--- source_url: "https://www.esquire.com/style/grooming/g60924162/best-safety-razors/" title: "7 Best Safety Razors For Men - Tested and Reviewed 2024" mirrored_at: 2026-08-04T01:03:14.181Z host: www.esquire.com cited_in_42a: true mirror_canonical: "https://index.42a.ai/www.esquire.com/style/grooming/g60924162/best-safety-razors/index" --- > **Original source:** https://www.esquire.com/style/grooming/g60924162/best-safety-razors/ ### Pros - Lightweight - Easy to change blades - Made of durable aluminum ### Cons - On the expensive side compared with similar models This collaboration between Dr. Squatch and iconic razor brand Henson is a match made in heaven. It’s modeled after the Henson AL13, which is one of the most popular safety razors out there, but with a Dr. Squatch twist. The lightweight aluminum handle is perfectly weighted to allow for an easy grip, and the 30 degree blade positioning in the head design allows for a smooth shave even if you’re a beginner. Like any safety razor, there is a learning curve associated with using this, but we found that the blade positioning helps to smooth that curve better than many other more traditional razors we tried. This one is so good, one tester called it “the Rolls-Royce of razors” and the best he’d ever used. Weight 1.3 ounces Blades Double-edged Razor Head Type Screw-off Closed vs. Open Comb Closed Adjustable Settings None ### Pros - Made from durable brass - Sleek design - 10 replacement blades included ### Cons - Handle is on the heavier side Some might say Bevel was responsible for the safety-razor renaissance of the past decade with the release of this razor (one of its very first products). The thought behind this design, and the reason many people prefer safety razors, is that they don’t cut as close to the skin as multiblade razors, which helps prevent razor bumps and ingrown hairs. That’s a great thing for men with coarse and/or curly hair, which tends to form ingrowns more easily—and it’s also great for anyone with sensitive skin. This handy razor is on the weighty side, which can be a good thing for a safety razor, and the sleek design is easy to understand and use. The double-edged blades are easy to replace using the screw top. Whether you’re a safety-razor beginner or expert, this is a solid choice. Weight 4.16 ounces Blades Double-edged Razor Head Type Screw-off Open vs. Closed Comb Closed Adjustable Settings None Advertisement - Continue Reading Below ### Pros - Brushed metal finish - Blade angle helps give a smoother shave - Waterproof ### Cons - Included blades are not as good as other brands’ The keys to a smooth shave with a safety razor are the weight of the razor and the angle of the blade. You want a handle that is hefty and feels heavy in your hand, but not so heavy that it’s hard to hold and not so light that you’re tempted to move it too quickly over the surface of your skin. The right weight lets the blade do most of the work and allows you to shave your hair with minimal strokes and less risk of nicks. The blade angle should always be about 30 degrees, not perpendicular to your skin, so you usually want to hold the razor at a slight angle. This well-designed razor takes both of those into account. The weight is perfectly hefty, and the blade is actually already designed to sit at a 30 degree angle, so you don’t need to worry as much about how you’re holding it. Both of those things allow this razor to give a supersmooth, close shave with minimal effort. Weight 4.59 ounces Blades Double-edged Razor Head Type Screw-off Closed vs. Open Comb Closed Adjustable Settings None ### Pros - Specially designed for beginners - Nickstop technology helps prevent nicks and cuts - Blades are thicker and sturdier ### Cons - Design may take some getting used to for those experienced with safety razors Have we mentioned that when you first decide to switch to a safety razor, there is a steep learning curve? If you’re used to shaving with a multiblade and/or cartridge razor, a safety razor can help control razor bumps and ingrown hairs but also takes a lot of patience and can increase the risk of nicks and cuts, at least at first. The innovative design on this razor is meant to minimize that curve so you can make the switch almost painlessly. It uses a single edge “injector” style blade, which is thicker and more durable than your typical double-edged blade. It features what the brand calls Nickstop technology, which is basically 16 raised fins on the edge of the razor that helps guide stubble toward the blade but not skin. It provides a close, smooth shave with minimal risk of cutting yourself, which really is the most important thing when you’re first starting your safety-razor journey. The weight isn’t too heavy or too light, and the alloy metal of the handle feels good in your hand, providing a good, ergonomic grip. Weight 3.17 ounces Blades Single-edged Razor Head Type Screw-off Closed vs. Open Comb Closed Adjustable Settings None Advertisement - Continue Reading Below ### Pros - Traditional design - Easy to change blades - Balanced weight ### Cons - Some may not like the short handle Sometimes you gotta go with a classic. Merkur has been making razors in Germany for over 125 years, and you can’t argue with that pedigree. This traditional safety razor has a traditional screw-top design and a weighted head that allows you to get a silky-smooth shave pretty much immediately. There aren’t any newfangled features in this thing, but that’s kind of the point. The short nonslip handle and the perfectly weighted head, as well as the closed-comb design, make this the ideal traditional razor for beginners and pros alike. Weight 2.72 ounces Blades Double-edged Razor Head Type Screw-off Closed vs. Open Comb Closed Adjustable settings None ### Pros - Can adjust setting based on hair growth - Easy to change blades - Balanced design ### Cons - Handle is heavy Safety razors are good for a lot of things, but if you’ve ever used one to try to tackle a few days’ worth