So, that's why I think GilletteLabs' invention here is the perfect solution: You know how many cartridge razors have a lubricating strip that cushions skin after of the blade? Well, this one also has a buffing bar ahead of the blades to do the very light same-day exfoliation work. It's like a snow plow for your skin—pushing the dead stuff away for a smoother, bump-less result—and on top of that, it's Gillette, so it's been as efficient and effective for each shave as I'd expect. It's a good example of "reinventing the wheel" that actually offers something new and improved.
Best Safety Razor for Men: Merkur 38C Long Handle Double Edge Safety Razor
What the Barber Says
I gave this pick to the barber, since my "overall" winner was a safety razor, too. So, consider this a runner up in that field, as well as the barber's favorite for customers. "Merkur's 38C Long Handle is as classic as they come," he says. "Honestly most 3-piece safety razors are going to be more or less the same functionally with vary degrees of quality when It comes to the blades (Feather blades are my favourite)..." but Merkur has a reputation for quality in the barbering and safety-razoring communities. If you are a true novice in safety razor shaving, consider the short-handle 34C option from Merkur too; it might offer you more control as you get ahold of things, though if you've got big hands, then Conrad's pick here is a more reliable option.
Best Straight Razor for Men: Feather Artist Club DX Maintenance-Free Straight Razor
What the Barber Says
Here's another pick from Conrad, who has a lot more mileage with straight razors than I do. "Stropping and honing a blade to keep a razor sharp edge is not a skill to take lightly. It takes many hours of practice just to become good enough to maintain a straight razor, let alone use one on your own face.So, for everyone who wants to straight shave without the hassle of sharpening, I recommend the Feather Artist Club Series because it uses replaceable disposable blades which are always factory sharp, and is the closest thing to an actual straight razor I have found in a shavette."
Best Manual Razor Alternative/Best Electric Razor: Philips Norelco OneBlade Electric Trimmer and Shaver
Our Experience
I love a multitasking grooming product, and Philips Norelco's OneBlade trimmer-shaver can handle just about every hair-taming task you assign. Be it facial hair or body hair, it can trim, shave, or detail as you need, wet or dry, and has interchangeable double-edged blades for every use. It even comes with a skin guard for those more precious, sensitive spots. I also called it one of my favorite electric shavers, but this thing is also unclassifiable since it feels like a hybrid between shaver, trimmer, and cartridge razor. It does everything except leave skin irritated; best of all you can use it to customize facial hair styles; the trimmer manages length while the shaver tends to the edgework.
Best Razor for Guys With Sensitive Skin: Supply Single-Edge SE Safety Razor
Our Experience
The Shark Tank-backed Supply uses a nifty sliding installer to load single bare-metal blades straight into its sleek metal frame. Many new safety-blade shavers don't love handling a bare blade, and Supply’s razor takes care of that. Consider it driving automatic compared to the manual-transmission double-sided shave from more traditional safety razors. You still get a close, smooth shave from a simple single-blade design, but without the fuss—and because it's a single blade, it minimizes any agony on the skin. That's perfect for whenever I'm going long stretches without shaving. Typically, in times of frequent shaving, I'm altering between this and Leaf, and I find them most comparable on this list. But Conrad echoes my sentiments for this one being great for sensitive skin, too: "This one is designed for maximum protection of the skin with minimal irritation or nicks," he says.
Best Razor for Men with Ingrown-Prone Skin: Braun Series 9 PRO+ Electric Shaver 9599cc
Braun
Series 9 PRO+ Electric Shaver 9599cc
Our Experience
Here's another all-time favorite electric razor of mine, which earned a much deserved accolade in our best electric shaver article. And since I praised it so much there, I'll let Conrad add his two cents on this list. “For guys that have a lot of acne I usually recommend Braun's electric foil razor. Ideally you don't want a razor gliding over acne bumps causing nicks and irritation which can also lead to scarring. The technology for these has actually surged in the last few years and the level of protection it gives the skin's surface while still achieving a shockingly close shave is remarkable.”
Best Cartridge Razor for Thick Stubble: Bolin Webb Generation Razor (with Gillette Cartridge)
Bolin Webb
Generation Razor (with Gillette Cartridge)
Our Experience
Bolin Webb's beautiful, sleek razor won a British GQ Grooming Award last year, given its trophy-esque state. And when paired with a Gillette cartridge (which the brand tends to recommend), you have a recipe for some seriously efficient, swift shearing—perfect for thick and coarse stubble that otherwise struggles with resistance and razor drag. "While I usually recommend a safety razor for thick stubble—since they get get clogged up—if you are one of those guys whose face is made of granite and you are looking for the smoothest shave possible, Gillette Fusion5 is a pretty tough customer [thanks to its reinforced, anti-friction design]. Class it up a little by ditching the factory handle and get yourself something a bit more stylish like Bolin Webb's razor."
Best Disposable Razor for Guys: BIC EasyRinse Disposable Razor
Our Experience
Somewhere in the “more is better” marketing blitz, we lost track of the fact that fewer blades yields better spacing when it comes to rinsing the razor, and preventing razor drag between strokes. I love that BICs' disposables here deliver on their promise of less drag and more efficient results (which is usually why I'd suggest skipping disposables in the first place). They have 30% more space between the blades than their closest competitors. So if you need a razor in a jiffy, or you just don't shave enough but need a sensitivity-minded one stocked up, then look for EasyRinse.
Frequently Asked Questions About Razors for Men
What is the best razor for men?
In our roundup of the best mens razors, we gave Leaf’s single-edge safety razor (The Twig) the top prize for its ease of use, beautiful design, and its ability to convert cartridge shavers over to the safety-blade world, since it makes things so easy for first-time safety razor users.
