There are few things that are more annoying than spending your morning trying to get a close shave, but only ending up with a patchy five o’clock shadow, razor burn or the cuts of a teenage first time shaver.
A good razor, especially a straight razor, can give you a very close accurate shave. They may seem old fashioned, but there are reasons that barber’s still trust these razors for the best shave. You can also get a high quality shave at home by buying one for yourself.
Top 3 of The Best Straight Razor
When it comes to the best straight razors available, we have chosen our top three contenders that won’t break your budget.
We put them through their paces and threw our best facial hair experts at them. Take a look at the results so you can decide which one of these straight razors you will trust with your good looking jawline.
The Equinox professional
First up we have the Equinox professional straight razor. It is a classic straight razor with a single blade. It is made with stainless steel and it has an easy to open blade with a guard for your safety. You can also easily exchange the various blades.
It is designed with a curve for a good shaving experience that is easy on your hand and face. There are a 100 blades included with the razor.
That means that, you can easily replace the blades when they become blunt. With a straight razor you are choosing control over safety, so keep in mind that you will need to shave carefully with controlled movements.
Pros
- It works well for left or right handed shaving
- It has a very reasonable price
- The hinges are tight and the blade is seated well
- It has a comfortable weight
- It works well for women (or men) who shave their legs
- It is great if you want a precise close shave
- It is very sharp
- It doesn’t cause irritation
- It works well as a beginner straight razor
Cons
- It can be a little tough to open
- Replacing the blade can be tricky
- It can take a few shaves to get the hang of it
- It needs a how to guide
- The blades included are not the best quality
- It can rust at the connections
This razor offers good value at a very low price. It comes with its own blades, but they are not the highest quality available. It is a good budget razor for someone who wants to start using a straight razor at home.
The Black Widow executive
Our next contender is the Black Widow executive. It comes with quite a bite (but one that will leave you with skin smooth enough for the best looking Avenger to appreciate).
It is a barbershop quality razor with a well balanced design. It comes with quite a few nice features, like the fact that it is rust resistant and it has a 1mm blade exposure to keep it tight and secure while you shave.
It has a comfortable grip and a swing lock armature. The razor is made from steel and the blades are about 8.5 inches long. Let’s take a look at how it’s good and bad sides measure up.
Pros
- It has a set up that works well for crisp lines
- It has a good weight and grips well even with wet hands
- You can adjust the tension screw on the handle to suit your technique
- It works very well for a close neck shave
- It is great to use in a professional barbershop
- It offers great quality at an affordable price
Cons
- It does not come with blades included
- It can be tricky to find the best brand of blades to use with it
- Some blades won’t stay in place securely
- It can be difficult to replace the blades
- The blade holders are smooth and can become loose over time
This razor is great if you are a barber looking for a new addition to your tool set, or if you want a barbershop quality trim at home. For the price, you will struggle to find something with the same balance and control.
The Shave network gold dollar
Finally, the shave network gives us the gold dollar. This razor is ready to use from the moment it arrives.
You don’t have to hone it before use, but if you are really picky, you might have your own preference. It also comes with free lifetime sharpening, so you don’t have to deal with a dull blade at all.
The blade is made from hardened carbon steel for the best type of shaving experience, these types of blades really holds its edge. The blade is 6/8 inch for a comfortable size. It comes with a box for easy storage and a helpful guide on how to get the best shave with your straight razor.
Pros
- It is a good quality straight razor for this price range
- The pivot pin is well positioned and tight
- This is a good choice for your first straight razor
- It does not have removable blades that need to be replaced often
Cons
- It needs to be stopped before and after use
- You need to buy a strop
- The handle is light and not well balanced
- It is sharp but can do with more honing to be really shave ready
If you want to test out shaving with a straight razor this Gold Dollar is a good choice to get you started. It is not too expensive and the fact that it comes with a carbon steel blade that you can hone adds to its allure.
Final Words
After we have put these three razors through their paces, we can give you our recommendations. If you are looking for a good straight razor on a budget, we would recommend the Equinox for your first shaves.
If you have been using a straight razor for some time, or you want something for your barbershop the Black Widow is a nice mid range choice (keep in mind that you need to buy your blades separately).
It offers a good close shave and comes with barber approval. The Gold Dollar with its integrated carbon steel blade is the closest to a traditional straight razor.
It is our choice for a beginner straight razor at a reasonable price (if you don’t care too much for the light handle). Keep looking sharp!