If you are thinking about getting into wet shaving with a straight razor you may want to consider a shavette so you don’t get stuck with an expensive razor, when you are not even sure if you’ll like the process. Keep reading to find out Best Straight Razor For Beginners.
Find a fixed blade straight razor is not only expensive but time-consuming as well because of the maintenance involved.
You will also have to buy strops and whetstones to keep the blade sharp and honed.
These shavettes offers an inexpensive way to try out wet shaving and practice your Technique before investing in a fixed blade. There is also almost no maintenance as you can simply replace the blade with a new one when it gets dull.
That is why we tend to recommend one of these shavette style straight razors for beginners.
Recommendations
Who Should Switch to Wet Shaving
There are several reasons why you might want to switch to wet shaving with a straight razor.
The first is simply money. When you switch to wet shaving you can potentially save hundreds of dollars each year if you are used to spending four or $5 a refill on expensive multi blade cartridge razors.
The refills for these straight razors tend to be less than $0.10 apiece. The razors themselves are relatively inexpensive as well.
The razor blades tend to last about a week-long, just like the multi blade cartridges, so as you can see the savings could really add up over the course of a year.
Other Reasons
The second reason you might want to switch to wet shaving is if you experience any kind of irritation when you shave. Wet shaving gives you more control over your shave and tends to irritate skin less often.
The multi blade cartridges can cut your beard hair below the skin level which is the main cause of razor burn. They do this by having the first blade pull the hair up while this the last couple blades cut the hair below the skin surface.
Since these straight razors only use one single edge, they do not pull on or tug on your hair. This offers a more comfortable shave and you should hopefully see less skin irritation.
The third reason you may want to switch to what shaving is simply for the enjoyment of the process.
As you master your technique and you begin your shave by whipping up a nice shaving cream or soap and applying it with a nice shaving brush, you will start to develop your own rituals.
Some guys even use a pre-shave oil underneath their shaving cream to provide even lubrication and comfort during the shave.
You definitely cannot Rush this process as you will be likely to see more Nicks and cuts. However, a lot of guys tend to enjoy this process and becomes part of their morning routine.
if you don’t have extra time in the morning or this doesn’t sound enjoyable to you than what shaving probably isn’t for you. You may want to consider looking at a more convenient electric shaver.
Features To Look For
When you are looking for your straight razor, there are few things to consider. The first might be what type of material you are looking for.
The handles of a straight razor can come in many different types of materials including:
- Bone
- Wood
- Chrome
- Ivory
- Resin
The type of material for the handle also known as the scales on your straight razor usually don’t affect the performance of the shave.
It is mainly style and a personal preference as to which type of material you want for your razor.
Of course, some materials are heavier than others which will make the razor more aggressive.
You will also want to consider the handle length and your straight razor. If you have larger hands you may want to get one that has a longer handle. Or if you’re looking for more control you should find one with the shorter handle.
Don’t forget about blades
Since we are recommending a shavette style straight razor for the beginners, you want to consider which type of disposable razor blade that goes in it when you purchase it. If you would like to learn more about fixed blade straight razors you can check out this post.
However, it is important that you spend some time looking at different razor blades for your razor as they can also have a big impact on the shave.
Razor blades are generally considered sharp or smooth and sometimes somewhere in between. If you have a thicker beard in general you should up for a sharper blade.
If you have sensitive skin you may want to look for a smooth blade. However, with every guy’s beard and skin being different is hard to recommend a razor blade for the masses.
If you are unsure about the razor blades one of the best things that you can do is grab a sample pack so that you can try several until you find the right one for you.
When Should You Change the Blade
As we mentioned earlier, the razor blades in these straight razors usually last about a week. That being said some guys can get 10 shaves out of the blade and some can only get one.
It really depends on how frequently you shave and how coarse your beard hair is and the type of blade that you are using.
You may have to test out the blade that you enjoy to see how many shaves you can get out of there before need a new one.
As the blade begins to dull, it may start pulling on your hair this is definitely the time for a new blade. Some guys replace the blade after every shave since they are so cheap.
Other guys with lighter beards can sometimes get two weeks’ worth of shaves before replacing the blade. Talk about saving some money!
Where Should You Buy?
We tend to recommend Amazon when you were shopping online because they usually have the most inventory and best prices.
You can also quickly compare multiple straight razors to see which one you might like. You can also read many reviews to see what other people are saying about the straight razor.
Reviews are tough because there are other people’s opinions but if you read enough you can usually find someone with a similar a beard or skin type that you can relate to.
Amazon is also really good about telling you what else you might need when you buy straight razor like some shaving cream or extra razor blades.
Finally, it is hard to beat the free shipping threshold which is only $25 or the free two-day shipping if you have Amazon Prime.
Without further ado, here are our top recommendations for straight razors for beginners.
Equinox Professional Straight Edge Razor
The Equinox professional straight razor is one of Amazon’s best-selling razors and for many reasons why.
First, it comes highly rated at 4.3 stars and over a 1,100 reviews. They also offer a 30-day risk-free trial.
So, if for any reason you are not happy within the first 30 days you can simply return the resort and get your money back.
This razor comes with 100 single edged blades right out of the box so you should easily be able to get 200 or more shaves with this package. They recommend that most guys get two or three shaves per blade with the Derby professionals that come with it.
Another great thing about this razor is that it is made of stainless steel throughout the whole razor. This will help prevent rust and corrosion, although you should still be sure to keep it dry and clean in between uses.
Changing the blade on the straight razor is a breeze with its pop-up style blade guard. When you open the plate guard up the two arms separate allowing you to slide the razor blade right into place.
