SHAVING IS a minefield, to say the least. The moment you take a sharp blade to your face, you run the risk of cuts, nicks, razor burns, ingrown hairs, and more possible problems. Perfecting your shave takes patience, experience, technique, and of course, the right grooming products. That all starts with a good razor, one that can put you light years ahead of the game. So knowing what is the best razor for men—for you!—is crucial.
Most comfortable razor
Gillette Heated Razor Starter Kit
Read more
Best manual razor
Gillette Fusion5 (1 Razor Handle, 4 Blade Refills)
Read more
Best Electric Razor
Braun Series 9 Pro 9465cc
Read more
BEST ALL-AROUND RAZOR
Philips Norelco OneBlade
Read more
Best Disposable Razor
BIC Hybrid Flex 5 Titanium 5 Blade
Read more
Best Razor for Helping Prevent Ingrown Hairs
Bevel Safety Razor and Shaving Kit for Men
Read more
Best Razor for Sensitive Skin
SkinGuard
Read more
And there are the debates: some say more blades mean better shave; others say more blades lead to more irritation and ingrown hairs. Some say innovative electric shavers are the way to go, while others swear by the old-school techniques of safety razors or even straight razors.
Where you fall on the debate is a personal decision—”the thing about shaving is everybody’s skin is different. What works for others, may not work for you,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Azadeh Shirazi, MD, FAAD. The razor you choose thus comes down to your needs. To help you find the right one, we’ve spoken to grooming experts from barbers to dermatologists, as well as done testing on men’s razors ourselves to curate the 15 best razors for men below.
Most Comfortable Razor: Gillette Heated Razor
Most comfortable razor
Gillette Heated Razor Starter Kit
Most comfortable razor
Gillette Heated Razor Starter Kit
Now 25% Off
Pamper yourself with a nice hot towel shave weekly, courtesy of Gillette’s heated razor. It turns warm barbershop shave into an at-home hot-towel shave—with every stroke—endeavor using chargeable, heatable cartridges that soften the hair while it shaves. Specifically, its stainless steel warming bar coupled with a flex five-blade design allows for a more comfortable, closer shave. The waterproof razor comes with an adjustable heat feature to provide you with the perfect temperature, plus you get a nifty rechargeable stand.
Testing Notes: We test all these newfangled gadgets like this with a healthy dose of skepticism and frankly, not all of them live up to what they promise. This heated razor, however, is one of the rare cases that it does—and actually exceeds them. The stainless steel bar built in to the head of the razor actually does heat up with various heat settings depending on your comfort level (don’t worry, even the highest setting doesn’t burn your skin) and the experience of shaving with the combination of heat and five blades really does deliver a closer, more comfortable shave. The overall experience is pleasant and we noticed less irritation and razor burn afterward than we would typically see with a non-heated razor.
Blade Count: 5Design Features: Provides gentle head for shave, flexible head, rechargeable, waterproof, aluminum casingBlade Refills Included: Yes
Best Manual Razor: Gillette Fusion5
Best manual razor
Gillette Fusion5 (1 Razor Handle, 4 Blade Refills)
Best manual razor
Gillette Fusion5 (1 Razor Handle, 4 Blade Refills)
Now 30% Off
Traditional razors can’t get better than Gillette’s Fusion5 which packs feat after feat. According to celebrity hairstylist and master barber Cody Renegar, it’s got blades that are flexible enough to maintain contact with your skin at all times, and a conditioning pad that helps the blades glide over the skin without lifting or creating cuts. In addition, the five-blade plus stretchy microfins design ensures a close and smooth shave, while the precision trimmer brings about a cleanly sculpted shave.
You can also use the extra single blade on the top edge to create a sharp sideburn without digging the blade into your skin, Renegar says. “What’s also great is that they’re pretty affordable, you can find them everywhere, and you can find replacement blades at any drugstore,” he adds.
Testing Notes: When it comes to shaving, more blades aren’t always better, but in the case of this razor, five is the lucky number. These cartridges pack in the shaving power with five blades and a larger lubrication strip the combo of which delivers a smoother, closer shave without as much irritation. We found that these blades last about five shaves (one for each blade), which is also a pretty good track record when compared with other, lower quality blades that get dull faster. The handle itself is lightweight and easy to hold with a rubberized feel that is easy to use in the shower if you’re that kind of shaver.
