10 Best Safety Razors UK 2024 | Merkur, Gilette and More

The often-touted king of safety razors among most of those in the know, the Merkur 23C is an icon of German design and is made in "The City of Blades", Solingen. This city has a several-hundred-year history making swords, knives, and other steel tools. So, they have the pedigree to make your new safety razor a great one.

The 23C is a closed-head razor with a medium handle, so its perfect for both for new and experienced safety razor users. The chrome-plated steel design also means it's available at great mid-range price point. 

The top-end purchase of closed-head safety razors, the Japanese-made Feather AS-D2S is almost a different beast entirely. For a premium price, you’ll get a 100% Japanese stainless-steel precision razor with a featherlight handle that’s perfectly counterbalanced for the smoothest shaving motion possible.

Oh, and every Feather razor is handcrafted in the city of Seki in central Honshu – which has been a known Samurai sword making hub for over 700 years – so you can trust they know their blades. 

A lot of you may know that Sheffield has long been one of the centres of steel production throughout the whole of Europe. In fact, the first true stainless steel was made in this Midlands city back in 1913.

Edwin Jagger carries on that proud heritage with the closed-head DE8 which is available in three lengths (short handle pictured). Made with certified British steel, it comes with a “knurled” handle to help you grip in tight spots. There are even five replacement blades included as well!

Without a doubt the best adjustable-head safety razor on the market, the Merkur Futur is a future-proof design from the German legends.

It’s quite heavy for its size and the handle is rather short, which may make it better suited to more experienced users. However, the six-setting adjustable comb is fantastic for those who just can’t find the exact level of closeness they need from other razors, safety or otherwise. 

The original slanted-head safety razor, the basic design of the Merkur 39C (nicknamed “the barber pole”) has changed little since it first debuted nearly a century ago. Indeed, why would you want to mess with an almost-perfect formula?

Although it may cost you a little more, this is a shaving tool engineered with precise German efficiency. With its extra-long handle and slanted head, this is great if you’ve got sensitive skin – or if you just appreciate a gentle shave. 

Another German-made safety razor, also from Solingen, this is the first open-headed option on our list. Suitable for thicker hair or beards, the chrome-plated MUHLE definitely looks the part and has a large, chunky handle for security. 

It doesn’t come with any blades, so you’ll have to buy them as extra. On the other hand, it does come with a MIUHLE-branded blade guard and a trim little carrying case. Overall, the R41's solid design will certainly stand the test of time as well as any safety razor on the market. 

Timor is the first on this list of three world-class safety razor makers based in Solingen, Germany. Their Timor Gentle Shaver series is designed to be an easy introduction to safety razor shaving.

With its closed head and longer handle, you'll get more control and tautness for a simple but clean shave. The full stainless steel build should also see your Timor Gentle Shave last longer than some chrome-plated counterparts.

Gillette were the original safety razor manufacturers, well over a century ago now. Today they may be known for their disposable and cartridge plastic razors, but they still make a fine example of a classic safety razor.

This closed-head, medium-handled option is great for beginners, and sells for a very reasonable price. The King C Classic also comes with 10 premium, platinum-coated blades – which are actually quite hard to find anywhere else in the UK.

Probably one of the most durable razors on the list, Bambaw make eco friendly safety razors for men and women that are pretty much guaranteed to last a long time.

The razor comes with tips on how to extend the life of the blades and the manual razor, as well as tips on responsible recycling, as well as 2 homemade recipes for shaving cream. It even includes a digital shaving manual. 

Up your eco-friendly shaving credentials with this amazing bamboo-handled safety razor from A&M Natural Living. Although the brand might not have the prestige of some other razor manufacturers on this list, this is a quality tool that fits any double open blade. 

As well as looking good and being easy to manoeuvre, the flexible bamboo handle is 100% sustainably grown and there's no plastic anywhere to be seen. Even the packaging is 100% recyclable. Easy!