To Open Comb or Not To

Gentlemen:

This morning I shaved with an open comb double edge razor and felt as if I were dragging a rake across my Hollywood face. The shave was good and without nicks or razor burn, sure, but I disliked the way the teeth felt on my skin. No wonder I soured on the open comb double edge razors a long time ago.

The last time I used the open comb was when I lived in San Francisco, in the 1960s, and just before going to Vietnam. At the time I had no idea about the proper shaving technique with the double edge. On the morning I gave up the double edge and bought an electric razor my face held a toilet paper exhibit of cuts and nicks. I must have looked like a mob hit man with a skin rash.

The electric razor experience lasted a few weeks — even that was too long.

After that I went through several different plastic razors, none of which I recall, and with Vietnam came and more plastic razors. By then the double edge had disappeared and the plastic razor hype was in full bloom. The years passed with complaints about worthless plastic razors and expensive blades. Then one day I landed a double edge, a Merkur 34C, if I recall, and little by little became a gentleman shaver, although I had continued to use the brush except for the time in Vietnam.

My Merkur was a closed comb. So were all the other double edge razors I bought in subsequent years. The only open comb double edge razor I have is the Weck, produced some years back by Merkur, and I bought it not long ago in an antique store. It's a good looking razor, in perfect shape, but I have retired it after one shave — because I prefer my face caressed and not raked.

So gentlemen, what is your preference, to open comb or not to?

Regards,

Obie

I love my open comb Merkur. Nice smooth shave and no irritation.

I've never used an open comb so I don't know.

I got an open comb Merkur 38C a couple of months ago. It's great, very smooth. No scratching from the comb teeth or the blade. Maybe you just got a bad one?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MinATX

I got an open comb Merkur 38C a couple of months ago. It's great, very smooth. No scratching from the comb teeth or the blade. Maybe you just got a bad one?

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Hello, MinATX:

No, my Weck razor is in perfect shape — the Weck is no longer made. What's more, the teeth in the razor did not scratch me. No, not at all. For me, it's a question of how the razor feels on the face. I had a perfect shave with this one, but I just didn't like the feel of the teeth against my skin. I remember I didn't like that feel even in the old days. I just prefer the closed comb razors.

Stay well.

Regards,

Obie

Hi Obie,

I'm with you on this one. I've tried one open comb razor and I wasn't really a fan. I wasn't keen on how it felt on the skin. I just have he one closed comb DE now, fir times when I don't have time to use a straight razor.

All the best,

Stuart

I recently started using a DE, so closed comb was the best choice for me I felt. In fairness though I have never used the open comb style, at least yet.

Obie, is your Weck a long tooth razor? My favorite safety razor is a 30's new open comb with a feather. For me, nothing comes closer to the straight razor as that one. My shaves are more comfortable with it than say, a superspeed with a feather, even with the comb being a more aggressive shaver. I have never paid attention to how the teeth feel against my skin, I wish I would have read this earlier as I just finished a shave with said razor about 45 minutes ago. I will try and perceive how it feels next shave but I don't think it would bother me seeing I have not ever noticed anything before. Happy shaves Obie!

Hello, Jeremy:

My Weck is the standard open comb. I would say the teeth seem less pronounced than those on the beautiful French-made Joris. I might add my shave was close and comfortable, with no nicks, cuts or anything. Nor am I intimidated by the open comb. No, not at all. For me, I think, it's a question of feel more than anything else: the raking feeling on my skin is what I don't like. Like anything else in the world of traditional shaving, I think it boils down to preference.

Say well.

Obie

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cessnabird

Obie, is your Weck a long tooth razor? My favorite safety razor is a 30's new open comb with a feather. For me, nothing comes closer to the straight razor as that one. My shaves are more comfortable with it than say, a superspeed with a feather, even with the comb being a more aggressive shaver. I have never paid attention to how the teeth feel against my skin, I wish I would have read this earlier as I just finished a shave with said razor about 45 minutes ago. I will try and perceive how it feels next shave but I don't think it would bother me seeing I have not ever noticed anything before. Happy shaves Obie!

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If your feeling the combs,or seeing rake marks in the lather,your angle is wrong.

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

If your feeling the combs,or seeing rake marks in the lather,your angle is wrong.

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Hello, pixelfixed:

Thanks for your thoughts.

Yes, it could be the wrong angle, but after some 50 years of shaving that is unlikely. Nor do I see rake marks on my face. Unlike the closed comb, I just don't like the feel of the open comb razor. Stepping over to the straight razor side, I just don't like the spike point razor. Not that I cannot shave with it. I just don't like it. So it's a question of like and dislike, of preference of one over the other. I prefer the closed comb to the open comb.

