Shaving Accessories Archives - Page 2 of 2

Home
Category: Shaving Accessories

Shaving Accessories

Best Cartridge Razors UK

Thanks for taking your time to read out information and reviews on the best cartridge razors, that are currently available on the UK marketplace. Along with disposable razors, these are the most popular choice for most men in the UK.

The popularity of using this particular style of razor is down to two main reasons:

Affordability - most of these choices are affordable ranging in price from £10-£20 which will get you the razor and a pack of refills
Convenience - easy to find the razors and replacement blades in most UK supermarkets and chemists

The best cartridge razor is the Amazon 5 Blade Men's Razor With 15 Refills, as it is very good value for money, and delivers a close and comfortable shave.

Disposable vs Cartridge Razors

Quite often people search for disposable razors when they are looking for a cartridge style razor. When people search for disposable razors online, they can be looking for either:

Genuine disposable razors -use a few times and then throw the entire razor away
Cartridge style razors - buy the razor and refills, keep the razor and then use a refill cartridge when required.

Both are theoretically disposable, but there are some noticeable differences. These are worth understanding before you make your buying decision.

Disposable Razor

The image above is a typical disposable razor. When finished you throw everything away. These are usually bought in bags of 10, 20 or more

Read about Disposable Razors

Cartridge Razor

This is the typical cartridge razor. You keep the razor but change the cartridge. You then buy cartridge refills in different pack sizes

In this article we are reviewing cartridge razors. If you want to read about disposable razors, then please click here.

Table of Contents

All our product recommendations are based on our independent research which we conduct online by reading the many reviews we find at online websites. This review contains affiliate links and we may receive a commission for purchases made.

You can read our affiliates page to find out more and also read about how we write our reviews.

Before You Buy - Top 5 Buying Tips

Just before checking out the main reviews, we have provided a few tips just below on cartridge razors, based on our extensive experience of using them, that we think will help you make the best choice.

Buy a respected brand -We would recommend buying a popular brand as that will make it much easier to find refills in chemists or supermarkets where you live in the UK. Also makes them easier to find quickly online.
Don't over use - Gillette, who have tested this type of razor highly recommend changing a refill after 5 -7 shaves. So, assuming you shave once a day, a cartridge will last you for a week. We have also used many cartridge razors over the years, and we would absolutely agree with this information. People generally try and use them for longer to helps save them some money. While we understand this, it is not giving you a close shave and damaging your skin with a blunt set of blades is never a good idea.
Know your skin type - Some men have normal skin, some have rougher skin and some have sensitive skin. Manufacturers understand this and make these razors suitable for that skin type. Take that into consideration before making your final decision.
Your budget - This is really in two parts. You have to pay for the razor first so a one-off payment. On an ongoing basis you will need to buy refills for the razor. Almost everyone of these is sold as a razor with a pack of refills. (Can vary in the number sold) After that you have to buy the refills and these can vary hugely in price, but they are not cheap.

Just below you will find concise reviews of the top 10 cartridge razors that are available in the UK. We have listed those showing those that have got the best reviews and ratings from online buyers.

Top 10 Cartridge Razor Comparison Table

Rank	Product Name	Brief Description
1	Amazon 5 Blade Men's Razor With 15 Refills	Best Value. You get a 5 blade razor with one cartridge plus 15 refills
2	Gillette ProGlide Men's Razor with Flexball	Highest Buyer Rating online. You get a 5 blade razor with one cartridge plus 10 refills
3	Wilkinson Sword Quattro Titanium	Popular Choice for Sensitive Skin. You get a 4 blade razor with one cartridge plus 9 refills
4	Gillette Mach3 Men's Razor	3 blade design. This razor has been around for a long time. You get a 3 blade razor with 12 refills
5	Gillette Fusion5 Men's Razor	You get a 5 blade razor with one cartridge plus 10 refills
6	Wilkinson Sword Hydro 5 Sense Energizer	You get a 5 blade razor with one cartridge plus 4 refills
7	Bulldog Skincare Sensitive Bamboo Razor	Eco-friendly. You get a 5 blade razor with one cartridge plus 2 refills
8	Bic Hybrid 3 Flex	Most affordable. You get a 3 blade razor with one cartridge plus 12 refills
9	Gillette Labs Men's Razor	Best with a stand. You get a 5 blade razor with one cartridge plus 1 refill and a magnetic stand
10	Gillette Venus ComfortGlide	Best for Ladies. You get a 5 blade razor with one cartridge plus 3 refills

1. Amazon 5 Blade Men's Razor With 15 Refills

84% buyer satisfaction based on 36,000+ online buyer reviews

This razor is one of the best selling cartridge razors in the UK currently

When we compared this to other options, it uses the standard 5 blade approach that other brands use.

You can also buy replacement cartridges at Amazon as and when you need them and that does help

We think this one delivers a close shave and is also excellent value for money

That is because it comes with a cartridge on the razor and 15 replacements which will last you for around 16-18 weeks depending on how often you shave.

Key Features that matter: Suitable for sensitive skin, has a lubricating strip for a smoother shave, suitable for sensitive skin, blades easy to rinse and designed not to clog
Our Ratings: Value for Money 9.5/10, Closeness of shave 8.0/10, Availability of refills 8.2/10

2. Gillette ProGlide Men's Razor with Flexball Technology

94% buyer satisfaction based on 5,500+ online buyer reviews

The Gillette brand use what they call anti-friction blades which are improved blades designed to last longer - according to their research you get 20 shaves from one refill

When we used them, we did notice they lasted longer, but we found that around 14 days was a better guide, though it did depend on the beard type. With softer stubble you could get 20 days.

Each cartridge has 5 blades

They use what they call "FlexBall technology". That simply means at the top of the handle they have engineered in some movement that allows the head to move so it can adapt to the various contours of your face and neck.

Key Features that matter: The flexible head does work really well, the blades are sharp and do last longer than most other brands, and it has a precision trimmer feature on the back is useful. On the downside not really designed for sensitive skin.
Our Ratings: Value for Money 9.0/10, Closeness of shave 9.4/10, Availability of refills 9.2/10

3. Wilkinson Sword Quattro Titanium

90% buyer satisfaction based on 4,500+ online buyer reviews

This 4 blade cartridge comes with a razor and a cartridge attached and 9 refills

The blades are titanium coated blades

A styling blade on the back helps create precise edges around sideburns, beards and under the nose

Also has a lubricating strip that contains Aloe Vera and Jojoba for improved razor glide making it more suitable for those of you with sensitive skin

Key Features that matter: The titanium coated blades are very sharp and this coating also helps a lot with reducing irritation making them good for sensitive skin, has a nice pivoting head and lubrication strips.
Our Ratings: Value for Money 9.2/10, Closeness of shave 9.0/10, Availability of refills 9.1/10

4. Gillette Mach3 Men's Razor

92% buyer satisfaction based on 1,000+ online buyer reviews

This is the classic 3 blade razor and it comes with 12 refills

It is worth pointing out that the Mach3 has been around for a long time. However, Gillette have made improvements to this and updated the lubrication strip and that has led to a much smoother shave.

That was a major complain with the older Mach3

It does have a really good quality stainless steel handle which although makes it more expensive, also makes it stand out from the crowd in our opinion.

Key Features that matter: The handle has been revamped and is now very good. Great improvements in the lubricating strips for a much smoother shave. It also has small fins which helps lift the hair before the blades do their work.
Our Ratings: Value for Money 9.0/10, Closeness of shave 9.2/10, Availability of refills 9.4/10

5. Gillette Fusion5 Men's Razor

92% buyer satisfaction based on 1,500+ online buyer reviews

The Gillette brand use what they call anti-friction blades which are improved blades designed to last longer - according to their research you get 20 shaves from one refill

When we used them, we did notice they lasted longer, but we found that around 14 days was a better guide, though it did depend on the beard type. With softer stubble you could get 20 days.

They are more expensive than the Amazon ones above, but Gillette are well known for making good quality razors.

