The 7 Best Single-Blade Safety Razors for the Perfect Shave

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

Grooming is a necessary part of being a man, but the grooming industry is a giant made to sell you stuff you don’t need. Our experts cut through it all to tell you exactly what’s a nice self-care luxury and what’s a snake-oil serum. You can always trust our judgment on this.