Best Razors for Men
Want a Smooth, Clean Shave? These Are the Best Razors of the Year
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In a market saturated with shaving tools, it's difficult to determine which are the best bladed razors for men. Too often, today's avid groomer seems content with the results from a disposable cartridge-based model. And why shouldn’t he be? Disposable razors and blades, like those from Bic and Gillette, have come a long way. Subscription services such as Harry’s and Dollar Shave Club continue to gain market share of the manual razor category by offering ancillary items such as shaving cream, aftershave — even body wash and hair products — to accompany their razors, delivered to you at your leisure.
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But what about the traditionalists? You know, the old guard who still prefer the authentic experience of taking a fresh blade straight to the skin? The reality is, most men know exactly what razor type they like and are unwavering in their loyalty. They’re just not interested to learn what model, if any, could enhance their shaving experience. That changes, today.
Take these key factors into account when the time comes to purchase your next razor. To point your blade in the right direction, we’ve compiled a buyer's guide of great razors to make trying something new a much less scary experience. Lather up, as these top-shaving tools are designed to transform a tiresome routine into a timeless ritual.
What to Look For in a Razor
- Blade type: Find a stainless-steel blade for hygienic purposes and premium sharpness.
- Razor head: When picking a safety razor, flexibility is key. Opt for one that firmly locks the blade into place and can be angled easily across the face for precise shaving. For most cartridge razors, the typical pivoting head is standard and cuts well.
- Maintenance: Whereas straight razors require more care by cleaning the razor lock system regularly to preserve longevity, a quick rinse and wiping off blades, if necessary, should suffice for cartridge razors.
- Length and weight: Consider a smaller grip handle for better balance, or a razor with some heft to let the weight of the razor take a bigger role in hair removal.
- Special features: Any cartridge razor with lubrication strips or multiple blades works best to provide smoother strokes, with less frequency, whether wet shaving or on damp skin.
Best Razors for Men
Gillette SkinGuard
We have been under the impression for a while that more blades are better. Come to find out, that’s not always the case. It’s true that the now standard five-blade systems work for, or are even preferred, by a lot of guys, but daily shavers with sensitive skin or who are prone to razor bumps and irritation may disagree. In an effort to service those guys, Gillette has once again broken the mold and introduced SkinGuard, a razor with a strip found between two blades.
The purpose of that strip? It holds skin taut while those blades cut close. With two blades instead of five, facial skin is coming in less contact with sharp edges, helping to prevent irritation and ingrown hairs. While ingrowns are a result of hair being cut to just below the surface and then becoming trapped under the skin, SkinGuard cuts right to the surface, not below, helping to reduce the possibility of bumps and making daily shaves way more comfortable.
Merkur Futur
The Futur is a modern take on the classic double-edged razor that blends full adjustability, balance, and style into an ergonomic design that works for both righties as well as lefties. It can be super aggressive with multiple settings that leverage different cutting angles, suiting the facial contours of just about every man. Warning: this edge razor is sharp AF when locked into the highest setting.
Shaves remain consistent from start to finish, with the blade gap slicing through hair instantly and scooping up shaving cream residue for effortless cleanup. We like the chrome-plated, matte finish and love how much it helps us with sustainability goals.
Harry's Truman Razor
Dollar Shave Club 6-Blade Starter Set
With four perfectly spaced blades, plus a beefy lube strip and trimmer edge, this razor is intended to get the job done pretty quickly. Sticking with the theme of tackling tough hair all over, the brand also has an extensive collection of products such as shampoo, toothpaste, body wash, and even butt wipes. Whereas a clean butt doesn’t translate to a clean shave, it does show the brand’s commitment to serving its customers needs from head to toe. One area where DSC doesn’t go above and beyond? The price. The most affordable on our list, this bundle keeps your face, head, back — anywhere you have hair, it’ll go there. Read our extensive Dollar Shave Club review.
Bevel Razor
Designed specifically for men with coarse, curly, ingrown-prone hair, this chrome-plated brass safety razor with replaceable blades flaunts a sharp edge to cut clearly at skin level without pulling or tugging facial hair. The single blade prevents hairs from falling below the skin's surface, which is how ingrowns get their start.
Its lightweight feel translates to smooth handling, and it’s clinically tested to fight skin irritation and pseudofolliculitis barbae (aka barber’s itch). The Bevel serves is the ideal system for those who suffer from particularly bad irritation and ingrown hairs from shaving.
BIC Flex 5 Hybrid Razor
Since 1975, BIC has manufactured more than 60 billion razors. How’s that for heritage? Even with that, the company hasn’t exactly garnered the greatest reputation among the grooming consensus; it’s labeled the cheapest in terms of performance and value. Well, the Flex 5 Hybrid has silenced skeptics by combining convenience with much better-than-expected quality — it’s far superior to those multipack single-use disposables.
Between its exclusive hybrid technology and five flexible blades, the razor actually comes pretty close to the shave you’re used to with the other guys. Does it give you that fresh-from-the-barber shave? Probably not, but it isn’t going to leave you with the nicks and irritation associated with the other throwaway blades at the same price.
Rockwell R1 Double-Edge Safety Razor
Switching to a safety blade can be intimidating for those with little experience. Rockwell helps boost your confidence with its line of safety razors, which can be adjusted beyond that your standard safety razor, ensuring one of the safest shaves possible. We singled out the R1 for its intuitive design and blade setting — Rockwell's most gentle setting — making it nearly impossible to cut even the most sensitive spots. Not only is it easy to use, but compared to a lot of its competitors, its price can’t be beat. It’s a solid option for any amateur whose biggest fear is severe facial slicing.
Manscaped The Plow 2.0
If you're in love with the wet shave, then you'll be hard-pressed to find a better razor to do the job than The Plow 2.0 from manhood manicuring masters Manscaped. Built for your face, it wouldn’t be a safety razor from Manscaped if it didn’t have your other body parts in mind. With a hefty handle that’s easy to hold and an easy head to swap out old blades for new, this matte black masterpiece is built to look good as long as it lasts.
If a sharp razor blade, or set of blades, isn't your thing, you can always check out the best electric razors for a close shave or start to grow your facial hair faster and go full face bush.
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