These also have a useful precision strip for more detailed shaving around sideburns

Key Features that matter: Suitable for sensitive skin, has a large lubricating strip for a smoother shave, suitable for sensitive skin, the precision trimmer feature on the back is useful
Our Ratings: Value for Money 9.0/10, Closeness of shave 9.1/10, Availability of refills 8.6/10

6. Wilkinson Sword Hydro 5 Sense Energizer

92% buyer satisfaction based on 1,100+ online buyer reviews

This is a 5 blade razor and comes with another 4 refills

Has a sensor that adjusts the blades to the level of force applied to the skin

The blades also have skin guards to help prevent irritation

The head also pivots on this model

They have also included a gel feature into their blades which helps a little with a smoother shave

Key Features that matter: Has some unique features such as the gel to make for a smoother shave. tends to be more expensive than others and doesn't come with a large number of refills.
Our Ratings: Value for Money 8.5/10, Closeness of shave 9.2/10, Availability of refills 8.5/10

7. Bulldog Skincare Sensitive Bamboo Razor

88% buyer satisfaction based on 1,000+ online buyer reviews

This is a 5 blade razor and comes with another 2 refills

What sets this razor apart is the focus on lowering its environmental impact. The natural bamboo handle and also the packaging are made from fully recycled stock.

There is also a precision trimmer on the back which is handy for more detailed shaping and trimming.

It has a lubricating strip infused with Aloe known for it soothing capability on skin

Key Features that matter: A great choice for those with an eye on the health of our planet, useful trimmer feature and a good choice for those people with sensitive skin.
Our Ratings: Value for Money 9.2/10, Closeness of shave8.5/10, Availability of refills 8.0/10

8. Bic Hybrid 3 Flex

90% buyer satisfaction based on 200+ online buyer reviews

This is a 3 blade razor and comes with another 12 refills.

The cartridges have 3 titanium moveable blades that are flexible so as to adjust to every contour for which helps get at the tricky parts.

It uses a guide bar to help stretch the skin before the blades come into direct contact with the skin

It also has a lubricating strip using Aloe Vera and Vitamin E

Key Features that matter: This sells consistently, has easy to replace blades, rinses well and uses good quality blades.
Our Ratings: Value for Money 9.6/10, Closeness of shave 8.8/10, Availability of refills 8.7/10

9. Gillette Labs Men's Razor

86% buyer satisfaction based on 2,500+ online buyer reviews

This is a 5 blade razor and comes with 1 refill, and a magnetic stand. It is classed as a special edition and has a unique black and gold colouring.

It is suitable for all skin types and what makes this one slightly different is that it comes with a rather cool looking magnetic stand.

It also has an exfoliating bar that helps removes dry skin before the blades pass over your face.

They use a 2D FlexDisc movement on the head which allows it to swivel easily

Key Features that matter: Looks great and the stand is handy, head moves easily and the exfoliating bar allows for a closer shave.
Our Ratings: Value for Money 9.0/10, Closeness of shave 8.8/10, Availability of refills 8.2/10

10. Gillette Labs Men's Razor

92% buyer satisfaction based on 8,500+ online buyer reviews

This is a 5 blade razor and comes with 3 refills

It is suitable for all skin types and each cartridge will give you around 20 shaves per refill

The razor blade refills have gel bars that release body butters with a white tea fragrance, for glide and comfort.

It has a nice smooth pivoting design that adjusts to your body’s contours

Key Features that matter: The blades are well lubricated which greatly reduces razor burn or rashes, the gel bar also has a very refreshing feel and also very good for sensitive skin.
Our Ratings: Value for Money 9.5/10, Closeness of shave 9.3/10, Availability of refills 8.6/10

What is a Cartridge Razor?

Cartridge razors are a popular choice for both men and women when it comes to wet shaving. All of them are made up of 2 parts:

A handle
A cartridge head containing a set of blades

They are a very convenient option for those who prefer a quick and easy shave. They give a close enough shave, but not as close or precise as a safety razor. They are however a better choice than a cheap disposable razor. Most of them have 5 blades and some have 3 blades in the cartridge.

Most of them also have some form of lubricating strip that contains Aloe Vera, known for its skin healing and protection quality.

Some of them also have a feature such as a lifter or a band that also raises the hairs on the skin before he blades cut them. This does help give a closer shave.

PROS

A really convenient way of shaving
They do deliver a close shave
They tend to be faster than safety and straight razors as they have multiple blades, so less passes required.
They are versatile so can be used to shave the face, head chest and other areas of the body
Relatively cheap when compared to other options for shaving
Much better than using disposable razors
Handy for travel as they are light and compact

CONS

Multiple blades can cause skin irritation
Buying refills is expensive when compared to buying razor blades and other forms of shaving

How to Use a Cartridge Razor

Like any type of wet shaving, the secret to getting a good shave is all about preparation. These cartridge razors are easy enough to use and on average the manufacturers claim that you get around 1 month of usage for each cartridge.

Step 1 - Prepare the Face

The face or area being shaved should be washed with hot water. Ideally a hot towel should be used to soak the beard, but we also understand that not everyone will have the time to do that. Make sure that the beard is properly soaked.

Step 2 - Use a Quality Soap, Cream or Gel

It is important to use a good quality shaving soap, cream or gel. Again ideally this should be applied using a good quality shaving brush. Whatever you decide to use, make sure it is well rubbed in.

Step 3 - Use the cartridge razor

Most cartridge razors have heads that move and that allows the razor to deal with the many contours on the face. They also have multiple blades, usually 5 or 6, that try to capture the hair on the face with a single stroke.

Many also have a strip with Aloe Vera to help soothe sensitive skin. Keep the strokes short and try only to make one pass to avoid unnecessary skin irritation and skin bumps.

Step 4 - Shave with the Grain

Hold the blade at a 15 degree angle and use short strokes to shave. Shave with the grain and apply gentle pressure.

The grain means the direction in which the hair naturally grows on the face. Be extra careful. Start with the cheeks first, then the neck and finally finish off with the chin and the mouth.

Step 5 - Apply Moisturiser

When finished wash you face with cold water to close the pores in the skin. Then apply a balm, post shave cream or moisturiser before applying any after shave.

Hopefully you have found the above information on catridge razors useful and known a little bit more about what types are available. As you can see Gillette, Dorco and Wilkinson Sword dominate the UK market for this type of cartridge disposable razor.

Shaving Accessories

Best Disposable Razors UK

Thanks for taking your time to read out information and reviews on the best disposable razors, that are currently available on the UK marketplace. These remain the single most popular choice for most men in the UK.

The popularity of these disposables is down to two main reasons:

Affordability - most of these choices just cost a few pounds
Convenience - easy to find in most supermarkets and chemists

So if you are in a hurry and simply want to know which the best options are, then directly below we have provided you with a top 10 list of the best disposable razors on the UK market.

Disposable vs Cartridge Razors

When people search for disposable razors online, they can be looking for either:

Genuine disposable razors
OR Cartridge style razors

Both are disposable, but there are some noticeable differences.

Disposable Razor

This is the typical disposable razor. When finished you throw everything away. These are usually bought in bags of 10, 20 or more

Cartridge Razor

This is the typical cartridge razor. You keep the razor but change the head. You then buy replacement blades in different pack sizes

In this article we are reviewing disposable razors. If you want to read about cartridge razors, then please click here.

Table of Contents

Top 10 Disposable Razors

Rank	Product Name	Brief Description	Cost Per Razor
1	Wilkinson Hospital Disposable Razors	98% buyer satisfaction rating	19p
2	BIC 3 Sensitive Men's Disposable Razors	94% buyer satisfaction rating	56p
3	BIC Flex 3 Men's Razors	92% buyer satisfaction rating	50p
4	Gillette G2 Disposable Razor Pack of 5	92% buyer satisfaction rating	56p
5	Wilkinson Sword Xtreme 3 Sensitive Men's Disposable Razors	90% buyer satisfaction rating	50p
6	Wilkinson Sword Extra Sensitive Disposables Razors	88% buyer satisfaction rating	21p
7	BIC 1 Sensitive Men's Razors	88% buyer satisfaction rating	10p
8	Gillette Blue II Fixed Head Disposable Razors	88% buyer satisfaction rating	33p
9	Gillette Blue III Disposable Razors	86% buyer satisfaction rating	£1
10	Gillette Blue II Disposable Razors	84% buyer satisfaction rating	20p

Before You Buy - Top 5 Buying Tips

Just before checking out the main reviews, we have provided a few tips just below on disposable razors, that we think will help you make the best choice.

