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The 7 Best Single-Blade Safety Razors for the Perfect Shave
Turns out the old-school option is the best one for sensitive skin.
You probably use a regular cartridge razor. That’s cool. They're cheap at first, but razor refills are crazy expensive. Plus, they’re made out of cheap plastic that, ultimately, will sit in a landfill for the next 1,000 years after you throw it in the trash. Sorry, but that’s the truth. I think you’ll agree when I say it’s time for a change. Wet shaving, done the old-school way, drastically cuts down on the amount of plastic in your grooming routine. And for guys with thick, coarse beard hair, like myself, multiblade razors are bound to give you ingrown hairs. The solution? A single-blade safety razor.
Sure, you can get an electric foil shaver, but I’ve personally never found that those can get as close as I want. If you want to keep a perma-stubble, I’d suggest a beard trimmer, but those are annoying when you have to bring the charger on the road. I’ve found wet shaving—like how your barber cleans you up—to be the best solution. Adding a bit of the old-school into your routine seems dumb and superfluous at first, but it does lead to a change in your mindset about shaving. Instead of an upkeep chore you dread, it becomes a ritual. Something you cherish so much that you might go over to Reddit and post your setup for other dudes to see. With one of these seven single-blade razors, that’s exactly what you’ll get.
King C. Gillette Safety Razor
King C. Gillette Safety Razor
Pros
- Classic name and design
- Great price
- Closed-comb head gives you a solid, consistent daily shave
Cons
- Closed comb might be rough for coarse hair
- You can find a vintage King C. Gillette easily, and that's cooler
Gillette is the name you probably already associate with razors the most, and a King C. Gillette is this list’s most classic pick. King Camp Gillette patented the first safety razor back in the early 1900s, and the full name has been attached to this line of razors since. Now it’s more of a budget option, with chrome plating across the razor, and a small pack of decent stainless-steel safety blades. Though I’d personally swap them out for more high-end blades like Astra once the free supply runs out.
One note with this razor is that it’s a closed-comb razor. This means it can be rough going for thick, coarse, or long hair. For a daily shaver, though, you won’t find a more capable safety razor.
Supply The Single Edge SE
Supply The Single Edge SE
Pros
- Side-loading blades ease the learning curve.
- Thick single-edge blade makes shaving easier for coarser hair
- Lifetime warranty if your handle breaks
Cons
- Single-edge blades can be pricey to keep up with
If you’re coming from a life of shaving with cartridge razors and want to make the transition to safety razors, this one is the way to go. Supply’s single-edge blade is by far the easiest to get used to of all these. Thanks to its unique side-loading design, snapping on blades is made more or less as easy as removing a cartridge from a multiblade razor.
Compared with the double-bladed options above, this can handle coarser hair and longer stubble without the discomfort of nicks and cuts. The 16-fin safety bar ensures your skin stays flat and smooth without irritation. And once you run out of the eight blades (which will last you about ten shaves each, give or take), you can buy any single-edge blade, since the Single Edge SE is compatible with all of them. They may be a bit pricier than double-edge blades, but they last longer and are better for more occasional shavers.
Bevel Shave System Starter Kit
Bevel Shave System Starter Kit
Pros
- The perfect first wet-shaving kit
- Bevel makes great pre- and post-shave products
- If you like the modern streamlined look, this is the best razor for it
Cons
- Traditionalists won't love the look of the razor
- Not the best for longer/thicker hair
My colleague Luke Guillory has already written at length about this Bevel kit. For him, this is what turned him fully off cartridge razors in the first place. If you’re starting out in your wet-shaving journey, this is as good a kit as you can get, and most of that comes down to Bevel’s creams and oils. It has everything you need for a smooth, comfortable place to dive into single-blade shaving. Once you figure out what you want—like an old-school boar-hair brush, different blades, or scented creams—you can start to play with it on your own. But as a starter kit, this hits all the essentials.
The only thing I’d say about the razor itself is that the single bar guard doesn’t make this a great razor for dealing with longer hair. If you’re used to waiting a few days between shaves, this might not be the one. When I don’t have a beard, I like to take almost a full week between shaves to get some scruff going. The single bar guard makes it tough if I go too long between shaves. Because of that, this isn’t my personal razor of choice, but it’s an excellent choice for daily shavers.
Manscaped The Plow 2.0
Manscaped The Plow 2.0
Pros
- Newbie friendly cutting angle
- Rust resistant
- Nice weight to it
Cons
- Included blades are not as good as other brands
Here’s another one that is pretty newbie resistant and idiot-proof. The brass handle is waterproof and rust resistant, so you don’t even need to worry about cleaning it wrong. The razor has a nice heft to it, and the blade is designed to sit at the proper 30-degree cutting angle you need for one-blade shaving. The result is a smooth shave that feels natural and satisfying, every single time.
The one thing I will recommend is that, if you’re going with the Plow, don’t stick to its default blades. Pick something else up instead—as I said earlier, Astras are reliable and affordable.
Merkur Progress 500
Merkur Progress 500
Pros
- Twist to adjust the blade gap and angle
- Works with any blades
- Weighted handle
Cons
- No blades included
This is a unique design from Merkur, maker of the famed 34C double-edged safety razor. The Progress 500 has an adjustable handle. A mechanism on the bottom lets you widen the gap between the handle and the blade, meaning you can adjust how close you want the shave to be. Perfect for gentlemen who rock a beard on and off and have slightly different needs every time they pick up the razor.
