Razor

What are the best razor blades?

Ever since men started shaving beard hairs, they have always been looking for the ideal and cheap razor. The right razor is of course different for every man. Whether it concerns a cartridge razor, a shavette razor or a classic safety razor, the choice is of course personal. You cannot say that one razor is better than the other. This depends, for example, on your skin type, whether you have light or heavy beard growth, whether you shave your entire face or just the beard contours, etc.

In fact, everyone agrees that wet shaving ultimately feels much more pleasant than dry shaving with an electric shaver. By using warm water, shaving soap and shaving foam, beard hairs become softer and softer. The shaving foam also provides a perfect gliding and protective layer; the razor blades are closer to the skin. Wet shaving ultimately provides a pleasantly clean, fresh and smooth shave.

Which razor should I buy?

But which razor is your razor? The modern cartridge razor with 3 or 5 blades (3-blade or 5-blade) shaves easily, efficiently and comfortably. Changing the blades is super convenient and easy. Actually, this type of razor is suitable for everyone.

Many men decide to shave their entire scalp in case of hair loss. The ergonomics of the regular razor are suitable for shaving the face and not for shaving the scalp. That is why the HeadBlade razors are ideal for shaving the scalp. The design and convenient grip of the razor holders ensure comfortable and manageable shaving of the scalp.

The safety razor has made a comeback. Many men shave every day with this classic razor. According to many users, it even gives a better, smoother and more comfortable shave than the modern cartridge razor. It is a universal shaving system worldwide. This means that all double edge razor blades from the different brands fit in all razor holders.

According to some, the straight razor is the ultimate razor. Nothing shaves as perfectly as the straight razor. It is also the most durable razor. If you maintain the knife properly, you can later pass it on to your grandson. You have to learn to shave again and you also have to enjoy the maintenance. Do you like shaving with a straight razor but hate the maintenance? Then use the shavette razor. You can slide loose, interchangeable single edge razor blades into this razor. This means you always have a fresh and sharp razor. This razor is also ideal for shaving the beard contours.

The advantages and disadvantages of a modern cartridge razor

Advantages
- Shaves easily, comfortably and smoothly.
- Suitable for all types of skin and beard hair.
- Large and varied range of luxurious designer razor holders from Muhle and Edwin Jagger.
- Large and varied range of complete shaving sets for the cartridge razor.
- Number of shaves per blade ranges from a few times to 20 times.
- Changing the razor blades is easy and safe.
- Used blades can be safely stored in a dispenser.

Cons
- Not a cheap razor: the Gillette and Wilkinson razor blades cost between €3 and €5 each.
- Not a universal system. Both Gillette and Wilkinson have their own cartridge shaving system.
- The 3-blade and 5-blade razors also have their own handle. The Mach3 blade does not click on a Fusion handle and vice versa.
- In case of heavy, stiff beard growth, it does not always give a smooth shave.
- Shaving the whiskers directly under the nose is difficult.
- Not suitable for close shaving and maintaining beard contours.
- High risk of shaving irritation and ingrown beard hairs. Too many blades scrape the skin. This causes red spots and razor burn.
- More chance of ingrown beard hairs because one blade pulls out the beard hair slightly while the other blades shave it off.
- Not sustainable due to the use of various materials (plastic and metal) in the blades.

The advantages and disadvantages of a razor for shaving the scalp

Advantages
- Shaves easily, comfortably and smoothly.
- Suitable for every type of (scalp) skin.
- Extensive range of various razor holders.
- Number of shaves per blade ranges from a few times to 20 times.
- Changing the blades is easy and safe.
- Used blades can be safely stored in a dispenser.

Cons
- Not a cheap razor: the HeadBlade razor blades cost between €3 and €5 each.
- Not a universal system.
- Not sustainable due to the use of various materials (plastic and metal) in the blades.

Advantages and disadvantages of safety razor

Advantages
- Shaves easily, comfortably and smoothly.
- Cheap razor: the loose double edge razor blades cost an average of € 0.30 each.
- Suitable for all types of skin and beard hair.
- Large and varied range of razor holders and shaving heads.
- Large and varied range of complete shaving sets for the safety razor.
- Very suitable for shaving the beard contours.
- Universal shaving system. The different brands of double edge razor blades fit on any type of razor holder.
- Large and varied range of double edge razor blades: from mild and medium to extremely sharp
- Number of shaves per blade ranges from a few times to 10 times.
- Changing the blades is easy and fairly safe.
- Used blades can be safely stored in a dispenser.
- Durable shaving system: the separate blades are made of metal.

Cons
- Not suitable for shaving the scalp.
- Not all double edge razor blades come in a handy dispenser
- Due to the enormous range of holders and blades, it takes some time to find the right combination.

The advantages and disadvantages of a straight razor

Advantages
- Shaves comfortably and smoothly.
- Suitable for all types of skin and beard hair.
- Extensive and varied offering.
- Very durable: if properly maintained, it will last a lifetime.
- Very economical to use due to its long lifespan.
- Very suitable for shaving the beard contours.
- Traditional small-scale production.

Cons
- In the beginning it takes a lot of practice and patience. It is 'learning to shave again' during the first few months.
- Not suitable for shaving the scalp.
- Daily use also means daily maintenance with the ironing belt.
- Sharpen sharply with a whetstone once a year.
- If not properly maintained, the razor can rust (depending on the type of metal alloy).
- Store safely and keep away from children.

The advantages and disadvantages of a shavette razor

Advantages
- Shaves comfortably and smoothly.
- Suitable for all types of skin and beard hair.
- Cheap razor: the loose double or single edge razor blades cost an average of € 0.30 each.
- Very suitable for shaving the beard contours.
- Universal shaving system. The different brands of double edge razor blades fit in every type of shavette.
- Large and varied range of double edge razor blades: from mild and medium to extremely sharp
- Number of shaves per blade varies from a few times to ten times.
- Durable shaving system: the separate blades are made of metal.
- Requires no maintenance.

Cons
- In the beginning it takes a lot of practice and patience. It is 'learning to shave again' during the first few months.
- Not suitable for shaving the scalp.
- Store safely and keep away from children.

Instructions for wet shaving with the razor

Regardless of the type of razor, shaving naturally starts with the right preparation. Protecting your skin is super important. We always say here, 'your skin is not made to be run over with a knife'. You get the best protection with a shaving soap or shaving cream, warm water, shaving brush and a little bit of time. The applied shaving foam provides a nice greasy protective layer. In addition, beard hairs should be softened. Beard hairs are as hard as copper wires, but they also absorb water. The applied shaving foam ensures that beard hairs become softer. Apply the shaving foam from your shaving cream, shaving cream or shaving soap for at least 1 minute and foam it up. This makes beard hairs softer and softer. This ensures an easier shave, more shaving comfort and a smoother shaving result. Press the razor very lightly on the skin. First shave with the beard hairs. While shaving, stretch the skin with the other hand. Shave with gentle, small and even strokes. Don't forget to rinse the razor while shaving. After shaving, you can shave against the direction of beard growth for an even smoother shave.

If you have a beard and you mainly shave the beard contours, it may be more convenient to use a transparent shaving gel or shaving oil. You can then shave the beard edges much better and closer and you protect the skin.