How we pick our products
Many people today use razors to shave their facial hair. Straight razors are one of the oldest groming tools used for shaving. To be well-groomed, you need a tool that is practical and efficient. Ideally, you should have a good razor that offers excellent results when used.
But, if you have difficulty deciding which tool to buy, don’t worry. In this article, we will help you choose the right straight razor for you. If you shop the market, there are several different types of razors for men. In this shopping guide, we’ll explore different straight razors and show you the ones that we think are the best. We will also attempt to answer any questions you may have about buying, using and maintaining straight razors.
Contents
- 1 Key Facts
- 2 Our Selection: The Best Straight Razors on the U.S. Market
- 3 Shopping Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Straight Razors
- 3.1 What is a straight razor, exactly?
- 3.2 What types of metal are used to make straight razors?
- 3.3 What are the types of blades that can be found on straight razors?
- 3.4 How do you use a straight razor?
- 3.5 What are the differences between shaving with a safety razor and shaving with a straight razor?
- 3.6 Why is a straight razor recommended?
- 3.7 How do I take care of my straight razor?
- 3.8 How do I remove rust from a straight razor?
- 3.9 What are the advantages and disadvantages of straight razors?
- 4 Buyer’s Guide
- 5 Summary
Key Facts
- Not all straight razors work the same way. It is essential that you choose one that makes a clean cut, is easy to work with, and is sharp enough.
- It is important to look for a model that is light, is a suitable size and shape for your hand, and is easily maneuverable.
- An optimal blade is one that has been made with an antioxidant metal. This will guarantee a long life for the product.
Our Selection: The Best Straight Razors on the U.S. Market
In this section, we will present the best straight razors that you will find on the market today. Each has its own unique characteristics. Therefore, we will cover each product’s features in detail so you can get to know them individually and compare them to each other. This will help you to make the best decision for you.
- The Best Straight Razor With Natural Wood Handle
- The Best Straight Razor with 100 Blades
- The Best Professional Straight Razor
- The Best Double-Edge Straight Razor
- The Best Straight Edge Razor
The Best Straight Razor With Natural Wood Handle
This is a gorgeous item in and of itself. The Zertone Classic vintage style straight edge razor, also features premium quality. The blade comes pre-sharpened manually, ready for stropping, and is made of quality solid carbon steel, and is edge-holding.
The beautiful handle is made of 100% natural mahogany wood, polished and unpainted, creating a unique handle for each razor. Contoured to fit your palm well and to provide comfort in use, it is smooth and easy for traditional shaving. Priced moderately, this is a perfect start razor with good workmanship and quality
The Best Straight Razor with 100 Blades
This best-selling, extremely highly-rated razor is made from fine quality Stainless Steel, guaranteed to never rust or tarnish with use. Built with an easy-to-open blade guard, you can change each blade safely and effortlessly. Designed with comfort and stability in mind, the Equinox Professional Straight Edge Razor performs well and provides the right holding angle to avoid discomfort.
Included is a box of 100 Single Edge Blades by Derby which are individually wrapped for safety and hygienic purposes. Each blade can be used for 2-3 shaves, making this Value Pack a great bargain!
The Best Professional Straight Razor
At 2.6 oz, the Black Widow straight blade razor causes less vibration from the razor blade while shaving. It also provides the perfect balance in your hand for easy maneuvering. The proper, balanced weight distribution prevents strain on the wrist; feels great in the hand. The Black Widow straight safety razor is well-constructed with stainless steel, which is stiffer and better for thick beard or hair.
The single-edge barber razor features an armature swing lock design for secure blade insertion; created with thumb notch and ridges for extra control for preventing the razor to slip, which is most crucial when doing close shave. Set in matte black and shine gold accents, our cutthroat razor gives that feel of classy construction and masculine design; double-coated to prevent chipping and add make this barber blade razor sturdier.
The Best Double-Edge Straight Razor
The Chieftain is a perfect all-rounder for wet shavers of any level of experience. Long time cartridge razor users may appreciate the Vulcan’s long handle, while starters will love the Chieftain JR for its gentle and mild profile.
The Godfather brings back a sense of nostalgia with its forgiving 3-piece construction. Perfect for starters. As with any 3-piece razor, be aware that forceful tightening of the head when it’s not properly aligned will eventually damage the razor. Take care of it and it will last forever.
The Best Straight Edge Razor
Stainless steel razor with black powder coating, perfectly weighted ergonomic design. Professional grade salon quality, guaranteed to never rust or tarnish with use. Swing-lock blade insert, 25% higher exposure designed for smooth shaving experience.
Medium weight razor, comfortable strong grip handle, handmade for the best performance. Standard lifetime return guarantee, no questions asked. Takes most double or single edge blades, and comes with 100 Genuine Lord single edge blades.
