- Messages
- 4
I think it would be worthwhile mentioning the difference between two and three piece razors so that beginners don't make my rookie mistake.
I decided to buy a good razor right from the start and my search led me to the Muhle R89 Twist, which was given good reviews and described as a great, forgiving razor. However, within a few weeks I was desperate for a more aggressive shave as some of the blades in my sample pack were on the diappointing side in the Muhle Twist.
I had a look round and found a replacement head called the "Braveheart" head that looked like an exact match for my Muhle. It even said it fitted the Muhle R89 in the blurb, so I bought it for £15. It was only after it arrived that I understood the 'Twist' variation of the Muhle is a two piece razor meaning that half of the head is fixed permanently to the handle. You are stuck with the razor and head as sold. It's like paying over the odds for a Dell Computer and then when it comes time to upgrade you find out the motherboard is the wrong way round and none of the lovely after-market parts you had your eye on will fit. So you need a whole new PC.
I'd spent £38 on a razor that will sit in the spare room from now on in the hope I can persuade guests to try DE shaving.
So, my advice is to make sure you set out right from the start and buy a three piece "Merkur compatible" razor. You can then customise or upgrade it.
It's not all bad news for me, though. I reviewed the Muhle Twist on the well-known website I bought it from and they thanked me by sending me a free Muhle handle as a cheerer upper.
Even without that, I'd gone ahead and bought a £7 three piece razor from eBay because it was cheaper than buying a handle. I threw the head away, but it was love at first use with the handle. It's all stainless steel and black metal. It feels like it has been weighted with lead and when paired with the Braveheart head it just feels like I've managed to build the perfect razor. I call it Mjolnir.
The difference between having the R89 and a more aggressive razor is that I can experiment with blades and pick a brand based on feel and number of shaves instead of saying, for example "I always buy Feathers because my razor needs a good, aggressive blade."
I decided to buy a good razor right from the start and my search led me to the Muhle R89 Twist, which was given good reviews and described as a great, forgiving razor. However, within a few weeks I was desperate for a more aggressive shave as some of the blades in my sample pack were on the diappointing side in the Muhle Twist.
I had a look round and found a replacement head called the "Braveheart" head that looked like an exact match for my Muhle. It even said it fitted the Muhle R89 in the blurb, so I bought it for £15. It was only after it arrived that I understood the 'Twist' variation of the Muhle is a two piece razor meaning that half of the head is fixed permanently to the handle. You are stuck with the razor and head as sold. It's like paying over the odds for a Dell Computer and then when it comes time to upgrade you find out the motherboard is the wrong way round and none of the lovely after-market parts you had your eye on will fit. So you need a whole new PC.
I'd spent £38 on a razor that will sit in the spare room from now on in the hope I can persuade guests to try DE shaving.
So, my advice is to make sure you set out right from the start and buy a three piece "Merkur compatible" razor. You can then customise or upgrade it.
It's not all bad news for me, though. I reviewed the Muhle Twist on the well-known website I bought it from and they thanked me by sending me a free Muhle handle as a cheerer upper.
Even without that, I'd gone ahead and bought a £7 three piece razor from eBay because it was cheaper than buying a handle. I threw the head away, but it was love at first use with the handle. It's all stainless steel and black metal. It feels like it has been weighted with lead and when paired with the Braveheart head it just feels like I've managed to build the perfect razor. I call it Mjolnir.
The difference between having the R89 and a more aggressive razor is that I can experiment with blades and pick a brand based on feel and number of shaves instead of saying, for example "I always buy Feathers because my razor needs a good, aggressive blade."