Cheap Razors vs Expensive – What is the Difference?

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It’s always said that you’ll get what you pay for. And with most products and services, this rings true. So, it’s expected you’ll question if purchasing an expensive razor will be worth it in the long run in terms of experience and quality.

High-quality products are associated with premium price tags. But is the reverse true? Are all premium-priced products high quality?

Let’s dig deeper into this line of thought to determine if expensive razors are worth it.

Should You Pick an Expensive Razor?

If you’ve been to a luxury department store or a supermarket, you’ve seen a section dedicated to high-end razors. And you’ve often wondered if they are better than those on other shelves or from say the Dollar Shave Club?

Well, it depends. Generally, high-quality razors and/ or hand-made razors like a Solingen straight razor or a Japanese Kamisori razor fetch a higher price tag. However, it’s easy to pick out high-quality razors from substandard razors. You don’t have to worry about razor burns with a high-quality razor. Even better, they are convenient and shave faster.

That said, quality isn’t the only thing that dictates a razor’s price tag. For some, the brand, material used, design, and heritage play a big role in its price. Because of these, razors don’t have ceiling prices.

For instance, the Floris London Briarwood Gold Plated 3-Piece Shaving Set went for $750, but this is far from the most expensive razor available today. The Zaffiro Iridium comes with an iridium handle and a sapphire blade, and it sells for a cool $100,000. On the flip side, you’ll find aluminum and brass razors with similar features with much lower price tags. Yes, having a gold-plated razor is enviable and boosts your ego, but will you need a razor at that level?

Don’t get it twisted; if you have disposable income, you can purchase such an expensive razor. After all, thick gold plating builds a razor’s durability. But if you are working with a lower budget, you should consider more factors instead of depending on price alone.

How to Choose a Razor (Cheap Razors vs Expensive)

Below is a foolproof method of picking a quality razor for your needs.

Number of Blades

Cartridge razors come with a different number of blades, anything between 2 and 6, with each having a different effect on your shaving experience. Brands sell the idea that the more blades a cartridge or disposable razor have, the easier it is to achieve a close and smooth shave. While this is true, you’ve got to be aware of the downsides lest you risk getting more nicks and cuts.

When using a multi-blade razor, a single pass is equivalent to the number of blades the razor has, which translates to more skin friction and irritation.

Luckily, multi-blade razor designs have improved over the years to eliminate these shortcomings. Today, most multi-blade razors feature a lubricating strip to reduce friction and soothe the skin, and the blades are well spaced to avoid cuts and nicks.

With these improvements, four or five-blade razors are often a better option than single-blade razors for men who are always pressed for time.

Blade Quality

Like with everything else, quality razors often fetch a premium price. But regardless of how expensive your razor blade is, it needs replacing after five to ten shaves, depending on your beard’s texture.

Experts recommend paying more for a safe and quality blade. Also, remember that dull blades are responsible for razor burns, nicks, and cuts.

Choose a Razor with Flexible Blades

When you choose a cheap razor, there are high chances it’ll slice your skin as it glides up or down your skin. Expert-level wet shaving skills paired with cheap razor results in a bad shaving experience.

Consider a razor with an ergonomic handle and flexible blades to improve your control and shaving experience.

Skin Condition

• Healthy Skin

If you have normal skin, you can glide two, three, or four-blade razors on your skin without suffering from skin irritations. This is because normal skin is thick, so multiple blades gliding over it don’t cause burns or redness.

• Sensitive Skin

However, if you have sensitive skin, you should be more cautious with the razors you use. Prefer razors that are gentle on your skin and have features that reduce friction and soothe the skin (like lubricating strips), and improve their contouring abilities.

Stay away from cheap multiple-blade razors that are more likely to irritate your skin. Instead, prefer models with fewer blades. Dermatologists recommend using two or three blades to reduce skin irritation.

