Nix unwanted hair from legs, bikini, face and more with these top-tested razors.
We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process. Portable Facial Epilator
While a good razor can make shaving quick and painless, settling for just any old blade can leave you with painful nicks, razor bumps and ingrown hairs. The good news: Low-maintenance, silky smooth skin is within reach. It all starts with a good shave.
To help you get the closest, pain-free shave of your life, our experts did the work to find the best razors for women for sensitive skin, legs, bikini area and more.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab has a history of testing and evaluating all kinds of razors and hair removal products, from bikini trimmers and epilators to waxing at-home kits, IPL devices and at-home laser hair removal tools. Ahead, we rounded up the best-tested razors for women (based on over 2,800 survey answers!) that will give you the closest shave ever, including popular subscription-based razor brands, electric shavers, razors for armpits and even facial razors.
Keep scrolling for our pointers on shopping for the sharpest and smartest razors worth taking real estate in your shower. Plus, read on for our complete methodology for how we narrowed down the best picks.
Minimize shower time with a razor that 89% of our testers agreed was best at shaving hair in one pass. The 2022 GH Beauty Award winner also earned a perfect score for maneuvering around hard-to-reach areas. "I like that it got around my knees and ankles well and gave me no razor burn," one tester reported. The five-blade razor comes with a silicone handle for easy gripping while its skin guard comes coated in hyaluronic acid that aims to hydrate as you go. The only potential drawback if you're used to a lightweight razor: One tester found it on the heavier side.
For less than $10, you can get this razor plus three additional refill blades. A great deal, it also performed well in Lab testing, earning the highest score among all razors for gliding over skin easily, not irritating skin, avoiding nicks and providing long-lasting smoothness. It features a pivoting head that testers found maneuvered easily. One tester said that they would "continue using it for sure," also noting that it was comfortable to hold and didn't need to go over areas more than once to remove hair. Note that some online reviewers shared that it is difficult to clean out the head of the handle as hair gets stuck in there, even after changing the blades.
If you prefer an electric shaver to a traditional razor, try out this one. GH Beauty Lab testers loved it on their armpits, with one saying it gave them the "closest shave ever in my underarm area." Great for those who have sensitive skin, it can be used on dry skin without razor burn or irritation. However, testers did find it a little difficult to use since it doesn't have a pivoting head and had to pass over their legs multiple times to fully remove hair.
Navigate around skin, even the bikini area, with ease thanks to this reusable razor handle with a pivoting head. Overall, our testers praised it for its easy trip over skin, and it earned the highest score in our roundup of razors for removing hair from the bikini line. Its sturdy bamboo handle offers a luxurious feel while its pack of four blades, though sold separately, won't nick your skin. "I appreciate that the handle seems long-lasting, therefore, better for the environment, and the overall look is more stylish in my shower," says one tester. Keep in mind, though, that the razor doesn't come with a blade cover and when wet, the handle can become slippery at times — so store it safely.
Taking the top spot in Lab testing for refillable razors, this Schick two-in-one razor and bikini trimmer was a favorite among testers. Earning the highest scores for easily maneuvering around difficult areas and providing a close shave, users don't have to take multiple passes to fully remove hair, making it great for thicker, coarser hair. This waterproof multitasker scored highly for ease of use as well, and one tester shared that it is a "must-have razor. It provides a smooth shave experience." Take note that the trimmer is battery-powered, and though one is provided, you will need to put in a new one once it dies.
Razor sharp, indeed. Oui the People's razor offers a nice, clean shave. For more advanced razor users, it's very sharp and weighty — our experts say there's a learning curve, and it takes time to perfect it well — which helped effectively remove leg hair with an impressively close shave. "I like how smooth my skin [felt] after shaving, and it takes longer for new hair to show up," says one tester. The razor also earned high scores for gliding easily over skin without irritation. Made from stainless steel, it's more sustainable than other razors that are designed from disposable plastics, but a few testers had trouble assembling the pricey razor and the lack of holder meant that testers stored it outside of the shower to prevent rusting.
Billie can be your one-stop shop for hair removal. Upon your first order, you'll find a durable razor in the color of your choice, two refill cartridges and a magnetic holder for your shower. From then on, you'll get four five-blade cartridges as you need. In our evaluations, 100% of testers agreed that the Billie razor excelled at shaving closer than other razors they tried. It was also a top choice for hair removal in the leg and pubic area and got extra points for not irritating skin. Its aloe-infused strip moisturizes skin in the razor's wake, but if not left on its magnetic holder, can stick to other objects once dried down. For more details, check out our complete Billie razor review.
Sweep away dead skin cells with Schick's refillable face razor tool. The GH 2022 Beauty Award Winner safely and effectively removed thick facial hair for smoother feeling skin, with no nicks or cuts experienced, based on Lab expert evaluations. “Maneuvering it around my face felt natural, and it removed my fuzz with ease and without irritation," says one tester. A few online reviewers noted that there's a bit of a learning curve that comes with it — ease into use as it may take a few tries to get the hang of it.
