Double edge safety razors may hark back to the early 1900s but shaving with a single razor blade has come back in a huge way in recent years. Of course, you probably knew that already. Chances are you’re reading this blog post right now because you’ve heard about the cost-saving and eco-friendly benefits of shaving with a safety razor and were already thinking of saying goodbye to your cheap disposable razors. And you’re not alone in that. Plenty of shavers who want to experience less soreness after shaving, save money in the long term or feel like a proper old-school gentleman (we’ve got Peaky Blinders to thank for that) have made the switch to wet shaving. This has created a boom in the market, meaning those looking to invest in a DE safety razor in 2022 have more choice than ever before. With so many brands and makes on offer, deciding which razor to go for first can feel like an almost impossible task.
Luckily, The English Shaving Company is here to help. As Europe’s longest-running online web shop for all things shaving, we know a thing or two about razors. We currently stock over 150 different double edge safety razors from almost a dozen different manufacturers and can see the rise and fall of trends with our own eyes. So, what are the must-have double edge safety razors for 2022? Well rather than compile a simple list of our personal favourite razors, we thought we’d let the facts speak for themselves. Below you can see a list of our top 5 best-selling razors for the year so far. Don’t just take our word for it, check out what our customers believe are the best safety razors to buy this year:
Hailing from Germany’s “City of Blades”, Dovo Merkur has been making exceptionally high-quality razors for over 100 years. This Merkur 34C is currently our best-selling razor and we’d say that’s because it ticks all the boxes at a competitive price. The closed comb design makes the razor feel less aggressive while still providing a reliably close shave. The easy-to-grip knurled handle is slightly shorter than most standard razors but this makes it easier to manoeuvre, letting you comfortably guide the blade to where you want it. Lastly, it’s finished with chrome plating, which protects the razor from corrosion while giving it an exquisite metallic look. The Merkur 34C really is an all-rounder, proving popular with new and experienced shavers alike.
Review from our customers: Very easy to get the hang of using this razor with minimal nicks and cuts. Good, solid feel to it and very well made. Very satisfying to use too. Highly recommend.
Price: £31.95
Edwin Jagger is Europe's foremost manufacturer of luxury handmade shaving equipment. This DE89 Chrome Knurled DE safety razor is excellent value for money, making it a great investment for any keen wet shaver. Brilliantly balanced, it’s heavy enough to stop you getting carried away and cutting yourself but light enough to give you the control and agility you need. The iconic two-part die-cast razor head is expertly engineered to deliver a shave that is gentle on the skin but still very close and smooth. Coupled with the smart knurled design that makes it feel more secure in your hand, Edwin Jagger’s DE89 Chrome Knurled safety razor is an excellent first razor to start a lifelong love affair with wet shaving.
Review from our customers: Really nicely weighted razor. As a beginner, I've hardly cut myself at all. Clearly very well constructed.
Price: £31.00
Sticking with this classic British brand, the Edwin Jagger 3ONE6 series is named after the high-quality 316 grade of stainless steel used to make these exemplary safety razors. This stainless-steel knurled DE razor goes through several production processes to achieve that perfect metallic finish that makes the razor so attractive, corrosion-resistant and resilient. Like the Merkur 34C, the handle is slightly shorter than what most new shavers may be used to but the razor has been designed with versatility in mind, allowing you to shave from a variety of angles as you figure out your own shaving style. Built to last, the Edwin Jagger 3ONE6 will give you a lifetime of extremely close, comfortable and pleasurable shaves.
Review from our customers: The feel of this in your hand is like getting a handshake from your old headmaster! It just feels right, non-slip, just proper. Absolutely first-class engineering, you cannot better this.
Price: £90.00
American razor manufacturer Rockwell was born out of a belief that the world needs a real alternative to overpriced cartridge razors, short-lived fads and gimmick-filled shave clubs. The Rockwell 6S has completely revolutionised wet shaving, creating the perfect razor to take you from novice to pro. The patented design allows you to adjust the blade gap and fine-tune the comfort and closeness of your shave so you can experiment and discover what works best for you. The construction is exemplary, forged from top-quality stainless steel to create a safety razor bulky enough to withstand years of use (including accidentally being dropped on the floor). Finished with a unique PVD coating, the matte black Rockwell 6S is both a pleasure to look at and a pleasure to use.
Review from our customers: This razor really solidified my choice changing over from cartridges. I’m loving the 3 base and can’t wait to progress to a more aggressive shave.
Price: £104.00
Nestled within the Ore Mountain Range in Germany, Muhle has been setting the benchmark for safety razors for over 70 years. The Muhle R89 is a premium product, famous for the distinctively close and comfortable shave it provides. The gleaming chrome-plated finish makes this razor shine in your shaving den while also protecting it from corrosion. Perfect for shavers of all abilities, Muhle even provides handy instructions with every razor to help you as embark on your very first wet shave. Built to last and free of plastic parts, the R89 Chrome DE Razor is a perfect choice for any eco-conscious shaver looking to reduce their plastic waste.
Review from our customers: Has given me the best shaves I've ever had, having to get used to my face and neck feeling so smooth. Easy to control, well made and a joy to use.
Price: £35.00
And of course, no double edge safety razor is complete without the perfect double edge razor blade to go with it. DE razor blades are a standardised size and shape, meaning your new DE safety razor will be compatible with any pack of standard blades that you buy. At The English Shaving Company, we offer a range of blades from many different brands for you to explore. We could give you a detailed breakdown of the different blades, but maybe that’s a blog post for another day….