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By Robert Leedham, Esat Dedezade and Owen Gough
For baby-faced smoothness, a top-quality razor is just the right tool for the job. Here are our picks to perfect the wet shave
Every man’s bathroom cabinet should be armed with a quality manual razor, but do you truly look after it? We really hope you’re not still using one from that trip to Spain six years ago, but if you are, it’s definitely time for an upgrade. The best razors can help you live out your completely hairless dreams, with skin-soothing strips to pave the way for the blades to glean every follicle from your chin or around your body. Just like the best beard trimmers or electric shavers can sculpt and tidy up your jawline, a razor has its place in your grooming routine.
Sure, whipping a razor around your jaw is slower and more hassle than using the best electric razors to mop up the stubble, but if you pick the right tool (i.e. one with an adjustable pivoting head, ergonomic design and deadly-sharp blades), you can get the job done with more finesse. Disposable razors have come a long way over the years, and while you might be thinking your chin deserves a more cultured, technical experience because you suffer from sensitive skin, you may be wrong.
Analogue razors can eliminate tricky ingrown hairs and skin irritation without scratching at your cheeks, nicking your skin, or leaves you with nasty razor burn (the kind that always seems to ruin a day).
Your only upcoming issue is which shaving razor to go for. There’s a wealth of options available for all budgets and skin types, from Gillette and Schick to Harry’s and Manscaped, each with skin guards to protect your face, cutting-edge blades to eliminate unwanted hair, and ergonomic designs to make the whole thing as quick and easy as possible. Read on to check out the best razors, tried and tested by our grooming editors.
You've heard the podcast adverts, you've seen it on YouTube. Harry's Truman is a high-quality icon of wet shaving hair removal with an ergonomic, slip-free handle, durable, super-sharp blades and the option to replace your dulling blades on a subscription so you never have to worry about when to switch them out again.
A full shaving kit designed to completely revolutionise your shaving experience, Manscaped's Sidekick bundle has everything you could possibly need to maintain a hairless body, with scents and hydration to keep your skin smooth and smelling great.
It might be on the pricey side, but Gillette's heated labs razor is a special sort of blade/razor handle combo to help reduce razor bumps for practically all skin types. It warms up your skin to sooth the pores and hairs as you shave, resulting in that fresh towel-dried shave that can only be replicated in your nearest pro Turkish barbershop.
Skip to: How we test the best razors | How do razors differ from electric shavers? | What's the difference between a straight razor and a safety razor? | Are straight razors dangerous? | How much should you spend on your razor? | Should I use a razor subscription service? | How do I clean and maintain a razor? | GQ's pick of the best grooming items 2024
When placing a sharp blade next to your neck, you’ll want assurances that it will give you the closest shave, with no nicks to the skin, and that it’s actually been tested by someone trustworthy. That, we can assure you. Our grooming editors have used as many razors as their face could take, personally testing each to assess the quality of the shave, the sharpness of the razor blades and the overall value of each razor. Where possible, we measured the cost against any included extras (or if the subscription package for replacement heads was worth it) to give you the most accurate list of the best razors of 2024.
You may be wondering why you shouldn't simply invest in a top-drawer electric shaver. Sure, it's significantly more expensive and requires a but more technical knowhow to get running and maintaining, but wouldn't it be quicker? Truth is that, yes, an electric, motorised razor will be faster and arguably do a better job of shaving your jawline, but thee are some drawbacks aside from the obvious financial implications.
First off, not all electric shavers are waterproof, meaning you can't just quickly touch up edges or have a full-on shave in the shower. Second, manual razors will typically cut closer to the skin. You'll find either a rotary or foil shaver that will be motorised but neither will quite be able to get as close to the follicle end of your stubble or give you that ultra-smooth silky skin that a precision trimmer blade will. They also may not be able to content with different hair types, as many foil shavers simply cut to a particular length without any sort of adjustment. A straight up razor blade doesn't have that same issue.
Almost every razor you can buy in your local pharmacy, or get delivered to your front door, is known as a safety razor. Why? Its blades will be fitted with a protective shield or lubricating strips to stop you from cutting your skin so easily.
Straight razors don't offer the same protection, as they are typically only a single blade (like a cutthroat manual razor) and, as such, are usually best left to the barbershop pros. Otherwise, you risk Sweeney Todd-ing yourself. You can also get double-edge safety razors, which leave only a tiny bit of the razor head bevel protruding for an added element of safety and accuracy, letting you really hone in on those sideburns.
Absolutely. But so are cars, kitchen knives and the internet, if used incorrectly. If, however, you take the time to swot up on the correct skills, you'll minimise the risk of injury and feel pretty satisfied with yourself once you've nailed it. Another bonus is the fact that, if maintained, a straight razor can be sharpened to keep a wicked edge for the duration of its life (though you'll soon find yourself down an endless rabbit hole of whetstones and leather strops). To make things a bit easier, we’d recommend investing in a proper shaving foam that will prep the skin, lift the hairs and hydrate your face post-shave. You have been warned.
