The 6 Very Best Straight Razors
Expert-approved traditional and shavette straight razors (and how to use them without cutting yourself).
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Straight razor shaving isn’t a popular at-home shaving method because it’s so difficult to master. It does give you complete control of a razor, though (safety razorsoffer only partial control of a blade, while cartridge razors offer none at all). That control means that straight razors are especially great for shaping andedging beards.
Still, even a beginner straight-razor user needs to be an experienced shaver in general. You almost must practice as much as you can before moving onto your own skin, either by shaving a balloon covered in shaving cream (a strange-sounding common method, master stylistYvey Valcinand master barberJulien Howardtell me) or by visiting a barbershop several times to witness how a professional does it. “Look at the technique, look at the difference,” says Daniel Chulpayev ofMade Man Barber. “We use shaving oils, we appreciate hot towels. Visit a couple of times to save yourself a headache, razor bumps, and possible cuts.”
So process is important. As is choosing the right tool. All of the experts we spoke with agreed that unless you’re a professional, or extremely experienced in this method of shaving, you’ll want a shavette over a traditional razor. (Basically, a blade holder that accommodates a disposable, single-edge metal blade but that still offers the same close shave.)
To help, I talked to Valcin, Howard, Chulpayev, and eight other grooming experts to find the very best options. You can also partner your new blade with picks from my guides to the very bestshaving creamsandaftershaves.
Updated on August 19, 2025
I interviewed a new expert, who also endorsed my existing best pick overall: the Dovo Silver Shavette. I also checked prices and stock for all products.
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Traditional versus shavette
For hygiene reasons, barbers have to switch blades for each new client — so they will rarely use traditional straight razors with one fixed blade. Instead, they’ll use a shavette.They’re not just for in-store shaves, though: Master barber Angelo Ruscetta will often recommend shavettes to beginners and intermediate straight-razor users. Actually, it’s worth noting that none of the experts recommended a traditional straight razor for anyone other than seasoned, experienced shavers or professionals. That’s because it’s so easy to go wrong with the traditional style.
For example, Darius Davie, co-founder ofGroom Guy, tells me that often it takes a scrape for the average user to even realize that their blade had blunted. “With shavettes, simply replacing with a new blade minimizes those risks,” he says. Replacing blades is also actually lower maintenance, since the disposable blades don’t need to be sharpened. And although you have to replace the blade, the up-front cost of shavettes is relatively low, and their refill blades are pretty cheap (a box of 100 will cost $5 to $6, on average).
If your heart is set on a traditional straight razor, though, I’ve included a few options. You won’t need to buy refill blades for these razors, but you will have to get them professionally sharpened about once per year (or you can buy the equipment yourself). If you’re wondering how to sharpen a straight razor at home, Ruscetta says to use a “combination Norton stone with 4,000 grit on one side and 8,000 grit on the other.” You’ll also want to buy a leather strop, whichRuscetta says is an essential. “Every time you use the razor, you get microscopic bends in the razor,” he explains. But the strop “straightens out” those tiny bends, and you can really feel the difference when you shave. He says anystandard stropshould work; just make sure it’s at least an inch thick.
Weight and blade size-slash-shape
As withsafety razors, a bit of heft to your straight razor can actually be helpful. Because a well-balanced and slightly heavy razor improves control and steadies the hand, a razor that’s too light can actually make it more likely that you’ll cut yourself. It is for this reason that Ralph Wilburn, senior barber atFellow Barber’s Chelsea Market location, always recommends going with a metal razor, no matter the brand. “I like them made out of metal because they have a little weight. Some are fully plastic, which I personally think is too light” he says. “You need a certain amount of pressure, and the weight of the metal helps.” That said, at least one barber told me they prefer a lighter straight razor, so it may come down to personal preference.
Then there’s the size and shape of the blade to consider. Straight razor blades come in different sizes (sometimes referred to as thicknesses), measured vertically from the cutting edge to the spine of the blade. A typical blade is five-eighths of an inch, but they can range smaller or larger — always in eighths of an inch. Theshape (or grind) refers to the blade’s actual thickness as well as the way it is formed out of metal.Grinds vary from “full wedge,” which is the thickest and which in cross-section looks a lot like a doorstop or a carrot, all the way down to an “extra hollow,” which is extremely thin and looks more like a tulip in cross section. Thin blades are more flexible (imagine a piece of very thin wire versus a very thick piece) and give a closer shave but may have trouble cutting through thick beards. Alexia Donovan, director of client services at theBarber Surgeons Guild, suggests beginners use thicker blades because their weight makes them a little less flexible, leaving less room for injury. Blade thickness is less relevant for shavette-style straight razors that can take a variety of different blades, but it’s very important to consider when buying a traditional straight razor.
Straight handle versus folding handle
Both traditional straight razors and shavettes are available with two different handle styles, straight or folding. Some of the barbers I spoke to say that using a straight handle gives them more control. Others prefer a folding handle because it keeps the sharp blade covered when not in use, protecting both the blade and your hands (especially important if you keep your razor in a drawer).Vinicio Lario, CEO of Fade Masters of Miami, LLC, makes an excellent point about folding handles, though: “I personally like folding handles. They offer a safer, more versatile grip during a shave. The fold gives me stability, but, if needed, I can always straighten it out to mimic a straight handle for certain angles or detailing.”
Blades included
If you’re buying a shavette razor, you’ll need blades to go with it. But if you’re lucky, your new shavette will come with a few free blades to get you started. I’ve noted which ones include blades below.