The blade guard may be a little tough to open at first but after you have used it a few times it should loosen up a little bit.
You can see many reviews from first-time wet shavers that say how great this razor is for beginners. You will most likely find great value in the straight razor because of the price and the performance.
There are few complaints of this razor trusting which should it happen if you keep it dry. You may even want to take the blade out in between uses and wipe the blade holders dry for putting it back together.
Parker Safety Razor Heavy Duty Professional Stainless Steel Straight Edge Barber Razor
Another quality straight razor is Parker’s heavy duty professional series.
It does not have as many reviews but still comes highly rated at 4.4 Stars. It is a little more expensive than the equinox and you may be paying for the name but Parker is also known for quality.
While the blade is made of stainless steel the handle is not, so don’t be confused when you order this product. There are actually a few complaints where guys were expecting stainless steel on the handle.
The straight razor offers one of the heavier blades at 2.3 Oz. This will allow the razor to do more of the work when you are shaving and you will not have to apply as much pressure.
The added weight may also help the razor feel more heavy duty and not as cheap as some of the other lighter razors.
The blade holder has a round point which is better for beginners as it helps prevent nicks or cuts versus those blades with a square point.
As you will see in the reviews there are many happy customers ranging from beginner wet shavers to experienced barbers.
Most of the complaints are not even about the razor itself but about the seller or the blades. In general, it seems most guys appreciate this straight razor.
Feather SS Japanese Straight Razor
If you have a little more money to spend the Feather SS is a high quality straight razor. Feather is a Japanese company that is known for its sharp blades and quality razors.
It is a little more expensive than most of these razors so this could be a great second razor after you have got your technique down.
This straight razor does not fold like the others it is fixed in a straight position but many guys like the length of this handle and feel that gives them more control over the angle of the shaver.
Changing the blade is super easy with this razor you can simply pinch the blade holder at the top to release the old blade and insert a new one.
However, one thing to keep in mind is that you will only be able to use the Feather razor blades, which are little more expensive.
If you read the reviews, you will see why people are willing to pay more money for this razor. There are several guys from beginners to those who only use double edge safety razors who simply love this razor.
As of now, there are only two complaints, one guy who didn’t think this was a sharp razor and another who just simply didn’t like it.
Again, if money is not a concern this razor could be worth checking out.
Best Straight Razor for the Money – Diamond Edge Professional Straight Razor
If you don’t have a lot of money or don’t want to spend a lot of money to see if you like what shaving the Diamond Edge professional straight razor could be a great choice.
For just a little over $5 you could get this straight razor but you will also have to buy a few blades.
It comes with a black plastic handle and the stainless-steel blade holder.
While it only has a 3.5-star rating, it is still one of Amazon’s top selling straight razors.
The blade holder on this razor is different from the rest as it slides out, instead of the blade clip that you pop off. However, it is still just as easy to change the blades.
As you can expect with a cheaper razor the reviews are pretty mixed. But it seems that the guys who had the right expectations, which is that you’re getting a cheap razor, we’re not unhappy with it at all.
Some guys received a different product, but it is not uncommon for manufacturers to make the same product for different brands. Either way you can always message the seller to make sure you are getting the right one.
It does come with five double edge blades that you can snap in half for 10 blades but you may need more than that to determine if you like what shaving.
Classic Samurai CS-102
At 4.3 stars and almost 600 reviews the classic Samurai is another popular straight razor.
is very similar to the Equinox with a stainless steel throughout the blade and handle as well as the pop-up blade guard.
Since it is made of all steel the razor has a nice weight to it which will help it feel sturdier in your hands.
This is another great beginner straight razor to try out and see if you like the style of shaving before you buy a fixed blade razor.
This could also be a great gift for someone who has mentioned interest in wet shaving.
Since barbers have to use these shavette straight razors for health concerns, you’ll see many in the reviews with years of experience what shaving that enjoy this razor.
Again, many guys see great value in this because of the price compared to the excellent performance that you get.
There are a few recent complaints that the blade is not held tight in the razor. there could have been a manufacturing defect so you may want to message the seller about this issue.
Dovo Full Hollow Carbon Steel
If you are interested in it fixed blade straight razor then the Dovo Full Hollow carbon steel could be a great beginner razor.
Of course, you will need to buy a whetstone and strop to keep the bleed maintained. These straight razors come factory sharpened which means that you will most likely need to sharpen it a little bit to get it ready to shave.
Many guys mentioned that they do this right out of the box, although some will shave for a week or two before mentioning they have to sharpen it. However, this seems to be the norm with fixed blade straight razors.
This comes with a 5/8-inch full hollow blade.
It comes with black plastic scales which may give the fixed blade more of a cheaper feel but as you get into higher quality materials the price really starts to go up.
This razor strikes a great balance between price and performance for a fixed blade straight razor.
Just be sure to look at some videos online to see what is required for the maintenance of this razor so you know what you are getting into.
If it looks like something you will enjoy go for it, however, you may be able to get just as decent a shave with the disposable straight razors.
Conclusion
Hopefully, after reading this you have a better idea of what you were looking for in a straight razor and are not any more confused.
As you can see there are several different options to choose from, and if you go with a shavette your investment will be significantly less than a fixed blade straight razor.
Plus, it will be a great way to see if you actually enjoy wet shaving. you don’t want to have buyer’s remorse after spending $150 to $200 on a fixed blade straight razor.
Jimsays
‘keep the bleed maintained’- good one 🙂 (dovo details)