The 9 best razors for women, tried and tested
Finding the best razor for shaving your legs is like looking for a razor blade in a haystack. To narrow down your search, we have tested a variety of products and created a shortlist of what we consider the best razors for women.
In an ideal world, we would happily not shave our legs or any part of our bodies (down with the patriarchy). In reality, however, most of us still reach for an epilator or book in for a waxing appointment as soon as we start to feel stubble.
For a more pain-free method of hair removal, a lot of us shave - but there are now so many razors for women to choose from.
Disposable razors, ones with cushioned heads, straight-head razors and now even ladies’ electric razors are the main options. And that's not taking into account the razors that are marketed at men; these are often cheaper and just as effective as razors that are marketed at women.
How many blades do I need to shave my legs?
Most razors have between three and five blades. But how many do you need for a close shave? According to beauty therapist Nathalie Eleni, "the more blades, the better".
“More blades provide a closer shave and work well for more sensitive skin,” she says. Aim for a minimum of five blades because, “they are positioned closer together, so prevent skin from getting into the blades which means only the hair can pass through, meaning less irritation".
Eleni adds, "a razor with more blades is also more powerful and can remove hair in a single stroke, making the overall process smoother and faster."
How often should you change razor blades?
You need to change your toothbrush head every few months to keep your teeth clean; similarly, you need to change your razor blades frequently to maintain a close shave.
The frequency of changing your razor blades can depend on your hair texture but, as a general rule, you should aim to change after as little as eight shaves.
If the blades look dull, rusty or dirty you should also change them. “Dull blades can cause cuts and prevent you from getting the smoothest shave,” advises Eleni. “So if your legs don’t feel evenly smooth after a shave, then that's also another sign that your razor may be past its best.”
What is the best razor for women?
Taking all of the above into consideration, we have tested a range of razors to find the best. We considered the comfort and efficiency of the shave, as well as the finished result on the legs.
The following are, in our opinion, the best razors for women, in ascending order.
9. Wilkinson Sword Quattro
A post shared by Wilkinson Sword Women (@ws_women) on Nov 24, 2017 at 3:37am PST
This electric razor looks the part, with its snazzy design and features - specifically, the fact it is a 2-in-1 razor and bikini-line trimmer. While this sounds impressive, I found the bikini-line trimmer to be a daunting tool that was loud and not very efficient. The razor, on the other hand, contained four blades that gave me a good, clean shave.
8. Gillette Mach 3
Despite only having three blades, this reasonably-priced razor picked up most hairs in one fell swoop. The tilting head meant it went over my knee smoothly, and the device was small and lightweight. The only downside was the thin pole of a handle, which was not ergonomically suited to my hand, and the slightly drab aesthetic. However, it’s a practical razor that’s easy to use and gets the job done.
7. Bulldog Original Bamboo razor
Don’t be fooled: Bulldog may market itself as a grooming store for men, but its Original Bamboo razor is also ideal for women. With five blades, it gave a sharp shave - although it didn’t feel smooth on my legs, as the blade is not cushioned. The aesthetic is its main selling point (or main turn-off, depending on your stance) and I liked its hippy look.
6. BIC Soleil Bella
£2.46 for pack of three, Boots
BIC are renowned for creating the best disposable razors, and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the Soleil Bella collection. This set of three razors is cheap and cheerful, plus each razor feels good in the hand due to its gel-like material and unique shape. There isn’t much tilt in the uncushioned razor head but, with four blades in each razor, the Soleil Bella gives a close shave that makes it fantastic value for money.
5. Venus Swirl
At first glance, I thought the Venus Swirl would be like a Dyson Ball for my legs, with a pivoting ball that would help me reach hairs in every nook and cranny. In reality, however, the swivel ball squeaked and did not seem to achieve anything, aside from tilting the head slightly to the side.
That said, this is still an excellent razor - the five cushioned blades provide a close, smooth shave. While the Swirl refill heads are expensive, most Venus blades are compatible.
4. Wilkinson Sword - Intuition
There is beauty in simplicity…
A post shared by Wilkinson Sword Women (@ws_women) on Apr 18, 2017 at 1:22am PDT
It looks bizarre but this lightweight plastic razor gave me the smoothest shave out of the lot. I used the device in the shower and the water activated a lathering feature in the razor head, so it felt like I was rubbing my skin with a bar of soap. The four-blade razor did not give me a close shave, and I had to go over sections, but it would be perfect for use in the bath.
3. Harry’s Truman razor
Arriving in a suave slide-out box, the Harry’s razor feels like a gentleman’s gadget. The handle is weighty and easy to grip, but the head does not tilt as much as the others. The head is also not cushioned, so it is not a particularly smooth shave but, with five blades, it picks up most hairs in one swipe.
2. Venus Snap Comfort Glide
This compact razor is ideal to pack in the beach bag for your holiday. The nifty device tilts easily over the knee and its small size makes it easy to hold in your fingertips - particularly useful in the shower. Even though it wasn’t the closest of shaves, my skin felt silky smooth both during and after shaving because of the cushioned head.
1. Ffs
There seems to be a subscription service for everything these days - so it makes sense that there is now one for razors. Ffs (which stands for “friction-free shaving”) is a monthly subscription service, where you pay £9 for the initial razor, then pay for monthly refills. You can even personalise your sleek silver or rose-gold metallic razor with a subtle engraving.
The razor is easy to hold, with a curve in the base, and the six-bladed cushioned head provides a smooth, close shave. My legs felt dolphin-smooth afterwards.
FAQs
How to look after your skin when shaving
Exfoliate your legs before you shave. Beauty therapist Nathalie Eleni recommends an exfoliating brush from Elemis as “body brushing is an effective and fuss-free way to exfoliate and keep ingrown hairs at bay”.
She also recommends the Body Shop Mediterranean Sea Salt Scrub which is “great for dry skin” and the Arbonne Rescue & Renew Detox Scrub for oily skin as it “cleanses the pores of excess oils and impurities, while maintaining the moisture barrier”.
Once you have finished shaving, Eleni recommends moisturising with Nivea Post-Shave Balm as it “soothes without burning”. She also suggests Oxygenetix Oxygenating Hydrating Matrix Moisturiser as “a healing moisturiser that works brilliantly on the body to help soothe irritations”.
How should you shave if you have sensitive skin?
If you have sensitive skin, there are ways to protect yourself when shaving.
First, you should select a razor with a moisture or lubrication bar as this “helps the blade to glide for a closer shave,” Eleni says.
Take a bath for a more comfortable experience while you shave. “Soak in a warm bath to soften the hair,” Eleni suggests. Before you hop in the tub, however, ensure that it is the right temperature. “Avoid a very hot bath or shower when shaving as this could aggravate your skin further.”
After you have finished shaving, pat your skin dry instead of rubbing it with a towel.
