When it comes to hair removal, whether you want to be super smooth or let your hair grow out on your own body, you do you.
The history of hair removal is filled with cultural and political milestones. Before the roaring ‘20s, women wore concealing clothes and many left their hair to grow as it chose underneath – but that all changed when flapper fashion became commonplace.
While ditching the corsets in favour of short skirts and sleeveless dresses was liberating, it was at that pivotal moment that hair removal became ‘A Thing.’
Shaving has been a popular choice since Gillette produced the first razor marketed specifically to women in 1915. But a lot has changed since then, and now there are dozens of hair removal methods and products to consider – some of which promise less stubble, mess and general faff than shaving, and all of which can offer different degrees of hair removal depending on your personal preferences.
Shaving has gotten cool again in the last few years, though, with new beauty brands and old faithfuls alike reinventing the toolkit and making the process sustainable, easy, and fun.
From subscription razors to Instagram-worthy designs and eco-friendly materials, I tried and tested six of the best out there right now, for this round up of the most covetable razors.
Estrid Starter Kit, £7.95
This Swedish company offers a clever subscription option: pick your pastel-hued steel handle and wall mount in the starter kit (which also comes with two razor blades) and you can opt to have four replacement blades sent whenever you need them for £9.95.
I loved using this – the handle is sturdy and weighty, and I liked that the moisturising strips on the razor are vegan and therefore use no animal byproducts.
It was easy to manoeuvre around fiddly bits like my knees and at my ankles, and the five blades meant that one pass was all I needed to remove my hair.
Flamingo 5 Blade Razor, £8
Flamingo is an offshoot of the men’s grooming brand, Harry’s, which launched a popular subscription razor offering in 2013. It’s done its homework: the five blades on this one are packed into a really well thought-out head bordered with aloe and shea butter to help soothe and hydrate skin, meaning that you can press and glide with real ease and your skin won’t feel stripped after.
I really liked the Mint & Gold colour, which felt modern and eminently Instagrammable. Side note: its Shaving Foam, which is packed with skin-soothing antioxidants and vitamin B is brilliant and makes shaving a doddle.
Nuddy Safety Razor, £29
The difference between safety razors and+ the usual sort? Safety razors comprise of one blade – usually removable and replaceable, but sometimes you can sharpen them – with something bordering between the razor and skin.
Advocates like that they offer a close shave and minimal irritation – and they’re more eco-friendly as the single blade can be recycled more easily.
This Nuddy version is made of brass and coloured pink, making it a pretty addition to the bathroom. Having tested, I can assure you that it is much easier to use than it sounds – and, yes, my legs were smooth as can be afterwards.
Venus for Pubic Hair & Skin Razor, £10
If you’re keen to shave pubic hair, this by Venus might be a savvy investment. It has a smaller head than usual razors, making it easy to slide around into small areas, with a low cutting force blade (meaning it can cut through thicker hair without passing back over the area repeatedly).
It also comes with lubricating strips to help it to glide around. I found it lived up to the promises, instantly removing hair after a single stroke without struggling with more densely-packed areas.
Plus I loved that, like all Venus razors, it is fully recyclable via Venus partner TerraCycle.
Su-rf Safety Razor, £19.99
The design of this safety razor won me over – I loved the pastel and metallic options, and the fact that you slot the razor into a base, meaning you don’t need to mount anything on the wall and can put it anywhere there’s a surface.
In terms of using, this is similar to the Nuddy razor – there’s a single blade nestled between the head. It comes with a 60-day guarantee and arrives with 10 free recyclable blades, making it very good value for money – and the brand makes a 50p donation to Surfers Against Sewage to help reduce water and plastic pollution across the UK’s coastline.
Wilkinson Sword Intuition Ultra Moisture Women’s Razor, £7.50
This is the one to go for if your skin is ultra dry and feels tight or uncomfortable after shaving. The four blades are surrounded by shea butter, which is a dab hand at hydrating. Additionally, it will lather up and foam, meaning you don’t need a separate shaving foam to help it to slide across skin.
I found the head placement of this in the plastic cartridge requires zero skill – it’s solid enough to just pull up legs and under arms – though I’d suggest it’s maybe a little bulky to do a good job of pubic hair.
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