top of page

Razor Ranking Table Explanation

Blade Selection: all evaluations are made using a Personna Diamond GEM blade.

 

3-Pass Shave: all evaluations are based on a traditional 3-pass shave, with the grain (WTG), across the grains (XTG) and against the grain (ATG).
 

Razor Scoring: all razors are scored 1-10 on four attributes - Efficiency, Comfort, Consistency, and Ease of Use. ​All scores are entirely subjective based on the testers experience after multiple shaves, and will likely vary from other users. YMMV!
 

  • Efficiency - the closeness achieved by the razor on a per stroke basis.

  • Comfort - the degree to which the razor is free from causing discomfort, irritation, or damage (including weepers and nicks).

  • Consistency - the ability of the razor to repeat its results in a predictable way.

  • Ease of Use - the amount effort required during the shave and the amount of practice required to master the razor. 
     

Composite Score: the sum of the four attribute scores. Helpful for identifying razors that be prized for attributes other than efficiency, such as comfort or ease of use. In addition, although a razor may have a low "per stroke" efficiency, its "total shave" efficiency is high because very high comfort allows for additional buffing. Conversely, a razor can have very high "per stroke" efficiency, but low comfort or poor ease hampers "total shave" efficiency. 

 

Clamp Width: the distance between the farthest points at which the blade is clamped when looking at the side of the razors head. ShaveSplash considers Clamp Width to be one of the most determinative features in a razors performance and uses it as the basis for defining a razors architecture. 

​

​

​

​​

​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Architecture: ShaveSplash defines razors as either Blade Benders, Hybrids, or Edge Clampers depending on Clamp Width. 

​​​​

  • Blade Bender - clamp width of 7-11mm. Blade benders create rigidity and control blade flex by clamping the blade close to its center and bending downward to create torsion. Some employ a trapezoidal head shape to help bend the blade.

  • Hybrid: clamp width of 12-16mm. Hybrids choose a middle ground , employing some bending and attempting to clamp the blade near its edge to create rigidity and minimize flex.

  • Edge Clamper: clamp width of 17-21mm. Edge Clampers control flex by clamping the blade as close to its edge as possible.
     

Average Result: ShaveSplash employs a 9-step ordinal scale to evaluate the final result of a shave ranging from DFS (Damn Fine Shave) to BBS (Baby Butt Smooth), each which could be assigned a corresponding numeric value. The determination is entirely subjective based on the testers experience after multiple shaves, but tends to correlate to Efficiency. YMMV!

​

  • DFS (1)

  • DFS+/DFS (2)

  • DFS+ (3)

  • BBS-/DFS+ (4)

  • BBS- (5)

  • BBS/BBS- (6)

  • BBS (7)

  • BBS+/BBS (8)

  • BBS+ (9)

​

Efficiency Tier: razors are categorized into five tiers based on their Average Result.

​

  • Low: DFS, DFS+/DFS

  • Medium-Low: DFS+, BBS-/DFS+

  • Medium: BBS-

  • Medium-High: BBS/BBS-, BBS

  • High: BBS+/BBS, BBS+

​

bottom of page