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If you’re tired of getting an inadequate shave with your old electric or cartridge razor, we have just the fix for your woes. We reviewed some of the best safety razor blades that are sure to leave your face feeling smooth and fresh.
If you’ve never tried these types of blades before, we narrowed down 10 of them to get you started. If you’re unsure where to begin, fear not. We provided you with a handy buyer’s guide that immediately follows the reviews. It’s full of useful information and tips that should answer your burning questions.
Don’t Have Time to Read the Whole Article?
Before we move on, check out a couple of our favorites. We think Merkur’s Double Edge blades are some of the finest overall. These German blades are crafted with platinum to give you a slick shave every time. They also boast some impressive longevity.
If you have sensitive skin and need a smoother blade, Astra Platinum will forever change the way you shave. Hailing from Russia, these blades will greatly reduce accidental nicks and cuts, leaving your face fresh and vibrant.
Let’s look at these two in greater detail, as well as the remaining 8 entries. Regardless of your skin or hair type, we’re confident there’s a blade that will suit your needs.
Thanks to its German craftsmanship, Merkur delivers a blade you can count on. The quality is most excellent and sure to bust your beard with ease.
We love the sharpness of Merkur’s Double Edge blades. Their platinum coating gives them a lot more use than standard blades. We found that on some occasions, a single blade lasted us for two solid weeks before needing replaced!
You just don’t see this kind of performance very often. If you want a sharp, well-crafted, and reliable blade, Merkur has you covered.
Shaving with Merkur’s is a breeze. You don’t have to apply any pressure. Just let the natural gravity of the blade do all the work for a clean, effortless shave.
There are times when a blade is just too sharp, leading to razor burn and skin irritation. If you have sensitive skin, this is a problem that happens all too often.
To remedy this, you need a smoother blade. Astra holds the key to your worries with their Platinum Double Edge blades. You’ll still get a close shave, but without the troubling inflammation.
The price of Astra’s blades make them an incredible value. Whether you’re new to wet shaving or you’ve been doing it for years, you will be pleased with these blades.
We like that each blade comes individually wrapped. This makes loading the blade into your razor much easier – and much safer.
For our sensitive skin, we found Astra to give us one of the best shaves we’ve ever had. Best of all, there was no irritating razor burn afterward. Well done, Astra.
If you have a hard time finding a blade that will bust through your thick beard, your search is over. Feather delivers some of the sharpest blades we’ve ever used.
This double-edge blade slices through hair like there’s nothing there. This results in one of the closest shaves you’ll ever get in your life.
Because of this, Feather blades are better suited for those who have had plenty of experience handling double-edged blades.
It’s not uncommon to get accidental nicks and cuts with these bad boys. Even the most experienced of users have this happen. They are that sharp.
Be prepared to shell out a bit more money for Feathers. They are one of the more expensive entries we reviewed. But if you need a close shave, they are worth the price of admission.
No pressure is needed, nor is it advised. The extreme sharpness of Feather blades make it easy to nick yourself. If you’re a beginner, we recommend that you steer clear.
You can’t have a razor blade list without Gillette making an appearance. These double-edged entries are made of stainless steel and crafted for both smoothness and sharpness.
You’ll find these blades to be some of the best for your money, delivering both quality and quantity. You can get 100 safety blades for less than what you’d pay for 50 of Feather’s blades.
These Russian-crafted blades are best for those with medium-sized beards or thick stubble. They are perfectly-balanced to give you a smooth shave without irritation.
Shaving was made easy thanks to the smoothness and sharpness found in the 7 O’clocks. They deliver a close enough shave that doesn’t leave you with razor burn.
Derby slides in for the 1-up over Gillette with an even better bargain. They’re offering 100 blades for almost half the cost of what Gillette’s charging.
Derby’s are an excellent choice for those who are just entering into the world of wet shaving. Their blades aren’t overly sharp, ensuring you’ll get a safe and smooth shave.
