 - used a fresh Astra SP blade with this and my Proraso "white" (green tea and oatmeal) soap. One of the better shaves I've had - zero injuries. Definitely a mild razor, took me a little extra time to do all the buffing everywhere, but perhaps with the advantage of minimal burn. I will try it with Feather, Wilkinson Sword and Merkur blades that I have on hand to sample. So far I've changed to 5 stars. For the price of twenty one bucks it's really a great value and could easily be someone's first safety razor. Aside from this razor I also have a Van Der Hagen (butterfly one-piece, got it from Target) and a Merkur 37c Slant Bar (2-piece). I like that this razor is also a 3-piece - I like having the 3 different types. The 3-piece is the best for traveling if you need a very compact package. You could disassemble and pack this into an altoids tin :) The handle is thinner than my Merkur 37c Slant Bar, but for me it seems just as comfortable. The finish on the components appears to be flawless (unfortunately with chrome plating that is no guarantee of corrosion resistance, but we'll see). I will update as I keep using it. I sure wish there was also a closed-comb version of this razor! For the money (around $20) it's a great quality razor! It's not as massive as some of the other razors, but still substantial enough, slightly heavier than all the cheapy asian-made butterflies. Instead of being thicker cast brass, the middle piece (guard) is just a bent plate, with the top fitting over it - very simple, but effective. The only reason this can't be someone's only-razor is because trimming straight lines (i.e. sideburns) is not as easy due to the open comb teeth.

On Dec 8, 2023, I bought the Merkur Razor Double Edge Safety Razor, MK-25C (Open Comb) But let me tell the WHOLE STORY ........ I bought the Merkur 23C Double Edge Safety Razor on Nov 17, 2023, after having bought my first double edge safety razor of another brand on Oct 21, 2023, which cut me up really good, blood everywhere! Being new to double edge safety razors, I decided to do some research, and from my research, everyone said to buy the Merkur 23C Double Edge Safety Razor if you are new to double edge safety razors. When I received my Merkur 23C on Nov 18, 2023, I unboxed it, and shaved with it for the first time, and got NO CUTS, and NO BLOOD, just a perfect shave! The Merkur 23C closed comb razor is not a real aggressive razor, so I did have some problems in spots that were hard to get to! So on Dec 8, 2023, I bought the Merkur 25C open comb razor, which is a more aggressive razor, It solved my problems with the hard to get to spots! So I suggest having both the Merkur 23C closed comb razor, and the Merkur 25c open comb razor! I am very pleased with having both of those razors !! There are to many variables as to what the best blade is for each user, but my favorite blade is the Astra Platinum Double Edge Safety Razor Blades! FIVE STARS for all three items mentioned in this review! After 40 years of shaving, I finally enjoy shaving !! This is the only way to shave, and the most economical way to shave!! I feel so ripped off by the shaving products that I have used for the last 40 years !! Make the switch to a Double Edge Safety Razor, TODAY !! GOOD LUCK, AND HAPPY SHAVING !! SIDE NOTE: Woman, these razors are great for shaving your legs !!

