Classic Razors

Men’s razors

When you hear the word razor, do you think of the disposable razors advertised on TV? Or a traditional razor your father or grandfather used? Or perhaps an open razor like your barber uses to shave beards?

As you can see, the word razor can refer to many types. Once you dive deeper, a whole world of men’s shaving tools opens up. And that’s only talking about razors meant for facial use.

It’s useful to go through a few of them. Just so you know: a “razor” is the tool, and a “razor blade” is the replaceable cutting part.

Safety razor

You’ve probably heard of a safety razor. Many men associate this with traditional wet shaving, although there are different types.

A safety razor uses individual razor blades. You don’t throw away the entire head, just the blade. It requires a double-edge blade, which has cutting edges on both sides.

That’s why it’s also called a double-edge safety razor. There are two main types: open comb and closed comb.

The difference lies in how much of the blade touches the skin. An open comb razor allows for a closer shave but is less forgiving—better suited for experienced users.

A closed comb razor exposes less of the blade, making it gentler but potentially more prone to clogging. This exposure is known as blade exposure.

At the Moquer shop, we stock top-quality safety razors from brands like Henson Shaving, Rockwell Razors, and German brand Mühle.

Open razor

Now let’s talk about open razors—not to be confused with open comb razors.

An open razor is also called a straight razor, straight edge razor, or cut-throat razor. These are the ones barbers use for precise shaving.

You’ve likely seen this: a man wrapped in a hot towel followed by a clean shave with an open razor—the hot towel shave. A cold towel afterward calms the skin and closes the pores.

It’s no surprise this razor is called cut-throat. These are extremely sharp tools that require skill and care.

The blade cannot be replaced—you fold it into the handle. It needs to be regularly stropped to keep it sharp. Barbers disinfect them after each use.

This brings us to the next category: razors with replaceable blades.

Shavette

A shavette is an open razor with replaceable blades—also known as a replaceable blade straight razor. This design allows barbers to use fresh blades, which is more hygienic and convenient. You can also choose your preferred sharpness.

Shavettes use single-edge blades, sharp on one side only. The German brand Dovo was the first to bring this type of razor to market. The Moquer shop has a great selection.

Disposable razors

Lastly, we have the well-known disposable razors—Gillette Fusion, Gillette Mach 3, and Wilkinson are popular examples.

These razors require replacing the entire cartridge head, hence the name cartridge razors.

Since only the handle is reused and blades are discarded, these razors are more expensive over time and less eco-friendly.

Double or single-edge razor blades cost around 20 cents per blade and fit the classic razors discussed earlier. Those razors may cost more initially but last a lifetime.