The Double Edged Safety Razor has been around for quite a long time.  Looking through the choices now can seem a little daunting.  From the time of grandpa or dad’s razor there are now quite a multitude of options, the butterflies, open-combs, and safety razors of varying weights.  If you are new to safety razors to get a better shave, to save money, or for nostalgia we hope to clear up some of the confusions.

 

The butterfly style opening looks a bit like bomb bay doors.  This is the easiest way to insert and remove a blade.  The alternate version is mechanical simplicity, the head screws onto the handle and the top entraps the blade as a final piece.  There are a few variations to this where the bottom is attached to the handle and the bottom unscrews, these are the “barber poles” and have only two physical parts.  Still others might use a spring mechanism or some other ingenious device.

 

The weight of a razor has a lot to do with personal preference.  Some prefer a heavier razor to let the razor itself do the work and just guide it along.  Others like the feel of a light razor and keep their touch light but firm all through the shave.

 

A few razors offer adjustable blade exposure, this feature is useful for finding the most comfortable blade angle for a close shave.  Starting on the lowest setting and slowly moving up as the compromise between closeness and comfort is reached precisely.

 

This is the safety razor that will give a novice the most comfort.  Closed combs offer a close shave without being overly aggressive.  The weight of the razor will do most of the work and a keen blade will take care of the rest.  A Straight safety bar across the blade protects the skin from serious cuts.  With just a little practice the basic closed comb gives close comfortable shaves.

 

The open comb razor looks like a small rake on the end of the razor.  This allows for a more aggressive shave as skin can get closer to the blade between the tines.  This can be a good razor for a beard removal and also maintenance. This is a razor for those who have a bit of skill and a steady hand.

 

The slant bar lets the blade of the razor move across the whiskers in a slicing action.  This can make this razor a more advanced shave as it takes a more learned touch.  Those who have been using safety razors for a while may like the closeness of a more aggressively slanted bar.  This razor gives an incredibly close shave, but, be warned, because of its aggressiveness, it has been called “Satan’s Razor.”