Some users have experienced irritation and razor burn with Derby blades. But we found that if you take the proper precautions laid out in our buyer’s guide, there’s a good chance of eliminating this problem altogether.
We like that Derby uses a polymer coating on all their blades. We found that this adds a level of comfort that otherwise wouldn’t be there. Throw in some platinum coating and you’ve got yourself one commendable blade.
Sure, the shave isn’t as sharp or complete as premium brands. But if you aren’t planning on using them on a thick beard, you should be just fine. Derby blades are better suited toward those with light to thick stubble. If you try them on anything more, you will likely be disappointed.
Do you get tired of constantly having to change your blade out after just a couple of uses? Kick that to the curb and try out Wilkinson’s Sword Classic. This German-made blade is coated with Teflon to ensure you get lots of use out of each and every blade.
The shave you get from the Sword Classic is impressive, to say the least. For those who suffer from razor burn and other skin irritations, Wilkinson’s blades serve to eliminate that. You can shave with confidence knowing you’re getting smooth and comfortable results.
You might think that long-lasting blades like these would cost you an arm and a leg. But they are actually very competitively priced. You can get 100 blades for around the same price as Feather’s Double Edge blades.
Thanks to the longevity of each blade, you’ll be spending less money on replacements over time. That alone makes these worth every penny.
High durability and razor-sharpness make these a joy to use. You’ll want to be careful not to apply any pressure as you shave. The blades are so sharp that you could accidentally cut yourself. When you let the blade do all the work, you’re left with excellent results.
Shark’s Super Stainless blades are a great value that packs a punch. These Egyptian-made blades are double-edged and extremely sharp. You’ll want to make sure you have experience handling blades this sharp before putting them to your face.
In fact, these are easily some of the sharpest razor blades we’ve ever come across. They rival brands like Astra and Feather, providing you with an incredibly close shave. Your face will feel vibrant and alive after turning Shark loose.
We like to think we have plenty of experience using safety razor blades. But there were some nicks here and there. These are some really sharp blades.
The only problem we ran into was with their longevity. They tend to dull really quickly. While they come at a great price, you’ll likely be using way more than you should have to. But hey, if the shave is this close, we can’t complain too much.
The shave is more than acceptable. You’ll want to be careful when handling these blades, as they are extremely sharp. We were very pleased with the way it left our faces feeling afterward. Just be prepared to replace each blade shortly after use, as they dull quite fast.
Made in Israel, Personna Stainless Steel safety razor blades offer an easy-to-use option at a decent price. If you have trouble fighting with loading your razor, these blades will make your life a whole lot easier.
Each blade is individually wrapped with a backing that makes loading and reloading a breeze. They are easy to break loose so that you can store the rest.
Each stainless steel blade is coated with platinum. We found this gives a nice shave on thick stubble and smaller beards. We don’t recommend that you use these on large beards, as they don’t seem to be sharp enough.
Shaving with Personna blades is fine on smaller hair. But the real benefit here is their easy loading. They are packaged to where each blade is a cinch to break off.
Do you struggle to get a decent shave? Do most razor blades cause your skin to become irritated? Then we suggest you give Vikings Blade safety razor blades a try. These steel blades are very durable, allowing for lots of use.
The shave that Vikings Blade provides is very easy on the skin. This is because each blade is coated in platinum. This serves to make shaving smoother and closer.
You won’t find an aggressive shave here. The performance is very gentle and mild. This serves to make your shave comfortable. But it also helps in reducing and eliminating razor burn and inflammation.
For one of the mildest shaves you’ll ever experience, Vikings Blade delivers where it matters. You don’t want to use these if you have very coarse hair. They are better suited for those who have finer hair.
These Japanese-made blades do a fantastic job of shaving your face. They are highly-durable and give you lots of use out of each one.
We like the smooth edge of Kai’s blades. They provide a really close shave that doesn’t leave you feeling razor burn or skin irritation.
We didn’t get the greatest results when using these blades to bust beards. We experienced quite a bit of hair being pulled. They seem to be better suited toward thick stubble.
