One of the most frequently asked questions about what you can take on board a plane in carry on baggage, according to the TSA, is the rule applying to carrying a razor on a plane in carry on bags.
Can you bring a razor on a plane in hand luggage is certainly an important question if you are taking a long flight, particularly overnight, and want to feel more human before you land.
Perhaps you need to go straight to a crucial meeting on arrival, so having a shave can certainly be important.
So what are the rules? ….
The Quick Answer: TSA rules permit passengers to bring a razor on a plane in carry on provided it is either a disposable razor or a razor with the blade in a cartridge. If it has separate blades, such as a safety razor or it is a cut throat or straight razor then these are only permitted in checked luggage.
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What razors can you take in hand luggage?
According to the TSA, there are two types of wet shaving razor you can take on board an aircraft with you and this applies whether they are single-bladed or the more common multi-bladed types:
- Disposable razors. A disposable razor is a type that comes as a complete unit, including the blade and the handle, and the whole thing is thrown away when finished with.
- Cartridge disposable razors (such as Gillette Fusion). These are the type where you just change the cartridge containing the blade/s but keep the handle part to use again.
Whether you can take particular types of razors on board an aircraft is a matter for the individual agents at the airport security checkpoint who adhere to the sharp objects rules.
As well as being able to bring disposable razors, you can also take electric shavers in hand and checked luggage. See taking electric razors on a plane
What razors can’t you take in hand luggage?
You cannot take a wet razor in hand luggage if it falls into one of the following categories:
- If it holds a separate razor blade, in other words, the older style razor with replaceable blades, such as the one below, which are known as safety razors.
- Cut throat or barber’s razors. These are the types that were used mainly in days gone by (you see them in old Westerns all the time) where there is a large blade that normally folds into a handle
However, you can carry either of these types of razor in your checked hold baggage, not that it is very useful to you if you want to shave on the aircraft but you can use it when you reach your destination.
You can ask the Transportation Security Administration about any items you are unsure of that you may wish to take in your carry on or checked bags on Twitter using the #AskTSA hashtag. This is a reply regarding razors:
This is the TSA link in the reply – Safety Razors and Disposable Razors
Other things the TSA website has to say about carrying razors on a plane:
Razors. There’s a lot of confusion out there as to what types of razors are OK to pack in your carry-on baggage. So people ask us about this one all the time.
Safety Razors: Because the razor blades are so easy to remove, you cannot bring safety razors in your carry-on luggage with the razor blade. They’re fine to pack in your carry-on without the blade. The blades must be stored in your checked luggage. The same applies for straight razors.
Disposable Razors: Disposable razors come in two types. The kind that is completely disposable (handle and all), or the kind where you replace them with cartridges. These are permissible in carry-on luggage with the blade and replacement cartridges.
Electric Razors: Electric razors are permitted in both checked and carry-on bags.
The Top Five Items People Ask About: Razors, Batteries, Makeup, Shampoo & Deodorant
Can you take spare razor cartridges on a plane?
You can pack as many spare disposable cartridges for your razor as you need and carry them in your carry on and checked baggage.
If you are taking the cartridges in a cabin bag you will have no problems getting them through the airport security checkpoint.
You cannot take replacement blades for a safety razor in carry on.
Can you take a straight razor on a plane?
For obvious reasons, in today’s security-conscious world, under no circumstances can you bring any form of cut-throat, barber’s, or straight razors on a plane in your carry on luggage.
That would apply even if your name is Sweeney Todd.
It is easy to see that these would be considered something of a security hazard, well these days anyway.
However, even Sweeney Todd would be allowed to bring a razor like this on board an aircraft if it was packed in his suitcase and traveled as checked luggage.
Particularly if you are taking a soft-sided bag, you should ensure that the razor is well protected so that it cannot protrude through the side of the bag and potentially injure a baggage handler.
Can you shave on a plane?
Being able to bring razors in carry on, along with shaving cream, is one thing but are you allowed to actually shave during the flight.
Fortunately, most airlines are unlikely to object to you having a shave during the flight. Of course, most airlines have tiny restrooms with even smaller sinks so having a shave in such a confined space will not be that easy.
Please be considerate to the other passengers who might use the restroom after you by ensuring that you clean up after you. No one wants to go in the restroom after you to see shaving cream and your whiskers everywhere.
Perhaps taking an electric razor might be a better option as you could actually shave.
Can you bring a Gillette razor on an airplane?
Provided the Gillette razor is of the cartridge type then you can take it on a plane in your carry on and checked baggage.
If it is an older Gillette razor that takes a safety blade (ie blades not held in a cartridge) then you can only carry these in your checked baggage to go in the aircraft’s hold.
Can you bring a Venus razor in carry on?
You are permitted to take a Venis razor on a plane in your carry on (or your checked bags). You can also take spare Venus razor blade cartridges in your carry on.
Can you bring spare safety razor blades on a plane?
If you intend to take a spare blade pack for your razor with you they will have to be packed in your checked bags, along with any safety razors themselves.
Safety razor blades are not permitted to be taken on board the aircraft with you in your carry on bag and will be confiscated at airport security if you attempt to take them.
Can you bring shaving cream on a plane?
Being able to carry your disposable razor onboard isn’t much use to you if you can’t also take shaving cream or something similar on board in your carry on bag too.
Shaving cream, shaving gel and shaving foam are all treated as being liquids under the TSA rules. This means that you can bring them in your carry on but the size of the container cannot be greater than 3.4 ounces (or 100ml).
It must also fit into one quart sized clear plastic, zip-top liquids bag, along with any other 3.4 ounce liquids you may be carrying, to pass through airport security.
You can buy the small cans of shaving foam or shaving gel in most drug stores and supermarkets, or failing that, at airports.
You can, of course, take full sized items with you but these must be in your checked baggage, otherwise they will be confiscated by security if you try to take them with you on board.
Don’t worry about your shaving cream as aerosol cans will not explode in checked bags.
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You may be interested in my other airport security articles:
Can you bring scissors on a plane?
Can you take lithium batteries on a plane?
What items are not allowed in hand luggage?
Can you bring hair straighteners in carry on bags?
I have been traveling around the world by air since the early 70s and living overseas too. I worked for British Airways for a number of years and I am also a private pilot. About Me
