BIC says it launched the world’s first one-piece disposable shaver in 1975, and that the little single-blade BIC 1 is still its best-selling razor worldwide. That scale is the whole appeal: BIC razors are cheap, stocked by most drugstores and supermarkets, and easy to replace. The catch is that the BIC name covers a wide range, from a bare single-blade disposable to five-blade handles and refills, so “a BIC razor” can mean several different things.
This page is for you if you have settled on the BIC brand and want to know which of its razors to buy for your skin and your routine. If you already own a handle you like and only need blades, start with our guide to shaving blades for sensitive skin instead. And if you are still comparing BIC against other brands, our roundup of disposable razors puts it next to the alternatives.
What the BIC range actually covers
BIC’s razors run from one blade to five. The single- and two-blade razors are the cheapest and the gentlest by design. The multi-blade disposables cut closer. The Hybrid kits swap the throwaway handle for one you keep and refill. BIC itself describes its men’s razors as one to five stainless-steel blades with fixed or pivoting heads and lubricating strips, and its women’s razors as two- to five-blade systems with moisture bars and comfort shields.
That tells you what the range contains, not which one to buy. The deciding question is how close you want to shave against how easily your skin reddens, so here is the lineup by buyer.
Men’s BIC razors: which to buy
1. BIC Sensitive (single blade): the cheapest, gentlest pick
BIC Sensitive is a single-blade disposable, sold here as a ten-pack. One blade means less to drag across the skin, which is why single-blade razors are often suggested for people who get razor bumps or irritation; we explain the reasoning in whether single-blade razors are better for sensitive skin.
The trade-off is closeness. A single blade will not give you the polished finish a multi-blade razor does, and if you press harder to chase it, you lose the gentleness that made it worth choosing. If you want the deep dive on one model rather than the whole lineup, see our BIC Sensitive razor review.
2. BIC Comfort 3 Advance: a cheap step up to three blades
Comfort 3 Advance is a three-blade disposable with a textured handle for grip. Three blades cut closer than one without the cost of a five-blade cartridge razor. This 4-piece pack is a plain disposable: buy it, use it, throw it away. If you like the Comfort 3 head but would rather keep a handle, BIC also sells it as a refillable kit – see pick 5 below.
It suits a reader who wants a closer shave than a single blade gives but does not want to spend more money or maintain a handle.
3. BIC Flex 5 Sensitive: the closest of the disposables
Flex 5 packs five ultra-thin blades behind a lubricating strip, and BIC describes this version as clinically proven for sensitive skin. That last part is the manufacturer’s claim, not an independent test. The closeness comes from the blade count: five edges cut more of the hair in a single stroke than one or three.
The same design carries the usual multi-blade caveat. Five edges in contact with your skin is more to react to than a single blade, so if you know that multi-blade razors leave you sore, start lower down this list.
4. BIC Flex 5 Hybrid: the same head, on a handle you keep
The Hybrid kit pairs one reusable handle with six Flex 5 cartridges, so only the cartridge is thrown away. You get the same five-blade head as the razor above. The up-front cost is higher than a pack of disposables, but over time refilling the head is usually the cheaper way to keep shaving with the razor you like.
Buy it if you have decided you like the Flex 5 and want to cut down on plastic handles. Skip it if you would rather buy the cheapest pack of razors and not think about it again.
5. BIC Comfort 3 Hybrid kit: the cheaper refillable
This is the refillable version of the Comfort 3 head: one handle and sixteen cartridges. It costs more up front than a pack of disposable Comfort 3s, but replacing only the cartridge keeps the handle out of the bin and usually works out cheaper over time if you shave regularly. The cartridges are BIC’s own, so as with the Flex 5 Hybrid you are tied to BIC for refills.
Choose it over the Flex 5 Hybrid if you prefer three blades to five or want the lower price per cartridge.
Women’s BIC razors: which to buy
BIC’s women’s razors are the Soleil and Silky Touch families, and they follow the same blade-count logic as the men’s range. If you want to weigh them against other brands, we also keep a list of gentle razors for women with sensitive skin.
