Best razor for men for a close shave: Amazon picks

Gillette Mach3 uses three progressive blades angled to raise and cut hair at progressively closer distances from the skin surface with each blade. The pivoting head adjusts to facial contours including the jaw, chin and neck curves. The ergonomic handle provides grip when wet.

Gillette Mach3 cartridges are widely available at drugstores, grocery stores and Amazon, with replacement 4-packs available at approximately $14 to $16, or roughly $3.50 to $4.00 per cartridge. Each cartridge provides 12 to 15 comfortable shaves with proper technique (rinsing after each stroke, not pressing hard).

At $12 for handle plus one cartridge, the Mach3 starter is the lowest entry price in this guide.

Gillette Fusion5 uses five blades spaced to cut hair at multiple heights per stroke with less pressure per blade, which Gillette describes as reducing skin irritation while maintaining closeness. The back precision trimmer blade allows detailing under the nose, along the sideburn line and other areas requiring more controlled edging.

The Flexball handle technology allows the cartridge head to pivot in multiple directions (not just forward and backward like older pivoting designs) to follow the varied contours of the face. Fusion5 is the most-sold razor in several major international markets.

At $16 for handle plus one cartridge, Fusion5 costs $4 more than Mach3 with the five-blade upgrade.

Schick Hydro 5 uses a cartridge design with a built-in hydrating gel reservoir that activates on contact with water during shaving. The gel provides additional lubrication alongside shaving gel or cream to reduce blade drag across the skin surface, which is the primary cause of razor burn and post-shave irritation.

The five-blade configuration provides a close shave comparable to Gillette Fusion5. The flip trim blade on the back of the cartridge allows precise edging.

At $14 for the Sensitive version, Schick Hydro 5 falls between Mach3 and Fusion5 in price.

Merkur 34C is a closed-comb double-edge safety razor manufactured in Solingen, Germany. The heavy chrome-plated brass handle (approximately 76g) provides weight that assists the shave when held loosely: the weight of the razor is enough pressure to shave effectively without pressing, which is the technique error that causes nicks with safety razors.

Standard DE blades (Feather, Astra, Derby) fit the Merkur 34C and cost $0.10 to $0.30 per blade at 10 to 50-blade quantities. A blade provides 5 to 7 comfortable shaves, making the per-shave cost $0.02 to $0.06, compared to $0.25 to $0.40 per shave for premium cartridge systems.

At $38, the Merkur 34C requires a higher initial investment that pays back through lower blade costs over time.