Best Razors for Every Routine: Cartridge Picks, Trimmers and a Safety Razor

A razor’s blade count tells only part of the story. Handle weight, head flexibility, grip and the way a tool meets different hair textures can shape how comfortable and controlled a shave feels. These eight picks cover everyday cartridge razors, electric trimmers, a safety razor and a facial tool, with options for dry or sensitive skin, thicker hair and detailed grooming.

The selection includes products priced from $8 to $120, along with guidance from dermatologists on how razor designs work. The right fit depends on where you’re shaving, how close a finish you want and whether you prefer a quick trim or a closer pass. Shaving cream can still be part of the routine, even when a razor has lubricating strips built in.

At a glance: eight razors and trimmers

• Best overall: Flamingo 5-Blade Razor, $8
• Best full-body trimmer: Fur Trim System, $120
• Best for dry skin: Gillette Venus MoistureGlide Razor, $15
• Best for the bikini line: Schick Hydro Silk TrimStyle Razor, $21
• Best subscription: Billie Razor Starter Kit, $15 for three refills or $12 for two refills
• Best weighted razor: Hanni Weighted Razor, $42
• Best for sensitive skin: Athena Club Razor, $20
• Best for thick hair: Meridian The Premium Trimmer, listed at $70 on Amazon and $74 at Shop
• Best for the face: Tweezerman Facial Razor, listed at $18 on Amazon and $21 at Nordstrom and Shop

Everyday control and a comfortable glide

Flamingo 5-Blade Razor

Type: cartridge. Blades: five. Refills included: three. Price: $8.

The Flamingo 5-Blade Razor earns its everyday appeal through a combination of a flexible head, a weighted handle and a lubricating strip coated with aloe and shea butter. The hinged head can follow contours at the knees and underarms, while the non-slip grip gives the hand more control over each stroke. Board-certified dermatologist Azadeh Shirazi, MD, has pointed to that grip as a feature that can help reduce accidental nicks.

The added handle weight helps the razor move steadily without encouraging extra pressure. For contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai, the hinged head made it easier to navigate the knees and the hollow of the underarms. She also found it gentle enough to use on the backs of her legs with minimal shave gel. Senior staff writer Elizabeth Gulino likewise described it as a regular part of her shower routine, noting that the handle and pivoting head helped her avoid irritation and painful nicks even when she shaved in a hurry.

Rinse the blades before the next shave to clear away buildup. The $8 price in the roundup is the listed starting price; the product card also showed $8 at Shop and $16 at Amazon.

Gillette Venus MoistureGlide Razor

Type: cartridge. Blades: five. Refills included: two. Key ingredients: argan oil, olive oil, avocado oil and niacinamide. Price: $15.

With its five-blade head, weighted metal handle and generously sized gel bars, the Best of Beauty-winning Venus MoistureGlide is designed to pair a close shave with extra slip. The strips contain argan, olive and avocado oils, and niacinamide is listed among the key ingredients. They help reduce friction as the razor moves across dry skin. Shaving cream can still add another layer of glide and protection if that’s part of your routine.

Senior art director Ingrid Fowler has used the razor for years. She credits the two large moisture strips and five blades with a smooth shave, and finds replacement heads easy to pick up, including while traveling. Its ergonomic shape and silver mount make it a considered shower fixture as well as a practical tool.

Athena Club Razor

Type: cartridge. Blades: five. Refills included: one. Key ingredient: hyaluronic acid. Price: $20.

The Best of Beauty-winning Athena Club Razor combines a five-blade head with a water-activated hyaluronic serum strip. Its blades are spaced to move around curves, and a silicone-coated aluminum handle provides a secure grip. The magnetic handle and matching shower holder add a tidy storage detail: Best of Beauty editorial assistant Arietta Hallcock says the razor clicks into place to dry between uses.

The replaceable cartridges can be scheduled monthly, every two months or every three months through the brand’s site. Hallcock describes the shave as smooth and appreciates that the reusable handle accepts replacement heads. The built-in strip is one part of the shave; shaving cream remains an option for anyone who wants it.

