Top 10 Straight Razors - Your Morning Shaving Routine

You will have heard of straight razors, often called cut throat razors, but which one is actually the best? That is the question I intend to answer in this article. There are hundreds of different types of straight razor on the market, that compete not only with each other, but against those brands who promote safety razors.

The one thing they all have in common is that all of them know that wet shaving is a much better alternative than using an electric shaver. Therefore picking the right shaving soap or cream is also important and I have included some related articles to those at the end of this one.

For now though let's concentrate on straight razors and why you would pick one of those instead of going with a double edged safety. The cut throat razor has been around for a very long time. Man first shaved with shells, then upgraded to metal as the ages developed. You will probably have seen the old Western movies and the Gangster movies, where barbers plied their trade, with the man all lathered up in the barber's chair.

So we know straight shaving goes back a very long way and that makes it a very traditional way to shave. As it happens if done properly, you will get the best shave that you have ever had. So the question is, which of all the straight razors out there, is the best?

Images: My own and Amazon

Best Straight Razor Brands

When I decided to try out a straight razor for the first time I had no idea where to start. I decided to go down to my local barber who has been in the shaving profession for about 30 years, and I knew him pretty well. He used a straight razor from a company called "Shave Ready." He was pretty convinced they were the best and that gave me a really good starting point.

I looked around a little more and found the following brands also made good quality straight razors:

• Parker
• Shave Ready
• Kriegar
• Fromm
• Sweeney Todd
• Dovo
• Zeva
• Diane
• Personna

There are more but these would be the recognised brands, and in truth there is little point looking any further afield than these.

Average Price of A Good Straight Razor

You can pay as little as $15 for a straight razor and all the way up to a few hundred dollars. The average price though is around $20-30 for anything that is of good quality. Now like any other product that you might be considering, the general rule applies, that the more you are prepared to spend, then you will more than likely get a much higher quality product.

I will go into more detail about the benefits of using a straight razor but it is nice to see what is available and I have listed below the top 5 picks, based on the quality of the blade, the actual look of the razor and also one of my key determining factors, "value for money."

If you have never used a straight razor before, then you will want to start out with one that is good quality and has some type of protection built into it.

A great choice for beginners is the Parker SR1 stainless steel razor. First of all it is a sensible price when you are starting out, and yet it is expensive enough so you know you are getting a good quality razor. You should be able to pick one up for under $20.

They have a special rounded exposure, at the very tip of the blade, which removes the very pointed corner, and as such will greatly reduce the chances of accidental cutting and scraping. These are also a very popular choice that you will find in many barber shops up and down the country.

Finally the blade is a snap lock type which means the blade is able to be secured tightly. It also comes with 5 super high quality blades.

Like any straight razor though, it will take a bit of practise before you can master the use of one of these. Don't get too frustrated at the start, because believe me, when you learn the techniques properly, then you truly will be able to have the best shave ever.

The benefits for me are actually quite simple. For many years I used an electric shaver like many other men. There are some very good ones available, but you never got the feel that your face was totally smooth. I was in the barbers one day and decided to go for a proper wet shave. Someone turned on the light!!!

Now that was what I called a shave!!!

It is hard to describe the difference and I can assure you that it even looks different as well.

That was me converted to wet shaving and I bought a safety razor with a double edged blade. Now the reason I did that was I was afraid to use a straight razor, in case I cut myself. I would also advise you to be just as wary. There is no doubt these give you a fantastic shave, but they are SHARP.

Other Benefits

Start up costs are a little expensive, but once you buy a straight razor, then all you need is a good strop and you are set for life. You will never have to buy a razor or a razor blade ever again. That alone means that you are doing your bit for the environment.

Have a look at the video below so as you know exactly how these should be used, before making any buying decision.

Watch a Master Barber doing a full and proper "Royal Shave." The technique is vital and you will learn many tips and tricks here.

A steamed towel opens up the skin and the pores to begin with. Now I know you wouldn't have time to do this at home, but if you have, it makes a huge difference.

He then uses pre-shave oil which lubricates the skin and protects against the blade. Most people don't do this and they really should. He then applies a high quality shaving cream and begins the shave. Please note that they actually warm the lather.

Then he starts with the sideburns and uses a 20 degree flat angle. You should never have to apply a great deal of pressure with a sharp blade. Always use short strokes when shaving.

I promised you at the start that I would give you a list of ten. I would however urge you to make your choices from the first five as I know that they are all very good. However for the sake of providing a full top 10 list here are positions 6-10.

6 Kriegar Sharp Stainless Steel
7 Diamond Edge Professional
8 100% Wood Handle Straight Razor
9 Azrael Grim Reaper
10 Krieger Pearl Handle

Here are a couple of items that you may need to go with your straight razor choice. A good quality leather strop is needed to sharpen and hone the blade. A good pre-shave oil is also a really good idea.

These are some good resources I found from around the web for shaving related topics