Buy in Bulk - Disposable razors are generally speaking not that expensive. However you can still save a lot of money if you buy in larger amounts
Don't over use - Most men use a single disposable razor for too many shaves and end up getting a poor shave or lots of nicks and cuts. A blade or blades used on these are not high quality so only good for between 2-3 shaves maximum
Fixed Blade - The fixed blade is a high quality blade that never needs to be replaced. It does however need to be sharpened regularly and that is normally done with a razor strap or hone.
Disposable Blade - This is the most popular type and is the one that you will find in barbers. That is simply because it is more hygienic to change a blade after each use for different customers. Some user just prefer this type as they don't want the hassle of sharpening a blade, and it is easier to replace a razor blade.
Style Types - People like different styles and that is true when it comes to straight razors. They vary in appearance and the handles are made from different materials

Top Rated Disposable Razor Main Reviews

Just below you will find concise reviews of the top disposables that are available in the UK. We have listed those showing those that have got the best reviews and ratings from online buyers.

Wilkinson Sword Xtreme 3 Sensitive Men's Disposable Razors x8 - Best Seller

Buyer satisfaction rating 92%
75% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
1% of all buyers so far have given this a bad review
£1.65 per razor
Each razor has 3 flexible blades on a pivoting head
They also have a lubricating strip with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E which help prevent irritation and itchiness

BIC 3 Sensitive Men's Disposable Razors

Buyer satisfaction rating 90%
74% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
3% of buyers so far have given this a bad review
40p a razor
You get 4 packs of 4 fixed head 3-blade razors
The blades are made stronger and longer lasting as a polymer chrome coating lowers the friction of the blades
There is also a lubricating strip enriched with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E
The curved handle has no slip ridges for steady control, even when wet

Gillette Blue II Disposable Razors, 20 Razors

Buyer satisfaction rating 90%
70% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
4% of all buyers so far have given this a bad review
50p a razor
Each razor has thin twin blades
Also have a Lubrastrip that helps blades glide easily over skin
There is a very good soft grip handle

Gillette Blue III Disposable Razors - Pack of 6

Buyer satisfaction rating 90%
69% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
1% of buyers so far have given this a bad review
£1.21 a razor
These have independent mounted spring blades
The razor also has a pivoting head that adjusts to the contours of your face for a smooth shave
Made for a gentle shave for guys with sensitive skin

Wilkinson Sword Extra Sensitive Disposables Razors, Pack of 20

Buyer Satisfaction rating 88%
66% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
3% of all buyers so far have given this a bad review
30p a razor
These contain Vitamin E strips which help with sensitive skin
There is also a Push Clean' bar to clear build up from between the blades

BIC 1 Sensitive Men's Razors 20 Pack

Buyer satisfaction rating 88%
72% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
4% of all buyers so far have given this a bad review
29 pence a razor
This is their standard classic razor
It has a single blade made of stainless steel
Has a fixed razor head and the grip on the handle is ridged

Wilkinson Hospital Disposable Razors - Best Value

Buyer satisfaction rating of 86%
73% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
12% of buyers so far have given this a bad review
19 pence a razor
Dispenser box of 100 disposable razors
Each razor has a protective cap on each blade
Ideal for hospitals, health centres and aesthetics, and for men in long stay hospital or nursing homes

Gillette G2 Disposable Razor Pack of 5

Buyer satisfaction rating 82%
57% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
12% of buyers so far have given this a bad review
£1.22 per razor
2 precision blades on each razor
5 razors in the pack

How to Use a Disposable Razor

Like any type of wet shaving, the secret to getting a good shave is all about preparation. These disposable razors are easy enough to use and should never be over used.

Step 1 - Prepare the Face

Step 2 - Use a Quality Soap, Cream or Gel

It is important to use a good quality shaving soap, cream or gel. Again ideally this should be applied using a good quality shaving brush. Whatever you decide to use, make sure it is well rubbed in.

Step 3 - Use the disposable razor

Disposable razors are very lightweight so you do need to apply a little pressure to get an effective shave. Just be careful though as you don't want the blade to dig into the skin.

When first used the blade will be sharp so you need to take extra care.

Step 4 - Shave with the Grain

Hold the blade at a 15- 30 degree angle and use short strokes to shave. Shave with the grain and apply gentle pressure.

The grain means the direction in which the hair naturally grows on the face. Be extra careful. Start with the cheeks first, then the neck and finally finish off with the chin and the mouth.

Step 5 - Apply Moisturiser

When finished wash you face with cold water to close the pores in the skin. Then apply a balm, post shave cream or moisturiser before applying any after shave.

Hopefully you have found the above information on disposable razors useful and known a little bit more about what types are available. As you can see BIC and Gillette dominate the market for this type of disposable razor.

Shaving Accessories

Best Razor Blades UK

Thanks for taking your time to read out information and reviews on the best razor blades. These are the type of blades that are suitable to use with double edge safety razors or with straight razors. Most people will know that having a good quality blade is very important if you are consider making the move to wet shaving. To be able to use the blade you will need to own or buy a DE safety razor or a straight razor, before making the switch.

Razor blades have been around for years, and are used for a variety of reasons. In terms of shaving they are a very affordable way of getting a really close shave. Most of the leading shaving brands will make some type of blade.

The best razor blades sold in the UK, are the Derby 100 Derby Extra Shaving Blades in terms of quality and value for money.

Safety Razors

Please be aware that you can buy a standard razor blade which has a blade on each side. These are known as double edge blades (DE) and are a standard size blade that will fit almost every single safety razor. You can also break these in half to use with straight razors, which take razor blades.

Straight Razors (Cutthroat)

As mentioned above you can simply break a standard razor blade in half as long as you are careful. You can also buy half razor blades, known as single edge blades (SE) such as the Derby Tokai Professional which we have reviewed below.

There are several options when it comes to buying good quality razor blades. Just below you will find our top 10 list. We have based that list on those blades that get the best buyer reviews. That way you can pick the best type for you knowing that, they are highly rated by actual users.

Table of Contents

Best Razor Blades UK

Before You Buy - Top 5 Buying Tips

Top 8 Razor Blade Reviews

1. Derby Professional Single Edge Razor Blade

2. Derby 100 Derby Extra Shaving Blades.

3. Gillette Platinum Double Edge Razor Blades Men (50 Pack)

4. DERBY TOKAI Premium 100 Double Edge Razor Blades

5. Bic Chrome Platinum Double Edge Razor Blades

6. 100 DORCO Single Edge Razor Blades

7. MÜHLE Double Edge Razor Blades

8. THE SHAVE FACTORY 50 Feather Double Edge Razor Blades

Razor Blade Buyer's Guide

Blade Sharpness

Blade Durability

Blade Brands and Varieties

Razor Blade Pricing

Razor Blade Accessories

Before You Buy - Top 5 Buying Tips

Just before checking out the main reviews, we have provided a few tips just below on buying good quality safety razor blades, that we think will help you make the best choice.

Blade usage for a safety razor - one blade is good for around 5-6 shaves when using a safety razor. After that it should be replaced as the edge will have gone off it. If you have a really coarse beard then you may only get 2-3 shaves with a razor blade.
Blade Usage for a Straight Razor (Cutthroat) - Some straight razors have a fixed blade. However most straight razors use safety razor blades which have been broken in half. If you to that you can get 10-12 shaves from a single blade. You can buy half blades for cutthroat razors.
Buy a good brand - We would recommend buying a good brand such as Astra, Derby, Bic or Feather. There are some other cheaper ones available, but we have found them to be of poorer quality.
Buy in bulk - These are sold in smaller packs of 10 but we would recommend buying in larger quantities such as 50 or 100. In smaller amounts a blade can work out at around 50p per blade, where as the same blades bought in bulk drop to around 7-9p a blade. It all makes a difference!
Blade Bank - Razor blades are dangerous and disposing of them is important to do safely. Many wet shavers buy a small inexpensive bin or collection box for that purpose.

Top 8 Razor Blade Reviews

Just below you will find concise reviews of the top 8 razor blades that are available in the UK. We have listed those showing those that have got the best reviews and ratings from online buyers.

