6 Safety Razors That’ll Make You Swear Off Multi-Blade and Electric Shaving

Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links. Here’s how we test products and why you should trust us.Manscaped/Bevel/GilletteProsMade from durable brassSleek design10 replacement blades includedConsHandle is on the heavier sideSome might say Bevel was responsible for the safety-razor renaissance of the past decade with the release of this razor (one of its very first products). The thought behind this design, and the reason many people prefer safety razors, is that they don’t cut as close to the skin as multiblade razors, which helps prevent razor bumps and ingrown hairs. That’s a great thing for men with coarse and/or curly hair, which tends to form ingrowns more easily—and it’s also great for anyone with sensitive skin.This handy razor is on the weighty side at over four ounces, which can be a good thing for a safety razor, and the sleek design is easy to understand and use. The double-edged blades are easy to replace using the screw top. Whether you’re a safety-razor beginner or expert, this is always going to be a good pick.Weight4.16 ouncesBladesDouble-edgedOpen vs. Closed CombClosedProsAntifriction coatingEasy-to-grip handleBudget-friendly priceConsNot as durable as some other razorsIf you’re new to safety razors, investing in an expensive one might not be your top priority. This budget-friendly razor is all you need in order to get the hang of safety-razor shaving. It has a traditional screw-top design that uses the same double-edged blades as some of the more expensive handles on this list. The handle has a good heft to it that, combined with an easy-to-grip handle, helps you get used to shaving at a 30-degree angle. The closed-comb design is ideal for beginners and pros alike and delivers a smooth, close shave with minimal risk of nicks and cuts. If you’re a beginner, it’s a great option to learn with. If you’re a pro, it’s a great travel option so you can leave your pricier tool at home.Weight3.68 ouncesBladesDouble-edgedClosed vs. Open CombClosedAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsBrushed metal finishBlade angle helps give a smoother shaveWaterproofConsIncluded blades are not as good as other brands’If you’re starting shaving with a safety razor from scratch, there are a few things to know. The two key elements are the weight of the razor and the angle of the blade. You want a handle that is hefty and feels heavy in your hand, not too light that you’re tempted to move it too quickly over the surface of your skin. The right weight lets the blade do most of the work and allows you to shave your hair with minimal strokes and less risk of nicks. The blade angle should always be about 30 degrees, not perpendicular to your skin, so you usually want to hold the razor at a slight angle.This well-designed razor from pubic grooming giants Manscaped takes both of those into account. The weight is perfectly hefty, and the blade is actually already designed to sit at a 30 degree angle, so you don’t need to worry as much about how you’re holding it. Both of those things make this razor a perfect jumping off point for those who are coming from the multi-blade side.Weight4.59 ouncesBladesDouble-edgedClosed vs. Open CombClosedProsCan adjust setting based on hair growthEasy to change bladesBalanced designSafety razors are good for a lot of things, but if you’ve ever used one to try to tackle a few days’ worth of stubble, you know it’s not always great at powering through a lot of growth—at least not with the risk of nicking or cutting yourself going up exponentially. That’s where this safety razor shines. There are six different adjustable settings that subtly widen the space between the razor and the comb, allowing for thicker and coarser hair to be shaved more easily. If you shave every day, you’ll likely want to keep it on the lowest (zero gap) setting, which is basically your classic safety-razor setting, but if you tend to go a few days between shaves, change the setting to allow you to shave your stubble more easily with fewer strokes.Weight6.4 ouncesBladesDouble-edgedClosed vs. Open CombClosedAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsTraditional designEasy to change bladesBalanced weightConsSome may not like the short handleSometimes you gotta go with a classic. Merkur has been making razors in Germany for over 125 years, and you can’t argue with that pedigree. This traditional safety razor has a traditional screw-top design and a weighted head that allows you to get a silky-smooth shave pretty much immediately. There aren’t any newfangled features in this thing, but that’s kind of the point. The nonslip coating and the perfectly weighted head, as well as the closed-comb design, make this the ideal short handle traditional razor.Weight2.72 ouncesBladesDouble-edgedClosed vs. Open CombClosedProsSuper sharpIdeal for longer beardsEasy to cleanConsNot recommended for beginnersUp until this point, I’ve been talking about closed comb razors. The difference, as you can see, is the exposed teeth of the blade on this style, making it sharper but also more of a risky proposition. Knowing your safety razor basics is a must, but if you have the technique down, this is a way to tackle longer or coarser beards.Don’t get me wrong, this is an expert move. For those of us who grow facial hair faster and can never get a shave as close as we want before it starts growing back, the open comb razor is one way to achieve this. The cleanest shave of your life won’t just feel great, many say it will make your hair grow back slower.Weight3.52 ozBladesDouble-edgedClosed vs. Open CombOpenAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowWhat to Look for in a Safety RazorWhether or not you’re experienced with safety razors, there are a few things to take into account when choosing the right one for you.Weight: You’ll notice that most safety razors are way heavier than the drugstore cartridge razors you may be used to, and it’s not just because they’re made of metal. That’s by design. Safety razors tend to concentrate their weight in the head, which allows them to use gravity to give you a smooth shave without applying too much pressure (which can lead to nicks and cuts). Not all safety razors are the same weight, though. Ultimately you want to find a razor that is heavy enough to give you a good, close shave but not so heavy that your hand gets tired halfway through the process.Blades: Most safety razors will use a traditional double-edged blade. This allows you to use both sides of the blade to get a little more usage out of it. Some razors will use a single-edged blade, usually called an injector blade, which is often thicker and more durable than its double-edged counterparts. Double-edged blades are preferable, but whichever you choose, make sure refills are readily available, as you’ll need to change the blade every few uses. (Most safety razors, especially those that use double-edged blades, can be refilled with any brand of blade.)Razor Head Type: Speaking of changing the blades, safety razors typically come with two types of head. The most common is screw-off, where you unscrew the head of the razor in order to change the blade. The downfall of these is that while they’re easy in theory, it means the head comes in multiple parts that must be unscrewed and then screwed back together, making for a somewhat complicated experience, especially for beginners. The other kind, butterfly, pops up in the middle and allows you to drop in the blade.Open Comb vs. Closed Comb: In this case, “comb” refers to how much distance there is between the razor head and the blade itself. The more open the comb, the more aggressive the shave. Closed comb razors are especially ideal for beginners because it helps cuts down on the risk of nicks and cuts (as there is no space for skin to get caught). Open-comb razors are ideal for people with thicker beards or longer stubble, as they allow more hair to reach the blade at once, but they carry a higher risk for nicks and cuts.Adjustable Settings: Some razors will allow you to adjust the settings to take it between a closed and an open comb. Usually this involves different inserts that push space between the blade and the razor head. While not always necessary for everyone, this is ideal if you like to allow time between shaves and sometimes shave with a few days’ worth of stubble or more.