The Best Safety Razors for Men, According to Barbers
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Shaving is one of the more terrifying activities men collectively embark on a regular basis. It’s scraping a sharp device along the curvature of one’s neck in the name of gentlemanly grooming. Thankfully, there are ways to mitigate the risk, including using a safety razor.
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The more than century-old metal tool is designed to deliver the close shave of a straight razor without the obvious danger. Cartridge razors have their place and their function, but safety razors come with a little more history, offer equal (or often better) shaves, are generally cheaper, and dial back the significant environmental impact generated by plastic razors.
Safety razors are also cooler than cartridge razors. “The classic style and design of a safety razor adds sophistication to your grooming routine and looks great displayed in your bathroom,” says Patrick Kenger, a men’s personal stylist and founder of PIVOT Image Consultancy.
The pull of plastic razors is that they’re cheap, but safety razors don’t need to come with a steep price tag, either. The ones worth buying cost more than $20 but less than $75. Some brands charge more than that, but generally only include aesthetic improvements or add-ons like a stand because there isn’t much to upgrade about the razor itself.
What the Experts Say
SPY spoke with barbers, grooming experts, and a dermatologist to understand the state of play for the best safety razors, including professional barbers Chris Eliares and Jomo Kenyatta; Patrick Kenger, a personal stylist and founder of PIVOT Image Consultancy; Tom Yates, director of Cut Throat Club; Sunny Kambo, barber instructor at WiseBarber and Wahl educator; and Dr. Anna Chacon, a board-certified dermatologist.
Surprisingly, multiple experts mentioned the same safety razors that they thought were among the best and everyone agreed a safety razor offered the best possible shave for most guys, whether they’re seeking the cleanest lines or just less skin irritation. “Safety razors are designed to provide a close shave,” Kenger says. “The single sharp blade allows for more precise cutting, reducing the chances of ingrown hairs and irritation. I personally got rid of a lot of irritation when switching to a safety razor.”
Yates touted those benefits as well. “Safety razors are far more gentle on the skin, which can help prevent razor bumps/rash,” he says. “A single blade is all that is needed for a close shave. Sometimes having multiple blades causes the razor to pluck the hair and then cut the hair below the skin’s surface, which can cause ingrown hairs.”
Lastly, the razor is just one part of the shave-quation, the experts say, and though a safety razor is an excellent route to go, they recommend that route also include a freshly washed face, and products like shaving cream and aftershave, as well.
BEST OVERALL
Merkur Mk34c Double Edge Razor with Heavy Duty Short Handle
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If safety razors were a religion, Merkur would be one of its gods. The German brand has been producing safety razors since at least the mid-1900s, with the Merkur 34C Double Edge Heavy Duty Safety Razor leading the way for the last 80 years. “Without a doubt, one of my favorite brands for safety razors is Merkur,” Kenger says.” [It’s] a great starting point that doesn’t break the bank.”
In particular, this razor features a heaver-than-average weight, as well as a compact design for maneuverability. The knurling on the handle is industry-standard and makes it easier to grip, and therefore safer to use. It also includes a twist-off mechanism to minimize the risk of a cut when changing the blades.
It offers a medium aggressive shave — with moderate-size scallops on the safety bar to help guide hair — that’s helpful for both newcomers and experienced shavers. “[It’s] certainly one of the most well-known razors in the wet shaving community,” Yates says. “It has been around for a long time and is considered great for beginners and seasoned wet shaving veterans.” Even Dr. Chacon called out the 34C as an “excellent choice that combines both safety and precision.”
That’s all there is to it. The razor’s design has remained basically unchanged for decades because it hasn’t failed yet and continues to grace men’s bathroom counters all over the world, delivering close shaves without going against the grain.
BEST FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
Rockwell 6C Double-Edge Safety Razor
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Why It Stands Out: The Rockwell 6C Double Edge Safety Razor is SPY’s best razor for sensitive skin primarily for its unique patented plate system that allows for different shave angles, resulting in more or less aggressive shaves.
Made For: Every guy could use this razor because there’s a shave plate for every kind of skin. “Expose more blade for tougher skin or coarser hairs, and expose less blade for sensitive skin, two or more passes, or when shaving against the grain,” Kambo says.
ROI: At $60, guys could go cheaper and be satisfied, but that’s still an excellent return on investment compared to a few months of cartridge razors.
Hot Take: All guys with sensitive skin should hot-take themselves over to Rockwell for this plate system. By adjusting the shave angle, the system reduces irritation and ingrown hairs and is generally great for guys who deal with chronic razor burn.
BEST NO-BUMP SAFETY RAZOR
Bevel Safety Razor
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Why It Stands Out: The Bevel Safety Razor leans into sensitivity protection, with a flatter shave angle and flat safety bar, resulting in a safety razor that’s damn difficult to cut oneself with when used correctly.
Made For: Bevel was founded by a Black man who wanted an easier shave for his coarse, curly facial hair and fewer razor bumps, meaning this razor is literally designed for any guy dealing with too many bumps and general skin irritation caused by closer-shaving razors. “The safeguards on the blades are designed to minimize all mishaps that may occur during the duration of your shave by creating a shield around before the blade reaches your skin,” Kenyatta says.
ROI: At $50, this razor falls squarely into the reasonable ROI range; it’s not too cheap or too expensive, though for what it offers, it could probably be a few dollars cheaper.
