Men’s Razors

Razors date back to 18,000 BC. Good grief, that’s some time ago. Granted, drawings of many of our ancestors displayed some pretty ragged facial hair. We suppose the lack of mirrors or social shaming had something to do with this. And while men of this era likely trimmed every now and again with an 18,000 BC razor, we can only assume “accidents” likely occurred.

We’ve come a long way since 18,000 BC. If those folks could have had access to what we’re going to break down here, the visual aesthetics of the time might have been different.

Dovo Silver Shavette Stain-Finish Straight Razor

Take caution, guys. Straight razors are no laughing matter. Yes, you’ll achieve a deep, deep shave; perhaps even the best shave you’ll ever get might be from a straight razor. But one small slip, and to the morgue you go. So while most folks leave razors like this in the hands of a steady professional, if you’re ready for a little training, operating a straight razor can of course be learned.

The best part about straight razors (and why so many love them) is their precision. With beards especially, you can trim your hair in lines that are impossible without a precise blade. This is known as shaping work, and if you want to do some serious shaping, the Dovo is the blade for you.

Andis Cordless Profoil Lithium Plus Shaver

Some folks enjoy traditional razors, while others have jumped on the electric bandwagon. The word “bandwagon” doesn’t likely apply here, however, as that would imply electric razors are still in the extreme minority. They are much more widespread, and for a quick and easy shave, an electric shaver is the best bet.

If you have an issue with ingrown hairs by the way, an electric shaver is also great option. This model from Andis is affordable and was initially designed for commercial use. Online reviewers point to its efficiency with ingrown hairs, and not causing excessive razor bumps. Moreover, it can be used on wet or dry skin as well.

Gillette Mach 3 Razor

Cartridge razors are by far the most popular selling razors on the market. Gillette is a monster in the razor game, and the Mach 3 is an excellently reviewed razor that is a snap to use with easy to find refill cartridges that come in a variety of sizes and styles. The Mach 3, in particular, uses a three-blade cartridge, which is a good compromise between the single blades and the more advanced five-blade models.

Merkur 34C Heavy-Duty Short Handle Safety Razor

While cartridge razors are by far the most ubiquitous, this model (a safety model at that) is widely lauded as one of the safest, and best all-round razors you can find. There are a lot of myths in the razor world. For example, more blades equal a better shave. The five-blade manufacturers will die on this “myth mountain,” and they’ve got the studies and focus groups to back up these claims. Putting an end to this myth is above our pay grade, but one thing that has been validated is multi-blade cartridges can increase razor burn and ingrown hairs.

A single blade will minimize irritation and is also a lot less expensive to replace than multi-blade razors. If you’re so inclined, the Merkur 34C is a winner in the razor game.

Who knew shaving good generate such a discussion. Our skin and facial hair are part of our identity. Leaving them to 18,000 BC technology would be uncivilized.