Do Expensive Razors Really Improve the Shave?

[Jasman]

At present, I have but one DE razor, an inexpensive Merkur 41c. I'm looking at adding more aggressive options to my den, principally FaTip or a TTO Cadet. Would I expect to get better performance out of a 'higher end' razor, or would it mostly be a prettier razor with approximately the same performance as a less expensive option?

I'm not rich by any means, and wonder if my funds would be better served in other aspects of the hobby, like blades or soaps.

 

[Tarheelboy]

I'm not very big on "pretty," but the most aggressive razor I've used is the Gillette red tip. Some guys swear by it, but it's a little rough for me. All my favs are pretty old razors... 40's Super Speeds, 1961 Fat Boy etc... I had my Fat Boy re-plated and it's my "prettiest" razor, but I still find myself going back to my old Super Speed.

 

[Foyle]

Simple answer: NO. A more expensive razor doesn't shave better that an inexpensive one provided the inexpensive razor is well made. The Tech is one of the least expensive razors ever mass produced and is one of the finest shavers ever made.

 

[dcobranchi]

Prettier. I view a high end razor as a luxury. A $10 NEW or a $5 GEM 1912 will shave you every bit as close as a $100 stainless steel razor. It really comes down to what you value. Do you want (need) a cool looking stainless razor? Or would you rather have more soaps/aftershaves available in your rotation.

 

[jpakstis]

YMMV and all, but I find the wider variance is between the "software" i.e. soaps and creams. For all the talk about whether MdC is "worth" its high price, just about anyone would agree its exponentially better than Williams.

I've tried all sorts of razors and, except for specific types like the Cobra Classic or say even a Joris (which is for all intents and purposes a nicer FaTip itself), I haven't noticed a difference in shaves between a cheap razor and an expensive one, let alone a difference that's connected with the cost. There are other factors as well, specific to the buyer, i.e. whether it is made in the U.S., whether it is stainless steel, their view of the maker, etc. that play into this decision-making.

 

[August West]

Jimi Hendrix could make a dime store guitar sing!

 

[Jasman]

Jimi Hendrix could make a dime store guitar sing!

While playing it upside down!

 

[August West]

While playing it upside down!

 

[dfoulk]

I pondered this same question before buying the ATT Kronos 5 piece system. I mean, it's really expensive and what if it shaved no better that my other razors? Stan at ATT offers a 30 day money back guarantee. So if you don't like it you just send it back for a full refund.

So I gave it a shot and I'm not sending mine back. The workmanship of the razor is amazing and it's beautiful to look at but what is really important is how does it shave. Well, it's the best shaving razor I've ever used and I'm getting the closest shaves of my life. The weight and balance are absolutely perfect and it just sings as it cuts. The handle is perfect and doesn't slip with even the soapiest hands. When shaving with it you definitely know that you are using an expensive razor.

So in my case performance is much better and it is worth it to me. However, it's like anything else shaving related, so for someone else it may be different.

You just have to try it yourself and see. Thankfully Stan makes this easy as you can try it and if you don't like it return it within 30 days for a full refund. If it wasn't better than other razors, I don't imagine he'd be putting this type of return policy out there. I can warn you though if you don't want to spend the money, you might not want to try it because you will probably end up keeping it.

I haven't tried any other high end stainless steel razors so I can only comment on this one. I do understand that it is difficult to rationalize spending this type of money on a razor as you can get a much less expensive one that will still give you a really good shave.

Today we live in a throw away society. We use things up and throw them out because it's cheaper to just buy a new one. I grew up in a different era an era where my father and grandfather taught me that if something broke you fixed it and you took care of the things you had. My grandfather taught me that with your tools and other possessions that if you buy crap you will always have crap (I'm not saying that all other razors are crap so please don't bash me on this). But if you spend a little more to buy the best you can get, and take care of it, then you will have something truly special that will treat you well for the rest of your life.

In the case of the ATT I do believe it gives me a closer and more enjoyable shave. I'm not spending money looking for the perfect razor anymore and wondering what's out there that will give me a better shave. I've bought something that my grandfather would be proud to use and I look forward to shaving with it every day.

