The 10 Very Best Safety Razors (and Blades)

The 10 Very Best Safety Razors (and Blades) ; Best overall safety razor. PleasereadourupdatedPrivacyNoticeandTermsofUse,effectiveonDecember19,2019. close Intelligencer TheCut Vulture TheStrategist Curbed GrubStreet Magazine SubscribetotheMagazine GiveaGiftSubscription BuyBackIssues CurrentIssueContents Subscribe SignIn Account Profile SignOut Sales Beauty Home Kitchen&Dining Fashion Tech&Electronics Travel Kids&Babies GiftGuides Everyproductisindependentlyselectedby(obsessive)editors.Thingsyoubuythroughourlinksmayearnus acommission. hairlessweek Skiparticlelist TheVeryBestTweezersforHairRemoval TheVeryBestTweezersforHairRemoval HowtoPreventRazorBumps,AccordingtoAestheticians HowtoPreventRazorBumps,Accordingto… IResearchedandUsed30BeardTrimmerstoFindtheBestOne IResearchedandUsed30BeardTrimmers… EverythingIUsetoKeepMyBeardPerfectlyGroomed EverythingIUsetoKeepMyBeardPerfec… TheBestWomen’sRazors,AccordingtoAmazonReviews TheBestWomen’sRazors,AccordingtoAm… ThisDoohickeyGetsRidoftheHairsAroundMyChin ThisDoohickeyGetsRidoftheHairsAro… TheAbsolutelyMess-FreeWaxStripsIUseonMyHappyTrail TheAbsolutelyMess-FreeWaxStripsIUs… TheShampooLenaDunhamUsesonHerHairlessCats TheShampooLenaDunhamUsesonHerHair… TheSerumThatNukedMyBikini-LineIngrownHairs TheSerumThatNukedMyBikini-LineIngr… TheBestTweezersforIngrownHairs TheBestTweezersforIngrownHairs WelcometoHairlessWeek WelcometoHairlessWeek The$8BeardTrimmerThatIUseonMyBikiniLine The$8BeardTrimmerThatIUseonMyBi… ThisEasyLaserHairRemoverPaysforItselfinTwoMonths ThisEasyLaserHairRemoverPaysforIt… TheCheapShaveButterThatMakesMeFeelLikeaLegModel TheCheapShaveButterThatMakesMeFee… This$13SafetyRazorSavedMeFromYearsofIrritation This$13SafetyRazorSavedMeFromYear… ThisDeviceHasSavedMeThousandsofDollarsonWaxing ThisDeviceHasSavedMeThousandsofDo… MyTubeofShavingCreamHasLastedaYearandaHalf MyTubeofShavingCreamHasLastedaYe… ICanFinallyShaveMyBackThankstoThisPlasticWand ICanFinallyShaveMyBackThankstoTh… TheBestFacial-HairRemoverIsThisTinyJapaneseRazor TheBestFacial-HairRemoverIsThisTin… 10itemsinthisarticle 1itemonsale! Photo:Courtesyoftheretailers Askmostmen —whetherthey’rebeardedorsubtlystubbled—aboutwhattheyusetoshave,andthey’lllikelyallreplywithsometwistonthesamebasictool:acartridgerazorwithdisposableblades,eitherfromadrugstorebrandlikeGilletteorSchick,oranewer,direct-to-consumercompanylikeHarry’sandDollarShaveClub.Butaccordingtomostoftheprofessionalbarberswespoketo,thebestwaytoshaveathome—andavoidtheirritationcommonlycausedbycartridgerazors—isactuallywithasafetyrazor,atoolthathasstayedalmostexactlythesamesinceitdebutedin1903. Unlikeacartridgerazor,whichcanonlyusebladesfromthesamebrand,asafetyrazorfeaturesasingledouble-sidedblade,andanycompany’sbladesarecompatiblewithit,explainsMikeGilman,founderofGroomingLounge.“Itgetscloser,islessirritating,andisinfinitelycheaperthancartridgecounterparts,”hesays,callingsafetyrazors“thebestlong-termsolutionforaregularshaver.”Acartridgerazortypicallyhasthreeblades—thefirstwilldomostofthecuttingandonceitgetsdull,it’llstarttopullhairup,saysBrianPorteous,ownerofHeritageBarbershopinPortland.