Muhle Companion Unisex Safety Razor Review

The Muhle Companion Safety Razor is the first razor designed with the needs of all users, regardless of gender. The details of the patented razor head give the razor a very smooth finish and a gentle yet smooth shave, while significantly reducing the risk of cuts in sensitive areas of the body.

Muhle Companion Unisex Safety Razor Review Outline:

• Why Shave with a Muhle Companion Unisex Double-Edge Razor?
• Muhle Companion Unisex Safety Razor Overview
• Muhle Companion Unisex Safety Razor Review Summary
  • Wet Shaving Quality and Shaveability
  • Aggressiveness
  • Blade Gap
  • Blade Exposure
  • Blade Longevity and Replacement
  • Grip
  • Handle
  • Weight and Balance
  • Affordability
  • Style
  • Material Quality
  • Care
• Who Should Use the Muhle Companion Razor?
• Who Should Avoid Using the Muhle Companion Razor?
• Other Brands of Safety Razors Similar to the Muhle Companion
• Is the Muhle Companion Safety Razor One of the Best Unisex Safety Razors Made?

Why Shave with a Muhle Companion Unisex Double-Edge Razor?

There are many reasons to shave with an unisex model razor. One is that it is a wonderful type of razor to use if you are transitioning from cartridge razors and canned foam to safety razors, artisanal soaps, and shaving brushes.

Since it was designed for the body and face, using a unisex razor won't have much blade feel, which can be a good or bad thing. The reason that it is a good trait is that blade feel can seem a little harsh and can be a turn-off to many. Unisex razors are also pretty forgiving, making shaving and finding the ideal blade angle easy, even if too much pressure is applied or the angle isn't always perfect.

The longer handle found in most unisex DE razors is essential for shaving the legs, head, and neck, and the head's low profile minimizes any cuts and nicks when shaving under the arms. Another great feature is that the blade tabs are entirely covered, providing greater safety.

Muhle Companion Unisex Safety Razor Overview

Muhle Companion Unisex Safety Razor Review Summary

The Muhle Companion Safety Razor seeks to break all barriers in the DE shaving market. In a world of classic double-edge safety razors designed and marketed primarily for grown men, the new Muhle Companion is the first safety razor designed to be exclusively unisex, with a contemporary yet timeless design, an efficient razor head, and a closed-comb design.

Diverse and purposeful, the Muhle Companion Unisex Safety Razor is flawless for shaving your head, legs, arms, underarms, and the most discreet areas. The slightly longer handle of the Companion unisex double-edge razor offers extra control when shaving even the most sensitive areas, thanks to its fingerprint grip. While on the mild side, the Companion provides a smooth shave, yet gentle and efficient enough to be enjoyed by beginners and experienced traditional shavers alike.

Made in Germany to the highest manufacturing tolerances, the Companion Safety Razor is as gentle as a lamb, unlike any other. With a fingerprint-designed grip, a gently adjusted blade angle, and minimal blade exposure, the Companion is elevated by its exceptional protection against nicks and cuts. It features rails and protective flaps that guard the blade's blunt ends against scratching and extra chatter. There is very little blade feel while using the razor (is that really a bad thing, though?), but it is efficient enough to provide a close shave. To personalize your wet shaving experience, the Companion Unisex Safety Razor is accented by a fully customizable functional cord hook available in 4 colors, which can be easily replaced or color-coded to the user.

Undoubtedly, the new Companion Safety Razor delivers a smooth yet gentle shave while being completely earth-friendly and sustainable.

Strengths:

• Slim head design
• Gentle and effortless shave
• Lightweight and maneuverable
• Textured handle for extra grip while shaving in the shower
• Long, slimmer handle
• Beginner-friendly
• Lightweight and balanced weight distribution
• Sensitive-skin friendly
• Close and comfortable smooth shave
• Compatible with all standard double-edge blades

Weakness:

• Its slim handle might not suit larger hands
• The cord hook might distract some while DE Shaving, but it can be removed

Wet Shaving Quality and Shaveability

Shave quality (aka shaveability) and build quality are what make the Muhle Companion Unisex Safety Razor one of the most contemporary and popular safety razors available, and a truly customizable, personal DE shaving experience—a smooth yet gentle shave. The Companion features a slim head and textured handle that provide additional grip for shaving in the shower, a longer handle and balance for maneuverability, and a razor head with protective flaps to prevent nicks and cuts, designed for those difficult contours and tough-to-shave areas.