Shopping Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Straight Razors
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What is a straight razor, exactly?
The straight razor has been used by men to shave facial hair for eons. Today, although you may think these devices have been replaced by other products such as electric shavers, they are still used in home grooming and are still very popular in barbershops.
What types of metal are used to make straight razors?
The second type of steel is stainless steel. This type of steel is more difficult to sharpen, but it retains its edge for a longer period of time. Also, stainless steel does not develop rust as easily.
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What are the types of blades that can be found on straight razors?
| Type of blade | Description |
|---|---|
| Straight or square edge | The outline of the blade descends in a straight line, perpendicular to the edge and ends in a very sharp tip. This is very useful for shaving narrow areas and to delineate the beard. It requires a little more care than round and French tips. For experts, these tips are very useful. |
| Round tip | The outline of the blade is semi-circular and the tip that forms with the edge is less sharp and safer than straight edge razors. That’s why these are ideal for people who do not often use straight razors. However, this type of tip does not offer the same precision as straight edge razors to delineate the beard. |
| French razor | The outline is similar to a quarter of a circle, but with a sharper curve. The final tip that forms with the rest of the edge is as sharp as the straight edge razor blade, although perhaps a little less precise. The difference between French and straight edge razors is purely aesthetic. |
| Spanish razor | The outline of the tip curves slightly inward, that is, towards the rest of the body of the razor. |
| Barber’s notch | It is characterized by a small hole between the spine and the edge. |
How do you use a straight razor?
Next, we will show you a video so you can see how it is done properly:
What are the differences between shaving with a safety razor and shaving with a straight razor?
On the other hand, the safety razor shave is much quicker than the straight razor shave. The straight blade does not irritate the skin as much as the safety razor does. Although it may be more complicated to do, in the long run, your skin will be grateful.
Why is a straight razor recommended?
Precision with the blade will also allow you to reach those inaccessible places that a safety razor cannot cover. Also, you will improve your concentration and your patience levels while shaving. A straight razor is also an important money saver.
If you buy a quality straight razor, you can be assured that it will serve you for many years and will last a very long time.
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How do I take care of my straight razor?
How do I remove rust from a straight razor?
(Source: Jens Tandler: 44288043/ 123rf.com)
What are the advantages and disadvantages of straight razors?
Buyer’s Guide
In this section, we will look at the various factors that you must take into account before buying a straight razor. It is important that you understand these aspects well, as they will help you purchase the right straight razor, ensuring you don’t buy the wrong razor for you. These main factors are:
Brand
Believe it or not, the brand of a straight razor is one of the main factors to consider. Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to always stick with the big brands to find great quality. There are others that also make very good products. For example, Canduré has some of the best razor blades on the market. Always keep this in mind.
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Protection System
Most straight razors require little space for storage. As they are products that require special care, it is important that you keep them in some type of bag, box or tray. The most common cases are made of leather, a durable material. Sometimes, when you buy a straight razor it comes with a nice case.
Materials
The big brands use different types of metal for the blade, though usually, it is a type of steel, as well as different handles and other parts of the straight razor. The two types of steel they use are: stainless steel, which keeps the edge for a long time; and carbon steel, which is more efficient but more vulnerable to rust.
The handle of the razor can also be made of different materials such as wood, plastic, metal, natural fiber or materials of animal origin, as some of our top 5 blades do.
Use
Before buying a straight razor, you need to be clear on the exact use for which you need it. If you want to trim your beard from time to time or trim your hair a little, in principle almost all models will serve you. For example, if you want a classic shave, a razor that has a round tip finish will be a good option.
If you are more precise and you like to get to all sides, we recommend one with a straight or square tip. Of course, you must be very careful, because if you do not use these blades properly you can cut yourself.
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Opinions
When buying a straight razor, the comments of other buyers can serve you well. It is always better to choose models that have a large number of comments and reviews. This is an indicator that the product has sold well. Another aspect that you should check out is the ratings.
Of course, the experts also warn that a straight razor “is a tool that will accompany you the rest of your life, so it is very important that you exercise proper use and maintenance every time you use it.” In other words, if you want your razor to last, you need to treat it well.
Summary
Straight razors are essential products for the care of your facial hair. These razors are designed to adapt to the shape of the face and thus be able to reach places where safety razors and electric shavers can not. Although it takes practice, they are excellent tools to achieve a perfect shave.
If you want to buy a straight razor, you would do well to take into account the factors that we have explained in this guide. If reading this gave you an idea about the straight razor you want, what are you waiting for? Go and buy one!
If you found this guide interesting, do not hesitate to share it on social media or leave us a comment. Thank you!
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