Although it doesn't say so in the description, this razor is indeed a Merkur 15c. I ordered this razor because I wanted something more aggressive than my Merkur 34C HD. Normally, all else being equal, an open-comb razor is more aggressive (shaves closer) than a similar razor with a solid safety bar. This razor, however, is not aggressive. It is a mild razor. I can't blame the razor for being mild though. It is not advertised as being aggressive. More research (by me) on the Internet would have revealed that most reviewers find it to be quite mild. The Good: That being said, it is a beautifully made razor. The open-comb head is quite different from the head on the 34c. The 15c head has an elegant curve to it and the knurling on the handle, threads that hold the head on to the handle, spacing of the comb teeth and so forth are all very nice. It is quite common to find complaints in reviews about the chrome plating on Merkur razors, but the plating on the 15c that I received (mine came from Focus Corp) was flawless. The handle was not great (see below) but another good point is that the head from this 15c fit perfectly on the handles that I have for my Edwin Jagger DE89 (and vice versa but I didn't want to put the EJ head on the 15c handle). Ironically, the 15c open-comb head part of this razor fits on all my razor handles... except my other Merkur, because the 34c has a base plate that is permanently attached to its handle. The Bad: The handle is thin, much thinner than the handle on the 34C or an Edwin Jagger razor. It reminds me of a yellow number 2 pencil that you might have used in school. (Do people still use pencils or is it all Tablets now?) If you can imagine a steel, knurled pencil then you'll have the idea. The picture of the razor on Amazon seems to be distorted or foreshortened, because it really does not give you an accurate idea of just how thin the handle looks or feels in your hand. The handle is hollow with a hole in the bottom, which is typical of Merkur razors. That makes for light weight. Maybe too light for a double-edge razor. The Neutral: The light weight probably contributes to the very mild shaves it gives. As I mentioned above though, you can pair it with a heavier handle, but it's still pretty mild. I just could not get a really close shave with this razor no matter what blade I put in it. You might find that to be a good thing. For someone like myself, with a tough beard who often finds it necessary to shave twice a day, mildness isn't that desirable. But for someone with sensitive skin this razor would probably be wonderful. It would be hard to nick yourself or get razor burn with this. Conclusion: If you are looking for an aggressive shaver, this is not your option, even though it has an open-comb head. If you want an open-comb razor that is a mild, comfortable shaver from a well-established brand this could be a good choice for you.

This is it! I have a very sensitive face and a curly beard. I have been shaving with a safety razor for over a decade. Mostly been using an Edwin Jagger DE89 (a Merkur 34C clone -- close comb) and a plastic Feather travel razor (bar) with Bic Chrome Platinum blades. I wanted to try an open comb for some time but was concerned that it would be too aggressive. This razor is amazing and is my new forever razor. It is easy to find the edge and aggressive enough that I can normally get everything with one pass without being so aggressive on my sensitive face. I like the long handle as it is a nice counter balance and give me room for my big hands when I go against the grain on my neck. My only pet peeve is that the handle has a hole in the end which seems odd to me as all my others are solid at the end. It is also a little light (not as heavy as my Edwin Jagger but way heavier than my Feather travel razor). Neither of this would keep me from using this forever or looking for any other razor.

I, like so many others, have decided to go back to shaving with a double edge safety razor. I am tired of paying the high price of the multi-blade refills. I am old enough to have learned to shave with one of these, so my experience will be different than someone who is buying one for the first time. I researched many razors before selecting this one. Prices varied from $19.99 to $100+. Two features I wanted were a long handle and a removable head vice the butterfly opening head. The Merkur 25C fit both of those desires. The razor itself is very well made and has, for me, just the right amount of heft. In my opinion, the removable head holds the blade more securely than the butterfly style does and this is important when shaving with a double edge. This razor has an open comb (rounded teeth) vice a closed comb (bar) and I was a little concerned about that as back in the day I used a closed comb style. No worries. I have not noticed any difference from what I recall with a closed comb. Having said that, if you are new to a safety razor do not press and drag as hard as you do with the multi-blade razor you have been using. You will end up looking like you shaved with an angry cat. I have not nicked or cut myself yet and while the shave was a bit uncomfortable the first couple of days it is nice and smooth now. I think this was more a matter of technique than anything else. Use plenty of soap (cream) and water and let the razor do the work. It has the weight to give you close, comfortable shave by itself. Cleanup is a breeze (won't clog like those multi-blades) and I recommend a razor stand to store it on between shaves. If you are looking for a well-made safety razor, look no further. You won't be disappointed with Merkur.

Very disappointed. First of all the box game tour open like a two-year-old got a hold of it. Second I was told an open comb was gonna be something to get used to with practice. I already use a safety razor. It’s a cheap one my son got me For Christmas. I think he got it at the dollar store and it shaves 10 times better than this thing does. I even bought the feather razors and I had to keep going over my face going over trying to get it to give me a clean shave. I had to get my old safety razor out and finish the job. I wouldn’t be worried about giving this razor to someone who’s never shaved before because it would be almost impossible to cut yourself. Definitely will be returning.