RELATED: 9 Best Facial Hair Removal Ideas
Testers rated the Hydro Silk 5 razor the best at easily gliding over delicate underarm skin, saying it was comfortable to hold and provided long-lasting smoothness. Like other razors, it comes with a suction cup holder, though some testers found that it wouldn't secure well to the shower. Some of our testers also noted that the razor didn't give them the closest shave they'd ever had.
Schick created the Intuition F.a.b. to cut down on the time it takes to shave, promising that its razor safely moves up and down without needing to be lifted from the skin. Built-in skin guards made with moisturizing gel help for a smoother glide without nicks, which is ideal for beginners. During testing, our experts were impressed with this razor's ergonomic design, and one consumer tester says it "made short work of shaving." Other Amazon reviewers noted that the skin guards protected from getting too close a shave, however.
To find the best razors, our analysts sent products to a panel of 191 consumer testers who gave detailed feedback on ease of use, performance, safety and satisfaction. Testers used their razors at least twice and monitored their results for one week before recording their results. To put together the final list, our editors also consulted top dermatologists for their expert shaving advice and considered recent GH Beauty Award winners.
✔️ Number of blades: No matter if you prefer refillable or disposable, make sure the razor is multi-bladed. "Single-blade disposables are likelier to drag against the skin," says New York City-based cosmetic dermatologist Neal Schultz, M.D. For that reason, refillable and disposable razors that have three to five blades in the head are the best razors when it comes to hair removal, grip comfort and maneuverability.
✔️ Maintenance: Besides using a good razor, a smooth and long-lasting shave depends on how you take care of your razor, regardless if it's refillable or disposable. It's important to replace your razors as soon as the blades dull or you feel discomfort to achieve an optimal shave. Subscriptions like Billie cover this for you without a second thought. For the best results, post-shave, rinse off your razor and store it in a clean, dry space to avoid microbial growth. After about five to seven shaves, toss the old blades to prevent irritation.
Sometimes a good shave is just as much about the preparation and technique in addition to using the right tools. According to Vancouver-based board-certified dermatologist Monica Li, M.D. and Good Housekeeping Beauty Lab Executive Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D., these are the shaving skincare steps you should take to get your best shave:
✔️ Wet skin to help soften hair. This makes it easier for the blade to glide across. For a manual razor, Dr. Li advises never to shave on dry skin because it can increase the risk of irritation and cuts, which is why shaving in the shower or near the end of a bath is prime time.
✔️ Use shaving cream, gel or a warm compresses. Doing so prompts a smoother shave and support optimal hair removal. For peak softness, Dr. Li recommends letting the product sit on the skin for a few minutes.
✔️ Don't shave too hastily. Moving the razor over your skin too quickly can cause irritation, cuts and bumps, notes Aral. You'll have to pass over the same area multiple times which can add to irritation.
✔️ Always shave with the grain of the hair. Otherwise, the tapered ends of just-shaved hair can poke back into the skin and cause ingrown hairs. Avoid stretching the skin completely taut when shaving, Dr. Li adds.
✔️ Splash skin with cool water after a shave to reduce potential skin irritation. Dr. Li also recommends moisturizing to keep cleanly shaven skin hydrated and smooth.
Researching and testing thousands of products for nearly a decade, Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann spearheads our guides to hair removal and evaluated razors in our Lab tests. Commerce Editor Jacqueline Saguin teamed up with the Beauty Lab to update this roundup with our most recent picks. She also interviewed Dr. Monica Li for a comprehensive guide on how to best use these skincare tools. Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzahn most recently updated this article and worked with Good Housekeeping Beauty Lab Executive Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D. for tips on how to avoid razor bumps.
Jacqueline (she/her) covers all things e-commerce in beauty, lifestyle and beyond for the Good Housekeeping Institute. Before joining GH in 2021, she was a style and beauty reviews fellow at Insider, testing viral trends, reviewing sustainable brands and more. She's a graduate of the University of Florida's School of Journalism, with a specialty in magazines and mass communication.
Catharine (she/her) is the beauty assistant at Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day and Prevention, working closely with the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab to write science-backed beauty content. She was previously an assistant beauty editor at Group Nine Media and returned to Hearst in 2022 after having held editorial internships at Harper’s Bazaar and CR Fashion Book. Catharine received a B.A. in journalism from the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
The Best At-Home Red Light Therapy Devices
The Best Skincare Products of All Time
11 Best Razors for Women of 2024
The Best Face Washes for Oily Skin
Derms Say This Is the Best Daily Skincare Routine
The Best Skin Scrubbers and Spatulas
What Does Glycolic Acid Do?
A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.
Multi-Purpose Hair Removal Knife ©2024 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.