Best razors for women: tried and tested for silky, smooth skin

The best razors for women get you silky smooth legs and armpits without irritating the skin or leaving patches of hair. 

Our expert panel spent weeks trying all the razors on test, including popular buys from Estrid and Gillette Venus. 

We found two Best Buys that won't cost you a fortune and will impress on both shorter and longer hair growth. 

Looking to shave your face? See our round-up of the best razors for men instead

The women's razors we tested

The biggest brands and the most popular razors for women are listed below.

Only logged-in Which? members and free account owners can view our results. 

Register for free to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations for women's razors.

The women's razors we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members and free account owners can view our results. 

Register for free to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations for women's razors.

Amazon Women's 5-Blade Razor

Number of blades Five

Replacement razor heads Amazon (ten-pack, £11.23)

Need to know 27g, flexible head (forwards and backwards, side to side), lubricating strip

Estrid The Body Razor

Number of blades Five

Replacement razor heads Boots (four-pack, £11.95) (Out of stock), you can also get refills on subscription through Estrid (four-pack, £10.95)

Need to know 64g, flexible head (forwards and backwards), lubricating strip, claims head lasts up to seven shaves, handle also compatible with Estrid The Face razor heads, other colours available

FFS Beauty Razor

Number of blades Six

Replacement razor heads Superdrug (six-pack, £12.50)

Need to know 59g, flexible head (forwards and backwards), lubricating strip and guard bar to stretch skin, built-in bikini trimmer

Gillette Venus Comfortglide

Number of blades Three

Replacement razor heads Gillette (eight-pack, £18)

Need to know 26g, flexible head (forwards and backwards), lubricating strips, claims head lasts up to eight shaves, other colours available

Complete your grooming set: best electric shavers and best epilators

Gillette Venus Extra Smooth Swirl

Number of blades Five

Replacement razor heads Gillette (six-pack, £18)

Need to know 28g, flexible head (forwards and backwards, rotate left and right), lubricating strip, claims head lasts up to eight shaves

Gillette Venus Smooth

Number of blades Three

Replacement razor heads Gillette (four-pack, £8.99)

Need to know 25g, flexible head (forwards and backwards), lubricating strip and 'Venus SkinCushion' to help protect skin from shave irritation, blue indicator strip that fades when head needs changing, claims head lasts up to eight shaves

Wilkinson Sword Intuition Sensitive Women's Razor

Number of blades Four

Replacement razor heads Wilkinson Sword (three-pack, £9), you can also get refills on subscription (three-pack £7.65)

Need to know 55g, flexible head (forwards and backwards), soap bar, other colours available

Wilkinson Sword Quattro Razor

Number of blades Four

Replacement razor heads Boots (three-pack, £6.74) (out of stock)

Need to know 38g, flexible head (forwards and backwards), gel pool

How we test women's razors

Many free-to-access websites review women's razors using just one tester, or use several testers but they only try out one or two of the razors featured. These sites may also receive women's razors free of charge, directly from manufacturers.

Which? tests are different. Our test scores are based on measurements and ratings, with each panellist testing every single razor we review. Plus, brands cannot buy their way into our testing. We select the most searched-for women's razors, and we pay for every single one we test.

We also regularly revisit the women's razors on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing.

Shaving: how close and smooth a shave do you get?

We use a panel of three experts who test every razor (not a subset of them) over several weeks, for a truly comparative test.

Each razor is tried on hair grown over one day and three days and rated for how close the final shave is, how smoothly it runs over the skin, how manoeuvrable the razor is and if the blades irritate the skin.

The best razors for women give a smooth, close shave with little tugging, even if your underarm or leg hair's a few days long. In contrast, the worst took several passes to fully shave, tugged on three-day stubble, or produced so much soap that it hindered how easily you could see where you're shaving.  

Ease of use: is the razor comfortable to hold?

As well as our panel rating every razor for how easy it is to replace the heads and how comfortable it is to hold, we use a Cambridge simulation glove, which allows the wearer to simulate reduced hand mobility, to assess how simple each shaver is to use.

All our Best Buys are easy to use, even if you have limited hand movement.

We also test

• Durability Each razor is dropped five times from head height to see how robust it is.
• Build quality We check every razor for how securely the head fits to the handle, the rigidity and finish of the handle and for high-quality materials.
• Ease of cleaning We rinse each razor while being used and rate it for how easy it is to dislodge hairs from the razor head.

Why we don't test how long the blades last for

Many factors affect how long a razor head will last before you need to change it. This includes your hair type, the length of your hair, your technique and your skin sensitivity. 

As such, there's no easy way to measure how long a blade lasts that is meaningful to everyone.

Health? or Hype?

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Are men's razors better than women's?

Women's razor refills tend to be pricier per unit than men's razor heads.

This may be in part because they tend to have more (or larger) soaps, lubricating strips or gel pools attached to them. 

So, are you better off using a razor for men on your body?

We used two independent panels to test men's razors and women's razors, so the scores in these tests are not directly comparable. 

However, we gave the top-scoring men's razor to one of our experts from the women's panel who wasn't a fan of how much lubrication women's razors produce.

They said: 'It was like night and day how much better the men's razor was than the best ladies' one.'

If you aren't a fan of the 'gloop' women's razors can make when shaving, you may want to consider using a razor for men instead. 

Find out which razor came out on top: best razors for men

Can you take a razor on an aeroplane?

According to the UK government, fixed-cartridge razor blades can go in hand or hold luggage.

This includes disposable razors and cartridge razors (razors where the whole head can be detached, such as the ones reviewed here). But it's good practise to check with the specific airline you're flying with.

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How to get rid of razor burn

We spoke to Dr Jonathan Kentley, consultant dermatologist and British Skin Foundation spokesperson, to get expert insight into the causes and ways to avoid and reduce razor burn.

What is razor burn?

'It happens when the blade scrapes against the surface of the skin, creating tiny abrasions and inflammation,' said Dr Kentley.

What are the common causes of razor burn?

• Dry shaving Without lubrication, there's more friction and direct contact with the skin. As Dr Kentley told us: 'Dry shaving in particular almost guarantees irritation.'
• Using blunt or dirty blades They will pull at the skin more as they don't cut cleanly, which can lead to more irritation.
• Shaving too quickly This is more likely to lead to accidental cuts and nicks.

What are the best ways to avoid getting razor burn?

• Shave after a shower Dr Kentley said: 'A shower softens the hairs and makes them easier to cut. Always use a sharp clean razor.'
• Use shaving cream or gel This reduces friction between the skin and blades.
• Shave in the direction of hair growth Dr Kentley explained: 'It's kinder to the skin, even if the shave feels a little less close. Rinsing the blades frequently and taking your time also helps reduce the risk of irritation.'

What can you do to reduce the symptoms if you get razor burn?

'If razor burn does strike, the priority is to soothe the skin while it recovers,' said Dr Kentley. Here are his top tips:

• Apply a cool compress It can reduce heat and redness.
• Moisturise Use a fragrance-free lotion to help repair the skin barrier. Ingredients such as aloe vera, glycerin or colloidal oatmeal can be particularly calming.
• If your inflammation is significant Consider a short course of mild steroid cream.