6 Best Straight Razors: Luxury, Budget, Fixed-Blade (2024)

Did you know that two billion disposable razors end up in landfills each year, according to the EPA? One way around the problem is to use a straight razor. If you’re ready to make the switch, you’ve come to the right place.

In our article, we break down the six best straight razors in categories like luxury, budget, and even fixed blade. There’s no sense in throwing away any more plastic razors, when the best straight edge razor will last for years. 

But men who use straight razors are also dead sexy. So for your love life and the planet, throw away those disposable razors and pick up one of the best straight razors instead.

Our Top Picks

Cutting it close on time? Here’s a quick look at each pick in our rating.

A Closer Look: Best Straight Razors

Lather up, because you’re about to find out what we liked and a few things we didn’t like about each straight razor in our ranking.

No question, learning to use a straight razor takes some time and a lot of patience. Even when done well by experienced hands, it’s not something to rush. No matter how long you’ve been at it, though, a craftsman is only as good as his tools. For this reason, we recommend the Black Widow barber straight razor, with both the blade and handle made from rust-resistant stainless steel.

What we liked about this razor is the armature swing lock design with a thumb notch and ridges for improved control. Don’t miss the 1.5 mm blade exposure for accent work, which is more blade exposure than what’s typically offered from most other straight razors. 

Otherwise, Black Widow is of exceptional quality, especially for the price. Designed for professional barbers, it’s super easy to hold, according to reports, and it doesn’t slip in your hand. Just be sure to take it slow, and wet your face thoroughly.

Costing a bit more but coming in a close second in terms of quality is the Naked Armor straight razor. Made from Japanese Samurai stainless steel and with a wooden handle, the razor also has 115-grain two-sided gold copperheads on either side for better balance. Furthermore, the blade is also a bit wider than average, which makes it easier for beginners to find the right angle.

The blade also comes with a really nice leather pouch and a gift box, but it does need a good strop before using it. And after doing so, it’s best to leave it overnight. Otherwise, though, this professional-grade straight edge razor is a thing of beauty, according to feedback. It’s really good quality with a beautiful blade.

It is a little rough coming straight out of the box, however, but that’s nothing the aforementioned stropping won’t fix, users say.

The straight razor experience shouldn’t be limited just to those who can afford it.

We suggest the Parker SRB shavette barber razor for those interested in straight razors, but who are unable to spend a bunch of money on their looks, or on a high-end option. And best of all, five premium parker blades are included with purchase.

Otherwise, the straight edge razor is made from aluminum and stainless steel with a black resin handle. Quite affordable, the SRB also offers a snap and lock blade holder for secure blade insertion, and at the end of the blade compartment, there’s a rounded exposure cutting down on nicks and cuts, especially for first-time users.

Otherwise, shavettes like the SRB, or a straight razor with replaceable blades, are great for beginners, and the SRB offers exceptional quality at a price that can’t be beat.

Best of all, the blade holder stays tight, and there’s no maintenance required.

If you’re going to treat yourself or a man in your life to a straight razor, why choose anything but the very best? That’s exactly what you get from the Master’s straight razor from DOVO. 

No question, you’ll pay a handsome price for the straight razor, but how do you put a price on being handsome? 

Made from carbon steel, which is much harder than stainless steel, the DOVO Master’s blade is 6/8” and full hollow ground. The handle is ebony wood, and don’t miss the double stabilizing piece on the arm for added control. We also like that the tang, aka the lever that lifts the blade from the handle, provides better balance while shaving.

A great gift, DOVO Master’s is incredible, experienced shavers agree. It’s sharp and satisfying, providing a close and smooth shave. It does need a little honing before use, however.

Although our budget pick, a shavette, is also a great choice for beginners, we also like the Blade Point straight razor from Art of Shaving. 

With a black acrylic handle and a hollow ground, round-nosed blade that’s double edged and made in France, this razor is easier to take care of than some other options. Reason being, the blade is much less rigid than one made from stainless steel, requiring little effort to maintain the edge. 

But that’s just the razor’s edge of why this razor is a good choice for newbies. 

Fans call it the perfect razor for a beginner and “wicked sharp” producing a close, clean shave with little irritation. The online instructions are also useful, according to reports.

For a fixed blade straight razor, or something like a Japanese-style shavette, you won’t do better than the Club Black SS straight razor made by Feather. 

With a Japanese Stainless Steel Blade Guard, the Club Black SS has a rounded shaving head for better blade exposure and a smoother shave. The silicon resin handle is easy to grip, and there’s also a one-touch mechanism to clean or replace the blade.

From the very first try, the shave is excellent, fans of Feather report. It’s easy to control, and the blades stay sharp, although replacements are not included with purchase. 

Otherwise, the materials, design, and overall shaving experience are over the top. Many, in fact, find the ergonomics on a fixed-blade straight edge razor easier to hold and to control, with fewer nicks and cuts. 

Some do call the learning curve steep, however, and remind new users to take their time.

Our Process

For this guide on straight razors, our team spent 5 hours researching the most popular models from over 30 brands and manufacturers big and small. We then read about 30 user reviews (both positive and negative) to discover what shoppers thought about each razor. After comparing this data, we narrowed our list down to the top 6 straight razors on the market. You can count on this research to guide you to a mindful purchasing decision.

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