Choose the right razor blade

There are three types of razor blade that can be used as both safety razor for everyday use, as well as for precision shaving. The razor you choose is an entirely personal decision, and will be determined by your personal needs - some prefer a somewhat fancier razor, while others want the "real killers". Those with sensitive skin should try razors with sharper blades, as for example, the Merkur may require more strokes in the same area during shaving, which can cause irritation.

Those with sensitive skin should try razors with sharper blades.

All the double-edged blades listed below are suitable for all traditional safety and short shaving razors (manually gently squeeze razor in the middle along the long side).

The Gentlest

Merkur Super Platinum. A platinum coated, double-edged blade with a stainless steel surface. German made, and perfect for the shaky hands of a novice at his first real shave.

Medium

Derby. A double-edged blade from Turkey, within the medium range in terms of degrees of smoothness, and therefore very much among the most popular. Made of stainless steel and coated with Teflon, this blade is good for those who want moderate safety, but still an effective and tight shave.

Giesen Forsthoff Solingen Timor Double-Edge. A German variant of the Derby double-edged blade, similar degrees of sharpness and tight shave.

Rijk. The double-edged blade of Swedish steel from Sandvik. A good razor for daily use.

The sharpest

Feather. The Godzilla of Razors! This platinum coated Japanese double-edged razor is made from stainless steel, and only for the most daring shavers with the surest of hands. Certifiably the coolest razor blade one can get on the market. If you're after that super-sharp, skin-tight shave in just a few moves, this is the blade for the job. The silky smooth efficiency of the blade makes shaving less damaging to the skin, as well as to the blade itself (saving you money in the long term).