6 min read

How to Choose a Razor When Your Skin is Extremely Sensitive

If you hadn’t noticed how sensitive your skin was before… well, there’s nothing like after-shaving irritation and razor burn to make that glaringly obvious.

All you want is that dolphin-smooth fresh-shaved feeling, and what do you get instead? Ingrown hairs, strawberry legs, razor bumps, and itchiness – a bumpy, prickly minefield that’s painful, uncomfortable, and not even aesthetically pleasing from day one.

It can be tricky to find a razor that’s both gentle on sensitive skin AND offers a close shave. But it CAN be done.

There are a lot of different types of razors out there – learn which is best for your sensitive skin, along with shaving techniques and alternatives that can help protect your sensitive skin.

Types of Razors, Compared for Sensitive Skin

	How it Works for Sensitive Skin	Cost	When to Replace	Other Considerations
Single-Blade Safety Razors	Shaves with less pressure on the skin. Cuts hair at your skin (not below) to prevent ingrowns.	$30-$70+ for the razor (one-time cost), $0.10-$1 per replacement blade	After 4-8 shaves	Requires a learning curve to achieve a good shave and safely replace blades
Multi-Blade Disposable Razors	Requires some pressure on the skin to achieve a close shave just under the skin layer. User-friendly, but famously causes irritation and ingrown hairs.	$0.30-$3 ea.	After 4-8 shaves	Contribute to plastic waste
Multi-Blade Refillable Razors	Requires some pressure on the skin to achieve a close shave just under the skin layer. User-friendly, but famously causes irritation/ingrowns.	Refillable razors: $7-$15, refill heads $2-5	After 4-8 shaves	Contribute to plastic waste. Typically higher-quality and have a more ergonomic design than disposable razors.
Electric Razors (4D Shaver)	Offers a close shave with less pressure on the skin, with rotating shaving heads for a faster shave.	$49 for the device (one-time-cost), $15 per refill head	After 3 months	Waterproof, rechargeable.

Single-Blade Safety Razors

Reddit has spoken – these are widely recommended for sensitive skin. In some ways, they seem less effective than more-popular multi-blade razors – they require some skill for safe use, and they don’t cut the hair quite as short. But sensitive-skin-wise, that’s a good thing. Ingrowns are caused when the hair is cut below the skin & then grows back at an angle, beneath the skin. When the hair is cut at the skin, that doesn’t happen. Plus, single-blade safety razors generally require less pressure, so they don’t cause razor burn either.

It’ll take some getting used to – you might experience more nicks and cuts at first when using a single-blade razor. But in the long run, these are ideal razors for sensitive skin and have the most affordable refills.

Multi-Blade Disposable Razors

The cheap-o razors you probably learned on. They often shave a little TOO close – causing ingrown hairs when the hair grows back out of the skin at an angle. These may have a built-in soap strip, which could soothe irritation or make it worse depending on your skin.

Multi-blade disposable razors come at the cheapest up-front cost, but single-blade razor refills are even cheaper in the long run.

Multi-Blade Refillable Razors

Generally, we prefer these over disposable razors for sensitive skin – they tend to have a more ergonomic design and offer more comfortable shave. But these also often shave a little TOO close – causing ingrown hairs when the hair grows back out of the skin at an angle. They also may have a built-in soap strip, which could soothe irritation or make it worse depending on your skin. But with the right shaving technique, these can still offer a safe shave for sensitive skin.

Electric Razors

Electric razors offer a faster, super-close shave that’s suitable for sensitive skin. Though electric razors also cut hair beneath the skin, they tend to cut hair at less of an angle, reducing the chance of ingrown hairs. They also require less pressure than multi-blade razors to reduce razor burn.

Note that not all electric razors are created equal – if you’re gonna replace your old razors, look for one that’s waterproof, shower-safe, and rechargeable, like the 4D Shaver.

What Is the Best Razor for Extremely Sensitive Skin?

If you’re willing to get the hang of it and you don’t mind sacrificing the closest shave possible, single-blade safety razors tend to be best for extremely sensitive skin.

If you’re still looking for an ultra-close shave that minimizes irritation, electric razors like the 4D Shaver may be your best bet.

How to Prevent Common Sensitive Skin Concerns When Shaving

The word “sensitive” gets tossed around a lot – but it can mean anything from general discomfort to an angry rash to a few problem spots of ingrown hairs. Here are a few quick recommendations depending on your top concern:

Redness: Use a razor that requires less pressure, and shave less often.
Dry Skin: Apply an aloe-based body lotion immediately after getting out of the shower & shaving. During colder weather, follow these winter skin care tips.
Ingrown Hairs: Be sure to exfoliate 24-48 hours before hair removal. Use a sharp, single-blade razor.
Itchiness/Discomfort: Shave less often, and don’t use a dull razor. Wear loose-fitting clothes in breathable fabrics like 100% cotton, bamboo, or linen after shaving.
Rash: Check what shaving cream/product you’re using – you may be experiencing a reaction to a certain ingredient. Sulfates, parabens, and artificial fragrances are common culprits.
Eczema: Wash the area with a gentle soap before shaving. Shave in the direction of hair growth using a sharp razor and a gentle touch. Moisturize thoroughly afterward, using a lotion that has the National Eczema Association seal of approval.
Psoriasis: Use a gentle shaving cream formulated for sensitive skin, shave in the direction of hair growth using a sharp razor and a gentle touch, and moisturize thoroughly immediately afterward. Avoid nicking your skin.
Bikini Bumps: Exfoliate 24-48 hours before hair removal and moisturize immediately following hair removal to prevent ingrown pubic hairs. Wear loose-fitting 100% cotton underwear after shaving.

Related:

How to Stop Itching After Shaving

How Do You Shave Your Bikini Area

Say Goodbye to Razor Bumps On Your Bikini Line

Worst Razors for Sensitive Skin

The all-time worst razors for sensitive skin? Any dull razor, or disposable multi-blade razors. (Sure, they offer a close, easy shave, but they can cut the hair too short and lead to irritation and ingrown hairs. Plus, they’re lower-quality, higher-waste, and generally don’t have a pivoting head or ergonomic design, so it’s hard to get a good angle and avoid nicking your sensitive skin.)

Hair Removal Alternative for Sensitive Skin: Better Than the Best Razor

Rather than making shaving as non-irritating as possible… what if you just reduced your need to shave altogether?

No, we’re not necessarily recommending that you go full Yeti and let your unwanted body hair grow wild (though, if you want to, hell yeah). Rather, choose a permanent hair removal method that makes it so you can ditch the razor (and the razor bumps while you’re at it.)

At-home IPL devices like Lumi allow you to achieve permanent hair removal from the comfort of your home, making it so you just don’t have to shave anymore.

It’s a 6-12 week process, and you’ll need to shave before each initial treatment. (So all of this newfound knowledge you have about shaving sensitive skin will still come in handy!) But after that, you won’t need to worry about it.

Lumi is FDA-cleared for safe, effective hair removal, including on sensitive skin. It’s pain-free and extremely gentle – most don’t feel any sensation or discomfort at all on lower settings. It works just about anywhere, including for facial hair removal. And in 6-12 weeks, you can let your sensitive skin be and still enjoy permanently smooth, hair-free skin!