Several months ago for the first time in my life, I decided to buy a double edge razor – also referred to as a DE razor – and give it a go. You may hear the term safety razor and it’s another name for a double edge razor.
When the DE razor was invented, it effectively replaced the straight razor, another single blade but one where the blade actually rubs directly on your skin with no protection. The DE razor was dubbed the safety razor since it operates with a handle that holds the DE blade inside and appears to look safer than a straight razor which looks more like a weapon. The straight razor is also referred to as a cut throat razor, for obvious reasons.
What Is A DE Razor?
The DE razor is a single-blade that sits inside a razor handle that opens and closes to hold the blade in place. It’s called double edge because as the name suggests it is sharp on each side of the blade. So while there is only one single blade, each side is sharp and can be used to shave with.
A DE razor tends to offer guys several benefits over disposable razors that many (most?) of us grew up using:
- A single blade means less skin irritation (in theory) since there is only one sharp blade rubbing along our skin.
- One blade lowers the chance of ingrown hairs since it cuts hair at the surface of the skin. Multi-blade razors use a lift-and-cut system.
- Less waste since DE blades are very thin and small and made only of metal.
- Since each edge of the blade is sharp, one single DE blade lasts longer than a similar disposable blade.
Global Shaving Market
The global razor market is expected to be worth $22.5 billion by 2030 according to PS Market Research. Interestingly, they also report that the electric shaver market will experience the fastest growth and will experience a 3.1% compound annual growth rate. This growth will largely be due to the increased popularity among young men to grow facial hair like goatees and stubble which are more easily managed with an electric shaver.
Most men buy shaving gear from the grocery store, drugstore or online. Shavers, shaving cream and related products are easily found but it’s obvious that disposable razors are the most popular option for men as is cheap canned shaving cream. DE razors aren’t offered at retail in as many options or choices as are multi-blade disposable razors.
Double Edge Razor Popularity
Razor blade and shaving manufacturers in general are notoriously tight-lipped regarding sales figures. In order to get specifics on shaver sales you need to either pay for a research report like the one mentioned above or do some Internet sleuthing to look for clues.
You can draw conclusions when you go to your local retailer and observe which products they tend to stock in great supply (disposable razors, canned shaving cream) and which ones are in shorter supply (DE razors, shaving cream in a tube, shaving brushes).
Online research shows that the most available products for men’s shaving are disposable multi-blade razors and electric shavers. DE razors don’t appear in any top 20 list or any top sellers list.
2017 research from Statista seems to back up the above-mentioned report from PS Market Research regarding the popularity of electric shavers among young men. Statista suggests that while disposable razors are the preferred choice for 50% of men 30 – 59 years of age, 64% of young men aged 18 – 29 years of age and 44% of men 60 years of age and over prefer electric shavers the most.
Other shaving options were Razor System, Straight Razor and Other so DE razors aren’t specifically mentioned by name. For all three age ranges, Razor System was in third place regardless. There doesn’t appear to be evidence that younger shavers in the 18 -29 year old range are embracing DE razors to any large degree.
My Experience
In a word, my experience with the DE razor has been a disappointment. Between shaving my head and face probably 20 times total, rare is the number of times I didn’t cut myself and quite badly at that. No matter how slowly I shave, what shaving cream I use and regardless of whether I shave in the shower or in front of a mirror, I cut myself frequently.
The cuts occur mostly on my neck when shaving my face although I did also cut the sideburn area several time which is ridiculous because I don’t think I’ve ever done this with a multi-blade disposable. When shaving my head I tend to cut myself on the back of my head and neck which I can’t see. I sometimes don’t notice the cuts until I ran my hands over my skin and saw the blood.
What Benefits?
Because I tend not to get irritated skin, razor bumps or razor burn I don’t see the benefit of using a DE razor. Certainly not when I’m cutting myself as many times as I have been doing. I also don’t notice a closer shave and if I’m getting one, I shave daily anyways so does it really matter in the big picture?
I’ve also given myself razor burn while using the DE razor on my neck. Granted this was mostly the first few times of using the double edge razor but again, what’s the point? I never experience this when using any other razor including electric shavers. So while less skin irritation is a selling feature of DE razors, it actually caused it to happen for me. Multiple times.
DE Razor Proponents
Fans of the double edge razor will suggest that they achieve the benefits referred to above and prefer this style of razor. I haven’t personally achieved these benefits but that’s just me. I gave it a try – about 20 times, perhaps slightly more frequently – and while I don’t regret it, I didn’t achieve any tangible benefit.
And the skin irritation and constant blood letting really turned me off DE razors. I don’t cut myself very often with disposable razors and I shave very quickly. With the DE razor I found myself deliberately shaving slower and more carefully each time to avoid the cuts and still cut myself almost every time. Just when I thought I had it figured out, I’d cut myself badly and feel like I was back to square one.
What’s the point then? I don’t have the patience to “learn” how to use a DE razor if it means shaving much slower and more carefully than I normally do with the promise of a benefit(s) that I don’t necessarily need. If I routinely suffered from ingrown hairs or razor burn, perhaps I’d give it more time and effort but as I don’t experience these two shaving side effects, I’m going back to my cheap twin-blade disposable razors.
Final Thoughts
My experience with a double edge razor blade is just that: My experience. I’ve read plenty of online stories and watched videos of men using a DE razor and not appearing to cut themselves at all and seemingly enjoying the experience. I didn’t have the same experience.
I also think back to when I was a kid when my dad used a DE razor before he switched to disposables. I recall seeing him cutting himself numerous times and doing the bits of paper on shaving cuts routine that men used to do to stop the bleeding. So maybe it’s hereditary and my genes prevent me from successfully using a DE razor!
My experience with a DE razor suggests that the ideal person for this type of blade is one who has patience, tends to shave slowly and deliberately and is willing to go through the learning process which could mean a few cuts and bouts of irritated skin along the way.
My suggestion: If you’ve never used a DE razor before and are considering it, don’t be turned off by my comments and experience. Instead, use my experience as a guide to help you navigate its use and perhaps you’ll have a better use of it than I did. If you frequently suffer from ingrown hairs, razor burn or irritated skin while shaving, a double edge razor could be the answer that works for you.
