The 10 Best Safety Razors, According to Grooming Experts

Razor head opening: It's the opening for accessing the blade chamber. The most common type of head opening for safety razors is the no-fuss screw-on-and-off top for accessing the blade chamber to replace the blade. Some safety razors riff on that traditional design by replacing the screwing-on-and-off with snapping-on-and-off. But then there's what's called a butterfly one-piece head that pops open in the middle and closes with a twist, which streamlines the whole replacement process by eliminating the lengthy, tricky screwing. That all makes the butterfly head the easiest to replace and super beginner-friendly.

Comb: Simply put, an open comb safety razor is more "aggressive" at shaving than a closed comb razor whose shave is gentler and more protective. Open comb, which is better left for the experienced, is designed with teeth on the blade that are left more exposed to the skin due to the lack of a flat edge/bar that keeps the skin stretched. That evidently provides a more direct shave, but risks nicks and damage to the skin if you're not experienced enough. A closed comb, on the other hand, has a flat safety edge/bar (with no teeth) that stretches the skin. Thus, a closed-comb safety razor is suited for beginners as well as men with sensitive skin.

Weight: A safety razor's weight is what will put the shaver to work instead of having you apply pressure. Such a heft provides balance and thus pressure on its own once placed on the skin while shaving, and a heavier razor can apply the required pressure all by itself. More weight also means a steadier hand for you when you use it and serves as a reminder that you needn't force it with safety razors.