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In a market saturated with shaving tools, it's difficult to determine which are the best bladed razors for men. Too often, today's avid groomer seems content with the results from a disposable cartridge-based model. And why shouldn’t he be? Disposable razors and blades, like those from Bic and Gillette, have come a long way. Subscription services such as Harry’s and Dollar Shave Club continue to gain market share of the manual razor category by offering ancillary items such as shaving cream, aftershave — even body wash and hair products — to accompany their razors, delivered to you at your leisure.

RELATED: How to Treat Razor Nicks, Cuts and Burns

But what about the traditionalists? You know, the old guard who still prefer the authentic experience of taking a fresh blade straight to the skin? The reality is, most men know exactly what razor type they like and are unwavering in their loyalty. They’re just not interested to learn what model, if any, could enhance their shaving experience. That changes, today.

Take these key factors into account when the time comes to purchase your next razor. To point your blade in the right direction, we’ve compiled a buyer's guide of great razors to make trying something new a much less scary experience. Lather up, as these top-shaving tools are designed to transform a tiresome routine into a timeless ritual.

We have been under the impression for a while that more blades are better. Come to find out, that’s not always the case. It’s true that the now standard five-blade systems work for, or are even preferred, by a lot of guys, but daily shavers with sensitive skin or who are prone to razor bumps and irritation may disagree. In an effort to service those guys, Gillette has once again broken the mold and introduced SkinGuard, a razor with a strip found between two blades.

The purpose of that strip? It holds skin taut while those blades cut close. With two blades instead of five, facial skin is coming in less contact with sharp edges, helping to prevent irritation and ingrown hairs. While ingrowns are a result of hair being cut to just below the surface and then becoming trapped under the skin, SkinGuard cuts right to the surface, not below, helping to reduce the possibility of bumps and making daily shaves way more comfortable.

Promising Review: “If you're prone to razor bumps or have sensitive skin, look no further. At first I thought it was going to be a gimmick, but after a family member showed me the results, I had to try it for myself. Highly recommended, and the price on Amazon is hard to beat.” — Michael R.

Winner of the 2018 AskMen Readers’ Choice Award for Best Single Blade Razor *and* Best Overall Razor, it’s no surprise that this is a favorite among both readers and editors alike. The Futur is a modern take on the classic double-edged razor that blends full adjustability, balance, and style into an ergonomic design that works for both righties as well as lefties. It can be super aggressive with multiple settings that leverage different cutting angles, suiting the facial contours of just about every man. Warning: this edge razor is sharp AF when locked into the highest setting.

Shaves remain consistent from start to finish, with the blade gap slicing through hair instantly and scooping up shaving cream residue for effortless cleanup. We like the chrome-plated, matte finish and love how much it helps us with sustainability goals.

Promising Review: “Being a black man in the military, razor bumps were a daily issue for me and even threatened my career. I found wet shaving 5 years ago. I started with a Merkur 34c. It served me well for a short time. I switched to the Merkur Slant bar. I needed a more aggressive shave because I wasn’t getting as close as I needed. After many bloody mornings of trial and error, I got the hang of the slant.

I decided to give this razor a chance but didn’t have high hopes. Pulling it out of the box, it felt clunky and clumsy. I instantly set it to the highest setting and had regrets buying it. I gave it one last chance....I set it on 2 and the results are amazing!!!! Daily use of it on the head and face and I’ve yet to cut myself!!! This will be my go to razor. I’m tempted to buy another just to keep in the box as a backup.” — Mississippi Mud

Picked as the AskMen Readers’ Choice Award winner for Best Multi Blade Razor, Harry’s uses its German-engineered blade system, flexible rubber hinges, precision trimmer, and nourishing strip infused with aloe vera and vitamin E to offer a lot of what the more expensive guys offer, but in a more sleek and modern package.

Solid hues of blue, orange, olive, and even limited edition releases bring a mature update to your bathroom and the option for monthly delivery of refill blades allows you to focus on important things in your life, like, say, anything other than shaving. Want to know more about Harry’s and the subscription service it offers? Read our extensive Harry’s review.

Promising Review: “I bought two of these razors for presents. They come in a lovely box and look really nice. My husband has used them before and loves them. Would recommend, certainly for presents.” — Carsa

With four perfectly spaced blades, plus a beefy lube strip and trimmer edge, this razor is intended to get the job done pretty quickly. Sticking with the theme of tackling tough hair all over, the brand also has an extensive collection of products such as shampoo, toothpaste, body wash, and even butt wipes. Whereas a clean butt doesn’t translate to a clean shave, it does show the brand’s commitment to serving its customers needs from head to toe. One area where DSC doesn’t go above and beyond? The price. The most affordable on our list, this bundle keeps your face, head, back — anywhere you have hair, it’ll go there. Read our extensive Dollar Shave Club review.

Promising Review: “Really like these razors, I originally tried them as they were a cheaper brand (which I wanted) and they worked (old model) I bought a large pack of 20 on sale and used them for about a year shaving my head. Never had any problem but I ran out and they went up slightly in price for the 20 pack so I tried other brands …

I shave my head daily, I like to look presentable and I hate the buzz cut look you get after 2-3 days. I really forgot how much I like this brand though, I can't say how they work for your face (I have a beard) but basically flawless enjoyable shaves on my head. If you too shave your head I highly recommend this brand and suggest you try it …” — Clinton F.

Designed specifically for men with coarse, curly, ingrown-prone hair, this chrome-plated brass safety razor with replaceable blades flaunts a sharp edge to cut clearly at skin level without pulling or tugging facial hair. As the winner of our 2018 Grooming Award for Best Safety Razor, the single blade prevents hairs from falling below the skin's surface, which is how ingrowns get their start.

