The Best Razors for All Skin Types

When it comes to solid grooming regimens, start with using the best razor out there. Why? Because while we hope you take our advice across the board about the best hair products, beard trimmer, skin care, and more, there’s really no area more elemental than shaving. With so many variables—namely a very sharp blade, or five, sweeping across your skin—you need the best razor to minimize the chances for injury, irritation, infection, and ingrown hairs—and also to maximize an actually enjoyable experience. Shaving shouldn’t be a drag. 

No two guys will have the same needs when it comes to razors. Some may even need more than one option to satisfy different parts of their regimen. Below, we’ve rounded up the very best razors on the market for your face, head, and body alike. There are heated options and electric picks, while others are aesthetically beautiful, ergonomically designed, and exceptional at their core task. Ultimately, they’re all going to help give you a close, smooth shave, minus the pain. 

Our overall top pick, Tatara’s Masamune safety razor, is in a class of its own for the quality, precision, and customization it offers—all in a safety razor with one blade.

How We Tested

At Men’s Journal, we’re constantly testing the latest products, some of our team with more than a decade of grooming coverage under their belt. Whenever something enters the marketplace, it’s also at our desks, and quickly being tested. Think of us as grooming lab rats; we get to enjoy the spoils when something is really great, and endure the agony when a product isn’t up to par.

Related: The Best Body Hair Trimmers to Make Grooming Easier

How to Shop for Razors

The best advice we can offer when it comes to buying razors is that more (as in blades) isn’t always better. You don’t need six blades in a single stroke to get the job done. Sometimes one blade can outperform six simply because the product is more thoughtfully engineered and made with better-quality materials. Think instead about the health of your skin, and the importance of minimizing side effects of a subpar shave. (Just make sure you follow the other shaving steps closely, too.)

As for the cartridge razors vs. safety razors debate, the thinking is that safety razors tend to satisfy individuals with coarse, curly, and ingrown-prone hairs. That’s not saying that anyone who lacks those needs will find safety razors useless. In fact, they’re the more universal option, even though almost all of us learn with cartridge blades. But cartridge blades can be just as kind to these skin sensitivities, especially if they take their blade count down a notch and focus on things like flexible pivoting heads (but never too freewheeling), as well as sharp and confident blades. It’s impossible to say one is better than the other; it’s a matter of preference, and we encourage you to explore your options.

If one razor isn’t working for you, consider that it might be the blades themselves, rather than the handle. For example, if you have a Gillette razor, you can probably find a more sensitivity-friendly cartridge that fits the handle. There are a million safety razor blade makers, too, so you’ve got no shortage of options there. But don’t forget to swap out those blades every six to eight uses (or two to three weeks) and to store them in a cool, dry place. Proper hygiene will go a long way when it comes to a smooth, irritation-free shave. Plus, blades are so inexpensive that you’re really selling yourself short if you skimp on those replacements. Only use fresh, sharp, and clean blades—no exceptions.

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Best Razors of 2023 Best Overall Razor: Tatara Masamune Double-Edge Safety Razor, Closed Comb

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Portuguese-made Tatara razors are something of a collector’s item for shaving enthusiasts—but the kind of item that you don’t leave on the shelf to collect dust. No, these weighted trophies are best pressed right up on your face, where they provide an ultra-close shave with a single stroke—in turn helping to mitigate ingrown hairs and razor bumps. 

The best thing about Tatara is all the variables it offers, and not just with handle length, matte vs. shine, or razor color. You can also choose between open and closed combs up top. Most guys will want a closed comb, which is slightly less aggressive and well-suited for sensitive skin and finer hairs. Anyone with extremely coarse and ingrown-prone hair will opt for an open comb, which has a toothy head that cuts more intensely, and which feeds more shaving cream into the comb so that the skin stays cushioned all the while. 

Not a lot of brands offer an option of open vs. closed, which is yet another reason why Tatara is so special. That, and its commitment to being plastic-free. Your blade comes in fitted cork padding, which feels like a love letter from Portugal itself.

[$207; amazon.com]

Best Single-Edge Safety Razor: Supply Safety Razor

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Supply’s single-blade, perfectly weighted device takes the guesswork out of safety-razor shaving. Like any other safety razors, it’s ideal for anyone who is prone to bumps and ingrown hairs, or who has too-sensitive skin for a five-blade pass. However, because of Supply’s smart and customizable design—with three options for blade exposure, as well as a fast-loading head—it also makes safety-blade shaving easier and far less daunting for the rest of us.

[$59; supply.co]

Best Cartridge Razor: Harry’s Truman Razor

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Ever since it leapt ahead in the subscription-shaving game, Harry’s has been the brand to watch, and its foundational razor has stayed in top form all the while. Here is a perfectly weighted, rubber-grip razor with German-engineered five-blade cartridges. Plus, the brand is constantly partnering with others to issue limited-release colors and designs. If you don’t fancy the orange, blue, charcoal, or green standard picks (though they’re all visually sharp), just wait a month or two and you might score something one-off and fantastic.

[$10; harrys.com]

Best Sensitive-Skin Razor: Gillette Mach3 Sensitive Razor (6 Cartridges)

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Less is more when it comes to shaving sensitive skin. You don’t need five or six blades, since that only means dragging added sharp teeth across your precious skin. Instead, pick a two- or three-blade cartridge like the pens that fit Gillette’s standard-setting Mach3 razor. You’re in for a sturdy, contour-hugging shave—but never overly flexible. It leads with a lubricated strip to condition skin ahead of the shearing, and its blade trio can lift ever so slightly as it climbs over things like moles, scars, and other skin irregularities.

[$13; amazon.com]

Coolest Razor: Dr. Squatch Safety Razor

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Dr. Squatch teamed up with the sleek geniuses over at Henson Shaving (and their aerospace-grade factory) to produce this gorgeous green number. It fits all double-edge blades, cuts extremely close, and somehow toes the line between being featherlight and just weighty enough to ensure an equally cool shave. And let’s just put it straight: If Henson is behind it, then so are we. Even better if it’s a beautiful Dr. Squatch shade of green.

[$70; drsquatch.com]

Most Innovative Razor: GilletteLabs Heated Razor

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With this luxurious device, GilletteLabs sought to mimic the timeless barbershop tradition of the hot-towel shave, and they have succeeded handsomely. The heated bar on this razor’s head keeps pores open as you shave, while simultaneously heating your mug and warming your spirits. This is lavish, yes, but it makes your shaving regimen quite enjoyable, and even forces you to slow down and appreciate the experience.

[$150; macys.com]

Best Head Razor: HeadBlade Moto Head-Shaving Razor

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Godspeed to anyone who wants to shave his head with a standard-fare razor or safety blade. You should use something ergonomic and designed for the spherical task, rather than the same device you use on the contours of your cheek and jaw. HeadBlade is exactly that, and in turn, it always works exceptionally for your face and body, too. It expedites the process—not that you need to go fast, but it certainly spares you from taking 20 minutes too long on the rear of your head.

[$15; amazon.com]

Best Electric Razor: Philips Norelco OneBlade Face + Body

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Maker of some of the best beard and body trimmers around, Philips Norelco also leads shaving innovation with this hybrid shaver, trimmer, and detailer in one. You can get a close shave, though not all the way to the skin, which some guys prefer; it’s a barely-there scruff. It looks like a juiced-up cartridge razor (and can mimic one, albeit more like a beard trimmer), and you can even swap in the body-trimming “blade” with its coated teeth for added protection in intimate areas. The device is rechargeable, and shaves wet or dry, if you prefer an in-shower cleanup.

[$49; amazon.com]