Tools that combine trimming and shaving

Fur Trim System

Type: electric. Components: three-blade razor head, one ceramic trimmer blade and one trimming guard. Refills included: none. Price: $120.

The Best of Beauty-winning Fur Trim System is the most adaptable pick here, with three interchangeable attachments for close shaving, trimming and more precise grooming. Its motor and ceramic, rust-resistant blade are designed to glide evenly over skin, including without an attachment. Switch to the three-blade razor head for a closer result, or use the two-length trimmer attachment to adjust the trim. The system is water-resistant and has an LED light to illuminate the area being groomed in or out of the shower.

Designer Briana Rengifo likes the light for bikini-line grooming and says the different head options let her choose a close trim or a longer finish. At $120, it’s the highest-priced product in this group, but it combines several functions in one tool.

Schick Hydro Silk TrimStyle Razor

Type: cartridge and electric. Components: five-blade razor head, one ceramic trimmer blade and one trimming cap. Refills included: one. Key ingredients: shea butter, hyaluronic acid, coconut oil and avocado oil. Price: $21.

The dual-ended Best of Beauty-winning Schick Hydro Silk TrimStyle switches between a cartridge razor and an electric trimmer, so one handle can support a closer shave or a shaped trim. The five-blade head follows curves around the thighs and bikini line. Lubricating strips contain shea butter, hyaluronic acid, coconut oil and avocado oil for glide. Turn the tool around for the trimmer, which has four trim lengths for shaping.

Senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor says the two ends save time when switching between trimming and shaving. She has used the same handle for about three years, replacing the razor head several times. That longevity is a practical point for anyone who wants a versatile shower tool, while the replaceable head means the blades still need periodic refreshing.

Meridian The Premium Trimmer

Type: electric. Components: one ceramic blade and two guide combs. Refills included: none. Price: $70 at Amazon at the listed sale price, reduced from $74; $74 at Shop.

Meridian The Premium Trimmer takes a beard-trimmer approach to body grooming: its ceramic blade is made to move through coarse hair, wet or dry, while guide combs help vary the length. The nick-guard and combs make it a useful first step before a cartridge or safety razor when hair is longer, or a standalone option for anyone who prefers a trim over a close shave. It can be used on the bikini area, underarms, legs and arms.

Its result isn’t as close as a razor’s, so expectations matter. Board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, puts the choice plainly: a razor suits someone who wants a bare finish, while a trimmer works for keeping some length. Former news editor Nicola Dall’Asen calls the tool easy to reach for, including for last-minute grooming.

Other formats: subscription, weight and face

Billie Razor Starter Kit

Type: cartridge. Blades: five. Refills included: two. Key ingredient: aloe. Price: $15 for three refills at Amazon or $12 for two refills at Ulta Beauty.

The Billie Razor pairs a rubber-backed handle with a magnetic wall mount that keeps the razor off the shower floor between uses. Its blades sit inside an aloe-lined rim. The brand made its name with a refill subscription after launching in 2017; customers can schedule refills every four weeks and change the timing to match how quickly they use them. One-off blade and razor purchases are also available, including the razor on its own.

Hanni Weighted Razor

Type: safety razor. Blades: one. Refills included: five. Price: $42.

The Hanni Weighted Razor is made from 100% Swedish stainless metal and uses a single exposed blade with a protective design between blade edge and skin. Its weight is meant to do the work: the guidance is to glide without adding pressure. A double-sided head lets the user shave with either edge, and the five-inch handle can make it easier to control the tool across larger areas. Dr. Shirazi has said a longer handle may feel more comfortable and help with maneuvering.

There is a learning curve with a safety razor, even with a guard. Change the blade after four to six uses, depending on hair coarseness. The razor takes Hanni’s blade refills, so replacement blades are specific to this model.

Tweezerman Facial Razor

Type: dermaplane tool. Blades: one. Refills included: two. Price: $18 at Amazon, listed down from $21; $21 at Nordstrom and Shop.

