IN THE shaving world, there are two camps: the people who swear by multi-blade cartridge
razors and those who favor old-school single blades. The reason is that everyone is after a perfectly close, smooth shave. However, what kind of blade you use to shave actually does make a difference, which brings us to another two schools of thought about blades: some people believe that more blades equal a closer shave, whereas there are plenty of others out there who say a single blade is all you need.
The crux of this debate about blades is rooted in a large population of men—particularly men of color and men with curly hair—who suffer from ingrown hairs and razor bumps. As facial hair grows out, it’s possible that it can get stuck underneath the surface of the skin and then form ingrown hairs. This condition can be painful—not to mention a pain in the ass to look at too—but also make shaving very uncomfortable.
So this is where safety razors—a type of shaving razor with an apparatus positioned between the blade and your skin—come in. In recent years, safety razors have grown in popularity as a tool to prevent razor bumps. Proponents of safety razors in fact believe that multi-blade razors actually cut too close to the skin and shear hair too short, which makes it easier for hair to get caught as it grows out. Safety razors, which only use a single blade, don’t do that; they thus make your grooming routine more enjoyable—not to mention affordable.
Below, our grooming experts have tested the 10 best safety razors for both beginners and advanced users alike to try.
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![2C Adjustable Double-Edge Safety Razor]( "2C Adjustable Double-Edge Safety Razor")
best overall safety razor
Rockwell Razors 2C Adjustable Double-Edge Safety Razor
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![Adjustable Double-Edge Safety Razor]( "Adjustable Double-Edge Safety Razor")
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![Long Handle Butterfly Safety Razor]( "Long Handle Butterfly Safety Razor")
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![Double-Edge Safety Razor]( "Double-Edge Safety Razor")
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![Safety Razor]( "Safety Razor")
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While little skills are required for shaving with safety razors, with the proper technique, safety razors indeed do deliver a smooth, close, pain-free shave that albeit won’t cut hair too close. However, many guys are reluctant to make the switch to safety razors because that technique is quite different than shaving with a good-ole cartridge disposable razor. So if you’re new to safety razors, they can be somewhat intimidating (and you’ll want to keep a box of tissues close by just in case).
Lastly, while safety razors use disposable blades, changing them can take some getting used to—it’s not always as easy as just popping on a new head. The good news is that the learning curve can be shorter if you get the right option, like the 10 best safety razors below.
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