Walk into any shave aisle and it's all plastic handles and five-blade cartridges. Ask an older barber what he used when he started out and you'll hear about two tools instead: the double-edge safety razor and the straight razor. Both make a better gift than another pack of cartridges, but they suit different men. A few clues will tell you which one fits the guy you're shopping for.
The safety razor: for the man who wants a better daily shave
A safety razor holds one thin blade between two metal plates, so only a sliver of the edge touches skin. It's forgiving. He can pick it up on a Tuesday morning and get a clean shave without a lesson. Replacement blades are cheap and drop in with a twist of the handle.
This is the right pick for the guy who shaves most days and grumbles about the price of refills. Our Safety Razor Gift Set ($42) is a chrome double-edge razor packed as a ready-to-give set, so it's gift-ready the day it shows up.
The straight razor: for the man who likes a craft
A straight razor is a single folding blade, the kind you picture in an old barbershop chair. It takes practice, a steady hand and some patience, and that's exactly why certain men love it. Shaving with one turns into a small project he gets better at every week, like sharpening a knife or smoking a brisket.
Give this one to the guy who already owns good boots, reads the manual and keeps his tools oiled. Our Damascus Straight Razor ($96) is hand-forged Damascus steel with a leather sheath, and no two blades carry the same pattern. Most of the handle styles are in stock, from ebony to deep green. It's the kind of thing that ends up sitting on a shelf for years, and maybe gets handed down one day.
Either way, add a brush
The razor gets the attention, but the brush is what makes the routine feel like a routine. A few swirls in a bowl of warm water and cream build a thick lather that canned foam can't match. Our Synthetic Shaving Brush ($24) has soft, dense bristles and a barber-pole handle, with no animal hair. It's an easy add-on with either razor, or a small gift all on its own.
Still not sure?
Look at how he treats his stuff. If he wants things to just work, go with the safety razor. If he's the one who restores old furniture or argues about the right way to season a cast iron pan, he'll enjoy learning the straight razor.
Tuck a note in the box telling him to shave after a hot shower and take his time. More shave gifts are waiting at hisgiftbox.com.