Fact Checked
Gillette wins by a close shave in men’s razors review
Any man will know that patience and good technique make for a better wet shave. But what’s equally important is to have the right razor on hand to get a closer shave, avoid nicks, reduce irritation and keep your face and neck free from ingrown hair. It’s no wonder that two-fifths of survey respondents (41%) have tried multiple brands of razors in search of a trusty shaving pal. So, how do you find a razor that offers the right combination of ergonomics and value?
That’s where we come in. Canstar Blue surveyed more than 600 Aussie blokes for their feedback on the razor(s) or razor heads they’ve purchased and used in the last six months. Respondents compared and rated brands on comfort, effectiveness, quality, design, packaging appeal, value for money and overall satisfaction. Brands that met the minimum required survey sample size of 30 responses are featured in our results above.
So, which brands were rated best and which got hairy reviews? Gillette was rated a cut above the rest after it impressed with five stars in six out of seven research categories ─ including overall satisfaction!
Best Men’s Razors

Here are the best brands for men’s razors in Australia, as rated by consumers in Canstar Blue’s latest review:
- Gillette
- Schick
- ALDI
- Coles
- Bic
Gillette topped our ratings with five stars for effectiveness, quality, comfort, design, packaging appeal, and overall satisfaction. Notably, Schick also impressed consumers in many of the same categories including effectiveness, comfort, design and packaging appeal. ALDI filled in the gap in terms of value for money, being the only brand to score full marks for the category.
About the Winner – Gillette

When it comes to all things shaving, Gillette is a brand that easily comes to mind. It offers a popular range of men’s and women’s shaving essentials, such as razors, heated razors, trimmers, shaving creams, blade refills, and grooming kits. Gillette stocks a variety of razors to suit different needs, whether that’s finding something gentle enough for your sensitive skin or designed to help you safely achieve a close shave.
Some products available include:
- Gillette Fusion5
- Gillette SkinGuard
- Gillette Fusion Proglide
- Gillette Double Edge Safety Razor With 5 Blade Refills
Gillette scored a smooth five-star review in most categories, namely for effectiveness, quality, comfort, design, packaging appeal, and overall satisfaction. The only exception was value for money, where it got three stars.
What are the different types of men’s razors?
For days when you would rather ditch the beard trimmer, or even the hair clippers, there’s always the razor. Here are four types of razors to consider:
- Safety razor: This is the easiest and generally safest to use. It features blades locked at an angle to make it safer to use and prevent cuts. This is ideal for beginners.
- Straight razor: This is the grandfather of razors. It’s a vintage type of razor featuring a straight blade that folds into a handle. Straight razors are the sharpest of the bunch and offer the sharpest, closest shave. It’s best to leave that one to barbers and experienced shavers.
- Cartridge razor: That’s a razor that features a detachable head, so you can change the razor cartridges as you see fit and keep the same handle. It’s one of the most commonly used types.
- Disposable razor: That’s a plastic razor that doesn’t have a detachable head, which means that you’ll have to dispose of it when the blades and lubricating strip have run their course. Disposable razors are cheap, come in multi packs and are good for travel.
Which type of men’s razor should I use?

This will depend on your shaving routine, how confident you are with a razor, your skin type and budget. If you have sensitive skin, you’ll want a model with a decent built-in lubricating strip. Our survey found nearly one in five men (16%) buy razors with additional protection for sensitive skin. If you’re not a morning person and usually rush out the door, then a cartridge razor might be what you need to get the job done quickly. If you’re new to shaving, then you may want to start with a safety razor first to build confidence. To give you some options, here are the types of razors our survey respondents had most recently purchased:
- Disposable razors: 41%
- Cartridge razors: 39%
- Removable blade razors: 18%
- Straight razors: 1%
Ok, now let’s talk money. Our survey found that Aussie men spend an average of $14 per month on razors. This is considered mid-range, which might be good news if you’re like the handful of respondents who opt for whatever is cheapest (18%). However, if your facial hair type is coarse or if you need to clean shave every day, then spending a little more on a pricier model with extra features may be worthwhile.
About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar Blue’s home & lifestyle journalist, Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito. She’s an expert on household appliances, grooming products and all things grocery and shopping. In addition to translating our expert research into consumer-friendly ratings reports, Tahnee spends her time helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services, while highlighting the best deals and anything you need to be aware of.
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Picture credits: sirtravelalot/ Shutterstock.com.