New to straight razors? Jump to the quick start.
collection: Buy straight razors: Solingen, beginner-friendly
Buy straight razors: choose the right model faster
For beginners, our 7/8 straight razors with lightweight synthetic scales offer an easy start. For a more premium feel, choose 7/8 models with polished blades, gold etching, and wood scales with stainless inlays. Our top model, LSOne, combines our in-house crafted scales with a 5/8 Solingen blade.
Shop razor care and accessories-
Buying guide: beginner, all-round, or premium?
Choose your straight razor by experience level, materials, and finish quality. This helps you find the right model for daily use.
- Beginner: 7/8 with lightweight synthetic scales for calm, controlled handling.
- All-round: 7/8 with polished blade and upgraded materials for comfort and precision.
- Premium: LSOne with a 5/8 Solingen blade and our in-house crafted scales.
Why choose A.P. Donovan straight razors?
If you want to buy a straight razor, blade quality, control, and clear care guidance matter most.
- Selected steels and precise geometry for classic wet shaving.
- Secure grip and balance concepts for beginners and experienced users.
- Matching accessories for stropping, sharpening, and long-term edge retention.
Shaving with a straight razor may sound a bit old-fashioned at first, but it certainly has its place and holds great value for many men. It's less about removing facial hair and more about mindfulness and contemplation. Living in the here and now. Appreciating craftsmanship. The ritual itself. Time for oneself. A.P. Donovan has embraced all this and infused it into its products. "Tested in the past – made for the future." That’s the slogan. That’s the product. Craftsmanship meets modernity.
Straight Razor - The Quick Start Guide
Structure of a classic straight razor
A straight razor basically consists of a handle and a blade, which are connected by a joint. Both handle and blade are further divided into technical terms: head, spine, edge, scales, tang, and pivot. We will explain the different heads and grinds further below.
Basically, we distinguish two types of straight razors
There are straight razors with fixed blades and straight razors with replaceable blades.
- Straight razors with fixed blades are more expensive to buy but can be resharpened and incur no ongoing costs. They last a lifetime...
- Straight razors with replaceable blades are much cheaper to buy. However, the blades must be regularly replaced. (Barbers often use them for hygiene reasons.)
Replaceable blades relate to fixed blades like an automatic transmission relates to a manual gearbox. During the week, convenience is welcome. But on weekends, men like to take control.
The blade steel and what you should know about it
The higher the carbon content in the steel, ...
- ... the harder the steel.
- ... the sharper the edge.
- ... the longer the edge stays sharp.
- ... the harder it is to sharpen.
- ... the easier the blade rusts.
- ... the more care the blade requires.
A straight razor blade should stay as sharp as possible for as long as possible. Therefore, steels with a very high carbon content are best suited. We only offer blades made of carbon steel. Accordingly, they require care but will last a lifetime if properly maintained. We also carry suitable products for straight razor care.
The (hollow) grind
The hollower the grind of a straight razor blade, ...
- ... the more delicate the blade.
- ... the more flexible the blade.
- ... the more comfortable the shave.
- ... the more expensive the manufacturing.
- ... the more fragile the edge.
- ... the harder it is to sharpen.
A good compromise is the half-hollow grind. The blade is sharp and soft enough but not as fragile as the full hollow grind. We only offer blades with a half-hollow grind.
The head
On the internet, you read about French, Spanish, Turkish, round, and pointed heads. The only difference is how far the edge extends into the tip.
The round head shortens the edge and tapers it upwards. Good for beginners as it minimizes the risk of injury.
More experienced users can try the pointed head, which is especially good for shaving hard-to-reach areas like the corners of the mouth, chin, and upper lip.
The thing with inches
The height of a straight razor blade is probably given in inches because the straight razor itself is older than the metric system.
Common heights range from 3/8" (0.95 cm) to 8/8" (2.54 cm). Generally: the smaller the height, the more delicate the work, e.g., on the mustache.
Since a man usually doesn't shave with two razors at once, a compromise is fine. The blade height can be anywhere between 5/8" and 7/8".
The finish
How the straight razor blade is visually enhanced is a matter of taste and does not affect its functionality. It can be brushed or polished to a high gloss. The inscription could be applied with a laser or etched in gold.
However, every finish involves a certain effort. A high-gloss polished blade with gold etching is more complex to manufacture than brushed steel with a laser-engraved logo.
Everything under control
A straight razor handle should not only look good. Its functions are:
- To act as a counterweight to the blade, ensuring balance.
- To protect the edge during storage and transport.
- To provide grip and hold for the fingers during shaving.
- To fix and hold the blade in every open position – even after the 1000th time opening and closing.
A mix of metal and wood is a visual treat. But handles made of solid wood also look elegant. In the lower price range, plastic handles are common.
How many straight razors do you need?
If you are used to daily shaving, you actually need two to three straight razors. If you shave every third day, one is enough.
Why? Because the blade should rest 48 - 72 hours after each shave.
Why? Because the edge bends during shaving, relaxes during the resting phase, and over time returns to its original position. Similar to a spring, just slower.
Straight razor accessories
Depending on how deep you want to dive into the ritual, some straight razor accessories make sense. Since the straight razor should be stropped before every shave, at least the strop is an absolute must.
On this page, we provide detailed information about the complete accessories and their benefits.
To straight razor accessoriesStraight Razor Academy
All the information on this page and much more can also be found in our free Straight Razor Academy. There, we explain everything worth knowing about straight razors in 11 video lessons.
More about the Straight Razor Academy