 

[Jimmyinkedup]

Considering I just got two of my best ever shaves with a plastic handled gillette tech and also with my merkur 45 bakelite- no cost doesnt ensure a great shave. That being said if you are using a mild razor and would benefit from a more aggressive one - changing that might help provided your form is on point. Same for blades. Its not cost-its matching your form and razor with correct blade. Just my thoughts.

 

[dfoulk]

Jimi Hendrix could make a dime store guitar sing!

This is true, but Jimi Hendrix didn't use dime store guitars he primarily used late 60's Fender Stratocasters which are some of the best guitars ever made and can sell for 20K plus today.

 

[dfoulk]

You can narrow down your choices by reading reviews and getting other peoples thoughts.
But like everything else here, you'll just have to try it to see.... Or you can just keep wondering what you are missing out on.

 

[August West]

This is true, but Jimi Hendrix didn't use dime store guitars he primarily used late 60's Fender Stratocasters which are some of the best guitars ever made and can sell for 20K plus today.

Good point. You have exposed the hole in my analogy.

 

[MicBaldy]

This is true, but Jimi Hendrix didn't use dime store guitars he primarily used late 60's Fender Stratocasters which are some of the best guitars ever made and can sell for 20K plus today.

I think his point is that he could make any cheap guitar sing if he wanted too, because he was an expert guitar player.

 

[August West]

I think his point is that he could make any cheap guitar sing if he wanted too, because he was an expert guitar player.

 

[infotech]

If your techniques isn't refined it doesn't matter what razor/blade you use. Once you get it down there are some expensive razors that will give you a better shave in less passes. Take the Futur. It mows down whiskers like a weed eater. At the end of the day, I'd rather have a cabinet full of creams, soaps, and aftershaves than a lot of razors I don't use (which is actually my situation).

 

[musicman1951]

NO. And Yes.

Maybe.

You can certainly get a spectacular shave with an inexpensive razor. If you need a more aggressive razor you can get a fairly inexpensive one of those as well.

Having said that, for me the Mergress is the best razor I have and it wasn't cheap. I use it about 355 days a year and it will last many years, so I suppose in the long run it's pretty cheap - but still.

It has some alignment tweaks and I also use the adjustable settings daily. But to be fair I have not tried even close to every razor out there, so there might be a $40 razor that would serve me just as well.

It wouldn't be the first place I looked to spend money.

 

[dfoulk]

I think his point is that he could make any cheap guitar sing if he wanted too, because he was an expert guitar player.

Yeah, I get it. My point is, given the choice he chose to use something of a higher quality.

In some cases you do get what you pay for. Paying more won't guarantee you get a better product so you have to do your research. I mean does a Ferrari perform better than a Yugo, of course it does. They will both get you to work, but I'd much rather drive the Ferrari. Will the Stratocaster sound better than that dime store guitar, most definitely.

I'm not saying that everyone needs to spend a fortune on an expensive razor, just that sometimes when you pay more you can get a better product. Ferrari puts a lot of money into product research and uses the best materials possible to make their vehicles. Yugo doesn't (didn't) do this. By spending more on a higher quality razor you can get access to razors made with better designs, manufactured by better equipment and constructed using better materials. It does cost more to make a better product.

There are a lot of really nice vintage razors out there that are built to last several lifetimes as well. These are made better than most of the lower to mid level razors made today. Some could argue some of the higher priced ones too. I'm just not familiar enough with them to make a good recommendation.

So if you spend more can you get a better shave? There is no guarantee that you will, but you will definitely have some choices available to you that you wouldn't have with a smaller budget. If you make the right choice you can absolutely get a better shave.

 

[Aimless1]

I've never considerd price a measure of performance. Sometimes it is, most times it is not. That makes it important to try for yourself. Especially in shaving. There are so many variables (beard density, whisker coarseness, blades, shaving geometry, technique, skin sensititivity & etc) that it is impossible to make blanket statements. Will a more expensive razor give a better shave for YOU? Maybe

 

[dfoulk]

Like anything else here there are no guarantees. Just opportunities to find what works for you.