Choose a Razor Based on the Body Part

• Facial Hair

Using multi-blade razors on your skin daily can lead to swelling and skin irritation. On the other hand, safety razors cause little to no skin irritation, thanks to the double-edge single-blade design. Because of this, safety razors win in facial shaving.

• Leg Hair

For shaving your leg hair, you need specialized razors that adjust to the angles and curves of your legs for a great shaving experience. As such, cartridge razors are ideal. In addition to having great maneuverability, these razors also reduce the risk of getting nicks and cuts.

• Armpit Hair

Underarms or armpits have sensitive skin. Even small ingrown hair in this spot can cause you great discomfort. As such, using a cartridge razor that has a pivoting head is the right move.

• Pubic Hair

You can use a cartridge or safety razor to shave your pubic hair. However, you should stay away from disposable razors since these blades aren’t sharp enough.

• Head Hair

Head shaving can be a laborious and time-consuming task. Cartridge razors seem to be well designed for head shaving, so a Gillette Razor is perfect for the job. However, we believe the best cartridge razor for head shaving is the HeadBlade ATX. This is because the Headblade provides good lubrication before and after the blades glide over your skin, protecting it during a shave.

Common Mistakes When Using Razors (Both Expensive and Cheap Razors)

Not Changing the Blade Often

If you purchase expensive blades, don’t be tempted not to change them. Keep in mind that you’ll be doing your skin more harm than good by overusing a blade. If you have thick and coarse hair, shaving every other day is crucial. As such, you should change the blade more often than someone who shaves once or twice a week and has soft and thin hair.

If you have sensitive skin, changing your razor blade is extremely important.

Difference between Razors for Women and Razors for Men

The difference between men’s and women’s razors isn’t just in the packaging but that they are often designed for use on different body parts. Because of this, there are some technical differences between these razors that might not be immediately noticeable, including weight, blade flexibility, lubricating strips, and handle design.

Men’s Razors

Usually, men’s razors come in black and blue. They feature square-shaped shaving heads that are perfect for shaping and shaving beards. Moreover, the blade angle is aggressive, making it easier to cut through tough hair.

On the flip side, men’s razors are narrower than women’s razors. As such, they are ideal for shaving the neck and face.

Women Razors

Aside from cute packaging, women’s razors have a lot of features that distinguish them from men’s razors. Although they come with blades like those in men’s razors, the blade angles are different.

The handles of these razors are rounder which makes it easier for women to change their grip when shaving. Also, women’s razors have wider heads which are ideal for shaving legs and thighs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Wrong to Use Cheap Razors?

You should stay away from cheap razors since they can easily cause nicks, cuts, ingrown hairs, and irritation.

Why Are Some Razor Brands More Expensive?

More expensive razor brands usually provide extra features that improve the shaving experience. For instance, some have multiple blades, which result in closer and cleaner shaves in record time. Also, some have lubricating strips that soothe the skin after shaving. Moreover, the shaving head rotates and allowing the blade to adjust to the contours on the face. In many cases, cheaper razors don't have these features and don't last as long.

What Are the Most Expensive Razors?

The most expensive razor comes with an iridium handle and a sapphire blade, and it sells for about $100,000.

What Is the Ideal Razor for Experienced Shavers?

Experienced shavers that prefer close shaves should opt for safety razors. On the flip side, if you aren't an experienced wet shaver, you should hold off on the purchase.

Why Are Straight Razors So Expensive?

Straight razors are expensive because most of them are handcrafted by professionals with high-level skills and razor making. Unlike cartridge razors that are mass-produced, straight razors go through a longer, more detailed manufacturing process.

Conclusion

If you’ve read to this point, you must have your answer and an idea of how to choose the best razor for your needs. Generally, expensive razors don’t guarantee the best shaving experience. Because of this, you should consider your goals and pick a razor with features that’ll help you achieve them.

Also, it’s important to remember to purchase quality blades and change them often depending on the texture of your beard or how fast they get dull.