6. BIC Soleil 5 Sensitive: the closest women’s BIC
Soleil 5 Sensitive uses five blades and a pivoting head with 360-degree moisture strips to help it follow the contours of legs and underarms. It is the closest of BIC’s women’s razors. As with any five-blade razor, that closeness means more blades against the skin, so if you redden easily the three-blade version below is the safer place to start.
7. BIC Soleil 3 Sensitive: the middle ground
Soleil 3 Sensitive is a three-blade women’s disposable with a comfort shield and a moisture strip. Fewer blades than the Soleil 5 means a slightly less close shave but a gentler one for skin that reddens easily. It suits a reader who finds five-blade razors irritate the legs or bikini line but still wants more than a basic two-blade razor.
8. BIC Click 3 Soleil Sensitive: the women’s refillable
The Click 3 Soleil Sensitive is BIC’s refillable women’s razor: one handle with a 30% recycled-plastic grip and two refill cartridges. It takes the three-blade Soleil head, so it shaves like pick 7 but without throwing the handle away each time. The trade-off is the small starter pack – you only get two refills – and, like every refillable, the ongoing supply is BIC’s own cartridges, not any brand you like.
9. BIC Silky Touch: the bulk spare
Silky Touch is a two-blade women’s disposable, sold here as a 40-pack with travel covers. Two blades and a basic handle are all you need for occasional leg and underarm shaving, and buying in bulk brings the cost per razor right down. BIC also says the updated Silky Touch handle uses 87% recycled plastic.
Buy it if you want a cheap, no-thought spare in the shower, the gym bag and the suitcase. Do not buy it expecting the close finish of the Soleil ranges.
Getting a better shave from a cheap razor
A budget razor shaves well when the basics are right, and poorly when they are not. Most of the difference between a comfortable shave and a sore one comes from technique, not price.
- Soften the hair first. Shave after a warm shower, or hold a warm, wet cloth to the skin for about half a minute.
- Use light pressure. Let the blade do the work; pressing down is a common cause of razor burn and nicks, especially with a fresh blade.
- Rinse the blade often and keep the strokes short.
- Go with the grain on the first pass. A second pass against the grain cuts closer but raises the odds of irritation and ingrown hairs.
- Let the razor dry head-up after use. A blade that stays wet and clogged dulls faster.
- Replace the razor when it starts to drag rather than cut. A dull blade tugs at the hair, and that drag is a common reason skin ends up sore.
It is worth knowing how to keep these cheap razors working properly: caring for your disposable razor covers cleaning and storage, and it is the easiest way to get more good shaves out of a pack.
Common questions
Which BIC razor is best for sensitive skin? The single-blade BIC Sensitive for the face, and the three-blade Soleil 3 Sensitive for legs and underarms. Fewer blades usually means less irritation, and “sensitive” versions are the ones BIC positions for reactive skin.
What is the difference between BIC Flex and BIC Comfort? The Flex 5 is BIC’s five-blade range and shaves closest; Comfort is the three-blade range and costs less. Both come as plain disposables, and both also come as refillable kits you keep and top up with cartridges – the Flex 5 Hybrid and the Comfort 3 Hybrid.
Are BIC razors any good? They are the budget standard. They are cheap, widely available, and BIC has been making disposables since the 1970s. What you give up against a premium cartridge razor is closeness and a heavier handle, and what you gain is that replacing one never feels expensive.
Should I buy disposable or refillable BIC razors? Disposables are the simplest and the cheapest up front. For a kept handle, BIC offers two: the Flex 5 Hybrid (five blades) and the Comfort 3 Hybrid (three blades) for men, and the Click 3 Soleil Sensitive for women. Refillables cost more to start but cut down on discarded handles and usually cost less over time if you shave regularly. If you want the same comparison across brands, our guide to the Gillette razor lineup does the same job for the main rival.
The short version: pick the blade count that matches your skin first, then decide whether you want a throwaway handle or a refillable one. For most people that means starting with BIC Sensitive or Comfort 3 and moving up to the Flex 5 only if the skin is happy with more blades.
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