The Best of Beauty-winning Tweezerman Facial Razor is designed for peach fuzz and finer facial hair, including along the upper lip. Its single blade measures nearly an inch and a half, giving it room to clear hair in a controlled pass while following facial contours. The tool also removes surface dead skin as it moves across the face. Unlike many disposable facial razors, its blade is replaceable; the suggested interval is every two to three months.

Former news editor Nicola Dall’Asen says the weighted silver handle makes facial shaving feel considered, and values being able to replace the cartridge rather than discard the whole tool. Use a light hand and steady movements around facial contours.

What to know before choosing a razor

Which design can give a close shave?

A razor’s leading edge is designed to stretch skin gently before the blade reaches it, explains board-certified dermatologist Erum Ilyas, MD. A flatter surface can help the blade pass with fewer nicks. Multiple blades can capture hairs growing at different angles, so a close shave may take fewer strokes. Blade spacing matters: if blades sit too far apart, skin can rise slightly after the first blade passes and meet the next one. A comfortable handle also helps keep pressure steady.

How do cartridge razors work?

Cartridge razors hold two to six closely spaced blades in a replaceable head. Many heads flex or bend slightly so the blades can follow areas such as knees and the bikini line. This design makes a quick, close shave accessible, but replacement cartridges add to the cost over time. Hairs can get caught between blades and make the cartridge less effective, so replace it when it becomes dull or clogged.

Disposable razors have a similar basic construction but are designed for limited use. Dermatologist Sonia Batra, MD, says their blades are generally lower quality than those in cartridge systems, which may mean a less close shave and a greater chance of nicks. The American Academy of Dermatology advises changing blades or disposing of razors after five to seven shaves to help minimize irritation.

When does a safety razor make sense?

A safety razor uses one replaceable blade and a guard between its edge and the skin. The format may suit someone who finds cartridge razors irritating and is comfortable with a slower, more deliberate technique. Dr. Batra notes that safety razors with closed combs and longer handles can work for legs and underarms, and that they can also be used on the face to remove peach fuzz.

There’s a learning period, even with the guard, but the design is easier to glide than a traditional straight razor. Replacement blades can cost less than cartridge refills: Dr. Batra gives a range of 10 to 20 cents per safety blade, compared with $2 and up for cartridge blades. If you travel with one, pack it in checked luggage rather than a carry-on; a cartridge razor is a simpler travel option.

What does an electric razor offer?

Foil electric razors use a thin metal cover with small holes to catch hair while moving blades trim it underneath. The motorized action can make for a quick shave, though it may not get as close as a traditional razor. That can be useful for curved areas such as the bikini line or underarms. Rotary models use three circular heads, each with a guard and an internal spinning cutter, to collect hairs from different angles around areas such as the neck and jaw.

Electric tools still need a careful touch. Skin can be drawn toward the foil along with hair, so move with control and avoid pressing the device hard against the body. A trimmer is a different proposition from an electric shaver: it generally leaves more length, which can be useful for shaping or managing coarse hair before a closer shave.

Experts and product review approach

The expert guidance here comes from board-certified dermatologists Erum Ilyas, MD, based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania; Sonia Batra, MD, based in Santa Monica, California; Azadeh Shirazi, MD, based in California; Tracy Evans, MD, medical director of Pacific Skin and Cosmetic Dermatology in San Francisco; and Mona Gohara, MD, based in Connecticut. Their comments address blade design, handling and the differences between shaving and trimming.

For product reviews, the editorial review process considers performance, ease of use, safety, research behind product claims and value. Editors test products and consult dermatologists and cosmetic chemists on the science behind claims, and a senior beauty team member reviews devices before they appear in coverage. A range of staff, outside testers and experts helps assess products across different ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders and backgrounds.

The most useful choice is the one that fits the finish you want and the way you actually shave: a flexible cartridge head for contours, an electric tool for trimming or a single-blade design for a slower, weighted glide. Keep blades clean, replace them on time and choose the handle and head that give you control.