Safety razor and straight razor reviews from Thomas Hargrove: 20+ years of wet shaving experience in every assessment.
Open Comb vs Closed Comb Safety Razors: A Complete Guide After 23 years of wet shaving and testing over 300 razors, I can tell you the difference between open comb and closed comb safety razors comes down to blade exposure and aggression. Open comb razors expose more of the blade edge through teeth-like guards, making…
Why Safety Razors Are Better Than Cartridge Razors After 23 years of wet shaving and testing over 300 razors, I can tell you without hesitation: safety razors deliver a superior shave at a fraction of the cost, with none of the environmental guilt that comes with tossing plastic cartridges in the trash every week. I…
Why Are More Blades on a Razor Better? The Truth About Blade Count After testing over 300 razors in 23 years of wet shaving, I can tell you straight: more blades aren’t better—they’re a marketing gimmick that actually makes your shave worse. The best shave I’ve ever gotten came from my grandfather’s single-blade 1959 Gillette…
Best Safety Razor for Black Men with Coarse or Curly Hair After 23 years of wet shaving and testing over 300 razors, I can tell you the best safety razor for black men with coarse or curly hair is a mild-to-moderate slant razor or an adjustable set to a lower aggression level—specifically the Merkur 37C…
Best Wet Shaving Starter Kits for Men in 2026 After 23 years of wet shaving and testing over 300 razors, I can tell you this: the best starter kit isn’t always the cheapest one. It’s the one that won’t make you quit after three bloody shaves and go crawling back to your cartridge razor. I…
Complete Wet Shaving Routine for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Workflow A proper wet shaving routine takes 10-15 minutes and follows a specific sequence: prep, lather, shave (with the grain, then across), rinse, and aftercare. I’ve been wet shaving for 22 years, and the biggest mistake beginners make is rushing through prep or skipping the second pass…
I’ve spent 23 years testing over 300 safety razors, and here’s the truth: vintage razors aren’t inherently better than modern ones, but the best vintage pieces often outperform mid-range modern options because of superior brass construction and tighter tolerances. The real question isn’t which era wins—it’s which specific razor matches your face, beard type, and…
Best Travel Safety Razors: TSA-Friendly Picks for the Road After 23 years of wet shaving and countless flights with razors in my carry-on, I can tell you the best travel safety razor is one that balances three things: TSA compliance, durability to survive baggage handling, and a close shave in unfamiliar hotel bathrooms. The Henson…
Shaving Sensitive Skin with a Safety Razor: The Complete Guide After 23 years of wet shaving and testing over 300 razors, I can tell you this with absolute certainty: a properly chosen safety razor will give you a better shave with less irritation than any cartridge razor, especially if you have sensitive skin. The key…
How to Clean and Maintain a Safety Razor: Complete Care Guide After 23 years of wet shaving and putting over 300 razors through their paces, I’ve learned that a clean safety razor isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about performance, blade life, and preventing skin irritation. The good news: cleaning a safety razor takes less than two…