Derby Professional Single Edge Razor Blade - Best for Straight razors
Derby Extra Double Edge Safety Razor Blades - Best value blades for safety razors
Gillette Platinum Double Edge Razor Blades - Highest rated double edged blades
DERBY TOKAI Premium 100 Double Edge Razor Blades
Bic Chrome Platinum Double Edge Razor Blades
100 DORCO Single Edge Razor Blades - Cheapest razor blades
MÜHLE Double Edge Razor Blades
THE SHAVE FACTORY 50 Feather Double Edge Razor Blades

1. Derby Professional Single Edge Razor Blade

90% buyer satisfaction based on 22,000+ online buyer reviews

Buyer satisfaction rating 90%
72% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
3% of all buyers so far have given this a bad review
Please note that this type of blade is used for straight razors (cut-throat and shavette) only - not suitable for safety razors
This is a box that contains 100 blades and they cost around 5p per blade

Sharpness 4.6/5, Accuracy, 4.5/5, Value for money, 4.5/5,

PROS

Quite a few buyers prefer the Derby Professional branded blades
The majority of buyers thought these were great value for money
Used by most barbers in the UK

CONS

Some buyers said they blunt too quickly

2. Derby 100 Derby Extra Shaving Blades.

90% buyer satisfaction based on 4,500+ online buyer reviews

Buyer satisfaction rating 90%

73% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review

3% of all buyers so far have given this a bad review

Chromium-Ceramic Platinum Tungsten and Polymer Coated Edges

Comes as a set of 20 dispensers with 5 blades in each pack so a total of 100 blades and works out at 6p a blade

PROS

Most buyers say the blades were sharp enough
Most buyers said these gave a really close shave

CONS

A couple of buyers did not like the fact that the packs are wrapped in plastic
Some buyers thought the edges were blunt

3. Gillette Platinum Double Edge Razor Blades Men (50 Pack)

92% buyer satisfaction based on 6,000+ online buyer reviews

Buyer Satisfaction rating 92%
74% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
3% of all buyers so far have given this a bad review
These come in a cardboard box and there are 5 blades is each box so you get 10 packs and a total of 50 stainless steel blades
Works out at around 19p per blade

PROS

Buyers said these were excellent value for money
Buyers said the blades were sharp and efficient

CONS

A couple of buyers said they did not like the plastic wrapping

4. DERBY TOKAI Premium 100 Double Edge Razor Blades

90% buyer satisfaction based on 4,500+ online buyer reviews

Buyer satisfaction rating 90%

68% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review

4% of buyers so far have given these a bad review and complaints were about delivery issues

Made from black Swedish steel

Ideal for using in DE safety razors

100 blades and work out at 7p a blade

PROS

Buyers liked these and thought they delivered a very close shave
DE razor users liked these a lot and said they were very high quality

CONS

We could not find any complaints about the blades though a few people bought these to use in a cutthroat, and said they didn't break cleanly

5. Bic Chrome Platinum Double Edge Razor Blades

92% buyer satisfaction based on 500+ online buyer reviews

Buyer Satisfaction rating 92%
77% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
2% of all buyers so far have given this a bad review
These are stainless steel blades that are individually wrapped for hygiene
Works out at around 9.5p per blade

PROS

Buyers said these were excellent value for money
Buyers said the blades were sharp and efficient

CONS

A couple of buyers said they did not like the plastic wrapping

6. 100 DORCO Single Edge Razor Blades

88% buyer satisfaction based on 2,000+ online buyer reviews

Buyer Satisfaction rating 88%
74% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
5% of all buyers so far have given this a bad review
These are stainless steel blades that are individually wrapped in wax paper for hygiene
Works out at around 3p per blade so the cheapest we could find on the UK market
These are sharp but not over aggressive

PROS

Buyers said these were the best value for money
Buyers said the blades were sharp but not overly aggressive
These are good for 3-4 shaves

CONS

A couple of buyers said they were too aggressive

7. MÜHLE Double Edge Razor Blades

90% buyer satisfaction based on 1,500+ online buyer reviews

Buyer satisfaction rating 94%

84% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review

2% of all buyers so far have given this a bad review

These are suitable for all safety razors

200 blades

19 p a blade

PROS

Many users prefer and trust the Muhle brand
Buyers thought these were very sharp, accurate and give a very comfortable shave

CONS

A few buyers said that these were expensive

8. THE SHAVE FACTORY 50 Feather Double Edge Razor Blades

92% buyer satisfaction based on 400+ online buyer reviews

Buyer satisfaction rating 92%

75% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review

3% of all buyers so far have given this a bad review

These are suitable for all safety razors

50 blades

32p a blade

PROS

Many users prefer and trust the Feather brand
Buyers thought these were sharp, extremely accurate and give a very comfortable shave

CONS

A few buyers said that these were expensive

Razor Blade Buyer's Guide

We like to write a full buyer's guide, which we believe is especially helpful for any new buyer of a product like this. A lot of people believe that a razor blade is just a razor blade. For the most part that is of course correct.

You can easily buy these in most supermarkets, and to be honest, most buyers try out a few different brands before settling on one that they prefer. Standard razor blades will fit almost every DE razor, so it is easy enough to try out a few different brands. Buy something like a 10 pack and see what you think.

Blade Sharpness

We delve into the sharpness of safety razor blades and how it affects your shaving experience. Learn how to choose the ideal blade sharpness for your skin sensitivity.

Blade sharpness in a safety razor blade refers to the degree to which the blade's edge is honed and capable of cutting hair effectively. A sharper blade is characterised by a finer more precise edge that can cleanly and effortlessly slice through beard or facial hair during a shave.

The sharpness of a safety razor blade is a critical factor in the overall shaving experience. Blades that are too dull may cause tugging, pulling, and discomfort, while excessively sharp blades can increase the risk of nicks and irritation. Ideally, a safety razor blade should strike a balance between sharpness and smoothness to provide a close and comfortable shave.

Blade sharpness is influenced by various factors, including the quality of the steel used in the blade's manufacturing, the precision of the blade edge's honing, and the blade's thickness. Different brands and types of safety razor blades may vary in sharpness, allowing users to choose blades that match their shaving preferences and skin sensitivity.

It's important to note that what constitutes the "perfect" level of blade sharpness can vary from person to person, so finding the right blade that works for you may involve some trial and error. Many wet shavers experiment with different blade brands and models to discover the one that provides the ideal balance of sharpness and comfort for their individual needs.

Blade Durability

Blade durability in a safety razor blade refers to how long the blade remains sharp and effective for shaving before it begins to dull and lose its cutting edge. It is a measure of how well the blade can maintain its sharpness and cutting performance over multiple shaves.

The durability of a safety razor blade is influenced by several factors, including:

Blade Material: The type of steel or material used in the blade's construction can affect its durability. High-quality, stainless steel blades tend to last longer than less durable materials.
Coatings: Some razor blades have coatings, such as platinum or ceramic, which can enhance durability by reducing wear and friction during the shaving process.
Shave Frequency: How often the blade is used impacts its lifespan. Frequent use can cause blades to dull more quickly.
Beard Hair Type: The coarseness and thickness of your beard hair can also affect blade durability. Coarser hair may cause blades to dull more rapidly.
Shaving Technique: Proper shaving technique, which includes using minimal pressure and a suitable blade angle, can extend the life of a razor blade.
Blade Sharpness: Over time, blades may lose sharpness but remain usable. The point at which a blade is considered too dull to be effective varies from person to person.

Most safety razor blades are considered disposable and are designed for a limited number of shaves, typically ranging from three to seven shaves per blade. However, some individuals may extend the life of a blade with proper care and maintenance, such as rinsing and drying the blade after each use.

Blade Brands and Varieties

We explain below the best blade brands and varieties, highlighting their unique features and performance. These should help you make an informed choice for a smooth shave. In the world of safety razor blades, there is a wide range of brands and varieties to choose from, each offering its own unique characteristics and shaving experiences. Here are some well-known brands and blade varieties in the realm of safety razor blades:

Astra Superior Platinum (Astra SP): A popular choice known for its smooth and forgiving shave.
Feather: Highly regarded for their sharpness, Feather blades are favored by experienced shavers for achieving a close shave.
Derby Extra: Derby blades are known for their mild and smooth shave, making them suitable for beginners.
Merkur: Merkur produces a variety of blades that are known for their quality and compatibility with Merkur safety razors.
Personna: Personna blades come in different versions, including Lab Blue and Med Prep, offering a balance of sharpness and comfort.
BIC Chrome Platinum: These blades are known for their sharpness and longevity.
Gillette: Gillette offers various blades, including the Platinum, Silver Blue, and 7 O'Clock Super Stainless, each with its own unique characteristics.
Wilkinson Sword: Wilkinson Sword blades are recognized for their sharpness and versatility.
Kai: Kai blades are prized for their sharpness and precision, making them a choice for those who seek a close shave.
Shark Super Chrome: Shark blades are known for their affordability and decent sharpness.
Crystal (Israeli Personna): These blades are appreciated for their sharpness and smooth shave.
Voskhod: Voskhod blades are known for their smooth and comfortable shaving experience.
Rapira: Rapira offers various blade types, including Platinum Lux and Swedish Supersteel, known for their quality and performance.
Rockwell: Known for their adjustable safety razors, Rockwell also produces blades compatible with their razors.
Treet: Treet blades come in different variations, such as Classic, Platinum, and Dura Sharp.
Lord: Lord blades offer a variety of options, each catering to different preferences.
Super-Max: Super-Max provides blades with different coatings and sharpness levels, offering choices for various shavers.
Bolzano: Bolzano blades are known for their sharpness and smooth cutting.

