Frustrated by his dull straight razor, King Gillette envisioned an inexpensive, double-edge blade that could be affixed to a handle, used until it was dull, and then discarded. His dream became a reality when the first modern safety razor was patented and mass produced in 1904. Since that time, the basic designs of the safety razor have remained relatively unchanged. Although the materials and craftsmanship have varied over the years, there are still only a few basic designs of safety razors. This article describes the three types of double-edge safety razors as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each design.