WHAT’S THE BEST SHAVE FOR YOU?

THE TRADITIONAL RAZOR VS. ELECTRIC
The debate that’s spanned millennia—give or take—what provides the better shave: the traditional razor or electric? It’s estimated that guys spend upwards of 50,000 minutes of their lives shearing the whiskers from their faces, so then, it only makes sense that you’d tackle this manly morning ritual with a little knowledge.

THANK YOU, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

THE GOOD

Who would've thought that flying a kite in a thunderstorm would eventually lead to the birth of a device that kept your stubble in check? Crazy. While granddad is probably still scoffing at the thought, the electric razor does provide a great deal of benefits. There is simply no way to get a quicker shave. No water. No lathering. In fact, you don't even need a bathroom, so for those of us who don't have much time to spare, this is often the go-to. Beyond the speed, many argue that electric razors reduce nicks, cuts, and hence irritation.

THE BAD

The shave simply is not as close. It's just not. And some argue that it feels like having a rabid rodent gnawing on your face, which obviously is not ideal. Other than that, and save for a post apocalyptic situation in which the grid is down, electric razors are actually pretty handy.

IF IT AIN’T BROKEN, DON’T FIX IT

THE GOOD

While running a sharp piece of metal over your skin does sound quite barbaric, traditional razors absolutely provide the closer shave, so until someone invents something with lasers - we're looking at you Silicon Valley - this is probably going to remain the best shave you can get. Beyond a better shave, traditional razors, and especially old school safety razors, are quite a bit cheaper out of the gates and are very accessible.

THE BAD

The water and the shaving cream and the rinsing and repeating. It all adds up to some serious time and effort, and can get to be quite the process, so if you don't have 10 minutes to spare in the morning, we get why you might roll with the electric. Also, blades seem to dull after about a handful of shaves, so that gets frustrating. Related, definitely checkout these Lifehacks.

DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS

At the end of the day, it all comes down to what you value. While the traditional blade does provide a better shave, it simply isn't as fast as the electric, and that's a call you're going to have to make.

Whatever your method, a little extra effort goes a long way. Shaving just out of the shower ensures that your pores are open and your stubble is soft allowing you to get a better shave, whatever your instrument of choice. And always finish it off with an aftershave or moisturizer to keep your skin feeling soft and healthy.