There are so many razors out here to choose from that it can be mind-numbing.
However, there are a lot of razors because the competition is intense and because of this there are some very high-quality razors, especially the 5-blade razors which I personally use today.
Let me explain…
A 5-blade razor is better than a 3-blade razor because it provides more blades closer together so that when used properly you use fewer strokes while providing a closer shave and less chance of skin irritation.
There is more to it than this so let us explain…
Why Is a 5-Blade Razor the Best?
I’m sure we have been there before…
You think you have found a great razor at a cheap price, you hydrate your face and put shaving cream like you’re supposed to.
You start taking strokes with your razor and feel a little pain but you think at this price the pain is not bad enough to worry about so you keep shaving.
Overall it is a painful experience but you are a manly man or tough woman for that matter so you can bear the pain in exchange for a cheaper razor.
However, you start noticing little specks of blood that seem to be multiplying. It gets worse as you keep shaving.
You finally get done, rinse your face, and notice that some of the bleeding has subsided while there are some stubborn cuts that don’t seem to want to stop.
This will just get worse if you keep using the same razor during your next shaving, especially if you are a daily shaver.
The reason it gets worse is that the cuts, even though they are tiny, scab over and don’t heal up before your next shaving.
This is where the 5-blade razor comes to the rescue…
How Does a 5-Blade Razor Work?
The key to a good razor is a close, comfortable shave so first, we look at your hair and skin.
Your hair stubble is pretty strong and is rooted below the surface of the skin.
A single-blade razor can’t quite cut the hair short enough on the first try unless you press down hard and then you end up with cuts. A single-blade razor will also pull the skin up by the hair while cutting the hair but also cutting the skin.
With the 5-blade razor, the first blade grabs the hair pulling at the skin but before the skin can rise high enough to get cut, the subsequent razors and the plastic edge of the razor hold the skin down so there is no bulge in the skin.
The first razor also pulls the hair up past the skins surface and after cutting the hair, before the hair can retreat back under the skin’s surface the next blade comes along to cut even more of the hair.
The razors are set in a way that as you pull the razor, each blade of the 5 gets closer to the skin until the final blade completely finishes the job without cutting the skin.
It may not seem like a big deal but there was a lot of research and testing done to space the razors at just the right distance to make sure the hair is cut as close as possible without cutting the skin.
Do 3 Blades Cause Less Irritation?
You would think that 3 blades cause less irritation since there are fewer blades scraping your skin.
This is true as long as you are careful shaving but you have a much greater risk of cutting yourself while shaving with a 3-blade razor.
The surface area of the razor cartridge needs to be maintained to hold the skin down for a flat shaving surface when you are pulling the razor.
This means the 3 blades need to be spaced further apart than the 5 blades. This gives the skin more of a chance to bulge since the razors are grabbing the hair and pulling the skin into the razor.
This pulling and more space between the razors give the skin ample opportunity to bulge and get cut by the razors.
If you spaced the 3 blades the same distance as the 5 blades then the surface of the cartridge would be skinnier, tipping forwards and backward while not holding the skin down flat which wouldn’t allow all of the blades to touch the face which would defeat the process.
How do we know this you might ask? We actually got the cheapest version of the 3 and 5-blade razors and put them to the test:
5-Blade Razors Last Longer
Since there are more blades spreading the workload in a 5-blade razor, the razor blades will actually last longer.
Razors are so thin that even though they are metal the constant resistance of your tough stubble will slowly cause a very fine edge to your which you will notice by more pain during shaving.
No worries, all you have to do is keep an ample supply of razor cartridges on hand to replace the worn ones.
However, some razor blades are actually of a higher quality than others which leads us to our next segment…
Our Choice: Top 5-Blade Razor Handle for Shaving
Gillette ProGlide Power Razor
- POWER: AAA battery lasts for months providing vibration that moves the hair more as it is being cut providing an even closer shave.
- FLEXBALL HANDLE: Ball swivel that helps the razor adjust to contours like the edge of your chin.
- SHARPEST BLADES: Help get virtually every hair effortlessly
- 5-BLADES: 5 anti-friction blades for a close, long-lasting shave
- ENHANCED LUBRASTRIP: Blade refills feature an enhanced lubrication strip for comfort. Fades when you are no longer getting an optimal shave so you know to replace it.
- PRECISION TRIMMER: On the back for hard-to-reach places and styling facial hair
- UP TO 1 MONTH OF SHAVES: One razor blade refill lasts up to one month of shaves
I’ve used this razor handle for most of my adult life and continue to use it to this day.
It is amazing how fast you can shave while getting a close shave with no pain.
How To Shave With A 5-Blade Razor Handle
I like to shave right after a hot shower because my face is already hydrated and warm.
There is some debate as to whether or not to shave with cold water but I prefer hot. Anyways cold or hot water opens the hair cuticle, allowing the hair to extract for a closer shave.
I simply rinse my razor in hot water and then press firmly during my razor strokes to flatten the surface of the skin.
I always go with the grain for the entire shaving area to get most of the hair with less resistance whic in turn leads to less discomfort.
I then go back over the entire shaving area because the hair is shorter and again less discomfort since you are going against the grain.
After I’m done I rinse with cold water and apply after-shave.
Final Thoughts
Some people swear by a 3-blade razor because they say it is better for sensitive skin but I have not found that to be the case.
As you can see from our video above, it can be rather easy to cut and nick your skin so save yourself some trouble and follow our advice.