Hot Take: The Bevel Safety Razor features a welcoming design for rookies, a reasonable price, and a sensitive skin-friendly shave, especially for those with irritable skin and hair. “If you are just starting out shaving or if you just want to get up and get through a fast routine, this shaver is for you,” Kenyatta says. “[It’s] easy to use without the hold-ups of worrying about cutting yourself or using it the wrong way. There’s no wrong way with the safety guard.”
BEST AFFORDABLE SAFETY RAZOR
King C. Gillette Safety Razor
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Why It Stands Out: The King C. Gillette Safety Razor is cheap as hell, but hands-on testing from SPY suggests Gillette didn’t skimp out on quality, making this one of the most affordable and best entry-level safety razors. “This is a relatively new razor to the market; it’s a good starter razor and is widely accessible given it’s stocked in large retailers,” Yates says.
Made For: This safety razor is a perfect first safety razor and great for any guy just dipping his toes into the wet shaving waters.
ROI: At a little over $20, this safety razor offers a potentially excellent ROI, saving $20-$40 upfront before the low cost of blades is even taken into account. Daily shavers switching from cartridge razors will likely start saving money after the first month.
Hot Take: Named for the inventor of the original double-edge safety razor, King C. Gillette, this razor holds on to the good parts of its history, like the simple timeless design, and polishes it for the modern man. “The high-quality handle is chrome-plated, so it looks fresh and has long-lasting durability,” Eliares says. “The closed comb design allows great control, and the platinum-coated blades ensure that you get the most shaves for the blade.”
BEST FOR NEW-OLD DESIGN
The Single Edge SE | Supply Razor
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Why It Stands Out: The Supply Single Edge Safety Razor is one of the few modern safety razors to come in a single edge instead of a double edge, updating one of the earliest designs for the 21st century into a new, sleek, cool package with “ultra-modern design,” Yates says.
Made For: Supply touts its razor as excellent for sensitive skin, with a fin system to guide hairs without exposing skin to the blade, so this razor is best for guys suffering from excessive razor burn or guys who never really understand why a safety razor should have two edges when the blade gets changed every time. “[It] has a guide to keep skin floating on the surface, reducing mechanical exfoliation,” Kambo says. “[It’s] very safe for first-time users.”
ROI: Guys can expect more or less the same ROI from the $60 Supply safety razor as with most other safety razors. The only thing to be aware of is buying single-edge blades typically costs more than double-edge blades. Go figure. But enterprising dudes can snap double-edge blades in half instead to really save money.
Hot Take: The Supply safety razor is great for sensitive skin and may feel more intuitive for guys coming from the single-sided cartridge razor life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Men’s Safety Razors
What is a safety razor? Is it safer?
A safety razor is any razor that incorporates a guard alongside the razor blade in contrast to the naked blade of a straight razor. That technically includes cartridge razors, but when most people say safety razor today, they mean the double-edge safety razor that consists of the handle, the razor blade, and the head. The head usually has a base plate and a top plate to hold the blade and attach it to the handle.
Despite the exposed blade, safety razors are extremely safe when used correctly thanks to their guards. “While safety razors do require a different technique than disposable razors, they are not inherently risky,” Chacon says. “The term safety was coined to illustrate that while they use a single, sharp blade, the design of the razor includes a safety bar that limits the blade’s exposure. This dramatically reduces the risk of cuts compared to a straight razor.” To avoid serious cuts, guys should never move the razor side to side when shaving and be extra careful when changing out blades.
Can you fly with a safety razor?
Not unless you grow wings! Unfortunately (or fortunately if you’re a sucker for “safety”), the Transportation Security Administration prohibits safety razors with blades through airport security. They’re OK in checked luggage, and safety razors without blades can go in carry-ons, but the TSA notes the final decision rests with the examining officer.
How do razor blades affect the shave?
The only quality that matters with razor blades is sharpness. It’s not an exact science, as shave technique and tool selection also affect the shave, but sharper blades can result in a closer shave while more mild blades could result in less irritation. Barbers, who all have their own preferences, don’t necessarily agree on which blades are best. Feather, Astra, Personna, and Derby are some of the best-known and most commonly used, including by Kambo, Kenyatta, and Kenger.
How often should you change a razor blade?
All the experts agree that one needs to change the blade regularly. Changing every time is optimal, but guys without coarse hair or sensitive skin could get away with using a blade more than once. But even the best blades on the easiest-to-cut hair will need to be changed after the fourth or fifth shave because the blade literally degrades and will only cause more and more irritation and burn. Plus, guys have no excuse to skimp on blades, either, as a pack of 100 blades typically costs around $10 or less.
How should you dispose of razor blades?
SAFELY! That means wrapping up the blades in their original paper before throwing them in the garbage or placing them in a razor disposal case that can then be disposed of or taken to a metal recycling facility. Some communities formally regulate the disposal of razor blades due to their risk to garbage handlers, so men planning on piling up used blades should double-check their local rules.
What else can guys do to ensure a smooth shave?
All the experts recommend the same steps: prep the skin, use a shaving product for smooth gliding, change the razor blade if necessary, don’t use too much pressure and let the razor do the work. Then, properly cleanse the razor and facial skin afterward and apply an aftershave for extra comfort.
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