10 Safety Razors That Provide the Closest, Smoothest Shave (2024)

IN THE shaving world, there are two camps: the people who swear by multi-blade cartridge razors and those who favor old-school single blades. The reason is that everyone is after a perfectly close, smooth shave. However, what kind of blade you use to shave actually does make a difference, which brings us to another two schools of thought about blades: some people believe that more blades equal a closer shave, whereas there are plenty of others out there who say a single blade is all you need.

The crux of this debate about blades is rooted in a large population of men—particularly men of color and men with curly hair—who suffer from ingrown hairs and razor bumps. As facial hair grows out, it's possible that it can get stuck underneath the surface of the skin and then form ingrown hairs. This condition can be painful—not to mention a pain in the ass to look at too—but also make shaving very uncomfortable.

So this is where safety razors—a type of shaving razor with an apparatus positioned between the blade and your skin—come in. In recent years, safety razors have grown in popularity as a tool to prevent razor bumps. Proponents of safety razors in fact believe that multi-blade razors actually cut too close to the skin and shear hair too short, which makes it easier for hair to get caught as it grows out. Safety razors, which only use a single blade, don’t do that; they thus make your grooming routine more enjoyable—not to mention affordable.

Below, our grooming experts have tested the 10 best safety razors for both beginners and advanced users alike to try.

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While little skills are required for shaving with safety razors, with the proper technique, safety razors indeed do deliver a smooth, close, pain-free shave that albeit won't cut hair too close. However, many guys are reluctant to make the switch to safety razors because that technique is quite different than shaving with a good-ole cartridge disposable razor. So if you’re new to safety razors, they can be somewhat intimidating (and you’ll want to keep a box of tissues close by just in case).

Lastly, while safety razors use disposable blades, changing them can take some getting used to—it’s not always as easy as just popping on a new head. The good news is that the learning curve can be shorter if you get the right option, like the 10 best safety razors below.

This adjustable safety razor makes the transition from cartridge razors easier and less painful. Especially because our testers love how its adjustable settings. Start with the lowest setting to get used to the process and gradually work your way up once you get the hang of it.

Merkur is one of the biggest names in the game of safety razors. We love this one because the top is magnetic so changing and adjusting blades is snap-on easy so you don’t spend time fiddling with extra bits. And the matte finish is nice enough to leave out on our sink. Then, its adjustable dial lets you control the blade gap so you can fine-tune your shave by how close you want.

Parker is one of the OG razor companies and is still one of our go-to's, and this model is one of the best-selling safety razors on Amazon. Designed to eliminate bumps, irritation, and ingrown hairs, it features a butterfly opening that makes blade replacement a piece of cake, a long knurled handle that'll give you a better grip, and a nice heft that takes the guesswork out of pulling, tugging, and dragging as you shave. It's perfect if you’re a little skittish about changing razor blades.

Bevel was developed to help men who suffer from chronic ingrown hairs and razor bumps, especially those with especially curly hair. And its safety razor is specifically engineered to fight coarse hair and curb razor bumps and irritation for men with sensitive skin. The crown jewel of the brand is the perfectly-weighted razor that makes shaving smooth and simple.

While we won’t say that it’s a reason to make the switch, straight razors just look damn cool. Case in point: this rose gold stunner. It’s lightweight, easy to use, provides a surprisingly close shave, is beginner-friendly, and more importantly—you’ll actually want people to see it.

The longer handle on this razor makes learning to use a safety razor easier because it feels more like a cartridge razor in your hand. The butterfly opening allows you to drop in blades to change them instead of unscrewing parts.

Unlike cartridge razors, the weight of a safety razor actually does make a difference. Using a heftier razor like this one could mean less guiding by hand and can cut down on the drag of the razor over your skin. And with adjustable settings on the blade gap, you can fine-tune the closeness of your shave too.

The entire Murdock London line was designed by professional barbers at the iconic London shop and this razor is no exception. It’s similar to the ones used by Murdock barbers but is easier for you to use at home.

This inexpensive razor is perfect for beginners who want to try out a safety razor without feeling like they have to commit forever. This razor is not intimidating and is the ideal tool to learn safety razor techniques.

Open-comb safety razors are tricky. They arguably offer the closest shave possible in the camp of single-blade razors—with this German brand's R41 being one of the best we've tested, and a favorite for barbers—but the technique required to maneuver it is perhaps best left for the pros. I.e., try not to apply any pressure at all when the blade touches your face, but merely pull it across the skin so that the blade's teeth can cut through your beard and hair sans hurting the delicate surface.