Of course, you are already familiar with the standard disposable Razor Blades that is widely advertised. What you may not know yet is that there are also other, better, and cheaper alternatives for cartridge Razor Blades. In this article, we will explain to you in detail what the best razor is.
It remains quite personal which razor is the best for you. It depends, for example, on the type of beard hairs and skin you have. To make the choice a bit easier for you, we have listed the best Razors. Even if you are still happy with a simple shaving tool with a disposable cartridge, simply because you have been used to it for years, it can't hurt to delve a little deeper.
Sharpness of the razor
Most men think that the sharpest Razors are automatically the best Razor Blades. In most cases, this is true. The sharper the blade, the smoother the result will be. However, you need to learn to handle it. Because you also run the risk of cutting yourself more easily. But: with a sharper razor, a better result can be achieved. If you master the technique well, the sharpest blade is ideal for sensitive skin and thicker beard hairs. The skin is less stressed because the blade only needs to glide over the skin and hairs once. If you have less thick beard hairs, you can possibly work with a less sharp blade. Although our preference is for the sharper variants.
What Razors exist?
We can divide Razors into several types.
- The well-known disposable razor (Cartridge Razor)
- The classic safety razor (Safety Razor)
- The open barber razor (Shavette)
The Razors with disposable cartridge are, of course, very well known. Both Gillette and Wilkinson have been selling these convenient products with great success for decades. The Razor Blades with disposable cassette are quite suitable for Shaving. But in our opinion, they do not fall under the best Razor Blades. It certainly does not mean that a disposable cassette with more blades is also more comfortable and better for Shaving than with a single blade. Due to the design and enclosed blades, they are quite forgiving.
If you really want to take a step and bring wet shaving to a (much) higher level, we recommend starting with a Safety Razor. With this razor, equipped with a Double Edge Blades (double-edged) blade, you can shave the skin very smoothly. You will just need to take a little more time because shaving with a Safety Razor requires a bit more technique than the standard disposable variant. In our article 'Using a Safety Razor' you will get a perfect picture of how to handle such a shaving tool!
With a Shavette or Straight Razor knife, you enter a completely different league. These Razors, which are mainly used by barbers, are very professional instruments that you really need to learn to Shaving. A Shavette is equipped with a replaceable single edge blade while the open razor consists of one piece of metal. You need to regularly sharpen this with a Sharpening Stone.
Once you master the art, you can achieve a super smooth result, but you really need to work with care. With these types of Razors, you have zero safety margin. So if you place the blade on the skin without concentration, there is a good chance you will injure yourself. So much so that you can't even stop the bleeding with the best Alum. A band-aid won't help either. Utmost concentration is therefore required!
The best double edge blade razors
As we mentioned above, shaving with a double edge blade is a fantastic way to Shaving your stubble with a silky smooth skin as a result. Yes, it requires a bit more technique and patience than with a disposable cartridge like the ones you know from Gillette, but the result is unparalleled. Besides the fact that handling a hefty full metal Safety Razor is an experience in itself. You have a serious tool in Hands. Let's name a few advantages over the disposable variants:
- Very precise result and a finer experience
- Shave less often because the end result is smoother
- Less chance of irritated skin
- There is a lot of variation in Double Edge Blades
- The double-sided Razor Blades are much cheaper
Many men who now shave with a Safety Razor with double edge blade come from the Gillette cartridge scene. They also thought this was 'the standard' in Shaving. And that doesn't make the step so easy. But once you switch to a Safety Razor, you never go back to the disposable circuit. So what is the best double edge blade? It all depends on which Sharpness you find comfortable. We naturally have the best Safety Razor blades in our virtual shelves.
Our tip: If you have never shaved with a Safety Razor before, we recommend that you start with the least aggressive blades available. Good Safety Razor blades to start with are those from DERBY. These Double Edge Blades come in a Sharpness of 1 on a scale of 5. Perfect to start with. The superior Double Edge Blades from Blue Bird are also perfect for loading your razor blade. Read our article 'How to avoid the most common shaving mistakes' to be well prepared.
