The smooth shave promised by cartridge razors often comes with an unwelcome side effect: ingrown hairs. These tiny, painful bumps form when hairs curl back into the skin instead of rising above it, a problem exacerbated by the multi-blade design of most cartridge razors. The first blade tugs the hair out slightly, allowing the following blades to cut it below skin level. As the skin heals, it can sometimes enclose the hair, leading to inflammation and discomfort.
Unlike their cartridge counterparts, single-blade safety razors cut the hair cleanly at the surface of the skin. This direct, one-stroke approach significantly reduces the risk of hairs curling back into the skin.
