A complete guide to Fatip razors: 4 secrets for choosing the right model

Fatip and the quality debate

The low price, driven by the specifics of production, has a side effect: the razors often have finishing or construction defects. The most common complaint is uneven blade alignment.

Buyers look for patterns in production batches, in the year of manufacture, and even guess from the shade of the handles or the color of the box to understand which «Fatip» will hold the blade evenly — but there are no such patterns, and you need to know that this is normal for Fatip. The manufacturer does not consider construction or coating defects to be faults, and experienced shops and distributors joke that a «perfectly straight» Fatip is more the exception than the rule.

This relaxed attitude toward defects is connected with the fact that the design of Fatip razors forgives these shortcomings, just as it forgives wet shavers a lack of experience and shaving technique. Even with a blade that sits unevenly, Fatip is one of the most efficient razors on the market for coarse stubble.

Users look for patterns even in the design and size of the boxes. There are none: the same razors in different batches arrive in boxes of different colors and even different sizes. The manufacturer packs them in whatever boxes are available in stock, and only the top label and barcode distinguish the models from one another. The only constant is the Storto slants — they are always packed in red boxes with a diagonal label.

Fatip: not just Piccolo

It is very easy to solve the brand’s puzzles and not get lost among the models. We will help you understand the main differences between the models and which razor to choose in a given situation.

All Fatip razors differ in:

1. The head — open or closed;
2. The cut type — straight or slant;
3. The handle length — «small» (piccolo), «large» (grande), and the 2021 newcomer — «huge» (grosso);
4. The finish — chrome, nickel, gold, black chrome; there are also razors with wooden finishes.

Any Fatip model is a combination of these four factors.

Head types: open, closed, hybrid

The head design is an important feature of a DE safety razor. There are two main head types — open and closed. Open ones have a comb on the lower (base) plate, while closed ones have a solid safety bar to protect the skin from the blade edge.

Fatip razors with an open head are called Originale («original», because historically that was the brand’s first head), and those with a closed head are called Gentile («soft, gentle»). In the Retro series, only the razors with a comb are available.

Based on the Piccolo model, that is, with a light and short handle, there is a 2-in-1 Fatip Piccolo Special Edition: the set includes both plates, open and closed. Depending on how much the stubble has grown, the user chooses one of them.

• The comb base plate is suitable for thick, curly, coarse stubble and for 1—2 shaving sessions per week.
• The lower plate without teeth is for sensitive skin and soft stubble, as well as for those who like to shave every morning.

In 2022, Fatip released another hybrid version — it was called Ibrido. This model has one plate, with an open Originale comb on one side and a closed Gentile on the other. There is no need to disassemble the razor to change the plate, just turn it to the needed side. A convenient option for those who shave irregularly. The «Ibrido» is based on the «Grande» model, which means it has a large handle that is hollow inside.

Cut type: straight, slant

«Fatip» razors can have one of two cut types — straight or slant. The slant collection is called Storto. It includes razors with an open head (Storto Originale) or a closed head (Storto Gentile), as well as different colours and handle lengths.

Slant razors are more aggressive and more efficient than straight-cut razors. They shave hair using the guillotine principle. The risk of cuts when using a slant is much higher. That is why they are better suited to experienced wet shavers.

Handle size

Another important difference between Fatip razors is the length and weight of the handle. The comfort of the shave depends on the right size: the «Piccolo» handle is convenient only for users with compact hands, while the «Grosso» may seem heavy and bulky if you lack experience.

Fatip Piccolo are the shortest razors. In Italian, the name of this razor translates exactly as «little one». If Piccolo appears in the model name, then regardless of the head and cut type, the handle length stays the same — 71 mm. At the same time, there are two opinions: some say this is not enough for a comfortable shave, while others say this little razor is the most convenient and manoeuvrable. And statistically, Piccolo Originale is the brand’s most popular razor.

Fatip Grande has a handle that is 7 mm longer than the «Piccolo» and also has a larger diameter. Inside, it is hollow.

Fatip Il Grosso is a new 2021 collection. The handles of the razors in this collection are heavier and larger than the Grande, and the handle is solid inside. The name Il Grosso speaks for itself, as it means «huge». The handle diameter is 13 mm, the length is 85 mm.

Fatip Retro is an option for those with large hands and long fingers, and for those who prefer long handles over medium or short ones. The handle and the entire razor are fully designed in the art deco and modernist style of the 1920s. The handle looks refined and elegant, with diamond-shaped anti-slip knurling along its entire length and a half-sphere end. The handle length of Fatip Retro is 90 mm.

The handle of the Storto slants is either 71 mm long (Piccolo Storto) or 75 mm, with a characteristic pattern in the shape of a slanted string.

It is important to understand that the heads on these razors are the same. Handle size does not affect the cut type, blade exposure, or other head parameters. Piccolo Originale and Grande Originale will have the same Originale head — with a straight open cut.

Colour

Almost all razors are made of brass alloy. The coating shades vary — gold, chrome (dark and standard), nickel. There are Fatips with wooden handles and polymer handles that imitate horn. At the end of 2022, a new colour was added — the beautiful Copper shade («copper»), so far only with the Grande handle, but with both heads — open and closed.

The colour does not affect the geometry or ergonomics of «Fatips», although buyers sometimes spread myths that «nickel» has a straighter head than «gold». These are nothing more than superstitions, the manufacturer officially confirmed this to us.

Which Fatip should you choose?

1. Before choosing your Fatip, the first thing to decide is what type of stubble and skin you have. Based on that, choose a razor with an open (originale) or closed (gentile) head, or with a straight or slant cut (storto).
2. The handle size will affect ergonomics: for men with large hands, we recommend ruling out Piccolo and choosing from the other models.
3. The colour of the razor does not affect anything, so choose it based on your personal preferences and the interior of your bathroom.

Blades for Fatip razors

For more than half a century, Fatip made only razors and nothing else. Ahead of the New Year 2023, the manufacturer announced its own branded blades — they are made in Europe from stainless steel and have no coating, and are packed in boxes of 10.

However, Fatip razors still accept double-edge blades from any brand. Experiment and tell us which blades make your «Fatip» perform best.