Review of the Dscosmetic DS-Z0 razor head: Is the Muehle R41 really that bad?

Continuing my search for an effective razor for my stubble and skin, I've already accumulated a dozen different razors and shaving heads. Thanks to the Rockwell 6c clone, I realized I needed the efficiency of the Muehle R41 head.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a stainless steel version of the Muehle R41. They disappeared from sale almost immediately. Inflation (people rushed to the stores) and the approach of the New Year likely played a role.

So I ordered the DS-Z0 from the Chinese company Dscosmetic - it's an improved clone of the R41 head from Muehle, in a stainless steel version.

Since the head is craft, the company sends the head simply in a piece of paper and a bag.

By the way, the Yaqi company sends its heads in a cardboard box with the head specifications written on it, but there is nothing on the heads themselves except the logo.

But Dscosmetic has all the information engraved on the bottom plate, starting from the country of manufacture, including the head name and serial number, which is more useful.

In addition, the head comes with a rubber protective washer to prevent damage to the razor head by the handle of the machine.

The polishing of the slabs is simply perfect.

There is no polishing on the underside of the top plate; it is not needed, and this also provides increased fixation of the blade relative to the plate.

For your information, I would like to point out that the thread on most T-shaped machines has a diameter of 5 millimeters and a pitch of M0.8.

This photo shows that the end of the axle has a cut rather than traces of powder metallurgy, which gives reason to hope that the head is made from a solid piece of metal, and this warms the soul.

The difference between the head of the Dscosmetic DS-Z0 and the Muehle R41 is that the DS-Z0 has an increased length, which allows you to hide the blade ears and prevent injury from these ears when blind shaving without a mirror.

The angle between the top and bottom plates where the blade emerges has also been slightly modified, and the surfaces have been made more parallel, reducing the risk of blade vibration.

Dscosmetic also makes coated brass and titanium options. The alloy heads have received negative reviews, and I don't like the titanium at the moment, as it's simply too metal-like in feel and feel of aluminum.

I really liked the video where the author constantly tries to advertise a single aluminum razor. It looks absurd from the outside – his stubble is even worse than mine, resembling stiff acacia branches, intertwined and sticking out in all directions. It's clear that the razor's geometry and cutting angle are clearly abnormal, and when shaving on camera, the sound is terrifyingly crunchy. The stubble doesn't cut properly, the skin stretches, and the author cuts himself. He prefers to shave with soft Astra blades, which is completely abnormal given the thickness of his stubble, which is the size of a shovel handle.

The bottom plate has a recess for the ring, which improves centering.

Due to the high content of soft nickel in stainless steel, items made from it are easily scratched by air, but the beauty of it is that it polishes just as quickly.

Here's a life hack: after using your toothbrush, it's a good idea to rinse it with soap. This way, you combine business with pleasure: lather the brush and wash the entire razor with soap, each part separately, except for the blade—it just needs to be rinsed and put back in the blade holder to dry. This keeps the brush and the razor clean, and polishes it.

The company is probably constantly making some improvements, as the blade clearance varies among other users. Or so I imagine.

After reading reviews about the supposedly terribly aggressive R41-like heads, I decided to use a soft Astra blade for my first shave.

I knew I'd have to deal with the Muehle R41 one day, so I saved a pack of blades for when they were reasonably priced. Now in Russia, they're unreasonably expensive; it's easier to use the Rapira Lux Platinum.

One blade is enough for me to shave my face and head in one go. By the end of the shave, you feel like it's just smoothing over your skin.

And finally. Thanks for reading this far. I didn't see any fantastic aggression in this head. Where the rumor about the Muehle R41 head being so aggressive started is unclear.

Yes, the Dscosmetic DS-Z0 isn't the Muehle R41, but owners of both heads say they're comparable. The Dscosmetic DS-Z0 shaves gently but effectively. It's a far cry from the phenomenal aggressiveness of the Rapira, which demands even the slightest hand movement.

It's best to use a handle that's not as pretty as the one in this photo, but one that's grippy enough to prevent the razor from turning uncontrollably while shaving.

With the Dscosmetic DS-Z0, you don't have to spend half an hour fidgeting with one spot to get it right. One or two passes at most will give you a perfectly shaven body.

Many recommend that beginners start with soft heads with aggressive blades and then, if they're not satisfied, move on to a more aggressive head. However, this option is time-consuming and expensive. You'll also be left with a ton of razors to work with. Therefore, I suggest a shortcut: if you have thick, stiff, black or red stubble, reminiscent of a paint stripper, it's best to use the Dscosmetic DS-Z0 or Muehle R41 straight away. Of course, you might not be able to shave without nicks right away, but by getting nicks, you'll learn to shave faster than by fidgeting with the same spot for half an hour, applying pressure to the razor, and trying to achieve the same result as with a cartridge razor. After a few nicks, you'll realize that you don't need to apply pressure and that a heavier razor is better for this.

Lightweight razors are suitable for experienced users.

For myself, I decided to stick to the following shaving regime: on weekdays, shave with soft heads, which is how I shave in the evening, and on weekends, use heads with increased efficiency.

The Dscosmetic DS-Z0 head is simply superbly crafted and effective. And here's another voice telling you not to believe the myths, and the Muehle R41 head is not aggressive, but effective.