Best Wet Shaving Kits

Traditional wet shaving has grown exponentially over the past few years.  The classic safety razor allows you to get close results while using an environmentally friendly and affordable alternative to the cartridge razor.

The problem that many men face when getting into traditional shaving is where to start. So today, we wanted to share a few well-made wet shaving kits that provide excellent results.

Let’s begin.

Wet Shaving Kits Compared

Ranking	Wet Shaving Kit	Razor Type	Number of Pieces	Price	Award	Rating
1	OneBlade Core Black Tie Shave Kit	Hybrid	Four	$100	For Beginners	98
2	The Leaf Kit	Hybrid	Three	$113	Trending	96
3	Bevel Shave Kit	Safety Razor	Six	$143	Complete Kit	93
4	WCS Starter Kit	Safety Razor	Four	$58	Value Pick	91
5	Maggard Razors Basic Traditional Wet Shaving Starter Kit	Safety Razor	Four	$40	Customizable	90
6	Mühle Chrome-Plated Safety Razor Travel Shaving Set	Safety Razor	Three	$186	For Travel	88
7	D. R. Harris Three-Piece Shaving Set	Safety Razor	Three	$280	Luxury Pick	85
8	Merkur Futur Shaving Set	Adjustable Safety Razor	Four	$264	For Experts	82

Best Traditional Wet Shaving Kits of 2023

Here’s our list of some wet shaving kits we rated and reviewed:

The award-winning sleek and sexy OneBlade Core is a well-designed razor perfect for beginners.  What makes this razor so unique compared to a traditional safety razor is that the head of the razor pivots like a cartridge razor.  This allows the blade to stay flush against the skin, increasing comfort and reducing the chance of cuts when shaving.

Doing the cutting, the OneBlade Core relies on the highly-touted Feather FHS-10 single edge razor blades.  These super thin and sharp blades make quick work of even the most coarse whiskers.

Aside from the razor, OneBlade also includes in this kit lavender-scented shaving cream, a synthetic shaving brush, nourishing aftershave balm, a small razor stand, and two months’ worth of starter blades.

Launched as a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2016, Leaf Shave gained notoriety by making a cartridge razor alternative that is environmentally friendly while still providing a close and comfortable shave.

Like the OneBlade Core, the Leaf Kit features a beginner-friendly pivoting head that provides close and clean results. But unlike many others, it relies on a universal blade setting, allowing you to slide any safety razor blade into the head of the razor. This dramatically reduces the cost of ownership while allowing you to experiment across many different brands to see which razor blade performs the best.

Aside from the razor’s design, in this kit, Leaf also includes a short and sleek stand, 60 blades to get you started, and a blade bank, so you dispose of the used blades safely and responsibly.

It’s easy to see why this razor garners an impressive 4.77 out of 5.00 rating.

Whether you are trying out wet shaving for the first time or you are looking for the perfect present for that lucky guy in your life, the Bevel Shave Kit is the ideal way to start; here’s why:

From the initial priming oil to the alcohol-free restoring balm, Bevel includes all the essentials you need to get a barbershop-quality shave in the comfort of your own home.

Included in this starter kit, you will find the following:

• Safety Razor
• Shave Brush
• Priming Oil (Pre-Shave Oil)
• Shave Cream
• Restoring Balm (Aftershave Balm)
• 20 Blades

Each of the included items in the kit is well-made and great for beginners.  For example, the shaving brush is made from badger hair, a fiber that delivers a consistently thick lather.

The pre-shave oil and aftershave balm are naturally-derived and will make the entire shaving experience much more enjoyable.  And finally, the Bevel safety razor itself performs well.  It’s not too aggressive, making it a good razor for men with razor bumps or sensitive skin.

What customers are saying: Customers with coarse hair and curly hair recommend the Bevel Shaving System for a non-irritating shave. However, some customers with sensitive skin or who prefer other razor brands found it unsuitable. Poor packaging and missing/damaged items were also reported.

Founded in 2007, online retailer West Coast Shaving has been the go-to destination for all things shaving-related.  One item that shoppers particularly love is their WCS Starter Kit.  It contains all the essentials that you need for a good shave, including a shaving brush, shaving cream, a double edge safety razor, and several small packs of razor blades.  

While this kit retails for $72.48, it often goes on sale.  So if you don’t need to buy it now, you might be able to net some savings if you wait a bit.

Adrian, MI-based Maggard Razors, is a wet shaving enthusiast’s dream come true.  Carrying one of the widest selections of shaving supplies, they have everything you could ever need to take your shaving routine to the next level.

As we recently reviewed here, the Maggard Razors Basic Traditional Wet Shaving Starter Kit is a bespoke and affordable shaving set that is well worth the investment.  