Regards,

Obie

Funny, I was just wondering about this myself this morning.
I am looking to purchase a DE and I was wondering the purpose of the comb.
Would one of you gentleman like to explain the function of the open and closed comb?

Kindest Personal Regards,
Jochen

Re: Open comb vs. safety bar razors

The theory is that the open comb razors allow more of the lather to reach the blade, so it glides better.

Another theory is that open comb razors work better for thick growths, as the hairs can slip around the comb and get mowed down by the blade, as opposed to being squashed down by the safety bar (which could make it hard to deal with several day's growth).

I think this is hogwash (as far as intent in the designs).

My theory (completely without proof) is that OC DE razors were made first as it was easier to machine them from the metal blocks (as early DE razors were made). When they started using stamped metal for the base plates, it became easier to make safety bar heads (these were also sturdier). Of course, the companies kept both types going with some spin (just as Gillette does today with the number of blades).

OC razors do work better with several days growth, due to reasons mentioned above, but I think that was something that was noticed later and used as a marketing line.

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Having said that, when I use OC razors, I don't feel the teeth at all. Different people have different sensitivities, but I'd say that either an adjustment in blade angle or pressure should take care of that issue.

If you're going to go with OC razors, try a fat handled long comb Gillette NEW. Those generally work for the most people.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JMIdeker

Funny, I was just wondering about this myself this morning.
I am looking to purchase a DE and I was wondering the purpose of the comb.
Would one of you gentleman like to explain the function of the open and closed comb?

Kindest Personal Regards,
Jochen

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Hello Jochen:

Various theories surround the difference between how the close and open comb razors shave: that because of the way the open comb interacts with the beard, it is more suited to heavier beards.

I'm afraid I do not subscribe to any such theories and go with what I like. I just don't like the open comb. In your case, just to be safe, I suggest going with the closed comb razor.

Regards,

Obie

I have to respectfully disagree. In my experience, the open comb has a completely different feel and shave to it. Whether I am plowing though 5 days stubble, or cleaning up a days long shadow, the open comb is a far more aggressive thus closer shaver than any of the standard safety bar razors I own. I have a hard time believing the design was based on cost and or manufacturing techniques. I feel it was a different option and design, offering a different shave to men who prefer it. Jeremy-

Quote:

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Originally Posted by yohannrjm

Re: Open comb vs. safety bar razors

The theory is that the open comb razors allow more of the lather to reach the blade, so it glides better.

Another theory is that open comb razors work better for thick growths, as the hairs can slip around the comb and get mowed down by the blade, as opposed to being squashed down by the safety bar (which could make it hard to deal with several day's growth).

I think this is hogwash (as far as intent in the designs).

My theory (completely without proof) is that OC DE razors were made first as it was easier to machine them from the metal blocks (as early DE razors were made). When they started using stamped metal for the base plates, it became easier to make safety bar heads (these were also sturdier). Of course, the companies kept both types going with some spin (just as Gillette does today with the number of blades).

OC razors do work better with several days growth, due to reasons mentioned above, but I think that was something that was noticed later and used as a marketing line.

----------------------

Having said that, when I use OC razors, I don't feel the teeth at all. Different people have different sensitivities, but I'd say that either an adjustment in blade angle or pressure should take care of that issue.

If you're going to go with OC razors, try a fat handled long comb Gillette NEW. Those generally work for the most people.

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Hey Jeremy,

I think aggressiveness has more to do with the head design than whether the razor has an open comb or a safety bar.

Let me give you an example:

The Goodfella razors that are currently available are open comb, but they're much less aggressive than a Merkur HD, for example. On the other hand the Fatip design Joris/Muehle heads (OC) are extremely aggressive.

I've had vintage OC razors that were all over the map on aggressiveness. An ABC Gillette is much less aggressive than the NEW, which is less aggressive than the New Improved razors. The vintage Merkur OC razors were all pretty mild. I'd say a Gillette Red Tip, and perhaps even the 40's SS (Safety bar razors) were more aggressive than the ABC Gillette, and the Merkur OC.

While you're probably right in that OC razors generally tend to be more aggressive, that's not always the case.

I'm not arguing that there are differences in the way an OC razor shaves vs. a safety bar. I haven't tried 'matched' OC and safety bar razors, so I haven't been able to directly compare the two variants on a similar head design.