Best shavette straight razor overall
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Shavette | Weight:1.06 ounces| Handle:Folding| Blades:Not included
As this is such a tough shaving method to master, our Best in Class choice needed to be foolproof to use. There was only one brand to choose: Dovo. It is a German company that you’ll see come up again and again in this story. Mentioned most often by the experts was Dovo’s shavette, specifically. As well as allowing you to shave very close, Howard tells me that the razor has a clear plastic piece that “adds a little guard, like asafety razor.” That means a far-reduced chance of a cut or scrape as you’re shaving.
It also has other beginner-friendly, expert-approved specs, like two inserts (one for standard length and one for shorter blades) for a customizable shave, and a stainless-steel handle and aluminum blade holder that will give the razor longevity. Dovo does make this shavette in a less-expensive plastic-handle version, but I think it’s worth investing a little more, as most of the experts favor metal shavettes for their durability and weight.Cody Renegar, a hairstylist and author, agrees. “The folding handle is a more organic, comfortable grip,” he says. “The shavette is just so preferable due to its simplicity (opposed to sharpening a blade yourself, which could easily go wrong unless you are a professional).”
It’s suitable for shavers of all abilities, and it’s the experts’ most recommended product. So, the Dovo Silver Shavette retains the Best in Class spot for a third year.
Best (less-expensive) shavette straight razor
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Shavette | Weight:2.3 ounces| Handle:Folding| Blades:5 Parker blades included
For less than $30, you can get this shavette from Parker. Like the Dovo, it’s an all-metal, stainless-steel shavette, but it has a little more weight to it (as you can see from the specs above.) Ruscetta — who uses thisrazoron all of his clients — tells me it locks blades into the handle better than any other shavette he’s tried. “The blade snaps in between these two pieces, and it really holds it tight,” Ruscetta says. He points out that, in general, it’s really well constructed and the details are carefully considered. For instance, the two posts that align the blade are made of attractive and long-lasting copper. Valcin, who prefers the Dovo but is also a fan of the Parker, tells me it affords him great precision with his clients. If you only decide to use a straight-razor occasionally, it’s a good pick.
Best straight handle shavette
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Shavette | Weight:1.5 ounces| Handle:Straight| Blades:Not included| Only compatible with Feather-brand blades
As well as being the only shavette on this list with a straight handle, this razor comes from the Japanese brand Feather. I know that shoppers can get particular about the origins of their products (see ourMade in Japan,France, andKoreaseries), and Japan is known for creating extremely sharp knife (and razor) blades that hold their edge for a long time. For this article, Feather came up the most often after Dovo as a trusted brand, with five of the experts naming it as a generally superior maker of shaving products. So if you’re keen on buying Japanese, you should consider Feather.
Each of them favored a different model in Feather’s Artist Club SS line of shavettes. The brand is famous for its ultrasharp double-edge blades, which are longer than the standard single-edge blades most shavettes use and will only work with Feather razors. Some might see this lack of flexibility as a downside, but my expert barbers say the slight inconvenience is worth it for the level of quality you get. This straight-handled razor has a stainless-steel head that is naturally antibacterial and a silicon resin handle that is easy to clean and provides extra grip. The resin handle means that most of the weight is in the head of this razor so it will naturally add pressure as you shave, which helps lift hairs to get the blade closer to your skin.
Best Japanese shavette with a folding handle
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Shavette | Weight:1.5 ounces| Handle:Folding| Blades:Not included| Only compatible with Feather-brand blades
If you think you’d prefer a folding shavette but you like the resin handle or made-in-Japan craftsmanship, I tracked down this model. It’s also from Feather’s SS Artist Club line, and Brian Porteous, owner ofHeritage Barbershopin Portland, Oregon tells me he “uses this for any straight-razor shaving I do in the shop,” he says. Porteous prefers the folding version because it’s safer to store and tuck away, and he likes that the metal head is heavier than the rest of the razor. He’s also a fan ofFeather’s Artist Club blades, which he says are thicker than other blades.
Best traditional straight razor
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Traditional | Weight:3.5 ounces| Handle:Folding| Blade:5/8-inch stainless steel full hollow ground blade
For a traditional straight razor, I’m recommending Dovo again. Arthur Iskhakov, owner ofBarber’s Blueprintin New York, says it’s the absolute “top brand.” For those looking to buy their first traditional straight razor, Iskhakov would recommend a razor like this one with a five-eighths-inch blade, which he says is essentially the standard blade size for a good straight razor.
Best large-blade traditional straight razor
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Traditional | Weight:2.5 ounces| Handle:Folding| Blade:6/8-inch carbon steel half hollow ground blade
Ruscetta loves traditional straight razors, too, and while his favorite manufacturer of all time is the now-extinct Dorko, he agrees Dovo is one of the best companies currently producing them. He prefers a slightly larger blade because he feels “the weight gives a more comfortable shave” and recommends this model with a hefty six-eighths-inch blade.
Some Strategist-approved aftershaves to try, too
OurExperts
• Daniel Chulpayev ofMade Man Barber
• Darius Davie, co-founder ofGroom Guy
• Alexia Donovan, director of client services,Barber Surgeons Guild
•Julien Howard, master barber
• Arthur Iskhakov, owner ofBarber’s Blueprintin New York
• Vinicio Lario, CEO ofFade Masters Of Miami LLC
• Brian Porteous, owner ofHeritage Barbershop
•Cody Renegar, hairstylist and author
•Angelo Ruscetta, master barber
• Ralph Wilburn, senior barber atFellow Barber
•Yvey Valcin, master stylist and founder of Yvey Salon
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