“That’swhatcausesirritationandingrownhair.”Asafetyrazor’ssingleblademakesitsaferontheskin.Upfront,asafetyrazorseemspricier,butasPeterSolomon,theownerofBoston’sTweedBarbers,tellus,thebladesforsafetyrazors“generallycost10to20centseach—whilecartridgestendtogoforatleast$2to$3each—sothelifetimesavingsaresignificant.” Sinceasafetyrazor’sbladeisn’tlockedinatacertainangle,asitiswithacartridgerazor,it’seasiertonickyourselfifyoudon’tslowdown,accordingtoPaulLabrecqueSalonandSkincareSpamasterbarberBrittanyRaposo.Butalmostallthebarberswespoketoassuredusthatonceyougetyourtechniquedown(whichreallyshouldn’ttakelongand,asbarberKaracRuleaunotes,canbepracticedbyputtingsomeshavingcreamonaninflatedballoon),it’sunlikelyyou’llwanttouseanythingbutasafetyrazor.Tofindthebestsafetyrazors—andgettipsforhowtousethem—wespokewith12barbers.Youcanuseourhandy,clickabletableofcontentstoskiptothetypeofsafetyrazorthatsuitsyoubest.Orreadonforeveryrecommendation,aswellassometricksofthetrade. Bestoverall|Best(lessexpensive)short-handle|Bestlong-handle|Best(lessexpensive)long-handle|Bestbutterfly|Bestlightweightbutterfly|Bestadjustable|Bestforsensitiveskin|Bestopen-comb|Bestgiftable Whatwe’relookingfor Handlelength:Thoughitmightsoundcounterintuitive,thebarberswetalkedtosayshorterhandlesaregenerallyeasiertogripandmoremaneuverable.BarberMikeSpositocomparesittousingabaseballbat:“Theshorterthehandle,thetighterthegripandthegreateryourcontrol.”Butitalsocomesdowntopersonalpreferenceandwhatfeelsbestinyourhand,saysPorteous,addingthatpeoplewithlargerhandsmightfindlongerhandleseasiertogrip. Weight:AccordingtoMonicaDavis,aprofessionalhairstylistandthefounderoftheMyStraightenerblog,theweightofasafetyrazorshoulddoalltheworkforyou.JoeyTasca,abarberatBrooklyn’sPersonsofInterest,saystheheavierweightofasafetyrazorhelpstoremindyouthatyouhavesomethingpowerfulinyourhand,whichmakesyoulesslikelytocutyourself.Allsafetyrazorsweighmorethantheirdisposable-cartridgerazorcounterparts,butthere’sagoodamountofvariationwithinthatgrouping.MasterbarberAngeloRuscettaofAmericanHaircutsinKennesaw,Georgia,favorsheaviersafetyrazorsbecause,asheputsit,“youdon’thavetoforceit”andyoucangetacloseshavewithoutapplyingmuchpressure.Itmayfeelstrangeatfirst,especiallytothoseusedtodrugstorerazors,butonceyougetthehangofusingasafetyrazor,you’llprobablyliketheweighttoo.Tohelpyougetasenseofthedifferencebetweeneachrazorbelow,we’velistedtheirweightsinouncesinthedetails. Screw-offvs.Butterfly:Mostsafetyrazorshaveastraightforwardscrew-offtopforreplacingtheblade,butafewhavewhat’scalledabutterflytop.Thebutterflyrazor’sheadpopsopenandclosedwithasimpletwistinsteadofamorelengthyandfiddlyunscrewingandrescrewing.Severalofourexpertsrecommend“butterfly”safetyrazorsasagreatoptionduetotheiruniqueone-pieceheadthatmakesswappinginnewbladesquickandeasy. Closedcombvs.Opencomb:Inadditiontothewayarazorfeelsinyourhand,Solomonsaysoneofthemostimportantqualitiestoconsideristhe“aggressiveness”oftheshave,“whichislargelydeterminedbyhowmuchspaceexistsbetweenthebladeandthesafetybaroftherazor.”Solomonandalltheotherexpertssayclosed-combrazorsaregenerallybestforbeginnersbecausetheyofferamoreprotectedshave,atleastasfarassafetyrazorsareconcerned.Withopen-combrazors,thebladeismoreexposed,whichsomesayprovidesaclosershave,butwillincreasetheriskofnicksandirritation.Solomonsaysthattheopen-combdesignhandleslongerstubblebetterthanaclosedcomb,soitmightbeagoodoptionforpeoplewiththickerbeards,orforthosewhoshavelessfrequently.Asheexplains,“anopencombhas‘teeth’alongtheheadoftherazorwherethebladesprotrude,allowinglongerstubbletopassthroughtheteethandreachtheblade.” Bestoverallsafetyrazor