Its lightweight feel translates to smooth handling, and it’s clinically tested to fight skin irritation and pseudofolliculitis barbae (aka barber’s itch). The Bevel serves as the ideal system for those who suffer from particularly bad irritation and ingrowns associated with shaving.

Promising Review: “I have used this product every day now for almost a month. I have used DE [double edged) razors for much longer (1.5 years) — and I can tell you I immediately noticed a difference when I switched from my old razor to this one. I have almost no cuts using this razor. The finish of the product is stunning and lasts through multiple uses.

The razor presents the blade at a perfect angle and this makes using DE a safer experience. I would highly recommend this razor for someone wishing to try out DE shaving. The product works exactly as advertised, it delivers on every single claim in the product detail page. And it’s from a Black owned business, something I am extremely keen on supporting.” — Sanket K.

Since 1975, BIC has manufactured more than 60 billion razors. How’s that for heritage? Even with that, the company hasn’t exactly garnered the greatest reputation among the grooming consensus; it’s labeled the cheapest in terms of performance and value. Well, the Flex 5 Hybrid has silenced skeptics by combining convenience with much better-than-expected quality — it’s far superior to those multipack single-use disposables.

Between its exclusive hybrid technology and five flexible blades, the razor actually comes pretty close to the shave you’re used to with the other guys. Does it give you that fresh-from-the-barber shave? Probably not, but it isn’t going to leave you with the nicks and irritation associated with the other throwaway blades at the same price.

Promising Review: “Great razor for smooth shave. I have coarse thick facial hair which grows in different directions. Discovered these razors and I am satisfied. Best disposable razor I have used. I agree with another review that these razors are wasteful in regards to the handle. A lot of material in the handle that gets thrown away. Bic should sell just the blades and a separate reusable handle.” — Phil F.

Switching to a safety blade can be intimidating for those with little experience. Rockwell helps boost your confidence with its line of safety razors, which can be adjusted beyond that your standard safety razor, ensuring one of the safest shaves possible. We singled out the R1 for its intuitive design and blade setting — Rockwell's most gentle setting — making it nearly impossible to cut even the most sensitive spots. Not only is it easy to use, but compared to a lot of its competitors, its price can’t be beat. It’s a solid option for any amateur whose biggest fear is severe facial slicing.

Promising Review: “I used it when I started shaving almost 50 years ago.” — Terry C.

If you're in love with the wet shave, then you'll be hard-pressed to find a better razor to do the job than The Plow 2.0 from manhood manicuring masters Manscaped. Built for your face, it wouldn’t be a safety razor from Manscaped if it didn’t have your other body parts in mind. With a hefty handle that’s easy to hold and an easy head to swap out old blades for new, this matte black masterpiece is built to look good as long as it lasts.

Promising Review: “The customer service of Manscape is incredible. I contacted them because I think my razor was a little messed up but they fixed my problem so fast and easy. If I could rate higher I would, the safety Razor right here is great for everything. I use it for my face and BALLS. I usually change the blades out every shave though because they dull a tad bit and start cutting and the blades are so darn cheap too. I recommend buying blades when you do buy the razor any work really but I usually get the manscape 50 pack just out of easy accessibility.” — Ethan S. https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R9T2D196HR69W

Using five synchronized shaving elements and two specialized middle trimmers, the Braun Series 9 is top of the line when it comes to razor shavers who are looking to switch to electric. Just like your favorite razor out there, this Li-Ion battery-powered gadget works great with shave foam and water, but unlike those sharp blades you buy in bulk, this shaver works just as well on dry skin.

Another feature that makes this better than its old school competition is the charging stand that doubles as a deep cleaning station. Is it an investment? Sure it is, but if you add up all that money you spend on blades and creams all year, this will probably pay for itself in no time.

Promising Review: “Charged from empty to full in less than an hour. [It] shaved a five day beard dry equal to a razor [on the] first time. Shaved my head with eight day fuzz to the skin in 20 minutes. I’ve hated electric razors but this is worth the ridiculous price.” — Winston P.

It’s rare that something labeled a “game changer” actually changes the game, but with the Philips Norelco OneBlade, nothing could be more further from the truth. With a seemingly endless battery life and blades that stay sharp just as long, this is a worthwhile investment for those who aren’t fans of more razor-sharp shaving techniques.

That’s not to say, if you like using your favorite shave cream or wet shaving in the shower you can’t use the OneBlade. It cuts close (but not so close you have to worry about razor burn or ingrowns) while being water resistant. Shave in the shower or at the sink and rinse it off when you’re done.

Promising Review: “Pros: Shaving performance is great for a two or three day growth. Fast and easy on the skin too. Cons: Eight hour charging time seems excessive for 45 min of run time, but 45 min equals a lot of shaves for me. Average shave time is five min. Charging instructions don't specify whether the charger can be left connected and there is no indicator that says charging is complete. It needs a plug-in stand to charge in, either counter based or wall based. Replacement Blades are expensive.

Update: Changed to five stars. I still haven't had to recharge it after a month of use so it seems like a worthwhile investment in time. Still would love a stand or a wall bracket holder for it though. For my use it really works great. Very pleased with this item. Not cheap but it’s a good example of "you get what you pay for."

Update 2: The stand wall bracket problem has been solved too. See the following.

Update 3: I still have not had to recharge this shaver after almost six months of use. Charging time is not an issue any more.

Update 4: Almost a year has gone by since I bought this, it gets used once or twice a week and I still haven't had to recharge it, the blade is as good as when it was new. Couldn't be happier with this product.” — Seawind

If a sharp razor blade, or set of blades, isn't your thing, you can always check out the best electric razors for a close shave or start to grow your facial hair faster and go full face bush.

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