It's important to note that the performance of a blade can vary from person to person due to differences in beard types, skin sensitivities, and shaving techniques. As a result, finding the right blade for your safety razor may involve some experimentation. Many wet shavers enjoy trying out different blade brands and varieties to discover the one that best suits their individual needs and preferences.

Razor Blade Pricing

Expect to pay around 7-9 pence a blade on average if your are buying around 100 blades.

If you are looking for smaller packs, then better to look in supermarkets or in a chemist, where you will find those. They will be slightly more expensive per blade, but once you find the brand you prefer, then you can buy a larger amount at a cheaper price.

Razor Blade Accessories

There is really only one accessory that you can get for razor blades and that is a disposal bin. We think this is especially important if you have younger children around the home.

90% buyer satisfaction based on 1,o00+ online buyer reviews

As you can see this is not an expensive purchase and keeps used blades safe and out of harm's way
It is from the Zomchi brand and gets an excellent 90% buyer satisfaction rating
Will hold up to 300 blades and can be disposed off when full
Just offers peace of mind
The product is made of metal and sealed and will need to be replaced when full. You can't get into the bank for safety reasons
It is small and roughly a 2" cube size

Hopefully you have found the above information useful and known a little bit more about razor blades and how to pick your own favourite brand.

We would highly recommend experimenting with these types of blade to find the one you prefer. We recommend the Astra brand simply because we have used them over the years, and always found them consistently sharp and high quality.

Shaving Accessories

Best Shaving Brush UK

Best Shaving Brush for the Money - For a close quality shave

Thanks for taking your time to read out information and reviews on the best shaving brushes, that are currently available on the UK marketplace. Making the move to a shaving brush is something that men consider, when they are in the process of making the move to wet shaving, or "real shaving" as it is better known.

You can apply shaving soap or shaving creams by hand, but nothing does it as well or as efficiently as a good quality shaving brush. Your dad, and most definitely your grandfather will have made use of one of these, and suffice to say that the best barbers still use these every single day.

Here at the Emporium, we believe that proper wet shaving needs to be done using a brush and either a DE safety razor or a straight razor.

Shaving brushes have been around for longer than most of us have lived. They are certainly considered "old school," or as we prefer to call it traditional.

They are made from two pieces, the handle and the hairs on the brush. In the old days handles were either made from wood or from ivory. Ivory is of course not allowed to be used for obvious reasons, so many manufacturers now use imitation ivory, which works perfectly well and offers a very nice style.

When it comes to deciding on which one is where most people have their first big problem.

There are a lot of options when it comes to shaving brushes, and below you will find our top 10 list, which we have based on those that get the best buyer reviews. That way you can pick the one for you knowing that, it is highly rated by actual users.

Table of Contents

Top 10 Shaving Brush List

Here is our top 10 table of the best shaving brushes. If you click on any of the product names below, you can read a short summary review of the brush.

Ranking	Brush Name	Online Ratings	Read More
1	Wilkinson Sword Classic Shaving Brush (Boar hair)	90% satisfaction (3,700+ online buyer reviews)	Read more
2	Benny's luxury shaving brush (Synthetic)	92% satisfaction (1,500+ online buyer reviews)	Read more
3	Haryali L0ndon shaving brush (Synthetic)	90% satisfaction (500+ online buyer reviews)	Read more
4	Proraso pure bristle shaving brush	88% satisfaction (4,000+ online buyer reviews)	Read more
5	Sir Marlon Grant vegan shaving brush	90% satisfaction (3,000+ online buyer reviews)	Read more
6	Edwin Jagger Best Badger Hair Shaving Brush	92% satisfaction (1,200+ online buyer reviews)	Read more
7	The Cambridge Cut Throat® Luxury Shaving Brush	94% satisfaction (750+ online buyer reviews)	Read more
8	Miusco Natural Badger Hair Shaving Brush	88% satisfaction (3,500+ online buyer reviews)	Read more
9	Anbbas Synthetic Badger Shaving Brush Set	90% satisfaction (2,500+ online buyer reviews)	Read more
10	Rocky Mountain Barber Shaving Brush	92% satisfaction (2,000+ online buyer reviews)	Read more

Before You Buy - Top 5 Buying Tips

Just before checking out the main reviews, we have provided a few tips just below on shaving brush selection, that we think will help you make the best choice.

Don't spend a fortune - This is true when starting out as a beginner. Any of the brushes on our list above will get you started. When you have had some experience then you can try out more expensive brushes.
Think Hair Type - Boar and badger do mean killing the animal which some people will not like. If that is the case then horse hair (taken from the tail) or a synthetic brush work perfectly well.
Size of Brush - You will hear some fancy terms when it comes to describing the size of a brush (loft, knot and overall height). We explain those later but for now, you simply want the handle of the brush to fit snugly in your hand. The simple rule to follow is the bigger the brush the easier it is to use and the better lather you can make
Losing Hair - Always be aware that shaving brushes will lose some hair in use. What you want to avoid is what is called shedding. Cheaper brushes do tend to do that so always check the buyer reviews
Handle Types - People like different handles. Almost always this changes the appearance and the weight of the brush. You can get handles in wood, synthetic materials, metal and horn. It is really a matter of personal look and appearance.

Top 10 Shaving Brush Reviews

Just below you will find concise reviews of the top 10 shaving brushes, that are available in the UK. We have listed those showing those that have got the best reviews and ratings from online buyers.

Wilkinson Sword Classic Shaving Brush

This is a one of the biggest sellers on the UK market and also one of the cheapest - a good option for beginners
This is made from 100% pure boar bristle so not one for vegans
Handle is made from ABS thermoplastic
Buyer satisfaction rating 90%
68% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
Bristle Length: 55 mm
Bristle Diameter: 27 mm
Overall Length: 110 mm
Handle Length: 55 mm

PROS

Buyers said this is a firmer brush and does scrub the skin a little which they liked a lot
Buyers liked the tall bristles and said they could hold a lot of lather and are well sculpted
Buyers say this does not loose many bristles
Buyers say this one work really well with just a little amount of shaving cream

CONS

Not suitable for vegans

Mini Travel Shaving Brush with Travel CASE - Benny's of London (Best Travel Brush)

This brush is good for home use but also an excellent choice for traveling
Buyer satisfaction rating 92%
74% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
This is a synthetic hair brush
Overall brush height: 85 mm
Handle height 42.5 mm
Hair length 42.5 mm
Comes with a hard protected case ideal for travel
Comes with a 100% money back guarantee

PROS

Buyers said that this is a smaller brush than a standard size, but it is perfect for travel as it doesn't take up too much room
Buyers liked the bristles on this brush
Buyers loved this brush for taking on holidays

CONS

A couple of buyers received damaged goods

Haryali London Shaving Brush

This is made from synthetic hair
Handle is made from some form of powder coated metal
Buyer satisfaction rating 90%
73% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
Handle length 50.1 mm
Total Height: 102 mm
Bristle Loft: 52 mm
Knot Diameter: 21.3 mm
Versatile brush

PROS

Most buyers say this creates a great lather especially when using a shaving cream
Buyers also used this with soaps though they stated that boar brushes are better with soap
Buyers say this is a very versatile brush and holds water really well
Buyers said this had great water retention and a nice loft

CONS

Some buyers said that the handle lets the brush down but the hair is really good

Synthetic Shaving Brush By PimplePopper.co: Vegan-Friendly Shave Brush With Synthetic Bristles

This is a synthetic animal-free product that is vegan friendly
Has Synthetic hair
Handle is made from black acrylic
Buyer satisfaction rating 92%
86% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
30 day money back guarantee and 1 year warranty
Overall length - 11 cms, handle length - 5.4 cms, bristle length - 5.4 cms

