If you’re reading this, I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that you’re a human male.
Nailed it? Nice.
In that case—unless you’ve got the face mane of a Greek god or happen to be a straight-razor purist—you’ve got some facial hair that needs a good taming from time to time. And when those times come, the best cartridge razors will be waiting with open arms. Which are actually blades. So, shitty analogy. The point stands, though, that cartridge razors are not only incredibly versatile and adept at giving you a close, comfortable shave, but they’re also very affordable in most cases.
Without further ado, I’d like to introduce (or re-introduce) your face to some epic middle-class pampering with the seven best cartridge razors for men.
Key Takeaways
With so many options flooding the men’s grooming market, pick the best cartridge razors for you based on your skin type and the unique features you need. Despite the presence of exciting new players in the game, Gillette remains king thanks to its thoughtful features, innovative designs, and durable construction.
As for the king of kings, I’m going with the impressive and sensitive skin-friendly ProGlide Shield. And in the budget-friendly category, the tried-and-true Gillette Mach3 reigns supreme.
It should come as no surprise that Gillette is going to rear its beautiful, expertly crafted head on this list a handful of times. In terms of the best cartridge razors, there’s just no beating the O.G. American razor company.
The ProGlide Shield prioritizes comfort and is a great option if you have sensitive skin. The handle is thick enough to provide some substance in the hand, enhancing the overall experience. Comfort- and precision-wise, the razors feature lubricating strips above and below the blades, and Gillette’s FlexBall Technology keeps things moving with the contours of your face. It’s about as universally thoughtful as you can get for the price.
Number of Blades: 5 | Skin Type: All | Lubricating Strips: Yes | Handle Included: Yes
The Gillette Mach3, like many of the brand’s tentpole products, has been around for what seems like forever. There’s a reason for that. A bunch of reasons, actually. The two that stand out the most: comfort and price.
You can stock up on cartridges for a song, and the three blades and lubrication strip do their part to give you a close shave without irritating your skin. If you’re just looking for a down-and-dirty, comfortable shave—as opposed to a more methodical, drawn-out experience—this is the product you reach for every time.
Number of Blades: 3 | Skin Type: Normal | Lubricating Strips: Yes | Handle Included: Yes
Oh look, Gillette. Weird. Promise I’ll give it a rest moving forward, but this one’s too good to pass up. Coming in hot with luxury features and a luxury price tag is Gillette’s Heated Razor. Yes, it’s unnecessary in the most glorious way possible. And yes, you loved that “coming in hot” pun back there.
The goal is partially to mimic a hot-towel shave with its adjustable warming bar that evenly warms the skin throughout your shave. It comes with a wireless, magnetic charging dock which looks cool and, perhaps more importantly, charges the razor. And if you’re a shower shaver, rejoice—the unit is completely waterproof.
Number of Blades: 5 | Skin Type: All | Lubricating Strips: Yes | Handle Included: Yes
Amazon Basics can be a bit of a hit-or-miss proposition. Kind of like store-brand peanut butter. How dare they challenge Jif like that? Polarizing. I keep things polarizing.
But the juggernaut’s in-house cartridge razor brand is one area where it truly shines, and there are over 60,000 mostly-raving reviews to back that up. The cartridge features five blades and a lubricating strip, while the handle takes cues from Gillette’s ProGlide with its “MotionSphere multi axis pivot” that ebbs and flows with the contours of your face. Overall, it’s one of the best men’s razors around in terms of quality and value.
Number of Blades: 5 | Skin Type: All, Sensitive | Lubricating Strips: Yes | Handle Included: Yes
Here we have a completely different type of cartridge razor. In fact, let’s not even pigeonhole this thing because it’s essentially a hybrid between a cartridge razor and a safety razor. And even though the company was founded in 2016, this innovative, environmentally friendly product somehow still isn’t everywhere yet.
The handle’s unique Y-shaped design supports a pivoting head that allows you to load anywhere between one and three safety razor blades (it’s compatible with any standard safety razor) to customize your shaving experience. The all-metal construction reduces waste, and the design is meant to be whole-body compatible. This means you could use it to shave your head, your toes, and anywhere in between. Careful now.
Number of Blades: 3 | Skin Type: All | Lubricating Strips: No | Handle Included: Yes
Several entrants to this list of the best cartridge razors on the market could actually fill this category’s shoes, but Dollar Shave Club’s 6-Blade Club Razor Set is as good a fit as any. Six blades provide an ultra-smooth, close shave, and there’s a built-in trimmer blade for precision facial hair grooming.
These are nice features, sure, but the small yet mighty detail that tips the scales in the “everyday” direction for me is the diamond-patterned handle. It’s got a nice weighty feel to it that helps elevate the experience to something more of a measured shaving approach. But nope, it’s just Dollar Shave Club. Sorcerers, those guys.
Number of Blades: 6 | Skin Type: All | Lubricating Strips: Yes | Handle Included: Yes
You didn’t think we’d get through an entire list of the best cartridge razors without talking about Harry’s, did you? The handle and cartridges include all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a quality kit—five blades, a lubricating strip, a rubberized, weighted handle for easy gripping, and a flex hinge on the head.
But this being a kit, you’re also working with a bottle of Harry’s foaming shave gel, multiple cartridges, and a travel blade cover. Use it as a home or travel kit for yourself, or toss this in your dad’s stocking one year for a crowd-pleasing gift. And don’t forget that damn rain gauge he keeps asking for.
Number of Blades: 5 | Skin Type: All | Lubricating Strips: Yes | Handle Included: Yes
What To Look For In The Best Cartridge Razors
Number of blades
A shared feature of most of the best cartridge razors is the presence of at least three blades, with five blades becoming increasingly popular. Since multiple blades are designed to cut the hair both above and below the surface of your face, they’re nice options for anyone looking for a close shave. If you’re more of the stubble type, stick with single-blade or electric razors.
Price
Cartridge razors are in a league of their own in terms of offering comfort and a smooth shave at approachable prices. And unless you’re in the market for more elevated options like safety razors or straight-edge razors, you’ve likely got budget-friendly products on your mind. Though typically lower, prices within the cartridge category can still vary widely, so pit the cost against the features you’re looking for before picking a razor.
Features
Pivoting heads. Weighted handles. Multiple blades. Heated cartridges on waterproof handles. Lubricating strips. I could go on, but suffice it to say the features available on today’s cartridge razors are wide-ranging. Choose a razor that has the features you need and avoid extra noise if you’re not going to make use of it.
Final Verdict
Performance, comfort, features, and cost all play important roles in the anatomy of the best cartridge razors for men. Thanks to the attention to detail toward those aspects and more, there are no wrong turns with my top overall pick, the Gillette ProGlide Shield.
FAQ
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Cartridge razors are typically equipped with features like multiple blades and lubricating strips. They’re often made of disposable plastic and stainless steel to keep the price point low and convenience high. Razors, or safety razors, are double-edged blades that are placed on handles meant to last for years. Their single-blade construction offers a close shave, but there’s a bit of a learning curve involved.
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Whether or not cartridge razors are better for you depends on your overall preferences. Thanks to their double-edged blades, safety razors allow for a broader range of shaving motion and offer outstanding control. Cartridge razors are typically cheaper, have more blades, and incorporate features that are helpful to those who are new to shaving or value convenience over quality.
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Depending on the quality of the cartridge razor you use, it’s typically not the razor itself that causes ingrown hairs. A leading culprit of ingrown hairs is using razors that aren’t sharp enough. Switch out your cartridges frequently to reduce tugging, friction, and the risk of ingrown hairs.
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