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A morning necessity for most, shaving can be an integral part of your life, which is why it pays to invest in a razor that will protect you from razor burn, rashes, and irritation while providing a smooth finish. Whether you are looking for an environmentally friendly razor or one from a trusty brand we are here to help you select the best razor for you.
In our buying guide, we’ll be tackling some common questions such as: which razor is best for sensitive skin on the face? Do I need more blades if I have coarse hair? We’ll also be sharing our recommendations from affordable brands, too, so there really is something for everyone. Moreover, we have partnered with Dermatologist Felipe Partarrieu for reviewing and fact-checking the article so that we can deliver you the best information.
Felipe Partarrieu is a dermatologist, who is GMC registered with a full licence to practise in the UK. Specialising in cosmeceuticals, facial skin care, and hair disorders, we worked with Felipe to bring you top quality information to help you make informed buying decisions and understand more about what goes onto your skin.
A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.
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Felipe Partarrieu is a final year dermatology resident, who is GMC registered with a full licence to practise in the UK. Specialising in cosmeceuticals, facial skin care, and hair disorders, we worked with Felipe to bring you top quality information to help you make informed buying decisions and understand more about what goes onto your skin.
You know the ones – they’re as simple as they come, generally with one blade and a rigid plastic handle. They're great if you're looking for a cheap and cheerful shave, or for the men out there that are a bit, shall we say, follicly-challenged.
Nonetheless, there are some negatives. First off, although they’re cheap initially, buying them time and time again is going to eventually add up, and unless you shave extremely rarely, you’ll eventually overtake the cost of a reusable razor. Also, the environment may not be too happy with all that plastic being thrown out!
Any respectable brand will offer the option of a replaceable head and blades (often called cartridges), which are usually better value as you’re not required to fork out every time you need a shave. They're also much better for the environment, or, if you want to go totally plastic-free, look for metal safety razors with steel-only blades.
The initial investment can be slightly off-putting when compared to the meagre cost of disposables, but buying sets or kits with several blade replacements included will actually work out cheaper in the long run.
Your final option is a straight razor, which is comprised of an open blade that folds into its handle when not in use. This was traditionally the main way of shaving back in the day, but has lost out over time due to the convenience and safety of the more modern options.
This style is typically great at providing a remarkably close shave, due to its ability to vary the angle of the blade to meet every hair. The only problem is, if you’re not already skilled with it you could Sweeney Todd yourself and be left looking like a cat has attacked you. You’ve been warned!
Razors with 4, 5, 6, or even 7 blades provide a closer shave and are more effective when combating coarse hair. However, to the wrong person, they can cause skin irritation, nicks, and ingrown hairs. If you generally don't suffer from irritation you should be fine with any amount of blades, our sensitive-skinned brothers, on the other hand, may want to steer clear.
So, what if you do have finer hair or sensitive skin? We'd recommend purchasing a razor with no more than 3 blades. They'll have less chance of pulling on the hairs on your face, and therefore will be less irritating. And due to the razor head being more compact, they're easier to move around one’s face and avoid any nicks.
Generally, a 5-blade razor is advised for most people, especially those who have thicker hair, and many benefit from a multi-blade approach. However, if you have particularly sensitive skin, then a 3-blade razor can be the better option.
If you’re prone to redness or irritation after shaving, then we'd wholeheartedly recommend picking up a razor that has some added lubrication. This inclusion will help in two ways: firstly, it'll ease the initial contact between the blade and your skin, acting as a buffer and therefore reducing the chances of irritation or bumps.
Secondly, it'll soothe your skin post-shave and thus reduce the likelihood of red patches or rashes. Keep an eye out especially for moisturising, cooling additions like aloe vera, shea butter, and vitamin E.
Look into beard trimmers and safety razors for more grooming tips!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gillette Fusion5 ProGlide Power | £12.99 Mid | Get a Close Shave With Minimal Effort | ||
2 | Gillette Fusion 5 ProShield | £8.65 Mid | Ergonomic Handle for Precision Lines | ||
3 | Bulldog Original Bamboo Razor | £6.00 Low Mid | Environmentally-Friendly Bamboo Handle With Recycled Steel Blades | ||
4 | Baili Double-Edged Butterfly Razor | £15.99 High Mid | Popular Safety Razor That Comes With a Travel Case | ||
5 | Gillette Mach 3 Turbo | £13.49 Mid | Triple Blade Razor With Soothing Strips for Sensitive Skin | ||
6 | Wilkinson Classic Double Edged Safety Razor | £10.00 Mid | A Cost-Effective Razor Set With 5 Replacement Blades | ||
7 | Wilkinson Sword Xtreme Sensitive|Pack of 8 | £5.00 Low Mid | High Quality Disposable Razors for On-The-Go Grooming | ||
8 | Dorco Classic 7-Blade Razor Kit | £14.99 Mid | A Quicker Shave for Those With Coarse Hair | ||
9 | Dark Stag Cut Throat Shaving Razor | £46.95 High | An Ultra-sharp Razor That Will Last a Lifetime | ||
10 | BIC 1 Sensitive|Pack of 20 | £1.88 Low | Cheap Disposable Razors for Those With Fine Hair |
If you're looking for the peak of shaving prowess, this is it. Gillette's latest model makes you wonder how we managed before. It has 5 front blades and one precision trimmer on the back, as well as the 'flexball' technology head, but there's more.