Merkur34CHeavy-dutyShort-HandleSafetyRazor $50now12%off $44 3-inchhandle|2.72ounces|Screw-offblademechanism|Closedcomb GermanrazorcompanyMerkurcameupmorethananyotherbrandbyfar,praisedforitslonghistory,goodpricepoint,andreputationforqualitymanufacturing.Merkurmakesawiderangeofsafetyrazors,butit’sperhapsbestknownforthisthree-inch,roughlythree-ouncemodelthatfouroftheexpertsspecificallynamedasagreatsafetyrazorforbeginners.Itshandleistheshortestofanyrazoronthislist,butPorteoussaysthat’spartofwhatmakesitsuchagoodoptionforsomeonenewtosafety-razorshaving.Usingit,Spositoadds,issupersimple.“Youunscrewthebutton,thetoppopsopen,youpopthesinglebladein,andscrewitdownagain.”Incidentally,it’snotjustbarberswhotoldustheyfavorthisrazor:FormerStrategistwriterDavidNotishasbeenusinghisMerkur34Cforatleastsixyears. $44 atAmazon Buy $49 atWestCoastShaving Buy Best(lessexpensive)short-handlesafetyrazors EdwinJaggerDoubleEdgeSafetyRazor,ShortHandle $35 Photo:retailer 3.34-inchhandle|2.36ounces|Screw-offblademechanism|Closedcomb TwoofourbarberspraisedBritishshavingcompanyEdwinJagger’ssafetyrazors,specificallythisone,whichhasthesamemechanismastheMerkur34Cbutatamoreaffordableprice(thepriceincludesfivebladesfromDerby,abrandmanybarbersendorsed,whichcomewiththe razor).Thetwoexpertswhorecommendthissafetyrazoreachaddthatthey’vegivenittootherguysasagift,underscoringtheirendorsementofit.MarkMiguez,whoworksatFriendofaBarber,explainshowtherazor’sweight,combinedwithitsshorterhandle,makeituser-friendly.“Thehandleislightandsmall,buttheheadisheavy,whichkeepsmefromtakingachanceandcuttingmyself,whilestillgivingmethatcontrol,”hesays.MiguezactuallyswitchedtousingthisrazorafterhisskinreactedbadlytoshavingwithGilletteandBiccartridgerazors,andtellsushe’sexperiencednoirritationsincehestartedusingit. $35 atAmazon Buy $35 atAmazon Buy Bestlong-handlesafetyrazor Merkur38CHeavy-DutyLongHandleSafetyRazor $61 3.79-inchhandle|3.92ounces|Screw-offblademechanism|Closedcomb WhilePorteoussaystheMerkur34Cisagreatall-aroundrazorandhisgo-torecommendationforbeginners,hepersonallypreferstheMerkur38C,whichhasallthesamefeaturesbutalonger,3.79-inchhandle.(Atroughlyfourounces,italsoweighsmore.)Ruscettaagrees:“Alotoftallguyslikelongerhandles,”hesays.ButlikePorteous,Ruscettaalsosayschoosingtherightsafetyrazorultimatelycomesdowntofeel.(Healsofavorsthe38C’sslightlylongerhandleandheavierweight.) $61 atAmazon Buy $59 atWestCoastShaving Buy Best(lessexpensive)long-handlesafetyrazor Merkur23CClassicLongHandleSafetyRazor $38 3.87-inchhandle|2.12ounces|Screw-offblademechanism|Closedcomb The23CisanotherclassicMerkurmodelwithplentyoffans.RecommendedbyPaulLangevin,aco-owneroftheLowerEastSidebarbershopMildredNewYork,it’sthelongestandlightestrazorofthebunch(at3.87inchesandjustovertwoounces,respectively).Thatmakesitagoodchoiceforsomeonewhowantstosmoothlytransitionfromthefeelofalightercartridgerazortotheworldofsafetyrazors. $38 atAmazon Buy $38 atWestCoastShaving Buy Bestbutterflysafetyrazor Parker96RButterflySafetyRazor $32 Photo:retailer 3.8-inchhandle|4ounces|Butterfly-blademechanism|Closedcomb Parkerisoneofthebestknownsafety-razormanufacturers,andthisbutterflyrazor,whichcomeswithfiveblades,isoneofitssignaturemodels.