If you’re a regular shaver then you’ve definitely wondered if you have sensitive skin. And if you’ve wondered that, then you’ve definitely wondered which razors are the best razors for sensitive skin.
It’s difficult to say definitively that there’s one universal best razor for sensitive skin because at the end of the day every person has a personal preference and every person’s skin is different. That being said, we do generally know quite a bit about the issues behind sensitive skin and the kinds of razors that can help avoid or at least minimize irritation during and after shaving. That includes things like number of blades, quality and kind of blades, kind of razor as well as other little details that can affect how a razor ultimately glides across your face.
Because we know some of the things razors can do to cause irritation, we know some of the best razors for sensitive skin. Thankfully there are solid manual razor options as well as electric razor options if you’re regularly dealing with sensitive skin.
And of course, using great shaving cream, shave butter or pre-shave oil can go a long way to minimizing skin irritation too.
But if you think you’ve got the other grooming products covered, check out our picks for the best razors for sensitive skin below. We’re confident you’ll be able to find something to help out your sensitive skin and cut down on skin irritation.
1. Gillette Mach3 Men’s Disposable Razor
BEST OVERALL
For a generally great razor that’s also solid for sensitive skin, you might want to try the Gillette Mach3 Men’s Disposable Razor. This razor has three sharp blades that will give you a super smooth shave. But for the man concerned with sensitive skin, what makes the Mach3 better than other three-bladed razors is Gillette’s Open Architecture System. All that means is the blades are set in such a way that they are perfectly spaced for rinsing. So much irritation comes just from clogging, so being able to rinse well helps you take advantage of the additional blades and reduces your total passes, which will help minimize the amount of irritation. In terms of the design, the razor head is small and the head pivots well so you end up with really good control over how you use the razor. A comfort strip also helps keep things slick even if you have to pass some spots again.
Read more: The Absolute Best Razors for Men
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2. Bevel Safety Razor
BEST SAFETY RAZOR FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
Bevel was founded by a Black man with the hope of creating grooming products that would help men like himself deal with sensitive skin, razor bumps, skin irritation and ingrown hairs. Bevel’s flagship product is the company’s signature razor, the Bevel Safety Razor, and it’s a perfect safety razor pick for people with sensitive skin. The thing this razor does well that helps with sensitive skin is shave at skin level. By shaving at skin level, the razor shaves the hair at the skin’s surface, not underneath, and so minimizes tugging and the chance of an ingrown hair developing.
3. Merkur Mk34c Double Edge Safety Razor
ALSO CONSIDER SAFETY RAZOR
One common cause of irritation to sensitive skin while shaving has to do with the number of blades. That’s one problem Bevel solves and it’s a problem most safety razors have solved. A great double-edged safety razor gives you two sharp edges but you only shave with one at a time, which is better for clogging and less tugging.
The Merkur Mk34c is a great double-edge safety razor. It’s got a good weight, it doesn’t shave aggressively and, like Bevel’s razor, features two sharp edges, so if one side clogs or feels dull, you can flip the razor over. Having two sharp blades will not only save money per blade but it’ll help cut down on skin irritation by delivering clean, smooth shaves with fewer chances for ingrown hairs. The Merkur Mk34c will definitely deliver that. We have sensitive skin and use Merkur razors and think when used carefully that they’re some of the best razors for sensitive skin.
4. Supply Single Edge 2.0 Safety Razor
BEST SINGLE EDGE SAFETY RAZOR
The modern-looking Supply Single Edge 2.0 Safety Razor is a great razor option for sensitive skin because it comes with three heads with different shave angles: an aggressive ultra-close angle, a comfortable angle and, the reason this safety razor is here, a sensitive angle head. It includes a 90-day supply of blades for long-lasting use without having to replenish the head. Oh, and nicks, irritation and bumps? We don’t know them.
5. Leaf Shave Twig Safety Razor
ALSO CONSIDER SINGLE EDGE SAFETY RAZOR
For a safety razor designed specifically with sensitive skin in mind, go for the Leaf Shave Twig Safety Razor. It uses a single edge and one of the smallest safety razor heads we’ve ever seen. But that yields a key benefit for sensitive skin: There’s less blade exposure, so targeting tricky, hard-to-reach areas is easier and less risky in terms of accidentally cutting yourself.
