Merkur Razor Progress
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Price
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Quality
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Value
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Aggressiveness
Summary
The Merkur Progress is a great razor for anyone who needs a decent shave every day. In our review we find it has 6 different settings so you can adjust the angle of the blade to match your beard type.
Product: Merkur Progress Review
Rating: 4.5/5 stars on Amazon with over 125 reviews
Cheapest Place to Buy: Amazon
Description Merkur Progress Review
In our Merkur Progress review we find it is a great razor for anyone who needs a decent shave every day.
It also has 6 different settings so you can adjust the angle of the blade, therefore adjusting the aggressiveness of the shave.
1 being the lowest and 6 being the highest. The higher the setting the more of an angle it puts on the blade, almost like a slant comb. This is great if you have a thick beard, it will create a better cutting action on the hairs.
So why would you need all of these adjustments? Well maybe there are different areas of your beard that grow in different directions/thickness.
You could start on a low setting to do the first pass then crank it up a little to go after any thicker areas where you might not have gotten all of the stubble.
This safety razor has a weight of 3.5 oz. and a handle length of 3.75 inches. So, it is on the heavier and longer side of safety razors. That added weight will help during the shave and the handle is merely a preference.
What Merkur Progress Settings Should You Use?
Like I mentioned earlier you can adjust the angle of this blade with up to 6 settings. If you are new to wet shaving you should start on the least aggressive setting, #1.
As you get used to the angle, which is different than holding a regular cartridge razor, you can play with the different settings to see which one you prefer.
Just remember to go slow if you are new and use short strokes rinsing in between.
The Merkur Progress adjustable safety razor packaging does not come with instructions; however, you can search in YouTube to find many different videos to see some different examples like this one of how people like to use their razor.
Where to buy Merkur Progress Long Handle?
As always, we tend to recommend Amazon when buying products like the Merkur progress online. They usually have the best price and free shipping on qualified orders.
The other great thing is you get to read all of the customer reviews. Amazon has such a wide reach that they usually have the most reviews so you can see all sorts of opinion.
You can read the reviews for the Progress for yourself, and see they are overwhelmingly positive.
Why Use Merkur Progress vs Futur?
Besides the physical differences of the Progress vs. the Futur which are
- Futur has a bigger head
- Futur weighs a little more.
- Progress has a longer handle
From there you will find fans of either razor that claim one is superior to the other. Some say the Futur is more aggressive and vice versa.
Some like the look over the other however you will find many people who like the Progress but do not like the plastic knob at the bottom.
In fact, many people end up replacing this knob with an aftermarket piece or even dying it a different color.
When To Change The Blade?
The blades on safety razors need to be changed about every week just like the disposable cartridge razors. However, the main difference is this will only cost you pennies and not $4-5 like some of the disposables can cost.
You may or may not like the Merkur blades so you should shop around with several different brands of blades if you are new to shaving, especially since they are so cheap.
A bad razor gives a bad start of the day… And if you have to shave every day, it would be a good idea to get a good razor.. This one seems awesome..:-) I have to check this out. I really liked you video-review.. and I liked it on YouTube. It looks old-school and cool as well..:-)
I have some people in my family that would love this..:-) But how does it compare to the more “Normal” and modern Gillette razor’s? 4 blades must be better than one? or no?
I always say you get what you pay for! Thanks for the comments, however, more blades is not always better.
With multi-blade razor the first blade or two pulls and tugs on your hairs which allows the last couple blades to cut the hair below the skin surface. This is the main cause for razor bumps.
If you don’t have sensitive skin then these blades are fine as you are less likely to cut yourself and you can use them much faster. However, if you get razor bumps, switching to a safety razor may relieve this.
Thank you for sharing this helpful article! My boyfriend has had one of those rock and roll musician beards for the last 3 years. Just recently, he decided to shave it all off with an electric razor. He’s been looking for a safety razor for a smooth shave, and I think this will be perfect! It looks like an excellent product that will not be harsh on the skin. I’m going to buy this for him!
You’re welcome Audrey, I’m glad you found this post helpful.
Just remind your boyfriend to take it slow if he is new to wet shaving, there is a little bit of a learning curve when switching from an electric shaver.
Let me know how he likes it!
Jeremy,
I never heard about Merkur razor before. I’m usually a Gillette guy who just need a cheap and easily accessible to get me a quick shave ( I don’t have that much facial hair)
Recently, as I got into my mid 20s, I realized that my facial hair is growing more and more around the chin area ( I’m trying to grow a goatee). These Gillette razors sometimes left me a painful razor bump. Do you have any tips on finding a razor that suits my need ?
Hey Marvin,
If you are suffering from razor bumps it could be from your multi-blade razor. The way they are designed allows them to cut your hair below the skin surface which causes irritation.
Switching to a safety razor like this Merkur Progress could help relieve that. Although it will not be as quick of a shave.
Hi, Jeremy. I got to confess, I have never been too fussy on the razor and usually buy the disposal type. Yep, they are not the best and when I need a good shave, I will go to the barber. Thank God, it is still affordable in our part of the world. So I didn’t bother to invest in one.
But reading through your review, I get more interested in Merkur progress and Googled for Merkur. Unfortunately, they don’t sell it here and the only way is to buy it online. So I click on your Amazon link and the reviews was good. Merkur Progress is a great razor, but if only they reduce the price 🙂
Hey that is great, some guys just don’t have thick facial hair or sensitive skin and the disposable’s work fine.
The Progress is a little more than your typical cartridge razor but the blades are really cheap, about $.10 a piece and it should last you for years as long as you take care of it.
Thanks for stopping by!