If you’re not planning on shaving off your beard, you will get really nice results out of Kai’s blades. The problem we have with them is their pricing. They are mighty expensive and just don’t seem any better than the other brands we reviewed.
They certainly perform well for what they were intended. But you can find equal performers for less than half the cost of Kai’s.
If you’ve got some serious stubble that needs to be eliminated, Kai’s double-edged blades will do the trick. You needn’t worry about accidental nicks or cuts, as the smooth edge helps to prevent it. This makes them a great choice for beginners, but the price is awfully steep.
OK, so you’ve decided to start shaving with safety razor blades. If this is your first foray into them, there are some things you want to consider before jumping right in. We’re here to help walk you through the process so you get the most mileage out of your new blades.
During your first shave, there are a few things you want to watch/test for. This will help you determine if it’s the right blade for your face. Remember, shaving with a safety blade is a process like anything else. Follow the correct formula for a close and comfortable shave every time.
Pay attention to how many passes you have to make over your face before it is adequately smooth. If it’s more than a couple, you might want to try out a different blade to see if you get better results.
Oftentimes, you’re using a blade that isn’t suited to your face’s hair. You may just need to switch to something sharper. However, blades of lesser quality can also result in inadequate shaves. Spend the extra buck or two and go with a premium brand.
With any razor blade, you want each pass to be as smooth as butter. If your blade feels like it’s getting resistance across your face, you could be in for a world of hurt. This likely means your skin is being scraped by the blade, resulting in razor burn and painful nicks.
This is another common problem that often gets ignored. If your hair is being pulled by the blade as you shave, you’re using the wrong blade. You need a blade that is sharper and able to easily cut through your hair.
Continuing to let this happen isn’t good for your face. You may start to notice breakouts and bad rashes. That’s why it is vital that you take the proper precautions to prevent this from happening at all costs.
Always ensure that your face is as wet as you can get it. A well-drenched face is a big step toward eliminating painful pulls. Use warm water to help make the process go smoother.
After you’ve tried out your new safety razor blade for the first time, apply aftershave as you normally would. Do you notice any difference? If it burns your face, this is a good sign you’re using the wrong type of blade.
This usually happens when you’re using a blade that’s too sharp. Try switching to a duller or smoother blade for better results.
This depends on how often you shave. But a good rule of thumb is to replace your blade twice a week. But if you only shave 3 times a week, you only need to replace blades once a week. You can certainly stretch a blade out longer, but you risk getting a rough shave.
The short answer is “no”, as long as your razor isn’t cartridge-based. Any standard razor should accept your safety razor blade without issue. But if you’re using, say, a Gillette Fusion, you will have to stick with their specific cartridge blade.
It would be nice if there were a definitive answer to this question. But because everyone’s skin is so different, no single blade holds the key. Many guys with sensitive skin opt for Derby because they have a smoother blade.
That being said, those with thicker stubble or beards usually need a sharper blade to give them a close shave. This is where a brand like Feather comes in handy. It’s great for sensitive skin, especially when there’s more hair to shave.
It’s important to note that really sharp blades cause a lot of men irritation. With so many potential outcomes, how can anyone be sure what will work best for them?
You can always try out a sampler pack so you can get a feel for each brand. A safety razor works wonders for razor burn. But that alone may not do the trick. There are many preventative steps you can take that will help reduce inflammation.
If you have a beard, you might want to try steam to soften it up before your shave. You may also benefit from scrubbing your face with an exfoliant. This will help to work away dead skin cells and give you a cleaner shave.
This is key to keeping your face smooth and clear. Try to avoid long drags. You’ll get the best results by swiping sections of your face, one at a time. And always make sure that you shave with the grain, not against it. This falls right in line with reducing razor bumps.
The faster and more precisely you shave areas of your face, the less irritation you’ll experience. Combine this with a blade that is the right sharpness for your skin type, and you’ll get great enjoyment out of shaving.