Input on first razor

Gents,

What is your thinking on the Rockwell 2C as a first razor for beginners? The actual razor is the same one as the 6C, though it comes with one plate rather than three. It comes with the 1 and 3 plate.

Do those of you have have this razor find that the blade centers well without adjustment.

I don't have that razor but I like the idea of something a little less expensive for the 1st razor. I started with a slim and did get value out of the adjustability... Ie. Starting at 2 or 3, which is super mild and almost impossible to cut yourself.

I also think a Fatip Testina Gentile is a good starter razor. Pretty mild in my view but not as mild as a slim on 3. Maybe equivalent to 5ish.

A non adjustable Gillette is also a good option... Ie. A superspeed.

Edit. Just realized the price of the 2c. Same range.

Do not throw a boatload of $$ on your first razor. As stook said just buy an old Gillette say on Ebay. I recommend a post-war Tech that was made for over 50 years and is still my main driver.

Remember, baby steps.

I will be teaching a friend of mine to wet shave this weekend and I’ll be using my 6S-1/3 plate to do it for 2 main reasons;

1. If he decides to continue wet shaving and doesn’t let me PIF him a vintage razor (probably a slim or super speed) to start off with, the 2C is right in the wheelhouse of other razors that people generally start with in terms of cost and it’s readily available through numerous retailers.

2. (More importantly) I want my friend to have a successful experience. The geometry of the 6S & 6C seems to provide exceptional shaves without a high learning curve. I have many high end razors and I still use the Rockwell on a regular basis even though I don’t love the aesthetics of it. It is a razor that is often mentioned across different forums when people talk about their “desert island” razor for a reason. I want my friend’s experience to be positive from the start and I hope the Rockwell will deliver that more so than a DE89 clone or the like.

So, good value and consistently good shaves across a wide spectrum of faces/beards... seems like a great 1st razor to me.

(As mentioned, a vintage adjustable is a great idea as well. The first razor I really started wet shaving with was a Fatboy and I still love it to this day. And you can’t beat the feeling of using a razor that feels like it’s part of the genesis of the wet shaving culture we have today.)

Lots of good options!

It's a great choice... And the only problem with that choice is that the other plates are better (4 through 6)


IMO, you won't find a better option, regardless.