“It’stheCadillacofsafetyrazors,”saysRuscetta,whotoldusthatit’swhatheusesathome.Atalmostfourounces,it’soneoftheheavierrazorsonthislist. $32 atAmazon Buy $32 atAmazon Buy Bestlightweightbutterflysafetyrazor VikingsBlade“TheChieftain”ButterflySafetyRazor $19 3.75-inchhandle|3.84ounces|Butterfly-blademechanism|Closedcomb HeatherManto,theownerofAustin’sIndependenceBarberCo.,believesthatbutterflysafetyrazors“giveyouthatold-time,nostalgicshaveexperience.”SherecommendsthismodelfromVikingsBlade,anotherverypopularsafety-razorcompanybutonethat’sperhapslesswellknownthantheoldstandbys,MerkurandParker.Ithasalong,3.75-inchhandle—aboutthesamelengthastheParkerandMerkur38Cmodelsshownabove—butis25percentlighterthaneitherofthosetwo. $19 atAmazon Buy $19 atAmazon Buy Bestadjustablesafetyrazor MerkurProgress510AdjustableSafetyRazor $68 2.99-inchhandle|3.17ounces|Screw-offblademechanism|Closedcomb Asourexpertshavementioned,the“aggressiveness”oftheshaveissomethingcommonamongallsafetyrazors,mostofwhicharerigidintheirdesign,meaningyou’regenerallystuckwithwhatevercuttingangleisbuiltintotherazorandhowitclosesaroundablade.Whiletherigiddesignofmostsafetyrazorssimplifieshowyouusethem,italsomakesitimpossibletoexperimentandfindwhattypeofshaveworksbestwithoutbuyingmultiplerazors.Thisiswhereadjustablesafetyrazorscomeinhandy,saysSolomon.“Adjustablerazorsletyoucontrol(bytwistingthebase)howmuchofthebladeprotrudesbeyondthehead,soinessenceyoucancontrolhowaggressivetheshaveis.”Henotesthattherearen’tatonofoptionsouttherewhenitcomestoadjustablerazors,buttheMerkurProgressisthoughttobeoneofthebest.Thedialatthebottomhasfivesettingstochoosefrom,andtherazoralsocomesintwodifferentlengths.Thisonehasa2.99-inchhandle,butyoucanalsopurchaseitwithalonger3.7-inchhandle. $68 atAmazon Buy $68 atAmazon Buy Bestsafetyrazorforsensitiveskin BevelSafetyRazor $50now8%off $46 4-inchhandle|3.1ounces|Screw-offblademechanism|Closedcomb Bevelisoneofafewcompaniestakingthedirect-to-consumerapproachwithsafetyrazors.Ithasawholelineofproducts,includingblades,pre-shaveoils,shavingcreams,andmore.AccordingtomasterbarberJulienHowardatNewYorkCity’sBlindBarber(whoalsodoespop-upsaroundthecountryunderthemonikertheVeloBarber),Bevelmakesoneofthebestsafetyrazorsoutthereforanyonepronetoingrownhairorwithskinthat’sespeciallyirritable.“It’stailoredtoworkwithAfricanAmericanfacialhair,”hesays,notingthatit’sdesignedtominimizeingrownsandirritation.Ithasoneofthelongerhandlesofthebunch,atfourinches,andweighsjustoverthreeounces. $46 atAmazon Buy $50 atTarget Buy Bestopen-combsafetyrazor MuhleR41OpenCombSafetyRazor $44 $44 3.7-inchhandle|2.2ounces|Screw-offblademechanism|Opencomb Whileallofthesafetyrazorswe’velistedthusfarareclosedcomb,ifyou’relookingforanopen-combstyle—whichsomeinsistprovidetheclosestshavepossible—theMuhleR41iswidelyregardedasoneofthebestavailable.Solomoncautions,however,thatthisrazoris“knowntobeaveryaggressiveshave,soit’sbestforexpertswhoknowwhatthey’redoing.”Its3.7-inchhandleisconsistentwiththeotherlong-handlerazorsonthelist,andit’sonthelighterend,weighinginatjustovertwoounces. $44 