Welcome!
This is the information I wanted when I started looking into safety razors.
We don’t sell anything here. You will find some affiliate links and I will place advertisements in here someday. But my goal is simply to compare different shaving tools, offer a complete overview of safety razors and tell you why you probably want to start using them.
There is a surprising lack of knowledge about safety razors – both on the web and in the real world. It is surprising because safety razors revolutionized shaving over 100 years ago and still offer the same high quality and cost-effective shaving today.
SavingShaving’s goal is to be an easy-to-find, ongoing collection of safety razor information. There are some fantastic shaving sites, forums and reddit communities on the web as well. This is not meant to replace those – but add to the collective thought of this topic.
Enjoy!
It’s time to get back to basics.
Time to save money.
Time to get a better shave.
For over 100 years the safety razor has offered us the best shave at the best price. Today’s fast-paced world has fooled us into thinking that using disposable plastic razors and cartridges is normal. It is clear that “new and improved” does not always mean better.
How did we lose our way? Why are people satisfied with today’s lower-quality shaves at a substantially higher cost?
Shaving is full of personal preferences but some things are universal. Everyone wants a high-performance shave and who doesn’t want to save money? So we should all ask ourselves some important questions. Is your razor:
– economical?
– ecological?
– giving you a high-quality shave?
– easy to use?
– enjoyable to use?
– needing accessories?
– reliable?
– consistent?
Disposables?
No!
The Keurig coffee cups of razors. Buying plastic just to throw it away.
Electric Razors?
No!
Questionable performance with a high cost. This is not the shave you are looking for.
Straight Razor?
No!
Takes skill, patience and commitment. It is called a cut-throat razor for a reason.
The clear winner is the safety razor!!
A Safety Razor:
- will give you one of the cleanest shaves available.
- is very economical. A basic safety razor can cost about $50 for the first year and about $10/year after that.
- will last a lifetime.
- will reduce irritation and ingrown hairs.
- is easy and enjoyable to use.
Click the picture to see the advantages and disadvantages of each type of razor. This analysis includes safety razors, disposable and cartridge razors, straight razors and electric razors. In addition, we also take a look at popular subscription services (ie. Harry’s).
Tell me more about Safety Razors!
Let’s take a deeper dive into the classic double-edged safety razor. Perfect in its simplicity, the safety razor has a thin and extremely sharp blade set into the razor head which is attached to the handle. The head tightly holds the blade to ensure a smooth and comfortable shave.
There are a couple different options when it comes to the basic construction of a safety razor. The most popular versions are the 2-piece, 3-piece, butterfly open and the adjustable razor. There are numerous variations but let’s look at the basic design types below.
Butterfly Open Safety Razor
A ‘butterfly open’ safety razor typically twists to open and the blade simply drops in. One small advantage is slightly less handling of the blade during replacements. The downside is there are some moving parts and a small chance that something could wear out or break. In addition, a deep cleaning of the razor can be a little more difficult.
2-Piece Safety Razor
The 2-piece safety razor is very common and the blade is typically replaced by unscrewing a knob at the base of the handle. The long-threaded bar is removed from the hollow handle and the new blade is positioned on the bar which is placed back into the handle. Again, there are a few points that may wear but generally these razors will last decades. They typically have a hollow handle so it also can be a little difficult when you try to do a deep clean. Handling the razor blade during replacement is a bit more complex than the butterfly open type. But not much more and nothing to worry about.
3-Piece Safety Razor
Probably the most popular design is the 3-piece safety razor and this is what Gillette described in his original patent drawing (see History). In this design, the solid metal handle screws off and the head separates into 2 pieces. A new razor blade is placed in between the head sections and the handle simply screws back on. The design works well because the only mechanical wear point is the head screw tightening into the solid metal handle. This also makes clean up simple. A user must handle the blade a bit more during replacement but this is not an issue once you do it once or twice.
Adjustable Safety Razor
Adjustable razors are an interesting twist on the basic design. They allow you to increase how much of the blade is exposed when you shave. By turning a knob on the handle or changing a plate in the head, the razor can increase or decrease the aggressiveness of the shave. Some users like an adjustable razor since aggressive razors work well on heavy, coarse beards.
Which safety razor is right for you?
Many safety razors have a safety bar which is what makes a safety razor ‘safe’. It controls the space around the blade’s edge and helps the blade to slide across your skin and not into your skin. There are some differences in safety bar/razor head design but you will find the straight bar type is the most popular. Other types include the open comb and slant bar razors which allow for a more aggressive shave. More on this topic in an upcoming blog post. But which is best for you?
We highly recommend sticking to larger brand names and any of the basic Merkur razors (such as the Merkur 23) will treat you well for many years. Some of the Edwin Jagger Razors are nice as well and even come in some stylish colors. The Vikings Blade Chieftan 5BC is a nice quality butterfly-open razor if you have the interest. These razors are not a large financial investment and will give you a great idea of the quality you can get with safety razors. More experienced or adventurous shavers can look at adjustable razors, specialty razors or even some more stylish pieces.
Recommended Blades
Replacement blades are manufactured by a large variety of companies, some you have heard of (Gillette) and some you probably haven’t (Derby, Kai, Feather). There are many quality blades available but different blades will have a different feel. There are differences in the type of metal, some are specialty-coated and some are definitely sharper than others. And remember, sharper is not always better. The Feather brand blades are commonly known as an extremely sharp blade but that doesn’t mean it is right for you.
Over time you will likely develop a preference for certain blades. Also consider that blades are pretty inexpensive so it is easy to purchase some different ones and experiment to see what you like. Maybe even consider a starter pack with several different types before you buy that 100-pack.
Personally, my new favorite DE blade is the Gillette Platinum. Check out the blog post when I discovered these as part of my sampler pack:.
A WIN for the new DE Blade Sampler Pack
PLEASE NOTE: You are going to need a way to store used blades.
Used blades should not be thrown into the trash. They are still extremely sharp and it is irresponsible just to wrap them in toilet paper and toss them out.
Anyone remember the old medicine cabinets with a slot in the back? That slot was meant for used blades and they just fell in the space behind the cabinet. But today, most people use some sort of hard container (think Altoids box). Or better yet, just order a cheap disposal box for a couple of bucks.
Another inexpensive and useful item is a razor stand where your safety razor sits upright and dry. The razor stand is a small addition but is quite helpful and really completes the look. The pedestal type holds a single razor. The dual shaving stand is quite handsome but is usually made to hold both a razor and a shaving brush.