No doubt about it: some shavers want to “turn it up to 11.” They use razors with tons of exposure and high-performance blades. They embrace the challenge. But what if you have sensitive skin? What if you don’t have quite the time (or the mental focus) to concentrate on your technique? Or what if you’re just starting to learn your technique in the first place? Then a milder, gentler razor may be for you. Luckily there are quite a few options.
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There are gentle razors across all price points, from the very inexpensive to the very luxurious. I’m a fan of mild razors so I’ve tried my fair share. I’ve trawled the shaving forums and blogs for their confirmation and I’ve used all these razors with the exception of the RazoRock Baby Smooth (it was in limited production and I wasn’t able to grab one so I’ve relied on the opinions of others for that one). The tl;dr, in alphabetical order:
What Is The Best Mild Safety Razor?
- Dorco PL-602
- Feather AS-D2
- Maggard V3 head w/ MR7 or MR11 handle
- Merkur 15C
- OneBlade
- Parker “Twist To Open” (TTO) Razors
- RazoRock Baby Smooth
- Weishi (& Clones)
Let’s take a deeper dive into them.
Dorco PL-602
Sharpologist has written about the Dorco PL-602* before. This very inexpensive, all-plastic razor actually delivers a surprisingly good, mild shave for many people. For something a little more sturdy, Dorco also offers the Dorco Prime* DE razor set. It’s performance is on-par with the Weishi & clones mentioned later here.
Feather AS-D2
In most respects the Feather AS-D2* razor couldn’t be further from the Dorco PL-602: the AS-D2 is a deluxe, Stainless Steel razor. They do share one trait, though — a mild, gentle shave. In fact, a lot of shavers complain the AS-D2 is too mild. I was one of those people: when I first bought the razor I was disappointed and considered selling it off. Then I took the advice of others who use it and tried it with a Feather blade. The scary-sharp Feather blade, a tiger in most razors, becomes a kitten in the AS-D2. It’s “mild” but “efficient” at the same time. Now enjoy using the AS-D2…as long as I use a Feather blade.
RELATED POST: Feather Razors And Blades — A Contrast
Maggard V3 head w/ MR7 or MR11 handle
The new Maggard “V3” razor head is generally considered “mild” (though at the upper end of the range in my opinion). Paired with their MR7 or MR11 handles you would have a fairly mild razor that still has some heft and good balance, for a comparatively low price.
Merkur 15C
The Merkur 15C* is an “open comb” razor that is quite mild when compared to other open comb razors. If you like to maintain a multi-day beard growth but need to “clean up” once in a while this razor may do the trick. Be aware that some shavers don’t care for the thin handle though.
OneBlade
I make no secret that the OneBlade (that is an affiliate link for Sharpologist readers with a discount deal!) is one of my favorite razors. Though it is a single edge design (vs. the double edge design of the rest of the razors on this list) and in the “luxury tool” category, it uses a pivoting head design and a stiff Feather SE blade to great effectiveness. It’s almost as if the stubble is simply wiped away.
RELATED POST: Is OneBlade The Perfect Razor?
Parker TTO
Parker “twist-to-open” (TTO) or “butterfly” razors are considered by most as moderate razors — the high end of what people usually think of as “mild” (their three-piece razor designs are generally more aggressive — though not by much, well into the middle-of-the-road territory). The Parker 92R is a favorite of many but there is enough variety to satisfy almost anyone. Parker razors are good values for the money, too.
RazoRock Baby Smooth
The RazoRock “Baby Smooth” razor is another safety razor considered both “mild” but “efficient” by it’s fans. It has been in limited production but quantity shipments are expected to start in February, 2017.
Weishi (& Clones)
The Weishi razor from China uses a design based off the Gillette Superspeed razor of the 1960’s. In some respects it was the original low-cost, mild razor “duplicate” (though some would say “knock off”) until the market exploded over the past few years. Now others have gotten into the act, duplicating the duplicate (the Dorco Prime above as an example) — some even speculate they’re all made in the same manufacturing facility. Nevertheless, though quality control can be spotty among the clones, the original Weishi razor (now called the model 9306F*) has a reputation as an inexpensive, mild razor good for the beginner on a budget.
RELATED POST: What Is The Best Double Edge Safety Razor?
So Which Is Best?
All these razors provide a consistently mild shave so it would be hard to go wrong with any of them from a performance perspective. If you’re looking to try something on the cheap, the Dorco PL-602* can start you off with a minimum of cash. On the other side of the spectrum the OneBlade* is a terrific razor for someone looking for a luxury shaving tool that is also forgiving on the face. The Merkur 15C* is a mild razor in a category usually reserved for the more assertive crowd. But….
Why Not An Adjustable Razor?
As I mentioned in the introduction, a razor’s “mildness” is based largely on edge exposure: the gap between the blade edge and the razor’s guard. “Mild” razors have a smaller gap. But if you are worried about the razor’s aggressiveness, why not consider a razor that can change the gap? There are actually a number of adjustable safety razor that can be, well, adjusted, from mild to mad. So like Goldilocks you can find a setting that’s juuuuust right:
Parker Variant
New on the scene is the Parker Variant adjustable razor. Taking inspiration from the Merkur Progress (below) the Variant addresses most of the nagging quirks of the Progress and provides a great shave for virtually any shaving circumstance. The Progress was one of my all-time favorite razors until the Variant came along. Now it’s been sitting in a drawer for a while…. The Variant is currently in limited production but quantity shipments are ramping up.
Merkur Progress
The Progress used to be my all-time favorite (“pry it from my cold, dead fingers”) razor until the Variant (and the OneBlade) came along. Very flexible and more widely available* than the other adjustables, there is still a lot going for it.
Rockwell 6S/6C
The Rockwell 6S* is one of the new breed of “adjustable” razors: it’s not continuously adjustable like the Variant or Progress. Rather it uses a set of base plates to provide six different blade gaps. Use plate 1 for the mildest shave, plate 6 for a more assertive shave. The 6S is made of Stainless Steel and reasonably widely available. A chrome version (the 6C) should be available later in 2017.
Supply Single Edge
The Supply Provision Single Edge is another razor that is “adjustable” in the sense of multiple base plates. The Single Edge has three base plates for different blade gaps and also uses “Injector” style blades.
So there is no reason to put up with the pain of an overly-aggressive razor!
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Is there a mild razor that you recommend? Leave a comment below!
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Originally published at Sharpologist.