The Muhle Companion Unisex Safety Razor excels at shaving sensitive areas—such as your head, legs, or sensitive skin—thanks to its smooth yet gentle shave, enhanced by its dexterity, affordability, and overall shave quality. These factors are the main reasons to purchase the Muhle Companion Unisex Safety Razor.

Aggressiveness

The Companion offers a mild shave and can be ramped up to a bit more aggressive, into the mild-medium range, depending on the safety razor blade you prefer, or set to a tamed mild with a softer chrome and platinum-lined blade. The mild aggressiveness makes it ideal for beginners and wet shaving aficionados, as well as for those with sensitive skin.

Blade Gap

The straight safety bar and the slim top plate allow the Muhle Companion Unisex Safety Razor to glide effortlessly. The blade exposure is relatively minimal, and while the blade gap may seem a little on the large side, the safety bar's geometry makes the gap and blade exposure almost a non-issue, if not extremely minimal.

The Companion razor has been designed so it is easy to find the finely adjusted blade angle for an optimal shaving experience, thanks to the precision-designed double rails. Designed as one of the most forgiving unisex safety razors, the Muhle Companion is no different. The rails on each side create a greater distance between the blade and the skin when the handle angle is less than 30 degrees or greater than 50 degrees. Meaning that if the angle isn't perfect, or if a little too much pressure is used, you will still be rewarded with a comfortable shave. Of course, if you apply too much pressure, you can still nick yourself. You are using a very sharp razor blade after all.

Blade Exposure

As with the blade gap, blade exposure is set to a minimum. This, along with the safety bar's design, provides a highly comfortable, smooth, and gentle shave. This DE razor also feels incredibly gentle, especially when compared to other DE razors.

Of course, some blades do work better in this safety razor than others, so we suggest you experiment and find what works best for you. I have pretty thick facial hair and find blades on the sharper end of the spectrum (like the Feather or the included Muhle blade) to be an excellent pairing.

Blade Longevity and Replacement

With a slim head design, one would think changing the blade would be a little tricky. That could not be further from the truth. Every time I've used the razor and taken a blade out after the shave, the moisture from the final rinse keeps the blade attached to the bottom plate. Now, since the blade is fully exposed on the bottom plate and is only held by the water's suction, a little extra care is needed here. I generally recommend grabbing the blade near the center, but have the tabs pointing towards and away from my hand. This will minimize the chance of the blade slipping and biting into your hands.

Blade longevity varies widely by blade brand and the type of hair being cut. As a rule of thumb, blades can be honed and sharpened; however, it's good practice to replace your razor blade after every 3 or 5 uses.

Grip

The grip on the Companion features a fine, fingerprint-like design. The texture on the handle is noticeable, but not overpowering. It helps keep a confident grip on the handle, even when the handle itself or your fingers are wet or covered in soap.

Handle

The handle is thinner and longer than many modern traditional double-edge safety razors, which is why the Companion is perfect for shaving legs, head, and underarms. This can either be good or bad, depending on personal preference.

The handle is 105 mm long, out of a total razor length of 112 mm. It is also relatively thin at 11.2 mm in diameter. There is also an interchangeable cord hook poking out of the bottom of the handle. This can be used to hang the razor between shaves. If the cord hook isn't your thing, it can be removed.

Weight and Balance

The razor weighs 81 g, and the balance point is at the top of the fingerprint design on the handle, near the head—the balance and weight work synergistically, especially if looking to shave sensitive, hard-to-reach areas.