of stubble, you know it’s not always great at powering through a lot of growth—at least not with the risk of nicking or cutting yourself going up exponentially. That’s where this safety razor shines. There are six different adjustable settings that subtly widen the space between the razor and the comb, allowing for thicker and coarser hair to be shaved more easily. If you shave every day, you’ll likely want to keep it on the lowest (zero gap) setting, which is basically your classic safety-razor setting, but if you tend to go a few days between shaves, change the setting to allow you to shave your stubble more easily with fewer strokes. Weight 6.4 ounces Blades Double-edged Razor Head Type Screw-off Closed vs. Open Comb Closed Adjustable Settings 6 Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Now 17% Off ### Pros - Antifriction coating - Easy-to-grip handle - Budget-friendly price ### Cons - Not as durable as some other razors If you’re new to safety razors, investing in an expensive one might not be your top priority. This budget-friendly razor is all you need in order to get the hang of safety-razor shaving. It has a traditional screw-top design that uses the same double-edged blades as the more expensive handles on this list. It’s not quite as heavy but still has a good heft to it that helps you get used to using a safety razor coupled with an easy-to-grip handle. The closed-comb design is ideal for beginners and pros alike and delivers a smooth, close shave with minimal risk of nicks and cuts. If you’re a beginner, it’s a great option to learn with. If you’re a pro, it’s a great travel option so you can leave your pricier tool at home. Weight 3.68 ounces Blades Double-edged Razor Head Type Screw-off Closed vs. Open Comb Closed Adjustable Settings None ## What to Look for in a Safety Razor ![wayfair](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/line-break-1663859150.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top "wayfair") Whether or not you’re experienced with safety razors, there are a few things to take into account when choosing the right one for you. **Weight**: You’ll notice that most safety razors are way heavier than the drugstore cartridge razors you may be used to, and it’s not just because they’re made of metal. That’s by design. Safety razors tend to concentrate their weight in the head, which allows them to use gravity to give you a smooth shave without applying too much pressure (which can lead to nicks and cuts). Not all safety razors are the same weight, though—you’ll notice that the weights on this list vary pretty widely. Ultimately you want to find a razor that is heavy enough to give you a good, close shave but not so heavy that your hand gets tired halfway through the process. **Blades**: Most safety razors will use a traditional double-edged blade. This allows you to use both sides of the blade to get a little more usage out of it. Some razors will use a single-edged blade, usually called an injector blade, which is often thicker and more durable than its double-edged counterparts. Neither of these is inherently better or worse, but whichever you choose, make sure refills are readily available, as you’ll need to change the blade every few uses. (Most safety razors, especially those that use double-edged blades, can be refilled with any brand of blade.) **Razor Head Type**: Speaking of changing the blades, safety razors typically come with two types of head. The most common is screw-off, where you unscrew the head of the razor in order to change the blade. The downfall of these is that while they’re easy in theory, it means the head comes in multiple parts that must be unscrewed and then screwed back together, making for a somewhat complicated experience, especially for beginners. The other kind, butterfly, pops up in the middle and allows you to drop in the blade. **Open Comb vs. Closed Comb**: In this case, “comb” refers to how much distance there is between the razor head and the blade itself. The more open the comb, the more aggressive the shave. You’ll notice that all the razors on this list are closed-comb, which means there is no space between the razor head and the blade. This is especially ideal for beginners because it helps cuts down on the risk of nicks and cuts (as there is no space for skin to get caught). Open-comb razors are ideal for people with thicker beards or longer stubble, as they allow more hair to reach the blade at once, but they carry a higher risk for nicks and cuts and are not recommended for beginners. **Adjustable Settings**: Some razors will allow you to adjust the settings to take it between a closed and an open comb. Usually this involves different inserts that push space between the blade and the razor head. While not always necessary for everyone, this is ideal if you like to allow time between shaves and sometimes shave with a few days’ worth of stubble or more. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below ## Why Trust Esquire ![wayfair](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/line-break-1663859150.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top "wayfair") We’re not going to say something is great unless it’s actually great. Every product in Esquire’s roundups is carefully curated by our grooming and e-commerce teams. When it comes to shaving, you can rest assured that we’re hand-selecting products that we’ve personally tested, tried, and loved. Our grooming editor, Garrett Munce, along with the rest of the style team, has spent years shaving, trimming, and test-driving hundreds (thousands!) of shaving products, and we are confident that these are the best. Every pick on this list (and our other lists) comes from these years of testing. We know that everyone’s skin is different, no two men are the same, and what works for you may not work for everyone else. But if you’re looking for the right place to start, with advice from folks who care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.