atAmazon Buy $44 atMühle Buy Bestgiftablesafetyrazor BaxterofCaliforniaDoubleEdgeRazorSafetyRazorSet $130 Photo:retailer 3.25-inchhandle|2.4ounces|Screw-offblademechanism|Closedcomb Ifyou(orsomeoneyouknow)isattractedtowhatMiguezcallsthe“romance”ofusingasafetyrazor,youmightconsidersplurgingonthissafety-razorsetherecommends,whichcomeswithashort-handlerazor,abadger-hairshavingbrush,andastand(allthreearechrome-plated).Whileyouneedtobuyyourownblades—anyofthemostpopularstylewillwork—Miguezassuresthattherazor’squalityisonparwiththatoftheEdwinJaggermodelheuses.BaxterofCalifornia’sshavingproducts,weshouldnote,havealsobeenpreviouslyrecommendedtousbydiscerningmenonmultipleoccasions. $130 atBaxterofCalifornia Buy Ourexperts •MonicaDavis,hairstylistandfounderoftheMyStraightenerblog•MikeGilman,founderofGroomingLounge•JulienHowardatNewYorkCity’sBlindBarber•PaulLangevin,co-ownerofthebarbershopMildredNewYork•HeatherManto,theownerofAustin’sIndependenceBarberCo•MarkMiguez,whoworksatFriendofaBarber•BrianPorteous,ownerofHeritageBarbershop•BrittanyRaposo,masterbarberatPaulLabrecqueSalonandSkincareSpa•KaracRuleau,barber•AngeloRuscetta,masterbarberatAmericanHaircuts•PeterSolomon,theownerofBoston’sTweedBarbers•JoeyTasca,barberatBrooklyn’sPersonsofInterest getthestrategistnewsletter Actuallygooddeals,smartshoppingadvice,andexclusivediscounts. 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Tags: thestrategist shavingandgrooming face bestinclass +Comments LeaveaComment The10VeryBestSafetyRazors Everyproductisindependentlyselectedby(obsessive)editors.Thingsyoubuythroughourlinksmayearn usacommission. $150 NOW$90 DealoftheDay TheseRarelyonSale,Fall-ReadyDocsAreNow40PercentOff $100 NOW$30 $165 NOW$59 $205 NOW$144 $148 NOW$59 11ThingsonSaleYou’llActuallyWanttoBuy:FromOnRunningtoUGG SeeAllInSale GreatestHits TheStrategist100:OurMostStood-BehindGifts TheStrategistHomeCatalogue TheStrategistBabyRegistry100 WelcometotheStrategistDrugstore MostViewedStories 11ThingsonSaleYou’llActuallyWanttoBuy:FromOnRunningtoUGG 28oftheVeryBestPlanners TheBestCarry-onLuggage,AccordingtoCoolPeopleandFrequentFlyers TheseRarelyonSale,Fall-ReadyDocsAreNow40PercentOff The9VeryBestRiceCookers 28oftheVeryBestPlanners 11ThingsonSaleYou’llActuallyWanttoBuy:FromOnRunningtoUGG TheBestGiftsforTeenageGirls,AccordingtoTeenagers TheBestCarry-onLuggage,AccordingtoCoolPeopleandFrequentFlyers TheBestHousewarmingGifts,AccordingtoCoolHomeowners(andRenters) GreatestHits TheStrategist100:OurMostStood-BehindGifts TheStrategistHomeCatalogue TheStrategistBabyRegistry100 WelcometotheStrategistDrugstore bestinclass TheVeryBestStraightRazors bestinclass The9VeryBestElectricRazors bestinclass The9VeryBestBeardTrimmers trustmeishouldknow My8FavoriteFaceMasksforMen(andOnlySomeofThemAre‘forMen’) testingtesting IResearchedandUsedOver30BeardTrimmerstoFindtheBestOne myhobbiesincludeskin-care I’veAmassedTonsofTinyBeautySamples.TheseArethe5I’mBuyingFull-size. recommendedbyexperts TheBestBeardCombs,AccordingtoGroomingExperts recommendedbyexperts TheBestBeardBrushes,AccordingtoGroomingExperts recommendedbyexperts TheBestBeardOils,AccordingtoGroomingExperts thisthing'sincredible TheEditorialDirectorofDazedontheOnlyThingThatZappedHisRazorBurn MoreStories SignIntoComment