Do the most expensive razors help you shave better and do you notice the difference when compared to cheaper brands?
Marketing and human nature tend to make us believe that more is better and that the more we spend, the better a product will be.
More expensive razor brands tend to offer extra features that your skin might appreciate while also improving your shaving experience. Multiple blades may help to achieve a closer, cleaner shave. Lubricating strips help to soothe your skin after each shaving stroke, and before each stroke if there are two strips on the blade cartridge. A pivoting shaving head adjusts to the contours of your skin to improve shaving comfort and to better shave tight areas. Cheaper razors often lack many of these features and may not stay sharp as long.
What Razor Features Do You Need?
Razors existed for decades without various bells and whistles. The most expensive razors tend to have features that cheaper ones don’t. Which ones do you need?
Lubricating Strip(s)
A lubricating strip was added to certain Gillette products to help protect against skin irritation and of course as a marketing feature. As mentioned above major manufacturers like Gillette moved towards the 3+ blade market to separate themselves from the (now) cheaper single and twin blade markets.
The lubricating strip – depending on the manufacturer and brand – tends to be made with Polyethylene Glycols PEGs) (Source: Gillette). Every time you take a stroke with your shaver, PEG is released from the strip onto your skin to act as a lubricant.
Some razors have a lubricating strip at the top of the razor to come into contact with the skin directly after the skin has been shaved. Newer razors also have a second strip at the bottom of the blade to lubricate the skin after the shave.
Some lubricating strips now add Aloe Vera and Vitamin E, too.
Multi-Blades
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 blades.
Currently, you can choose razors that have a single blade up to seven of them. How many do you need?
I’ve never used a razor with more than 3 blades so I can’t say if they work better or not. I currently use an off-brand 2-blade razor for my face and scalp and it does the trick.
Single blade razors were the norm, until the Trac II from Gillette was introduced in 1971 as the first twin blade razor. Check out this timeline page from Gillette for an interesting history of the safety razor.
The original single blade double edge razor was the razor of choice around the world for men for decades. It seemed to work just fine.
Bottom line: Companies like Gillette moved to 3+ blades and gave up the lower end single and twin blade disposable market to lower end companies when the patents on their single blade products ran out.
More blades = higher price for the razors = more profits.
Does a single or double blade razor suffice for most men?
Yes.
A nice triple blade is good too given their wide availability these days even your budget allows it.
Protective Micro-Fins
Gillette Sensor and Sensor Excel razors – now discontinued – were known for their soft micro-fins as show in the picture above. The purpose of the fins is to stretch and hold the skin in place before it is shaved. Most razors do not come with this option so you wonder how necessary it is?
Plus as mentioned both razors are now discontinued although you can still find replacement blades. The necessary handles however are discontinued.
The Most Expensive Razors…
…that are easy to find.
Gillette ProGlide Chill – 5 antifriction blades with before and after shaving cooling lubricant. Fits all Gillette 5-blade handles.
Schick Hydro 5 Sense Hydrate – Schick’s 5-blade model with hydrating coconut gel. Comes with a flip trimmer for styling.
Merkur Mk34c Double Edge Razor – The quintessential DE razor from Germany’s DOVO Solingen.
The most expensive razor ever produced is a shaver from Zafirro with an iridium handle and sapphire blade at a cost of $100,000.
So now you know.
Conclusion
- A more expensive razor doesn’t necessarily result in a better shave.
- Many expensive razors include multiple blades, lubricating strips and protective fins. Whether or not they help with a better shave is another story.
- Your budget comes into play, too. How much do you want to spend?