The best Single Edge Blades
Single Edge Blades are actually Double Edge Blades but cut in half. Single edge blades are used in single edge razors like the Razorock but are usually used in Shavettes. For example, in the Proraso Barber Razor Shavette . In terms of Sharpness (scale 1-5) and quality, exactly the same as the Double Edge Blades. In comparison to the Cartridge Razors such as a Fusion Proglide or Mach 3 from Gillette, a single edge blade only has 1 blade going over the skin as opposed to the 3 or even 5 blades of the single edge or double edge blade razors.
The best Razor Blades with a single edge are, of course, in stock. There is a wide selection and in different sharpness levels. The single edge Razor Blades from Kai Captain Mild Protouch are the pinnacle. But they are also available at a lower price. You can find the best Razor Blades here.
The best Safety Razors
There is a lot of choice in Safety Razors. You can make it as crazy as you want. There are great starters from 20 euros, but you can also splurge on very high-quality instruments well above 1000 euros. To make it easy for you, we have listed the 10 best Safety Razors. If you haven't worked with a Safety Razor before, we recommend choosing one from here.
Do yourself a favor and throw away the standard bottles of household Shaving Foam or Hair Gel and make a choice from the best Shaving Soaps. You won't believe the experience when you tackle beard hairs with a Safety Razor plus an artisanal Shaving Soap. Of course, a good shaving brush is indispensable. We also have the best shaving brush for you. If you want to make it completely easy for yourself, check out one of our shaving & starter sets. Besides the Safety Razor, there is also a variant developed. The Slant Safety Razor. You can read all about it in our blog 'What is a Slant Safety Razor'.
Tip: with a good Safety Razor you will save significantly on your Razor Blades. The double blade Razor Blades are many times cheaper than the disposable cartridges from, for example, Gillette. They also last just as long, if not longer.
The best Straight Razors
For the die-hard shaving enthusiast, we also have a very fine collection of open Razors. These Razors are for the enthusiasts who love the pure traditional Shaving. They are made from one piece, often very high-quality, metal that you need to sharpen regularly and Shavettes that provides you with a single edge razor blade. As mentioned earlier, you can achieve an incredibly smooth shave with these types of Razors. But: it requires technique. And calmness. You can find the best Straight Razors in our very broad, high-quality Collection.
If you choose the Shavette, we also have a large selection of sublime shaving instruments. For example, you have the so-called Bluebeards Revenge, the razor Shibumi and, for example, the Abysso from The Good Fellas Smile. Each Brand with its own features. Anyway, you can find the best Shavette Razors in our digital shaving boutique.
Tip: Ask your barber if he can explain exactly how to shave with a Straight Razor or an open razor. Learning the right technique is very important.
The best Cartridge Razor
The true shaving enthusiast leaves a cartridge razor for what it is. Perhaps handy for a weekend away, but preferably you grab a truly weighty shaving instrument in your hands. Like the renowned Safety Razor. OK, you can perfectly shave with a Cartridge Razor Shaving, although men with sensitive skin often have more problems because the multitude of blades (3 to 5) simply have more impact on the skin than one blade. You can read all about it in the article 'How to prevent the most common shaving mistakes'.
If you want to go chic, then check out one of our best gillette cartridges combined in a MÜHLE holder. The Fusion Sophist executed in high-quality porcelain. Pretty F1, ain’t it? You can go as Monaco as you want. Dive into the special combination and in Meissen porcelain Gillette Mach3 Set Edition. After all, it's almost Sinterklaas. And Christmas. Of course, we also have the lower entry-level work if you look in our Muhle Shaving set collection.
How do you make the choice between Razors?
Making the choice between the different Razors is not always easy. By purely testing and varying, you can determine which blade best suits your skin type and hair. The smoothness of the razor, also known as the smoothness, indicates how forgiving the razor blade is. The smoothness is determined by the cutting angle of the razor blade. A very sharp razor blade has an unfriendly cutting angle, increasing the risk of cutting yourself if you have a less good shaving technique.