6. BIC Sensitive Single Blade Shaver
BEST SINGLE BLADE DISPOSABLE
While more blades in traditional razors can help make the shave smoother, stuck hairs can cause skin irritation and tugging, both of which contribute to an itchy face afterward even if the shave feels OK. One way to avoid those kinds of issues entirely is to pick up a single blade razor. A razor with a single blade literally cuts less per pass than any razor with multiple blades, and less cutting can lead to less irritation. We’ve used and we love the BIC Sensitive Single Blade Shaver. It has a plastic handle with a single blade in the head, so it rinses clean easily and causes fewer bumps while gliding across your face.
Of course, one blade means you’re only going to get so close of a shave and the BIC razor isn’t cut out for longer facial hair or thicker beards. But it still makes for a great daily maintenance razor and you would definitely get multiple uses per razor if you used them that way. It’s also a solid budget pick: You’re getting each razor for a little more than a quarter.
7. Braun Series 9
BEST ELECTRIC RAZOR
Foil electric razors use oscillating blades with a thin layer of foil to lift hair away from the skin before it’s cut. That makes them great options for shavers with sensitive skin because the hair isn’t cut close to the skin and never has to really touch the skin at all. The Braun Series 9 is the top-of-the-line foil electric razor and it’s definitely one of the best razors for sensitive skin. The foil cutters leave plenty of space for trimming hair without getting at your skin, the razor is waterproof so you can use it in the shower and the shaving head is nice and flexible to help you navigate and trim the edges of your scruff. This electric razor also utilizes technology that adjusts the power of the razor as you’re shaving to help you achieve a more precise shave, with less of the dreaded tugging.
8. Philips Norelco Shaver 3800
ALSO CONSIDER ELECTRIC RAZOR
While foil shavers like the Braun Series 9 are better for most people with sensitive skin, if you prefer rotary shavers or want an electric razor designed specifically with sensitive skin in mind, you can’t go wrong with the Philips Norelco Shaver 3800. The flex heads move in five directions, making navigating your face’s curves a simple task, and the precision blade system ensures the razor cuts your hairs close without nicking your skin. But the key detail is the anti-friction coating on the razor heads, ensuring the smoothest glide possible. Use this razor wet, dry and even in the shower for friction-free shaves.
9. Schick Hydro Skin Comfort Stubble Eraser
BEST “ERASER”
For a new entrant in the sensitive skin razor space, consider the Schick Hydro Skin Comfort Stubble Eraser. Schick designed this razor with a deeply grooved comb that makes sliding through seven days worth of facial hair easier, resulting in a lot less tugging along away. We’re lookin’ at you, lazy boys. The new design also allows for 25% more water flow during rinsing, always a win when half the irritation from shaving comes from clogged blades not cutting properly.
10. Schick Slim Twin ST 2 Disposable Razors for Sensitive Skin
BEST TWO-BLADE DISPOSABLE
If you haven’t noticed already, Schick knows a thing or two about making the best razor for sensitive skin. If you need a great two-blade disposable for sensitive skin, the Schick Slim Twin ST 2 Disposable Razors for Sensitive Skin have as much as you could ask for in a disposable. A lubrication strip with vitamin E ensures a smooth comfortable shave with less irritation, but these razors also unclog easily thanks to the one-push cleaning feature.
11. Philips Norelco OneBlade Hybrid Electric Trimmer and Shaver
MOST EFFORTLESS
A simple glide with Philips Norelco’s OneBlade shaver is all you’ll need to experience the absolute magic this puppy can perform. If you’ve got the tiniest of stubble or a full-on beard, the OneBlade can tackle whatever’s happening on your face. For real, any length. The device shaves as close as it must to get rid of as much or as little hair as you’d like, but doesn’t get too close to the point that your skin gets irritated in any way. At two shaves a week, this shaver head will also last you around four months total.
12. Gillette Venus Extra Smooth Sensitive Women’s Disposable Razors
IF ALL ELSE FAILS
Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. If all else fails, the women’s razor space is chock full of excellent razors for sensitive skin, including the Gillette Venus Extra Smooth Sensitive Women’s Disposable Razors.
Designed to shave sensitive body parts like armpits and the pubic area, this razor can just as easily work for your face. There’s a protective moisture ribbon to ensure smooth gliding, and the five blades are spaced closely together to reduce pressure. While that does make rinsing a bit more difficult, if you don’t press too hard, the five blades will do all the work, leaving your mug clean-shaven and irritation-free.