8 best safety razors that will help you boss your grooming regime

This razor grabs your attention the moment you open the box – mainly thanks to its bold yellow handle, which won’t be to everyone’s taste but certainly stands out in a world of chrome and black. Thankfully, the substance more than matches the style.

It’s beautifully weighted – solid but never cumbersome – and feels perfectly balanced in hand. The shave is equally impressive: smooth, close, and consistent, gliding across the face with almost no resistance. It hits that elusive sweet spot between comfort and closeness.

With thoughtful design, excellent performance, and a price that’s hard to argue with, this is a razor that earns its spot at the top of the list. A standout in every sense.

There’s something quietly dignified about the DE86 – no gimmicks, just honest British craftsmanship. Built in Sheffield with a glossy black handle and chrome accents, it looks every bit the gentleman’s razor. The shave is smooth and forgiving, ideal for beginners but also with enough about it for more-experienced shavers to want to keep it in their rotation. It’s not aggressive, but it gets the job done, with minimal fuss.

The grip may be a tad slick when wet but balance-wise it’s spot on. At this price, it’s a bit of a revelation – traditional quality without the price tag you might expect for a safety razor from one of the big players in the industry. In short, it’s a reliable, well-made razor that feels more Savile Row than supermarket aisle.

Gillette is the undisputed king of men’s grooming, even if the past few decades have seen it double down on cartridge, multi-blade convenience. However, with the King C Gillette line, the brand dips its toe back into traditional waters, offering a safety razor you can buy from your local high street.

It’s a move that feels part nostalgia, part statement of intent. This model is a looker, with a gleaming chrome finish. At 102.6g, it’s almost three times the weight of the Henson AL13 (see below), although, the extra weight and well-balanced build will suit beginners (even if the chrome finish on the handle isn’t the best for grip).

Some more-experienced safety razor users will also be frustrated with the not particularly close shave, but for anyone starting out on their safety razor journey, this quietly excellent and affordable razor is a great entry point.

This razor shows Edwin Jagger flexing its engineering muscles. Precision-made in Sheffield from stainless steel and built to last a lifetime, the 3ONE6 feels every bit as premium as it looks. The knurled handle adds just the right amount of grip – no slipping here, even mid-shave on a Monday morning.

It shaves slightly more assertively than the DE86 but still offers control and comfort, making it a solid step up for those looking to refine their technique. This isn’t an entry-level option but you’re getting heirloom-grade kit with this investment piece. Designed, made, and finished in the UK, it’s Edwin Jagger at its finest.

This is a razor with aerospace pedigree – it’s machined in Canada, using the same standards required to create satellite components. It’s light as a feather but still feels reassuringly solid, with a streamlined head that makes light work of tricky spots, especially under the nose, without forcing you to go against the grain.

That said, the handle felt a bit rough in the hand, and the razor didn’t quite glide as smoothly as others we tested, such as the Seven Potions razor. There was also some irritation and a touch of razor burn, particularly on sensitive areas, experienced during testing. As an intermediate safety razor user, our tester found this one trickier to handle, though the final result arguably saw the closest shave during testing. For experienced shavers who like a clinical, minimalist design, this razor might just be the one.

With a matte grey finish, minimalist design and sleek lines, this is the kind of razor that wouldn’t look out of place in an Apple store. Where it really shines, though, is with sensitive skin. This is one of the gentlest razors on test, with absolutely no tugging or irritation during use, even after a dryish second pass. The trade-off, however, is comfort over closeness, with the shave not getting nearly as close as others in this lineup. If you’re chasing a squeaky-clean finish, prepare to be disappointed.

It’s also important to note the use of injector blades (you can buy eight blades online from Supply for £7.33, before shipping). These are cool to use, but they do require you to keep buying the same type, which makes this razor a whole lot less accessible than something like the King C Gillette razor featured in this article. For anyone with sensitive skin or prone to razor burn, though, this razor is an excellent choice.

Made from natural bamboo, and featuring a chrome head, this is a smart, eco-conscious alternative to plastic-heavy options. It’s lightweight, nicely finished, and striking enough to earn a permanent spot on the bathroom shelf.

Some nice extras (blades, shaving soap, travel bag) are included when you buy this starter set, which is well packaged and perfect for beginners – you can also buy the razor by itself (£18.49, Shorelineshaving.com).

The shave itself is steady and smooth but, be warned, this is a big razor. It weighs 85g, making it one of the lightest options on this list, but the handle is long and chunky, which can make manoeuvring around tighter spots (under the nose or around the jawline) a bit tricky. It's not unwieldy but there’s a learning curve if you’re used to shorter, nimbler razors. Still, for the price, ethos and finish, this razor is still a top choice.

There’s a vintage charm to this safety razor, with it’s all-chrome finish and old-school heft. It’s the kind of tool that looks like it’s been handed down rather than bought online. The shave is smooth, close, and forgiving but the head is, frankly, enormous, and the razor is the heaviest on this list. That weight gives it a satisfying, steady feel during the shave, letting gravity do the work, and we certainly had a good clean shave using it, with no irritation whatsoever. But we did find the oversized head a challenge.

In short, this is a traditional, good-looking razor with plenty of presence, just be prepared to wrestle with the oversized head on trickier passes.