With a smoother (less sharp) blade, you will generally cut yourself less quickly. So, if you suffer from a rough skin or acne, you should choose a less aggressive razor blade. If you have sensitive skin and thicker beard hairs, a sharp blade is the better option. Because with a less sharp blade, you have to go over sensitive skin and hairs more often. This increases the risk of irritation and razor burn.
Tip: Before you order double or single edge blades, always check the Sharpness of the blades. There is a scale from 1 to 5. Try, for example, 2 or 3 types with different sharpness. Then you will quickly find out which type of blade suits you best. No worries. The best Razor Blades we have for you.
Which razor blade is best for the balls?
The Shaving of the balls. Manscaping . Of course, you want to keep the crown jewels smooth, Fresh & shiny. Naturally, caution is advised because if there's one place you don't want to cut yourself, it's on that very thin ball skin. Also, if you ever want to instruct your (future) in-laws to take care of your offspring… The best way to groom your balls without damage? Simple: a good sharp and fresh blade. So a brand new gillette cartridge or preferably, a New blade in the best Safety Razor. Sharpness 3 to 5.
If you haven't shaved your balls with a Safety Razor before, you can also opt for a slightly lower Sharpness. For example, 2-3 on a scale of 5. You can read all about safely Shaving your balls in our blog 'How do you shave your balls? And how do you take care of your scrotum?'
Tip: Use the Happy Nuts Comfort Hair Cream after Shaving. Against sweat, chafing, and unwanted odors around your balls.
Which razor blade is best for women?
The collections of The Alpha Men are naturally geared towards men. However, we happen to know that the women in our surroundings now enjoy Shaving with a Safety Razor. Of course, the Gillette cartridge blades also work, but we receive a lot of positive feedback from the ladies when it comes to Shaving with a Safety Razor with a double blade. The high-tech Henson AL13 Safety Razor is not only a beauty but a very comfortable razor for the legs and armpits of the ladies. Also, the Mühle Safety Razor R41 in the Colour Rose Gold is very popular among the ladies. It is also excellent for navigating over the skin!
Equipped with, for example, one of the best Mühle Double Edge Blades with a Sharpness of 3 on a scale of 5, a perfect combination. And then madam has enough blades in the house for the next 2 to 3 years! Almost Sinterklaas and Christmas… Not only you but also mom in glory.
Tip: read our blog, 'Why is a Safety Razor the best razor for women'. Then you will know enough.
Which Razor Blades are best for sensitive skin?
As described above, for the sensitive skin, it is best to choose the sharpest razor blade possible. The disadvantages of disposable cartridges, for example, can be that the multiple blades hit the skin more often. So not by 1 but 3 to even 5 blades. In those cases, you scrape over the skin 3 to 5 times in one stroke. That's why we also recommend using a Safety Razor with 1 double blade. That is simply the best razor. Equipped with a Double blade razor with a strength of 4 or 5 on a scale of 1 to 5.
Of course, it can vary per person. It is more or less a journey to shaving perfection. Where you naturally achieve the best results with the best Safety Razor blades or the best Razor Blades in a Shavette.
What are the sharpest Razor Blades?
Let's list a few for you:
Feather 81S Double Edge Blades
ASTRA Superior Stainless Double Edge Blades
Perma-Sharp Super Double Edge Blades
Gillette Double Edge Edge Blades
With this extensive overview, we hope to help you make a choice in selecting the best razor, the best Safety Razor blades, or possibly an open barber's razor. Like most of us, it is a journey of discovery towards perfection. By trying as much as possible, you will eventually assemble your best Razors. With an emphasis on Razors because more and more men are keeping a collection. And that is not surprising when you see how much choice and amazing qualities there are in shaving instruments and Safety Razor blades.
If you have any questions or comments, we would love to hear from you! We’re always here to help you out!
Good luck & regards!
Your friends,
The Alpha Men.