Ever get a hot shave from a barber using a straight razor? It’s awesome. Turn that opulent treat into a daily expectation with one of these great straight razors.
Are you sick of plastic, throwaway culture? Do you feel lost in this modern age? Have you had it up to here with “safety?”
You’re not alone. Part of being a human is doing work and putting in effort with your hands. Things used to take a while, you know? Getting water, shodding your horse, shaving your face—these things took time, but came with a certain satisfaction.
Now, water comes from the tap, automatic horses (cars) don’t need shoes, and folks shave with safety razors—or perhaps risk their very lives (or follicular distress, anyway) with electric razors. It is absolute madness.
Below are some of the best and most reasonably priced ways to get into the straight razor game.
Best Premium Razor: Dovo Special ($127)
At this point, you’re seeing our first price point and thinking, “Oh! So straight razors are kinda pricey.”
Well, it’s all relative. We found some high-end razors (including others from Dovo) that get you into the multiple-hundreds-of-dollars ballpark. Plus, a carbon-steel, traditional, non-shavette (i.e., the blade is integral, rather than using replaceable razor blades) razor is meant to last forever. Hell, you might give it to your kid someday (you know, once they hit peak knife-age). You also won’t be spending money on new razors or new handle units.
You are essentially buying a high-end, highly specialized knife. With that in mind, the Dovo Special is a great example of this comparison. This razor bears many of the qualities of a good, traditional knife: a carbon steel blade (non-stainless) with a high temper. This means the blade will hold a very, very sharp edge. It also means you’ll need to dry and oil it after use to prevent rust, much like one would with, say, a sword. The tip of the blade is rounded—which is useful for avoiding accidental nicks.
