Reviewed: November 14, 2026
Shaving the bare skin around your beard can be as deliberate as shaping the beard itself. MÜHLE’s R89 is a good fit for that slower, controlled approach: a traditional double-edge razor with a closed-comb head, a textured handle and a bright chrome finish. We’d recommend it when you want a reusable manual razor for your cheeks and neckline and are willing to learn the angle and pressure yourself. Its appeal is simplicity and control, with more attention required than a pivoting cartridge asks of you.
The standard R89 also makes sense for a full face shave. You don’t need to grow a particular beard style to justify it. What matters is whether you enjoy a deliberate wet shave and want a straightforward tool you can open, clean and fit with a fresh blade.
A closed-comb head for a considered first step
The R89 places a continuous safety bar beneath the blade instead of the row of teeth found on an open-comb head. We’d start here rather than with MÜHLE’s open-comb R41 when you’re moving into traditional shaving. The R89 gives you a less direct starting point while you become familiar with holding a fixed razor head against your skin.
That doesn’t make it cut-proof or automatically comfortable with every blade. MÜHLE’s instructions exclude sensitive or delicate skin and warn against use if you’re prone to allergies. You still control the shaving angle, and pressing harder isn’t a way to improve the result. A cartridge’s pivot and a fixed safety-razor head ask different things of your hand; the R89 is appealing precisely when you want to take responsibility for that part of the shave.
Nor is it adjustable. There is no dial to change the blade gap as you work around your face. That keeps the tool uncomplicated, but another design will suit you better if changing the head setting is central to the purchase.
MÜHLE R89 Traditional Closed Comb Safety Razor Chrome
We recommend this classic closed-comb razor when you want a deliberate wet shave and a reusable tool for tidy beard lines.
The handle is part of the decision
The current chrome R89 is 94 mm long and weighs 70 g. Those are useful proportions for picturing the complete razor in your hand, rather than judging it from a close-up of the head. It is a compact traditional tool with a patterned metal handle, not an oversized handle wrapped in a soft grip.
The textured surface gives your fingers something to hold as you change direction. Whether that feels comfortable depends on your grip and hand size. A longer handle may be easier to hold for some movements, while a shorter one can suit a grip closer to the head. Extra length isn’t an automatic improvement when you’re working beside a beard line.
This review concerns the standard chrome R89. The R89 GRANDE has a longer handle, and the R89 TWIST uses a different opening arrangement. Those are meaningful ownership differences, so think about the standard version as a specific choice rather than assuming every R89 has the same feel.
Three pieces, with everything accessible
The standard R89 separates into a handle, a base plate and a cap. The blade sits between the two head pieces. Unscrewing the handle lets you take the assembly apart, which makes the areas beneath the blade accessible for rinsing and drying. There is no cartridge connector to work around.
The compromise is having separate pieces to handle whenever you change a blade. Work on a clear surface, hold the blade by its unsharpened short ends and avoid touching the cutting edges. Reassemble the head in the correct orientation and tighten it securely without forcing the threads. Careful loading is part of owning this kind of razor, not an occasional extra task.
A two-piece design keeps more of the assembly together and may feel less fiddly. That is one reason to compare the R89 with the MERKUR 34C, even though both use a closed comb. The distinction becomes noticeable in the simple act of opening the razor, not just in its appearance on a stand.
What it can do around a beard
A double-edge razor gives you one cutting edge against your skin at a time. Along the bare cheek or below the neckline, that offers a direct way to work toward the boundary you want to keep. Short, unhurried strokes matter more than trying to clear the area in one sweep.
The head still has width. It isn’t a miniature detailing blade, and it won’t shorten the beard above the line to an even length. Keep your trimmer for managing that length and use the razor for the skin you intend to shave smooth. Our moustache razor guide puts visibility and access into context for smaller areas.
Very tight spaces beneath the nose can call for a different tool or a different approach. The R89 is most persuasive as a general wet-shaving razor that also tidies your outline, rather than a specialist answer to every small contour.
Blade choice stays flexible
The R89 takes standard double-edge razor blades, so you aren’t tied to a proprietary cartridge shape. That gives you room to find a blade that suits your beard and technique. It doesn’t mean the sharpest-sounding blade will be the most comfortable first purchase, or that a different blade will correct excess pressure.
Keep the rest of your shave consistent while you work out that preference. A small selection is a more measured start than committing to a large supply before you know what suits you. Our beginner blade guide explains that choice in more detail.
The alternative: MERKUR’s classic 34C
The standard bright-chrome MERKUR 34C is worth considering when you’d prefer a two-piece loading system. Its cap lifts away while the handle and lower assembly stay together. You still need to handle a sharp blade carefully, but there are fewer loose razor parts on the counter during a change.
It also uses a fixed closed-comb head and standard double-edge blades. That makes the loading arrangement and the handle you prefer more useful reasons to choose between them than a claim that either razor guarantees a closer or irritation-free shave. We’d lean toward the R89 for its familiar three-piece layout and longer overall format; the compact 34C suits a preference for keeping the lower assembly together.
MERKUR 34C Classic Two-Piece Safety Razor Chrome
The compact two-piece design suits you when keeping the lower razor assembly together makes blade changes feel simpler.
A bright finish that deserves ordinary care
The chrome-plated finish is part of the R89’s classic appearance, but it isn’t permission to leave lather drying on the head. Rinse away residue after use and let the razor dry. Avoid abrasive cleaning methods that can damage the surface, and handle the threaded connection gently when taking the razor apart.
Good preparation remains important: soften the hair, use a suitable shaving cream or soap and begin with light strokes in the direction of growth. Collect used blades in a suitable blade container rather than leaving them loose in a bathroom bin. Keep the razor and blades out of reach of children. Those small ownership habits matter more than adding a large shaving set to your first purchase.
Our verdict
The MÜHLE R89 earns its place as a straightforward, classic safety razor for a deliberate shave and clean beard boundaries. Its closed comb and accessible three-piece construction make a sensible starting combination, provided you are comfortable learning a fixed-head technique. Choose it for the tool and the way you want to shave, rather than a promise of effortless results. The MERKUR 34C is the useful alternative when a compact two-piece arrangement appeals more.