For a version with a longer handle, grab the 510. Just be warned that neither of these comes with extra blades, so you’ll want to stock up elsewhere first.
Edwin Jagger 3One6
Edwin Jagger 3One6
Pros
- Just a beautiful object
- This full stainless-steel version has the perfect weight and shape
- Comes stock with Feather razors, some of the best out there
Cons
- Anodized-aluminum handles can feel a bit too lightweight
Before you get into the custom stuff north of $200, or a straight-razor habit, this is the grail razor. It’s the one I’ve been eyeing, at least. Edwin Jagger is, funnily, a pretty young brand for the style of product it makes, only kicking off in 1988. But it’s family-run, with a tradition in Sheffield, England’s metalworking, and Edwin Jagger has become a well-respected name in the razor world.
The 3One6 launched in 2019 as the company’s high-end fashion option. This full stainless-steel one is the gem, in my eye, but there’s a suite of colorful anodized-aluminum handles. The packaging is luxe, and the razor is known to perform like a dream. On top of it all, I’m susceptible to the marketing pull of a historic work town, and Sheffield is as core a spot for metallurgy as there is in all the world.
The word of caution I’d give here is for the anodized-aluminum handles. They look great, and they’re plenty durable. I don’t have personal experience with the material, but I know it just makes the razors a bit lighter in the hand. I’d go for this full stainless steel with a knurled handle, but that’s personal preference.
Tatara Masamune Double-Edge Safety Razor
Tatara Masamune Double-Edge Safety Razor
Pros
- Unmatched precision
- Comes in both closed- and open-comb styles
- Meant to last a lifetime
Cons
- At this price, maybe just go for a straight razor
So, you’ve reached the end of your training journey with a Supply or the Merkur, and you loved it but you want more. You’re ready for something truly elite. You’re ready for the Masamune. This is the straight razor that screams luxury.
In terms of precision and maneuverability, this is the razor that feels like an extension of your arm. It comes in both closed- and open-comb styles, so you should be going in with at least enough experience to know your preference between the two. If the price point wasn’t a dead giveaway, this isn’t a beginner’s razor. It’s for men who are looking to redefine what a close shave means to them.
My only real gripe is that if you really need the closest shave humanly possible, you might as well invest in a straight razor or shavette.
Single-Blade Shaving FAQs
Why use a safety or straight razor? What’s the benefit?
Compared with multiblade razors, the benefits are obvious. First, multiple blades can cut your beard too close, especially if your hair is thick or coarse. That leads to an increase in ingrown hairs. Second, most multiblade razors are just made of plastic. Metal razors aren’t inherently better, but they’re guaranteed to last a lifetime. It’s about the buy-for-life mentality.
How long does a safety razor last?
The razor will last forever, most likely. Individual blades will last anywhere from a week to a month, depending on how often you shave and how sensitive your skin is. Luckily, replacement razor blades are dirt cheap.
How do you dispose of razor blades?
Don’t toss them in the trash. What I do is collect them in an old can. Once the can fills up—this will probably take years—I’ll either send them to a metal-recycling service or, if I’m lazy, just close up the can and toss it in the trash. The main thing is that you make sure you don’t have loose razor blades in the garbage.
What are single- vs. double-edge blades?
There are two styles of safety single-blade razor, ones with a single sharp side and ones with two. Single-edge (SE) razors use a stiffer, heavier blade. They tend to cost more but last for more shaves. Double-edge (DE) razors use a thinner, more flexible blade with two sharp edges instead of the one. DE has become more common because the blades are cheaper and more readily available.
How Do You Shave with a Single Blade? Is It More Difficult?
It’s not more difficult. That’s just what the big plastic-razor lobby wants you to think. It requires a bit of technique, but it takes all of 30 seconds to learn.
First, you prep your skin: Part of the single-blade-shaving thing is all the old-school prep. Use a pre-shave oil to get your whiskers standing. Then use a brush and old-school cream to work up a lather.
Pull your skin taut: You should already do this with your drugstore razors, but a gentle tug against the grain of your beard hair will make it easier for the razor to work.
Hold the razor at a 30-to-40-ish degree angle: It varies from person to person, but this is where all the technique comes in. To find your angle, start with the head of the razor on your face. Slowly drop the razors edge toward your skin, and you should be able to feel the blade’s edge on your cheek somewhere near 30 degrees. That’s your shaving angle.
Go with the grain of your hair: You can go against the grain at the end on stubborn sections, but shaving with the grain of your hair prevents irritation.
Also, understand the grain of your beard: Chances are your beard hair does not grow all in one direction. For example, all the hair on my jaw grows downward, but the hair on my left cheek grows slightly more horizontal than on my right. And on my neck, there’s a big cowlick on the left side that requires some hand contortions to shave with the grain. You’ll always be trying to find the direction your hair grows. Don’t stress learning this before you start; it’ll be apparent if you’re looking for it.
Short strokes, no pressure: This is what scares guys about old-school razors. There’s more blade exposed to your face, and too much pressure can give you a nick. Don’t worry, it’s simple. Once you find your cutting angle, just let the razor do the work.
Post-shave: Congrats, you did an old-school shave. Why not use an old-school aftershave like your old man did?
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