As one of the most rudimentary bits of men's grooming kit, a good razor shouldn't cost the earth. What you're paying for is a quality handle and number of blades with a well-judged grip and balance and a set of blades that'll easily scythe through your stubble. All of the blades featured here pass these tests without leaving a sizeable hole in your pocket. Especially if you're smart and buy your replacement cartridges in relative bulk.
For a general ballpark figure, you should expect to pay around a tenner at the absolute minimum for a cheap, plastic razor, but fully decked-out bundles with travel cases, multiple head replacements and higher-quality blades can cost upwards of £50.
If you're looking to invest in the full barbershop experience, opt for a set that includes a quality shaving brush and shaving cream, too.
The good thing about a razor subscription service is that you'll never end up shaving with a dull set of blades. The idea is that you get sent a new set of cartridges roughly once per month, with popular brands like Harrys or Manscaped owning the space. If you only use a razor for extra-suave effect on special occasions or like to keep your scruff just on the right side of "manageable", then subscribing to a razor service may be a bit excessive. For those who hit the near-daily sweet spot, however, it's smart to sign up for the razors, shaving creams, and other grooming add-ons you'll put to good use.
We don't mean to sound like a nagging parent, but taking care of your razor, or any of your grooming tools, is an essential practice for all men. Not least because it stops you from grinding a device full of detritus from your previous shave all over your clean skin, but it also keeps the blades at optimum sharpness and removes any risk of rust or dents in the metal, which can easily result in painful nicks or the dreaded razor burn.
Instead, what you should definitely grab as soon as you can, is a quality blade oil. Lather up the blades regularly –though don't drench them– and pat dry with a clean, lint-free cloth. This will keep the blades sharp and lubricated, and oil isn't all that expensive to buy. Some brands even offer you a small bottle of the stuff when you buy the razor so there's no excuse.
You should always give your razor a quick rinse under a warm tap before you start shaving, just to remove any risk of old hair shavings being caught in the blades, and also means the blades are warm to open up the pores of your skin for a smoother shave. It's also always advised to wash off the blades again once you're done, pat drying them with a towel or lint-free cloth, ready for your next shave.
In our eyes, every man should take his grooming seriously, regardless of the thickness of his beard or if his bonce flows with luscious locks of hair. Taking care of yourself and your body is both a good way of keeping your own mental and physical wellbeing in check as well as a form of self-care if you invest in the right tools. Ensuring you have an easy-to-follow skin and hair care routine and then taking the time to go through it with the correct tools for the job is a surefire way to look and feel as good as you can be.
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Wondering if there's a razor that can tackle hair away from the jawline and a bit further down? Gillette's new Intimate series is kind to your skin, taking care to gently eradicate unwanted hair without nicking, scratching or pulling, meaning you can explore a clean shave across other areas of your body. Combine this top-tier razor with the Intimate i5 trimmer and you've got yourself a quality body grooming set.
Read GQ's Gillette Intimate review
If you want to stand out from the crowd and have your razor proudly on display in your recently renovated bathroom oasis, then you’ll want something fancy. Trouble is, if you go down the disposable razor route, nothing really screams “premium”. Enter the X1 Nero Black — a handle that plays nice with Gillette’s Fusion5 blades, and is finished in alluring piano and satin blacks, with paints used by some of the UK’s most prestigious automotive marques. How’s that for a statement piece?
With five blades and a larger lubricated strip, the Proglide is designed firmly with reducing irritation in mind. Combined with the pivoting FlexBall (which effortlessly lets you glide across contours and tricky areas), this is a great choice for those with sensitive skin. If you’re after a shaver for smooth bald look, then this is also worth a look for all the aforementioned reasons.
If you like the sound of the Proglide above, but don’t need the extra manoeuvrability of the FlexBall, then the Fusion5 is the perfect Gilette choice for you. It retains the Proglide’s five-blade system and enlarged lubrication strip, but opts for a more traditional handle without the pivoting skills. The end result is an equally smooth shave, for less cost.
Bambaw’s double-edge safety razor has plenty going for it. It’s affordable, for a start, especially when you take into account the fact that it uses traditional razor blades, which are not only cheaper than disposable cartridges, but also offer an unbeatable shave in the process. Despite its price, it’s a looker, made from high-quality, durable materials that should last you a lifetime.
This aptly named razor is an entry from Amazon’s own brand. It looks more than a little similar to its Gillette counterpart, and features five blades, a large lubrication strip, and a flexible joint which allows for a smoother shave across various facial contours. It’s a damn sight cheaper than its Gillette relative as well, so definitely worth a shot if you want to save some cash each month.
According it the entire world – or at least, Gillette claims so anyway – the Mach3 is the single greatest three-blade razor available, and we're quite happy to accept that statement, considering how long Gillette and its Mach range has been going for. Featuring an exfoliating strip on the bottom and a cleansing strip after the blades, it preps the skin, sweeps away hair and soothes afterwards for an effortlessly close shave. Oh, and if you get it from Amazon you get 12 replacement blades for a pretty reasonable price.