PROS

The majority of buyers thought that the bristles were stiff yet still soft on the skin which they liked
Those using badger hair before preferred this one for shaving
Buyers said it makes a great lather and is very good when using harder soaps

CONS

The handle is thicker than most brushes and some buyers struggled to find a stand that would fit this brush

Progress Vulfix 404 Grosvenor Mixed Badger and Boar Bristle Shaving Brush (Best Mixed Hair)

This is one of the biggest sellers online
Buyer satisfaction rating 90%
76% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
Best of both hair types to make a versatile and good all round brush
Handle height: 53 mm
Overall brush height: 103 mm
Knot diameter (At base): 23 mm

PROS

Buyers said this was great value from a well respected brand and a good quality set of hairs on the brush
Buyers said the handle had a really nice shape and the bristles were strong and well stacked
Buyers said that this one worked well with soap or cream
Buyers say the bristles do get a little softer with use

CONS

Some buyers complained about the number of bristles this brush lost when in use
A few buyers complained about the smell when it is first new

Everpert Badger Hair Men's Shaving Brush (Cheapest Brush)

Wooden handle
Badger Hair
Measures 110*40*32 mm
Buyer Satisfaction rating 90%
77% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
5% of all buyers gave this a bad review
A good choice if you want to try out a shaving brush and see what the fuss is all about

PROS

Buyers said this was great value for money
Buyers were surprised that the quality was so good for such a low price
Most buyers said they had no issue with hairs falling out

CONS

A couple of buyers said this was low quality and doesn't hold the water well

Edwin Jagger Best Badger Shaving Brush with Drip Stand

This is another big seller online
Buyer satisfaction rating 94%
78% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
Available in small, medium and large sizes (medium shown)
Has badger hair
The handle is either imitation ivory or imitation ebony
Dimensions vary by size selected
Handmade and superbly styled by Edwin Jagger in Sheffield, England
Comes with a matching drip stand

PROS

Buyers said that the way the brush is shaped, and the soft firm bristles make a nice comfortable contact with the skin
Buyers stated that this brush created a very good lather very quickly
Buyers thought that the drip stand was very useful

CONS

The main complaint about this is that it starts to lose hairs over time

GRUTTI Shaving Brush 100% Pure Badger Hair

This is an affordable 100% pure badger hair brush
Buyer satisfaction rating 86%
62% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
Metal handle with a very nice looking chrome finish
Absorbent brush
Good water retention and softness
Can be hard to find a stand to fit this one

PROS

Buyers said that they thought this was good value for money
Buyers liked the feel of this brush and they also said it had a nice weight to it

CONS

A couple of buyers said the chrome on the handle started to wear

PRORASO Pure Bristle Shaving Brush

This is one of the biggest selling boar brushes online
Buyer satisfaction rating 92%
74% of all buyers gave this a 5 star review
Best used with a shaving soap
Used by barbers throughout the UK
Overall Length: 130 mm
Handle Length: 65 mm
Bristle Length: 55 mm

PROS

If you like the stiffer and firmer boar hair, then this is the one to buy
Buyers said that this is very well made
Buyers love the way that this works with good shaving soap

CONS

Some buyers said the brush started to lose hair after a few months

What Does a Shaving Brush Do?

Helps make a rich creamy lather - A brush is the best shaving tool to create a lather if you are using a shaving soap or cream. With cream you can also get away with apply the cream by hand. It is not effective as applying with a brush. However if you prefer to use shaving soap, then the only way to create a lather is with a brush. Don't forget, it is this rich and creamy lather that moisturises, protects, and lubricates the skin on your face.
Exfoliates - Good quality shaving brushes will gently exfoliate the skin. This is not a hard skin scrub type of exfoliation such as a facial scrub. The hairs are softer but still strong enough to remove dead skin cells and raise the hairs on your face and neck.
Facial Hair Preparation - The action of a well lathered brush lifts the hairs in an upwards motion away from the face. It ultimately results in preventing itchiness or dry skin and spots.

Shaving Brush Buyer's Guide

We always like to write a full buyer's guide, which we believe is especially helpful for any new buyer. Shaving brushes on first appearance, seem to be little more than a wooden or ceramic handle, and attached to that is some form of hair or bristles.

There is a great deal more to a shaving brush than first meets the eye. Some guys who use a shaving brush get very picky about which is the best, and there are often strong disagreements between users.

Here at the Shaving Emporium we do take a more pragmatic view and not the purist view of those who stress about the quality of their brush.

What Hair Are Shaving Brushes Made From?

When it comes to buying a shaving brush, you are really presented with 4 clear choices. Those are:

Badger hair - this is the best choice and is used in the more expensive brushes
Boar hair - this is the most common used in cheaper brushes
Horse hair - this hair is taken from the horse's tail or mane, and is starting to be used once again, having fallen out of favour for a time
Synthetic - a good choice if you don't want to use any type of animal hair, but still want to own a shaving brush

There are different grades of all of the above, but your chosen brush will contain one of those four hair types.

We always like to point out really important information, so as our readers are as fully informed as possible. To get both badger and boar hair for a brush, those animals have to die. That is not allowed in many European countries. Although there may be culls, theses animals are not allowed to be killed simply for their hair.

That is a step too far for some people, and we understand that. We would recommend if you find that as being too cruel, that you can still get a very good synthetic shaving brush. Those are created from man made fibres, and they are also very good quality.

Sometimes these are referred to as "natural" hair brushes. Not that long ago the "go to" synthetic material was nylon. That made the brushes stiff and could stick into the skin, and many people found them uncomfortable to use. Manufacturers have changed that and now used specialised synthetic materials. It is actually quite difficult to tell the difference between a badger hair brush and a synthetic, if you buy the right ones.

Handle Types in Detail

We mentioned in our buying tips a little about handle types. Here we explain those in a lot more detail. The manufacturer decides what materials they are going to use to make their handles. Here at the Emporium, the different writers at our website all have different preferences.

The handle is important as it greatly impacts on the overall appearance of the brush. The two things worth noting though are the actual size and the weight of the handle. The number one thing to consider though is that the size of your hand should be a key factor in your decision making process.

Metal Handles

These are usually made from brass which is a heavy metal. They are then plated with nickel or chrome and sometimes both. That makes them look better and brass would also discolour if left bare. There are a few made from aluminium and these will be lighter. Metal handles last a long time and the plating prevents any risk of rusting.

Wooden Handles

This is the traditional look and wooden handles are usually made from ash, sycamore, rosewood, olive wood, juniper or pine. There are some imitation wooden handles that are actually made with synthetic materials used to make them look like wood.

If you like tradition or simply prefer wood, then these will be a great choice for you. Some people object to these because they say they are not hygienic, similar in a way to wooden chopping boards. This is just not the case. If a brush with a wooden handle is washed out and hung to dry, it does not in itself carry any more bacteria than any other type of handle.

This notion came from when a shaving brush was used for preoperative shaving in hospitals. That was researched and yes those brushes showed contamination, according to a scientific study by Science Direct. However that was not related to the wooden handle, but to the actual state of the brush conditions, and the lack of cleaning.

The one drawback of wood is that the handle will degrade quicker than other materials, simply because the wood is in a lot of contact with water. That said, you can get at least 6-10 years from a wooden handle without any worries at all.

Synthetic Handles

Some shaving brushes use synthetic materials. Synthetic simply means man-made. Back in the day ivory was used but that is now never used to make handles. Manufacturers have however made imitation ivory which looks very similar. Some people like that very classical barber shop appearance.

However the most popular synthetic handles are made from either acrylic glass or from resin. This opens up quite a wide range of interesting coloured handles. Some buyers will prefer this type of handle and many of them do look really well.

Shaving Brush Sizes

We mentioned in our buying tips a little about the size of hair brushes. Here we explain those in a lot more detail. There are three clearly defined measurements when it comes to understand the size of brushes. We have listed those just below:

Overall Height - This is the easiest one to understand and is the length of the handle plus the length of the loft (hair length)
The Loft - This is the hair length from the top of the handle to the uttermost tip of the hair. if you look very closely at the way these hairs are shaped, you will notice that most are a bulb shape, but others are a fan shape. Again this is down to personal preference. Wet shavers often discuss which style is better, but for us it is simply down to personal choice.
The Knot - This is an interesting measurement. It refers to the diameter of the amount of hair that is packed into the handle. Is it really significant? Again if you ever closely examine shaving brushes, you will see that some are packed very tightly and some are rather loose.