What is the top razor brand?
Look, we don’t want to say any single brand is the best of the best, but there are far more mentions of Gillette on this roster than any other brand, so maybe that’s the easiest way to answer.
How many times can razors be used before replacing them?
Our general suggestion for razor replenishment is to toss out blades after every 6-8 uses, or after 2-3 weeks—whichever of those two things comes first. You never want them to accumulate too much dust, rust, or bacteria, nor to become too dull.
The Different Types of Razors for Men, Explained
Here’s a quick guide to the different types of razors, and what to expect or look for in each.
Cartridge Razors
These are the razors we all learn to shave with these days. They've got anywhere from 2-6 blades, though more isn’t always better. From your skin’s point of view, (and the dermatologist’s POV), 4 might be the sweet spot—at least that’s what Dr. Ostad recommends to his patients. You’ll see a variety of options on our picks below, but for good reason in each case. Just make sure any cartridge you use has a lubricating strip for extra skin cushioning, and to Ostad’s advice, be sure to change it out frequently. (Our rule is every 2-3 weeks or 6-8 shaves.)
Safety Razors
These are old-school cool, the enthusiast’s choice. Safety razors have a weighted handle with a single, sharp blade (single or double sided), and that single blade can give you an extremely close shave. These are usually preferred by guys with ingrown-prone skin since there is less skin dragging and swifter cutting, plus they’re usually less expensive in terms of blade replacements compared to cartridge blades (which have cheaper razors but more costly upkeep).
Straight Razors
Straight razors are those knife-life blade that you see barbers wield. It requires skill but offers an unmatched, incredibly close shave. Honestly, there aren’t many guys who should use a straight razor on themselves, so if you want that slow, methodical shave, save it for the barber’s chair.
Electric Razors
Electric razors are like the sweatpants of shaving, in the best way possible. They’re so easy and fast and comfortable, with minimal irritation and no ingrowns or bumps to worry about, since electric shavers don’t fully cut beneath the surface of skin. You can even tidy up in the shower since most are waterproof. You’ll have to do upkeep more often with these (maybe a day sooner than you would with a regular manual shave), but will save time in the big picture. It’s also a tool that every guy should own, even if he prefers a manual shave. You never know when you might need a cleanup in a jiffy, and without risk for side effects. It’s important to understand the difference between rotary and foil shavers, too; essentially, rotary cuts slightly less close but better satisfies the more finicky hair and skin types.
Head Razors
You can choose manual or electric options here—typically the electric ones will be rotary, since they offer more ergonomic benefits. That’s really the key with shaving a bald head: You need something that can glide all around the dome with little resistance, and in a manner that leaves no hair unsnipped.
Body Razors
When it comes to manscaping, you need something that can handle sensitive areas. Body razors often have features like rounded edges and multiple settings to trim hair without irritation. Again, you have both manual and electric options in this field. Typically we’d suggest choosing an electric body hair trimmer over an electric razor, and a flexible, low-blade-count cartridge razor for any body shaving.
Skin Sensitivities and Stubble Conditions to Consider When Buying a Razor
Since the above types of razors often boil down to preferences and prices, it’s also imperative to consider any unique variables that affect your shave routine—from facial hair growth patterns to skin sensitivities. Here is what to factor in, according to Conrad.
Ingrown Hair Proneness
“With curlier facial hair growth, you want to look for something that is going to be very smooth and gentle, and not looking for ‘the closest shave ever,” says Conrad. “The fewer blades, the better.”
Thick/Coarse Stubble
“You want durability, inexpensive refills, and reasonable blade gaps, so a lower blade count,” Conrad says. “Thick beards will easily clog a cartridge and the replacement costs on them are pretty high. If opting for a safety razor, get platinum-coated blades. They last longer and stay sharper. They are very handy for chopping through that facial forest.”
High-Frequency Shavers
“For frequent shavers, I suggest an electric foil shaver because it doesn’t really require that whole rigmarole of the rest of the shaving ritual,” Conrad says. “You can use it dry, since it doesn’t require lather or cream (although I do suggest an aftershave still). You can do clean ups within minutes, keep it in a gym bag or a brief case if you need to touch up throughout the day.”
Sensitive Skin
“The big need here is protection: The less direct contact the blade has the better,” Conrad explains. “Remember, it’s about blade contact so the less blades the better and the sharper the blade the better. Dull blades definitely cause irritation so change them out regularly.”
Acne-Prone Skin
“The goal is to minimize nicks and irritation when it comes to shaving skin with an irregular surface like acne bumps,” Conrad says. “Electric foils are the best for this hands down. But when it comes to a cartridge razor, a low-count cartridge should work just fine. Also, use an exfoliant regularly to make sure those pores aren’t clogged.”
How We Tested the Best Razor for Men
I’ve tried it all. Testing grooming products is my job, and has been for over a decade; I’ve also been GQ’s go-to expert on all things grooming since 2016. And whenever I have blind spots, I call in the experts like Matty Conrad, GQ’s other resident expert on this stuff. He’s a barber, so he’s shaved many faces. While I get tons of razors, he has tons of clients, so by our powers combined, this list was born. And it’s not just about the products we’ve loved for many years. We keep our pulse on what’s new, and try to keep these lists updated as one product ekes out another in any category.
Meet the Experts We Spoke With
Matty Conrad is GQ’s resident barbering expert (you can see him in a bunch of GQ videos), as well as the founder of Victory grooming products as well as Victory Barber in Vancouver, BC.
Dr. Ariel Ostad is a board-certified cosmetic surgeon, dermatologist, and founder of Dr. Ariel Ostad's Medical Grade Skincare.
