3 Best Safety Razors for Beginners (2026)

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If you’ve finally decided to start using a safety razor, your main concern is probably cutting yourself. With hundreds — if not thousands — of safety razors to choose from, it can be difficult to know which ones will give you a smooth shave with minimal risk of cuts, and which ones are cheaply made and overly aggressive. To make things easier, here are the three best safety razors for beginners — affordable, high-quality options that provide a comfortable shave while reducing the chances of nicks and irritation.

1) Henson AL13 (If you’re freaked out about cutting yourself)

If you’re really interested in shaving with a safety razor but your main worry is cuts and nicks then your best option has to the Henson AL13. Henson is an aerospace brand that has manufactured components for the international space station! And what they’ve done with that expertise is create safety razors that are made to incredibly tight tolerances and specifications.

The amount of blade exposure in the AL13 is so minimal that you practically cannot cut yourself even if you’re shaving for the first time with a safety razor. Another benefit of the small amount of blade exposure is that this avoid excessive blade drag on your skin which can cause razor burn.

Beginners to safety razor shaving also struggle with finding the correct angle of the razor. Now what Henson has done is they’ve designed the razor head in such a way that finding the correct angle is as easy as putting the razor on your skin.

I’ve shaved with the Henson a couple of times and I found it to be incredibly mild and forgiving so much so that you don’t even feel the blade. It just smoothly cuts the hair without irritating the skin underneath or causing nicks and cuts.

The AL13 also comes in a multitude of classy colours that look great on your bathroom counter.

Now keep this in mind, this is a very mild razor designed for beginners as well as men who shave daily and want to avoid irritation.

If you’re only planning on shaving once or twice a week or have really thick stubble then the safety razors below might be better options.

2) Muhle Neo (Affordable Option)

One thing I love most about safety razors is that, unlike many other hobbies (RC planes come to mind), you don’t need to spend a significant amount of money just to get something decent. In a lot of hobbies, going cheap usually means buying something that won’t perform well and ends up turning you off altogether. With safety razors, that simply isn’t the case — you can find absolutely amazing quality safety razors for under $30!

When I first saw that Muhle had come out with a new safety razor that was priced at $30 I was absolutely amazed and had to try it out. If you know the brand then you know that Muhle is a German company specializing in high quality and luxury shaving products like safety razors, brushes and other accessories.

When I got my hands on the Muhle Neo I was amazed at the stunning chrome finish and the feel of the razor. It felt just as good quality with respect to the build quality and finishing as the Muhle R89 which is priced at $50 (that is 60% more expensive!)

The Muhle Neo even shares the razor head with the R89 which means that it offers just as smooth and comfortable shave and is great even for beginners. One design feature that helps the Neo stand out it the rubberized silicone grip that is incredibly useful in preventing the razor from slipping while your hands are wet with shaving cream and water.

Unlike the Henson AL13, the Muhle Neo is a more efficient safety razor meaning that it’s great not just for an absolute beginner but also someone who shaves daily or every other day and wants an affordable razor that provides a smooth and efficient shave.

It also comes in 3 unique colours salvia green, black and glacier blue. The finish of the razor is the safe, a beautiful chrome, it’s just the colours of the grips that are different.

3) Rockwell 6C (Adjustable Safety Razor)

What if I told you that you could buy just one safety razor today, use it as a beginner with minimal risk of cuts and nicks, then transition using it as a daily shaver and eventually as your saving technique improves to shave off longer stubble. That is where the Rockwell 6C comes in. Unlike the other razors on this list, which are non-adjustable, the Rockwell 6C uses different base plates which directly affect the efficiency of the razor.

Base plates 1 and 2 are for absolute beginners who want to start shaving with a safety razor but really don’t want any cuts or nicks.

Base plates 3 and 4 are great options for someone who has gotten used to shaving with a safety razor and wants a mild but efficient daily shave.

Base plates 5 and 6 are for more experienced shavers who want a close shave or for those men with thicker and longer stubble.

I’ve used the Rockwell 6C for over 8 years now and when I first started shaving with this razor I used base plate 2. This allowed me to get a comfortable shave without any risk of cuts. It also helped me improve my shaving technique.

These days I usually use base plate 5 because it’s more efficient for my heavy stubble. If you really just want to buy one safety razor and be done with it, then the Rockwell 6C would your best bet.

Final Thoughts

Starting to use a safety razor can feel intimidating at first, with common concerns around cuts, nicks, and upfront cost. The good news is that you don’t need to overspend nor risk cutting yourself. The three safety razors I recommended are all high-quality, beginner-friendly options that deliver excellent safe shaves and allow you to build confidence as your technique improves.