Our take on this is really simple. Larger brushes create more lather and cover the face faster. If you like to be more precise then opt for a smaller head. The fan style also covers the face faster, whereas the bulb style gives you more precise control of the lather, and where it goes (or doesn't go)

In terms of brush length (often referred to as height) measure the distance from the palm of your hand to the pad on your thumb. That would be the overall ideal length that you should buy. It is a good rule of thumb, if you will pardon the pun.

Shaving Brush Price Points

We mentioned in our buying tips a little about the various price points. Here we explain those in a lot more detail. You can quite literally pick these up for around £2-3 at the lower end.

Many beginners will buy these just to see if they like the idea of using a brush for wet shaving. In our opinion there is nothing wrong with that at all. Why spend more money than you have to, if you are simply giving something new a try.

There is no doubt though that the hairs will fall out of any cheaply made brush. That is why most men are prepared to spend a bit more and get a better quality brush.

For around £8-10 you get a good quality brush that will last you for years. if you want something even better, then by spending around £20, you can get a great looking high quality brush that will last you a lifetime.

Shaving Brush Shedding

We mentioned above about hairs falling out of a brush.That is called shedding. The hairs on a shaving brush are glued into the handle. Quite literally thousands of hairs are compressed and then glued inside the handle.

Over time, the hot water may start to break down that glue, and hairs may start to fall out. More expensive brushes go through a stricter process of gluing and as such are less likely to shed hairs.

Shaving Brush Brands

For many years certain brands were known for their wet shaving products and included brands like:

Simpsons
Progress Vulfix
Wilkinson Sword
Taylor of Old Bond Street

Those are still excellent brands, but they are not a cheap purchase. Other brands entered the market such as:

Edwin Jagger
Proraso
Benny's of London

These are also very good brushes, but they are usually at lower prices. If you have been wet shaving for a while, you do tend to start to like one brand, and may stick with them. You will not buy tens of shaving brushes in your lifetime. We would advise buying something like a Progress Vulfix as they are established and we love their brushes.

Shaving Brush Accessories

There are a few small accessories that you can get for a shaving brush. The most popular is a stand. That is really useful as it gives you a place to properly dry your brush out. These are usually made with a place to hold your DE razor.

You can also buy a variety of shaving bowls, mugs and scuttles where the brush is used to create the lather with a good shaving soap.

How to Care for Your Shaving Brush

The most important thing you can do for your brush is to hang it with the bristles pointing downwards one you have finished rinsing it after a shave. That allows the hairs of the brush to naturally dry.

It also stops any surplus water in the hairs from running back into the handle. Something as simple as rinsing out the brush and hanging it from a stand is all you really need to do to look after your brush.

Shaving Accessories

Arko Shaving Soap Stick UK Review

Arko Shaving Soap Stick Review

Thanks for taking the time to read our article on the Arko Shaving Soap Stick. This product has been around for years, and continues to be a popular choice for many men.

One of the key reasons for its popularity is that it is very cheap when compared to other shaving soaps on the UK market. However, we would suggest that it doesn't really matter how cheap something is, if it doesn't do the job it is supposed to do.

This stick will not let you down though, and the reason it is popular is because it is affordable and also does an excellent job of creating a good thick lather for shaving.

We found when using it that it lathers easily and quickly. The lather is thick and most importantly of all, gives a nice lubricating lather, that protects your skin, and helps your shaver glide over your skin.

It does have quite a traditional harmless scent, which most guys seem to like.

Who Buys the Arko Soap Stick?

Many barbers in the UK have this as their stock shaving soap product. Again that is for two reasons which are that is cheap to buy in bulk, and also that it works really well for their customers. The product comes from Turkey and is used in most Turkish barbers.

For some men this is simply their go to product, and because you can create a good lather with this by hand, there is no need to buy a shaving brush or bowl.

How Online Buyers Rate the Arko Soap Stick?

90%

Buyer Satisfaction

Overall buyers rate this with a 90% buyer satisfaction rating
65% of all buyers give this a full and glowing 5 star review
Only 1% of buyers give this stick a bad review

It is pretty obvious from the above ratings that buyers love this product.

What Online Buyers Have to Say About the Arko Stick?

When we were doing our research on this shaving soap, we also read what the many online buyers had to say. We have summarised those online reviews below and set them out in an easy to read pros and cons table.

Pros

The huge majority of buyers were very impressed with the thick creamy lather
Buyers liked the fact that you could use your hands to lather this, or put it into a bowl and use a shaving brush
Most buyers liked the light citrus scent and found it to be pleasant
As buyers could buy a stick like this for under one pound they just though the value for money was immense
Buyers were also impressed with just how long a stick would last

Cons

A couple of buyers thought the scent was too strong

Summary

We always like to search around and bring our readers as much information as we can find about a product. We struggled to find anything negative about this product at all.

One or two buyers said they were not that fond of the lemon scent, but that it wasn't a show stopper. Almost every single buyer gave this Arko stick a glowing 5 star review.

How to Properly Use the Arko Stick?

Make sure that your face is wet
Rub the stick with a bit of pressure on the stubble until you can see a layer forming
Don't attempt to use the stick to build up your shaving lather
You can use your hand, and ideally a brush to then build the lather on your face
You can also break a piece off and use a shaving brush and bowl to create a lather, but there really is no need
Use water on your face to get the lather going properly
This soap then moisturises really well, lathers well, and provides enough lubrication that you can use it with any of your razors.

The only thing that you really need to work out is how much water to use to build up the lather. Once you get used to that, then you are good to go.

Our Opinion on the Arko Stick?

This is a tallow based soap
It is slick and that allows for a very smooth shave
It does create a thick lather which is great at protecting the skin
It is also extremely easy to use and will need just a few tries to get it just the way that you like it
This soap has been around for years and remains a very firm favourite in the UK and beyond

Check Availability at Amazon UK

Average Price: £4

If this is not the one for you, then you can check out our top 12 shaving soap reviews by clicking here. We think this is a very good choice though, and we doubt if you can find anything cheaper than this one, and yet it works like a charm.

Shaving Accessories

Best Shaving Soap for Sensitive Skin UK

Best Shaving Soap for Sensitive Skin

Thanks for taking the time to read our review on the best shaving soap for sensitive skin. We really do feel your pain here at the Emporium, which is the main reason that we have written this article.

Unless you actually have sensitive skin, then it is really hard to explain how important using the right soap and the right shaver really is. Anyone who has suffered by using the wrong products will know the irritation, and quite often the pain, of having their skin set on fire.

We could give you a list of shaving soaps to try, but to be honest, we don't think that will solve your problem quickly. You may eventually find a solution, but that would be more trial and error than finding the right soap quickly.

So below we have outlined the reasons whey men get sensitive skin, and then recommended a high quality but affordable shaving soap, which works for the vast majority of men.

In a Hurry?

According to our research the best shaving soap for sensitive skin is the Proraso Shaving Soap For Sensitive Skin. According to online buyers this one has worked the best for them.

Check availability at Amazon UK by clicking here

Quick Navigation

What Does Sensitive Skin Mean?

Dermatology and Skin Sensitivity

What Causes Sensitive Skin?

How to Care for Sensitive Skin on the Face?

Best Shaving Soap for Sensitive Skin

Pros

Cons

Sensitive Skin Care Routine

What Does Sensitive Skin Mean?

Sensitive skin is not just a single medical condition. It covers a range of medical skin conditions, so no single product is going to be best for a general term such as sensitive skin.

Some men will suffer from what are classed as genetic issues and these include things like rosacea and eczema. On the other side of skin condition, there are some men who may, at certain times in their life, have an allergic reaction to a product they used or even to something that they have eaten.

In other words sensitive skin is classed differently by different groups of men. It is also classed differently by medial staff and clinicians.

There are however a few classic tell tale signs that you have sensitive skin of a kind, or that you may be starting to develop sensitive skin. Watch out for these just to be sure. We have listed those below:

Your skin is flushed
Your skin is prone to rashes or small bumps
Skin products such as after shave or moisturisers may start to nip, sting or even burn
Your skin may start to dry up as it lacks moisture
If you start to find you skin getting itchy is a key sign of the development of sensitive skin
Your skin starts to react during bad weather especially the cold weather, or your face gets red in the sun, when it didn't flare up before
You are starting to get small broken blood vessels which show as small spots around the nose and cheeks

Dermatology and Skin Sensitivity

Men will think or believe they have sensitive skin, when that is not even the case. The medical and scientific skin experts are known as dermatologists. When they check a human for sensitive skin, they look for particular signs.

