The Best Straight Razors

Straight razors give a close shave, much like a safety razor but with much greater precision. Many professional barbers swear by these razors because they give them the ability to style and create lines and designs that a safety razor couldn’t. With a little practice, you can get a barber-shop quality shave at home. 

Straight razors can also be more cost-effective. Once you’ve purchased the razor, all you need to do is replace the blades or hone the blade if it is a non-replaceable variety; meanwhile, safety razors can be expensive to continually replace. You could definitely say that straight razors are also better for the environment, as they eliminate the need for disposable razors that inevitably end up being tossed into the landfill.

Balance – Without the correct balance, you are going to have a painful shaving experience. The balance is what gives you better control, both over the blade and the handle. 

Weight – Second only to balance, having a straight razor that is weighted correctly ensures that you don’t put any strain on your hand and that the blade has enough weight behind to not vibrate against the bristles as it cuts. This reduces the irritation on the skin and minimizes the risk of cuts and nicks.

Thumb Rests – Having a thumb rest gives you a better grip, which translates into better control. Remember that you will most likely be using the razor with wet hands, so having a notched thumb rest, like the Black Widow Straight-Edge Razor, ensures that even with soapy hands, there is very little chance of them slipping and causing an injury.

Permanent Blades – You can buy straight-edged razors that don’t require replaceable blades, but they do dull over time and need stropping to bring the blade back to total sharpness, like the Zertone Vintage Straight Razor. The advantage of this type of razor is that you need never buy replacement blades.

Replaceable Blades – if you prefer, you can purchase a straight razor with replaceable blades, like two of the four we have featured. When the blade dulls, simply pop it out and replace it. It does mean, though, that you have an ongoing cost to consider, but it is negligible when you compare it to the time and effort needed to learn the stropping techniques.

Rustproof – Stainless steel is the most common material for straight razors in both the construction and for the replaceable blades. They are constantly immersed in water, so the ability to be rustproof seems essential if you want to prolong the life of your razor.

We know that there are two schools of thought when it comes to wet shaving: those who prefer straight razors and those in the safety razor camp, but there are pros and cons to each method.

Straight Razor Pros

• Better precision – If you want the straightest lines and the neatest finish, a straight razor is the tool to use
• Less wastage – It’s a fact that throwing away a pack of safety razors is more wasteful than replacing a single blade.
• Cheaper in the long run – The cost of buying disposable safety razors is higher than the price of purchasing a straight razor.

Straight Razor Cons

• Harder to master – Learning how to use a straight razor is more time-consuming and tricky to master.
• Not as safe – straight razors lack the safety features of safety razors.
• Takes longer to shave – Not everyone has the time to execute a two-stage shave with a straight razor. First, you should shave with the grain of the hair follicles and dry your face, then repeat the process going against the follicles for the closest shave. 

Disposable Safety Razor Pros

• Safer to use – There is less chance of cuts and nicks with a safety razor.
• More convenient – They are the quickest way of achieving a close wet shave in the shortest possible time.
• Safer to store –  Childproofing your home is easier if you opt for safety razors. There is less opportunity for children to come to harm with a safety razor, but with a straight razor, those blades are always going to be a threat. 

Disposable Safety Razor Cons

• Expensive – Purchasing a pack of disposable safety razors every week can be costly.
• More waste – Throwing away all those plastic safety razors is terrible for the planet.
• Not as precise – You are not going to achieve the sharp look you want with a safety razor. They aren’t designed to give you those sharp lines in your beard.