Safety razor and straight razor reviews from Thomas Hargrove: 20+ years of wet shaving experience in every assessment.
Difference Between Open Comb and Closed Comb Razor After 22 years of daily shaving and testing over 300 razors, I can tell you the difference between open comb and closed comb razors comes down to one thing: the safety bar. An open comb razor has teeth along the guard that let more lather through and…
After testing over 300 safety razors in 23 years of wet shaving, I can tell you the best safety razor for beginners is a mild, three-piece design with a closed comb—specifically something like the Edwin Jagger DE89 or Merkur 34C. These razors forgive poor angle and pressure while still delivering a clean shave, which is…
After testing over 300 safety razors in 23 years of wet shaving, I can tell you the most important factor in choosing your first (or next) safety razor: blade gap and exposure — these two measurements determine how aggressive the shave feels and how much technique you’ll need to master. Everything else — weight, handle…
Safety Razor vs Cartridge for Head Shaving: Which Is Better? After shaving my head for fifteen years with both safety razors and cartridges, I can tell you this: safety razors deliver a closer, more economical shave with less irritation once you master the technique, but cartridges are faster and more forgiving for beginners. The choice…
How to Safely Dispose of Safety Razor Blades After 23 years of wet shaving and going through thousands of blades, I’ll tell you straight: the safest way to dispose of safety razor blades is in a dedicated blade bank or puncture-proof container that you seal and trash once full. Don’t throw loose blades in the…
Best Safety Razor for Shaving Under the Nose After 23 years of daily shaving and testing over 300 razors, I can tell you the best razor for getting under the nose isn’t about aggression or blade exposure—it’s about head geometry and precision control. The Merkur 34C has been my go-to for tight spaces for the…
After 23 years of daily wet shaving and testing over 300 razors, I can tell you the best safety razor for beginners without hesitation: the Edwin Jagger DE89. It’s forgiving, well-balanced, and built to last long enough that you’ll still be using it when you’re no longer a beginner. I started wet shaving with my…
Double Edge Razor Blades Ranked by Sharpness: The Complete Comparison After 23 years of wet shaving and testing over 300 different razor and blade combinations, I can tell you this: blade sharpness matters more than most shavers realize, but it’s not a simple “sharper is always better” equation. The sharpest blade in my testing—the Feather…
Derby vs Astra DE Blades: Which Budget Blade Wins? I’ve burned through thousands of derby vs astra double edge razor blades over two decades, and the honest truth is this: Astra Superior Platinum edges out Derby Extra in almost every category that matters. Derby blades are forgiving and smooth, yes—but they sacrifice sharpness and longevity…
Best Safety Razors for Black Men with Coarse or Curly Hair After two decades of wet shaving and testing over 300 razors, I can tell you the truth: the right safety razor can eliminate razor bumps and ingrown hairs that plague Black men with coarse, curly facial hair. The wrong one? It’ll make things worse…