These include:

Skin bumps, skin erosion and pustules(a pimple containing pus)
Very dry skin
Signs of blushing or flushing of the skin

It is therefore pretty safe to say that if your skin has started to flush, get dry or you start to notice bumps and rashes, then the chances are that you do indeed have a form or variant of sensitive skin.

What Causes Sensitive Skin?

There are so many factors that can cause sensitive skin, that it would be impossible to list them all here.

Genetic

They divide into two main camps, genetic and other. The genetic problems are simply caused from your gene pool. In other words if your dad had sensitive skin, then most likely you will too. There is very little that you can do about that, other than to take extra care with it.

Age

Likewise age can play a huge part as skin does stretch over time and get thinner. As the skin gets thinner, then it is more prone to damage from the weather and the elements.

Allergies

These do give you a fighting chance as they may just be a one off happening. You could have just been unlucky, or you may just be allergic to a single product. If that is the case then you simply need to figure out what that product was and avoid it.

How to Care for Sensitive Skin on the Face?

We know that this is an article on the best shaving soap for sensitive skin, so the advice we offer may at first sound strange, but please bear with us, as we really want you to understand this problem, and be able to deal with it.

Cleaning the Skin

Stay a million miles away from any soap that contains any kind of deodorant. Those types of fragranced soaps have as ingredients very strong detergents, and should never be used on the face.

Use a mild cleansing bar like the Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar (available at Amazon UK) to keep your skin clean and free from detergents. This cleansing soap is hypoallergenic and contains no harsh detergents, dyes or hardeners and is 100% fragrance free.

Moisturising the Skin

We mentioned the different factors that can show you have sensitive skin, and one of those was having dry skin. This is where the skin can no longer protect nerve endings, and that can lead to skin reactions.

For men with dry skin we would recommend the Aveeno Moisturizing Bar For Dry Skin (available at Amazon UK) That soap is fragrance-free, dye-free, and soap-free.

For any soap, and especially for shaving soap you want a soap with few ingredients and no fragrance. You also want to avoid anti-bacterial, alcohol, deodorant, retinoid or alpha-hydroxy ingredients.

Best Shaving Soap for Sensitive Skin

Proraso Shaving Soap in a Bowl, 150ml, Sensitive Skin Shaving Soap with Green Tea and Oat, Made in Italy, White

So finally we get to the important part, but we did want to explain, the different causes and ideas to help control sensitive skin. So when it comes to shaving, there are as we have mentioned earlier, a wide range of products all claiming to help people with this problem.

When it comes to a shaving soap, the one that we would recommend is the Proraso Shaving Soap For Sensitive Skin. When we did our research, then that one always seemed to come out the best in this category.

This shaving soap is made in Italy and it contains glycerin. Glycerin is a colorless and odorless liquid that comes from plant sources. Glycerin is the core base product of this shaving soap.

It also contains "Aloe" and "Green Tea."

Aloe is also a plant and is known for its cooling and soothing of the skin. That is why you will find it in many after sun products. It is also used to reduce skin irritation,and help deal with skin inflammation such as eczema and acne.

Green tea helps fight skin cancer, has anti-inflammatory properties, and helps a lot with unclogging the pores, which them promotes healthy skin cell growth.

Pros

Buyers give this a 92% satisfaction rating online
No buyer so far has given this soap a bad review
Buyers said the soap is soft but not creamy and lathers up really well with a brush or by hand
Many men with sensitive skin said that the smell is not potent, and was neutral with a hint of aloe vera.
Several buyers who had allergies used this and said it worked for them

Cons

No real complaints about this soap
There were a few grumbles about it having no smell at all

CHECK AVAILABILITY AT AMAZON UK

Sensitive Skin Care Routine

There is more to sensitive skin care than just shaving properly. In our opinion using a shaving soap like the one above will help a lot. However you need to follow the same guidelines for any soap that you are putting near your face.

So this shaving soap should simply form part of your care routine. You really should line up all of your products that you plan on putting on your face. Moisturising your face becomes very important, as does protecting it from the sun's rays.

Shaving Accessories

Proraso Shaving Soap Bowl UK Review

Thanks for taking the time to read our UK review of the popular Proraso Shaving Soap Bowl, where you get a great choice of three slightly different scented soaps. Overall this set of soaps came out at number one on our list of the top 12 shaving soaps, that are currently available in the UK.

All of these soaps produce a rich creamy lather, that helps protect the skin when shaving with any type of blade. These are suitable for all types of beards and stubble, including thick and course beard-types. The key purpose of any shaving soap is to soften the beard, making it easier to shave.

None of these soaps contain parabens, silicone, mineral oils and no SLS. They have been made and formulated with natural ingredients.

All our product recommendations are based on our independent research which we conduct online by reading the many reviews we find at online websites. This review contains affiliate links and we may receive a commission for purchases made. You can read our affiliates page to find out more and also read about how we write our reviews.

“From the famous Italian Proraso Shaving Soap and Cream Brand”

The Proraso Brand

Proraso is an Italian brand and they were founded in 1908 by Ludovico Martelli.

As far back as 1948, they began to experiment in a small Florentine laboratory with the use of Pre and After Shave Creams. After that Italian barbers and home shavers started using their shaving products.

Their soaps and creams are made from natural and trusted ingredients. For many years they have been making professional, quality products that deliver a pleasurable and impeccable shave, in the barbershop and at home.

How Buyers Rate the Proraso Shaving Soap Bowl Mixed Triple Pack

Just below we have summarised how buyers rated the soaps, after they had bought and used them. This rating is based on just over 600 online reviews that we found at the different websites, where these shaving soaps are sold.

94%

Buyer Satisfaction

Overall online buyers have given this set an excellent 94% buyer satisfaction rating
83% of all buyers gave these a 5 star rating
No buyers to date have given these a bad rating

What Buyers Say about the Proraso Shaving Soap Bowl Mixed Triple Pack

Here at the Shaving Emporium we have read all the reviews from the various websites that sell this set of shaving soaps. As you can see the reviews are excellent. The comments and reviews that we read were very good. We do however like to include all of the detail when we summarise up our findings.

We have summarised those findings in a simple pros and cons table just below.

Pros

Buyers liked the softer soap puck style of these
They have a nice scent without being over powering
Buyers liked the fact that they didn't dry out as much as other soap brands
Buyers said the lather was excellent
Buyers said they were great value for money
Buyers said the 3 tubs should last for about 1-2 years

Cons

A couple of buyers said that one of the soaps caused a small rash
A couple of buyers didn't like the menthol smell

Short Summary:

This shaving soap set is hard to beat in terms of both the quality of the lather and also that they are great value for money. They can of course be used for any type of wet shaving.

What do you get for your money?

This is a set of 3 shaving soap bowls. Each bowl has 150ml of soap:

A menthol and Menthol and Eucalyptus 'Green' Shaving Cream
An Aloe and Vitamin E 'Blue' Shaving Cream
A Sandalwood and Shea Butter 'Red' Shaving Cream

This will allow you to check out their range of creams and see which one you prefer. The cream quality is the same and really you are just trying out the various scents, none of which is over powering. Many buyers class this as barber shop quality and we agree with that. Many of our writers here use this as their main shaving soap so the quality is not in question.

Our Verdict on the Proraso Shaving Soap Bowl Mixed Triple Pack

Quality

From the leading Italian shaving brand, that online buyers prefer.

Lather

Buyers say that you get a rich creamy lather, that is easy to create.

Cost

Almost every buyer said these were great value for money.

Overall Rating : 4.6 / 5

As you can see from our top 12 list of shaving soaps, there are plenty of choices available for the wet shaver, when it comes to buying soap.

The Italian Proraso brand have been selling this product for years, and it remains a very popular choice across Europe and the UK.

The quality of the soap from this brand is always high, and it consistently makes a great lather for shaving. What this set does is allow you to try three different scents, each made with different natural products.

Check Availability at Amazon UK

Average Price: £6

92% customer satisfaction based on 16,000+ online buyer reviews

This set came out at the number one position on our top 12 list of shaving soaps, and it is there for the reasons we have listed above. Proraso shaving soap has been around for a long time and has consistently got extremely high reviews.

Page 1 of 8

First

Last