Blade Count: 5Design Features: Ergonomic handle, large lubrication strip, built-in precision trimmer, fully recyclable packagingBlade Refills Included: Yes
Best Electric Razor: Braun Series 9 Pro 9465cc
Best Electric Razor
Braun Series 9 Pro 9465cc
Best Electric Razor
Braun Series 9 Pro 9465cc
Now 11% Off
Credit: Courtesy of Retailer
An electric razor that doesn’t pull or irritate your skin, even during the adjustment period? Yes, please. You’re looking at our hands-down favorite razor right now: the 100% waterproof Braun Series 9 Pro. Celebrity barber Ray Santos whose clientele includes NBA players recommends it for achieving a bearded look, as well as bringing it with you whenever you’re traveling. “It’s perfect for guys on the go thanks to the world’s first portable PowerCase,” Santos says. The built-in AutoSense technology also provides a customized shave for all users, and the 10-direction flex head makes sure to get every single spot with titanium-coated blades. Really, this is the Ferrari of razors right here—hence the price tag.
Testing Notes: We stand beside our review that the Braun Series 9 Pro electric razor is the best on the market. In our extensive testing of electric razors, this one stood out heads above the rest due to its tech-packed design that actually does deliver a more efficient shave, even if you have days worth of stubble. It effectively cut our shave time nearly in half and you’re able to use it both wet and dry, with or without products depending on your preference. However you choose to use it, if you’re thinking of making the switch to an electric shave, this is the best possible option.
Blade Count: 4Design Features: Autosense technology adjusts to beard density, sonic technology, waterproof, cleaning and charging station, 60 minute run timeBlade Refills Included: No
Read More: The Braun Series 9 Pro Review
Best All-Around Razor: Philips Norelco OneBlade
BEST ALL-AROUND RAZOR
Philips Norelco OneBlade
BEST ALL-AROUND RAZOR
Philips Norelco OneBlade
Our editors absolutely love this razor. It shaves smoothly, cleanly, and efficiently without nicking or cutting—you can easily rub it back and forth on the skin—with long-lasting replaceable blades. We love it most for its ability to maintain a low stubble that makes us look rugged yet refined. In fact, board certified dermatologist Lauren Penzi, MD, FAAD says that it’s “a great, reliable electric shaver option for men who are prone to ingrowns and don’t mind a little stubble.” Moreover, the real beauty of this electric razor-trimmer hybrid is that you can use it for literally any look on anywhere you want to shave. It gives a close, clean shave on both your face and body, but also comes with length guards if you want to keep some length.
Testing Notes: The OneBlade will always be a winner because it’s just so darn easy to use. Built like a classic razor, but with the power of an electric shave, the best thing about this device is the innovative blade, which delivers a close, fast shave with very little risk of nicking or cutting. The multiple “stubble” guards allow you to customize the length of your shave if you’re the type of guy who likes perma-stubble and it really shines when you use it dry (though it can also be used in the shower). It’s also just as effective on your body as on your face, making it an indispensable tool for all your shaving needs. Just be sure to switch the blade when using it on your body to cut down on the risk of cross contamination of bacteria.
Blade Count: 1Design Features: Suitable for face and body, multiple length combs, rechargeable, 60 minute run time, waterproofBlade Refills Included: Yes
Read more: Philips Norelco OneBlade Review
Best Disposable Razor: BIC Hybrid Flex 5 Titanium 5 Blade
Best Disposable Razor
BIC Hybrid Flex 5 Titanium 5 Blade
Best Disposable Razor
BIC Hybrid Flex 5 Titanium 5 Blade
It’s hard to beat the price of this simple yet effective razor—and it actually works too. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD likes it because it’s a travel-friendly razor that “uses a soothing lubricated strip containing aloe vera to calm the skin,” while giving you a close, smooth anywhere you use it, which also makes it ideal for legs. Best of all is the fact you get a total of eight cartridges in this pack. “It is also an affordable option as it contains 7 refills, which should be used once the blade becomes dull,” adds Dr. Garshick.
Testing Notes: Disposable razors are great for certain scenarios like travel or shaving certain parts of your body, but they can also be pretty wasteful and, worse, not very effective. What we found we liked most about this razor in our testing process is that the 5 blade cartridges are just as effective as a reusable razor with a similar design, so you’re not compromising on efficacy when choosing a disposable razor. Also, the included cartridges snap on to the base of the razor when you need a new one instead of throwing out the whole thing, which we’d like to think helps cut down on plastic waste. We did find that the blades get dull fairly quickly (after a few uses) but that’s pretty standard for a disposable.
Blade Count: 5Design Features: Pivoting razor head, ergonomic design, lubricating strip, Blade Refills Included: Yes
Best for Ingrown Hairs: Bevel Safety Razor Kit
Best Razor for Helping Prevent Ingrown Hairs
Bevel Safety Razor and Shaving Kit for Men
Best Razor for Helping Prevent Ingrown Hairs
Bevel Safety Razor and Shaving Kit for Men
Credit: Courtesy of Retailer
Safety razors are known for having a single blade, which is great for anyone dealing with ingrown hair and razor bumps. According to Dr. Azadeh Shirazi, this is the perfect safety razor: it is weighted for better control, comes with a single blade to counter ingrown hairs and irritation, and has high-quality blades for a smooth shave with each stroke.