When putting together the shaving kit, you can customize the razor handle to be long or short and the razor head for your facial hair type.

Also included with the shaving kit is a Maggard Razors synthetic shaving brush and three razor blade packs.  In total, the set only costs a modest $38.99 – an absolute steal!

For the road warriors out there, the Mühle Travel Shaving Set allows you to enjoy that oh-so-comfortable barbershop shave while away from home.  

The matching chrome-plated shaving brush handle/canister, coupled with the highly reviewed Mühle safety razor, will upgrade any hotel or gym countertop.  Housing both the brush and the razor, you’ll have a beautiful vegetable-tanned leather case.

If there are any downsides to this kit, it doesn’t come with razor blades or shaving cream.  Consider checking out our review of safety razor blades for some recommendations.

Founded in 1790, London-based D.R. Harris is an old-world shaving company highly revered amongst the wet shaving community.  Their shaving products are made with careful detail and perform exceptionally well.  

With a matching soft cream handle on both the razor and brush, it’ll feel great in the palm of your hand.  Also included with this kit is a shaving stand to help keep your shaving supplies nice and clean.

Lastly, the kit also includes a presentation box perfect for gift giving. 

The Merkur Futur is a beautiful safety razor that showcases some of the finest German craftsmanship in wet shaving.  

With a simple twist of the handle, the Merkur Futur allows you to change the aggressiveness of the shave in six different increments.  So if you crave that ‘baby butt smooth’ finish, we think you love what the Merkur Futur has in store for you.  

As we covered in our in-depth review of the Merkur Futur, even the mildest setting is quite aggressive.  Therefore we only recommend this shaving kit for men comfortable with safety razors.  

Aside from the Futur, Merkur also includes a badger shaving brush, stand, and bowl.  The only thing missing from here will be a shaving cream – we humbly suggest picking up Taylor of Old Bond Street.

Top-to-bottom, this is a well-designed set that is a perfect upgrade if you have experience with traditional shaving.

What customers are saying: Customers either love or dislike this set due to its price point and durability. The razor is good quality and heavy, but some have found the brush not well constructed and sheds bristles, while others found it great for beginners. The stand and bowl are pleasing aesthetically but of mediocre quality.

What to Consider When Buying a Wet Shaving Kit

So you’ve decided to take the plunge and get into wet shaving. Congrats! Wet shaving is a great way to get a close, comfortable shave while pampering yourself. But where do you start?

You’ll need to consider a few things before buying a wet shaving kit. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Type of Razor

There are a few different types of razors you can choose from when it comes to traditional wet shaving. They include the following:

• Hybrid Razors: Brands like OneBlade and Leaf offer hybrid razors that combine safety and cartridge razors best. These can be a great option if you’re looking for something easy to use but still provides a close shave.
• Safety Razors: These provide a close shave and are relatively easy to use. Just be sure to take extra care when using a safety razor, as they can be quite sharp. You will likely cut yourself at least once while learning to use one of these.
• Adjustable Safety Razors: A modification of the safety razor, adjustable safety razors allow you to adjust the blade angle, which can be helpful if you’re trying to avoid nicks and cuts.
• Straight Razors: Straight razors are the traditional option and can provide a very close shave. However, they’re also the most difficult to use and require a bit of practice to master. If you’re just starting, we recommend avoiding a straight razor.

Brand

There are a few different wet shaving kit brands on the market. Some of the more popular ones include OneBlade, Bevel, Mühle, and Merkur. Many of these brands offer starter kits with everything you need to get started, including a razor, shaving cream, and aftershave.

Additionally, these brands are highly revered by the wet shaving community, so you can be confident that you’re getting a quality product.

Price

Wet shaving kits can range in price from around $30 to $200. The price will largely depend on the quality of the razor and the included accessories. We recommend choosing a less expensive starter kit if you’re just starting.

You can always upgrade to a higher-end kit later on down the road.

What’s in the Kit

When looking at wet shaving kits, pay attention to what’s included. For example, some kits will come with just a razor and shaving cream, while others will include a brush, aftershave, and other accessories.

If you’re just starting, we recommend choosing a kit with a few extra items, as this will help you get the most out of your wet shaving experience.

How to Use a Traditional Razor

Now that you know what to look for in a wet shaving kit, it’s time to learn how to use your new razor! First, here’s a quick guide on how to use a traditional razor:

1. Wet your face with warm water to soften your hair and open your pores.
2. Apply shaving cream or soap to your face.
3. Using short strokes, shave in the direction of your hair growth. Be sure to hold the razor blade at a 30-degree angle to avoid nicks and cuts.
4. Rinse your face with cold water and apply aftershave.

And that’s it! You’re now a wet shaving pro.

Frequently Asked Questions