This update comes in the shape of power. Just pop in an AAA battery and it'll vibrate while you're using it. It may sound gimmicky, but trust us, the result is an astonishingly close shave with much less effort. Take a bow, Gillette.
The ProShield has many things going for it. Firstly, the 'flexball' technology lets the razor move front-to-back and side-to-side, effortlessly responding to the contours of the user's face. And as well as the front 5 blades, there's a precision trimmer on the back for tidying up edges and keeping you and your fuzz looking sharp.
There's even an ergonomically-engineered handle for comfort and two strips that provide lubrication before and after the area has been shaved, keeping your skin moisturised and irritation-free as it allows the blades to glide smoothly over the skin.
Over 2 billion razors are thrown away every year, most of which are plastic and take years to decompose. That's why this offering from Bulldog is a truly great product. Made from bamboo and recycled steel, it offers a sustainable alternative to all the other razors available at pharmacies around the country.
Its 5 blades and 2 lubricating strips are formulated with aloe vera to keep you free from any possible inflammation, too. And on top of this, it has a pivoting head and a precision trimmer to ensure you can efficiently tackle those niggly patches that are a pain to reach.
This double-edged, fully metal razor is currently a huge seller on the UK market, and for good reason. It has a perfectly weighted, textured handle that provides a solid grip, plus a user-friendly and secure butterfly opening mechanism. Don't worry – it's very safe and makes the process of changing blades incredibly easy.
Best of all, with a little patience, you're going to achieve a brilliantly close shave. Just ask the reviewers on Amazon, where it has a star rating of 4.5 out of 5! There's even a travel case included, so you'll never have to scour the foreign pharmacies again for something to keep you looking fresh.
For a super-close, long-lasting razor, try the Mach 3 – you'll get a very respectable 15 uses per blade! The heads themselves tug less on the hair than other brands due to their sharpness and come with two lubrication strips to ensure your skin stays soothed throughout use.
While this style of razor may have been left behind somewhat, it still has its use for plenty of guys. The 3 blades are ideal if you have delicate skin and coarse hair, as they have enough strength to tackle the tough hair but also crucially, leave enough space between them that your skin has a layoff in-between.
This offering from Wilkinson may seem expensive initially, but when you consider that one option comes with 5 blades, it's not so bad at all! Plus, instead of cartridges, double-edged safety blades are used, meaning double the cost-effectiveness. This bad boy is also known for producing a mighty close shave.
This shaver has a simple opening mechanism that's safe and easy to use when reloading the blade. Nonetheless, it could be tricky when shaving if you're used to standard replaceable razors as the angle is not determined for you. But if you take your time, for the first couple of shaves at least, you should be fine.
If you're in the market for some disposables that are a bit more boujee than the classic BIC, look no further. The Xtreme 3's have 3 steel blades that are easily rinsed to prevent clogging, and feature a pivoting head for more manoeuvrability around the contours of your face.
Moreover, they also include 2 lubricating strips on either side of the blade, enhanced with aloe vera, vitamin E and shea butter to soothe your chops after a shave. Although they're disposable, reviewers say they maintain good performance for longer than most disposable razors in the market.
Typically in the male world, it's all about one-upmanship, and Dorco has gone all out here with the world's first 7-blade razor. If you have coarse hair and resolute skin, this could cut your shaving time in half, eliminating even the most stubborn of stubble in one stroke.
It also has a pivoting head to get into the most annoying spots with relative ease. However, many reviewers have noted that the clip holding the head to the body is a little delicate, so you're going to have to be gentle with it. Also, the handle can be rather slippery when it gets wet.
This is a brilliant pick for those keen to try this style without spending an arm and a leg. They are renowned for producing some of the best, sharpest razors on the market, and this is down to the top-quality carbon steel they use.
It's lightweight, and, with proper maintenance, should easily last you a lifetime. Also, the blade is ideal for beginners, as generally speaking, a smaller blade is much easier to use. They are, however, still risky. If you want to learn or have a little previous knowledge, go ahead, but for everyone else, take great care!
For a long time, these were the razor of choice of many men, mainly due to their incredibly budget-friendly price tag! There's a single stainless steel blade that keeps it simple in a world of multiblade madness, and they're one of the best disposables for sensitive skin.
If you have fine hair and aren't required to shave that often, then these could be right up your street. Our only downside would be that the head is fixed, so it can be a bit tricky when trying to reach those awkward spots. But, at this price, it's hard to argue.
Here are some tips to help you get a cleaner, safer shave every time:
Written and researched by Lewis Clark
We partner with specialists across various fields to proof-read our buying guides to deliver accurate and reliable information. Our specialists do not endorse any products that we recommend.
- mybest UK
No. 1: Gillette|Fusion5 ProGlide Power
No. 2: Gillette|Fusion 5 ProShield
No. 3: Bulldog|Original Bamboo Razor
No. 4: Baili|Double-Edged Butterfly Razor
No. 5: Gillette|Mach 3 Turbo
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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