SAFETY RAZORS The first double-edged safety razors
were manufactured in 1901 by Gillette as an alternative to the straight razor. With the ascendancy of cartridge razors and electric shavers, the safety razor has fallen out of favor in the last couple decades, but it never went away completely. In fact, modern safety blades are sharper and make for a better shave than ever. Many men are rediscovering them.
The Merkur Vision 2000 (
RoyalShave.com) is widely
considered among the best safety razors on the market. It is handmade in Solingen, Germany, and is designed as a precision instrument. Users like the fact that it is fully adjustable so that you can change the blade angle to fit the contours of your face. It costs $155.
The Chatsworth Barley
safety razor from Edwin Jagger is made in England to last a lifetime. It is hand-assembled from solid brass, nickel, and chrome parts. The decorative barley pattern on the handle aids grip. Available from
Fendrihan.com for $148.
STRAIGHT RAZORS
Yes, they are a little scary if you’ve never tried one before, but many men swear that there is no better shave than one from an old- fashioned straight razor. Modern metallurgy and honing techniques mean that the new versions of straight blades are easier to use and stay sharp. Although you’ll probably need a few shaves to get the hang of them, straight razors are not dif icult to master.
Want to shave with the best? The Damascene Razor is a limited-edition
shaving instrument made through a meticulous process of layering the ultimate razor metal, Damascene steel, and grinding and polishing it to perfection. It is a work of art that also provides an incredible shave. Available from
HommageShopOnline.com for $30,000.
The Hart Steel Straight Razors
(
ClassicShaving.com) are American made from specially hardened carbon steel that are ultra- sharp right out of the box. They cost $279-$329 depending on the handle materials.
The Horn Straight Razor from The Art of
Shaving is French made and hollow ground to deliver a more comfortable shave and provide the sharpest edge. It costs $260.
ELECTRIC SHAVERS
Electric shavers are favored by men who like convenience and speed. Most men can shave in about half the time compared to using a blade. There are basically two types: foil and rotary. According to most surveys, electric foil shavers give a closer shave than rotary models — but only by a whisker. Experts say that the secret to getting a clean shave with a foil
razor is making long, straight passes with the shaving head. Users of the Braun Series 7
rechargeable foil shavers rave about how they give a smooth, close shave for every skin type, even the most sensitive. They are dry shavers. The top-of-the-line Braun Series 7 790cc Pulsonic (
Braun.com) costs around $175.
The Panasonic
ES-LA93-K Wet/ Dry Shaver with Vortex Cleaning System (Shop.
Panasonic.com) is a popular rival to the Braun Series 7, especially for men who like a wet shave. You can clean it under the faucet or immerse it completely, making it shower safe. Those with sensitive skin say it gives a gentle shave. It costs about $190.
Rotary shavers usually have three floating heads with cutters that spin
behind a fine grid. Because each blade on a rotary shaver swivels independently, rotary fans claim they do a better job than foil shavers at following the contours of the face and neck. And they’re usually quieter.
The Philips Norelco
SensoTouch 3D 1250x is one of the highest- rated rotaries around and it costs about $200 (
Norelco.PremiumStore. com). You can shave wet or dry, and the makers claim their patented dual blade system lifts hair to cut below skin level.
A
nd what about the ubiquitous throw-
away razor? Manufacturers are happy to sell millions of disposable razors, and millions of men are happy to use them. But the throwaways generally do poorly in side-by-side tests with other types of shavers.
MARCH 2013 | NEWSMAX MAXLIFE 79
PANASONIC ES-LA93-K/COURTESY OF PANASONIC / DAMASCENE/COURTESY OF HOMMAGE PHILIPS NORELCO/COURTESY OF PHILIPS / HART STEEL/COURTESY OF CLASSIC BRAND HORN STRAIGHT/COURTESY OF THE ART OF SHAVING / DISPOSABLE RAZORS/ISTOCKPHOTO
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