Dr. Marisa Garshick also approves of Bevel’s single, double-edged blade which “helps to achieve a close shave without needing to apply a lot of pressure.” Since it takes a village to help limit the chances of ingrown hair, we recommend the entire Bevel kit as opposed to just the razor.
Testing Notes: There is a learning curve when switching from a cartridge razor to a safety razor, so we found that the first few times using this razor, our shave took what felt like a really long time. But once you get the hang of it, including the all-important 30 degree angle, it does go faster—though you don’t want to go too fast as it’s easy to nick or cut yourself with this sharp, single blade. We did find that it still delivers a close shave but actually does cut down on the amount of ingrown hairs and post-shave irritation we experienced after shaving, which is why many people switch to a safety razor to begin with. The handle is perfectly weighted to feel hefty in your hand but still glide smoothly across your skin making the actual act of shaving a pleasure.
Blade Count: 1Design Features: Weighted handle, easy to grip handle, double sidedBlade Refills Included: Yes
Best Razor for Sensitive Skin: Gillette SkinGuard
Best Razor for Sensitive Skin
SkinGuard
Best Razor for Sensitive Skin
SkinGuard
Now 30% Off
Credit: Courtesy of Retailer
If you have sensitive skin or are prone to irritation, shaving can become a special kind of hell. Gillette, however, has a solution. According to Dr. Azadeh Shirazi, its SkinGuard razor comes with a special guard on the blade that prevents it from shaving too close but doesn’t sacrifice efficacy. “It’s durable with a SkinGuard technology positioned between the blades to help protect the skin with each stroke. It minimizes tugging and pulling and therefore reduces the risk of irritation, so great for sensitive skin types.”
While the 2-blade design won’t provide a baby-smooth shave, you can still get a pretty close shave without the rash. Besides the ease of use, Dr. Marisa Garshick also highlights the comfort of its added lubrication for an easy glide, as well as its precision trimmer for hard-to-reach areas.
Testing Notes: When you have sensitive skin, too many blades can leave your face feeling trashed. We found that this razor, with just two blades plus a Skinguard feature that helps minimize how much the razor is actually dragging over your skin, does give a pretty close shave, though not as close as versions with more blades. It’s kind of a compromise—you won’t get quite as close of a shave, but it really does help protect sensitive skin from post-shave irritation. The blades are spaces out to help prevent nicks and tugs as well, a design feature we found to be very effective (we experienced no nicks at all, even the first time using it).
Blade Count: 2Design Features: Double lubrication strips, Skinguard feature to help reduce irritation, built-in precision trimmerBlade Refills Included: Yes
Razors We Also Tested
Harry’s the Truman Razor: Harry’s has quietly taken over the world with its well-priced, easy-to-get razors that really work. Its classic multi-blade cartridges work exceptionally for all kinds of skin types. In particular, the Truman razor has “an ergonomic, weighted, no-slip handle for precision and comfort,” according to Dr. Lauren Penzi who also praises its “German-engineered steel blades with lubricating trip allows for the ultimate close, smooth cut.” In addition, Dr. Marisa Garshick likes it for its weighted core and textured rubber grip that’s easy to hold. All in all, this $15 Truman Set will give you the best overall value, as you also get a bottle of shaving cream, three-blade cartridges, and a protective travel cover.
Merkur Double Edge Razor: Making the switch to a safety razor means fewer ingrown hairs and post-shave irritation—but it does take some practice, according to board-certified dermatologist Brendan Camp, MD, FAAD. And this safety razor has a quality that justifies its price point. “It uses stainless steel double-edge razor blades that are very sharp with a thick weighted handle. This minimizes irritation while giving you a close shave even with coarse dense hair,” says Dr. Azadeh Shirazi. “This is a wonderful option for someone prone to ingrown hairs or razor bumps.” Plus, its blades can easily snap on and are adjustable in length.
Gillette GilletteLabs with Exfoliating Bar Razor: For anyone hankering for a totally clean-shaven look, celebrity barber Ray Santos’ top choice is the GilletteLabs with Exfoliating Bar—a winner of our 2022 MH Grooming Awards nonetheless. “It is an easy way to level up your grooming game because it combines two skincare steps—shaving and exfoliation—into one efficient stroke,” says Santos. “The built-in exfoliating bar removes dirt and oil from the skin prior to blades passing, leaving your skin feeling fresh and smooth.” Plus, it has five blades and a bi-flex disc design, which will give you an accurate and close shave.
Another benefit of this razor, according to Santos, is its FlexDisc technology that contours to the face to ensure the blades make direct and comfortable contact with every stroke. “That’s a must-have for me when selecting a razor,” he says.
>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Men’s Health – https://www.menshealth.com/grooming/a19524163/best-razors-for-men/