Merkur’s beautifully-made safety razor has a wonderfully premium chrome finish, with a reassuringly hefty weight and knuckled grippy handle making for a very compelling package indeed. Pick up the optional stand, and you’ll be more than happy to display your hair-slicing implement for all the world to see — especially with a suitable brush and high-end lather cream to go with it. You can use Merkur’s own blades of course, but you’re welcome to experiment with other standard-sized offerings as well.
If there's one complaint we have about most manual razors is that their design is often lacking. Where's the garish, acid green colour scheme? Where's the collaborations with gaming companies? We know longer complain about this any more, what with Gillette Labs bringing us this limited edition Razer razor. Arriving with a travel case and one blade refill, it's essentially your top-range exfoliating razor with a fancy lick of paint.
Bic’s Flex 5 Hybrid starter kit comes with one handle and two blade cartridges, with each packing the cutting power of five moveable nano-tech blades for an ultra-close shave. With a sturdy rubber grip and a precision edging blade for finer details, it’s the perfect groomer pairing to some quality shaving gel. The contouring head in particular lowers the learning curve even for users coming over to the manual side from the likes of the Philips OneBlade, Philips Norelco, or rechargeable electric Braun series, making Bic’s package a quiet, fuss-free option.
There are only 300 of these razors available – so grab one while you can – but the infinite charm of artist, Fei Wang's Mr Slowboy is worth the steep price of admission. Posing in front of a red Jaguar E-Type (how British) and sporting a fetching hat and winning smile, this is the must-have razor for the man who loves his country.
Arguably the most famous contemporary shaving brand, thanks to the plethora of podcast adverts dedicated to its flagship model, Harry's is a top choice if you're shaving daily and need regular replacements to keep your blades sharp and your jawline hair-free. The set is handily affordable, with the blades lasting around 2 months before Harrys ships more out to you. You also get a blade protector that's perfect for keeping hair and sharp blades away from the rest of your luggage.
We know all about Manscaped's brilliant range of male grooming tools – just check out our review of The Beard Hedger – but the Sidekick bundle is an interesting prospect for anyone looking to trim more than just their facial hair. In this pack, you'll get a quality blade (called the Plow 2.0…there's a lot of gardening themes here), a nose and ear hair trimmer (The Weed Whacker), a moisturising hair and body wash (Crop Cleanser), a below-the-waist body toner and refresher (The Crop Reviver), and a brush to sweep away detritus (The Foot Duster). It's a banger of a package for £85, with a toiletry bag and a shaving mat to collect your unwanted hair included in the price.
You can leave your cheap plastic manual razors behind, here we have a properly solid bit of shaving kit that can last your entire lifetime should you wish. Wrought from aluminium and packing Gillette's Fusion5 Proglide blade on the head, it was voted by our readers as the best shaving product in 2023. And you don't get finer praise than that.
Wilkinson Sword is a brand synonymous with quality grooming, but now it can claim to make one of the most elegantly-designed razors that still stands up to scrutiny. The double-edged blades will stand the test of time, reducing razor burn and slicing through unwanted hair with the same confidence as a veteran samurai. A PTFE coating, which acts as a skin-safe lubricant and anti-stick solution, has the blades gliding around your jaw without catching, and the ridged handle eliminates the risk of it slipping in your hand.
The chrome-plated metal on this Mühle razor is enough to transform any sink-side into a barbershop of old. Thanks to its closed-comb head, this one takes a pro-shaver to reap its slightly less user-friendly, old-school advantage, but the result will hark back to babyfaced style icons such as Steve McQueen.
Want the warmth and sensation of a hot towel shave at the push of a button? Thanks to GiletteLabs’ Heated Razor you can have just that. Using a warming bar to provide continuous heat and comfort in every stroke, it will give you a soothing and comfortable shave. Plus, it’s fitted with Gillette’s thinnest and finest blades.
Made with sustainability in mind, this razor comes with a bamboo handle to minimise its plastic waste while its packaging is made from fully recycled materials. Given Bulldog’s form in good value grooming kit, you can trust this five-bladed affair to deliver a reliably smooth shave.
If you’re the type to reach for new blades on the regular, then the Wilkinson’s Sword Hydro 5 should be your razor of choice. It’s available at a supremely reasonable price with four blade refills packed in – a bona fide bargain.
bathroom wall mounted toothbrush holder Boldking manufactures a razor that’s fast taken Europe by storm for good reason. Thinking about more than just a clean-shaven face (which it’ll do a cracking job at), the use of a non-slip rubber handle and addition of a suction cup to mount onto any surface makes this a particularly handy tool for shower-time grooming. Opt-in for BoldkingRepeat and you’ll receive replacement blades at intervals that suit your needs at 20 per cent off, so there’ll be no excuses for letting your body hair grow to first-month-of-lockdown levels again.