Affordability

There is basically no other unisex safety razors available that offer this much quality and performance under $50. The Muhle Companion Unisex Safety Razor is priced at $49.61, not much more than a disposable razor and some cartridges, which is a little insane considering you get so much more from the Muhle.

The craftsmanship of Muhle, the beautiful attention to detail, such as the engraving at the base of the handle, the nimble design of the head, the unique head and handle design, and the ability to customize the color of the cord at the bottom, really make the price of admission more than worth it.

Style

The Muhle Companion is sleek and, dare I say, a sexy safety razor, available in four different colorways—all satin chrome; the only difference is the cord. The slim design on the head screams usability. The skinny, textured, longer handle and the fine design resembling fingerprints speak to the diversity for which this razor was designed, and the cord at the end of the handle offers something unique—something not seen in any other razor—that can be easily replaced.

Material Quality

When it comes to German engineering, expect nothing but the best. Muhle is known for making quality gear, and the Companion is no exception. The handle is stainless steel, while the head is zinc alloy. While the head is durable, a little extra care is needed to avoid dropping it onto a hard surface from a high height, as zinc alloy razors can be damaged if mishandled.

Care

Always thoroughly clean your razor with water and let it dry. I always remove the razor blade and leave the razor disassembled on a towel to fully dry for at least 24 hours before reassembling and storing. The Companion is made to withstand any everyday use your shaving needs can throw at it and will last many, many years with proper care.

I also recommend taking it easy on tightening the knobs. Please don't overdo it; you'll only end up weakening the small parts.

Who Should Use the Muhle Companion Razor?

Everyone would benefit from using this safety razor. The Muhle Companion Unisex Safety Razor is mild and forgiving for those new to wet shaving, yet efficient enough for seasoned wet shavers. The slimmer head is terrific for getting under the nose, under the arms, or shaving your head. The added security of having the blade tabs covered provides extra peace of mind in avoiding nicks and cuts. The longer handle with the fingerprint texture makes maneuvering and gripping when shaving legs and heads effortless and blissful.

Who Should Avoid Using the Muhle Companion Razor?

If you are looking for a more aggressive tactile feel with the blade and a bit more aggressive blade aggression, and you prefer larger handles, then the Muhle Companion might not be for you. Other mild razors might suit you better, such as the Edwin Jagger DE89 or the Merkur 34c HD Safety Razor. Both are excellent choices at the same price point; however, expect less defense when shaving sensitive areas, and have your styptic pencil and alum ready just in case, especially if your DE shaving areas are best not mentioned in public.

Other Brands of Safety Razors Similar to the Muhle Companion

Edwin Jagger 3ONE6 Safety Razor

The Edwin Jagger 3ONE6 stainless steel comes in a wide variety of color ways, from classic stainless steel to exotic colors such as orange, light blue, and pink. The 3ONE6 has an anodized, grooved aluminum handle and takes its name from 316-grade stainless steel used in its construction.

Edwin Jagger then raised the rails of the base plate to create a precise position for the blade to channel excess shaving lather away, enabling the razor to shave equally effectively across a wide range of shaving angles. The shaving angles work superbly in unison with the outer edges of the delicately ridged skin guards on the base plate to gently stretch facial skin, producing a uniform shaving surface and allowing almost no blade feel for superior shave-ability.

Although a bit more aggressive on the mild-to-medium scale, this razor is excellent for someone looking for a little more blade feel or aggression, or for coarse hair.

Is the Muhle Companion Safety Razor One of the Best Unisex Safety Razors Made?

I was pleasantly surprised by the Muhle Companion Unisex Safety Razor and found writing this review helpful in discovering what makes the Companion truly unique, by design and function. I generally prefer razors with greater blade exposure and a stronger blade feel. However, it is hard to argue with the results of the Companion Unisex Safety Razor when paired with the right blade (I really like the included blades from Muhle or Feather blades). I have been able to achieve effortless, long-lasting close shaves on my face and head without fear of irritation from chasing the perfect shave.

*All photos in this article are courtesy of Muhle.

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