1y ago

The Henson Safety Razor, a nearly 1-to-1 replacement for disposable razors, with all the environmental benefits of a regular safety razor, and certifiably BIFL

When I became more environmentally conscious many years ago, I decided to switch to a safety razor to reduce plastic waste. I landed on a reputable safety razor with a 'mild' angle, something that would be good for sensitive skin. Even with a good shaving soap, I found that I would regularly still get some discomfort from razor burn, despite learning a solid technique.

Enter: the Henson. This was touted as a 'new' design of safety razor that fully supported the blade, making it particularly well suited for sensitive skin, and much harder to nick yourself.

Well, I've been using this thing for a few months now, and I can honestly say the marketing isn't an exaggeration, it's been a game-changer for me.

It really is MUCH harder to nick myself with this, to the point where I can press it against my skin firmly like a disposable, and I still don't get irritation. It's one of the most pleasant shaving experiences I've had, and I can heartily recommend one for anyone who wants a truly mild safety razor.

Its made of machined aluminum, and built to tight tolerances. I anticipate I'll be using this sucker quite literally for the rest of my life.

Though do bear in mind, If you have a thick beard or non-sensitive skin, the mild henson might not be ideal for you. As an example I still use my old razor with it's more exposed blade to shave my head, as this henson gets clogged up far too quickly for that application (unless the hair is already really short). But for the face with light facial hair? Perfection.

71 comments

I got one too, been a little under a year.
Just wanted to comment and vouch 100% for what OP is saying. The razor is actually surreal at times due to how little you feel it. It’s like rubbing the side of a pencil against your skin or something lol, except the hair is gone afterwards.
I did manage to nick myself under the knee once. You see, the razor feels so safe that it actually baits you into a state of over-confidence. So I ended up just absolutely FLYING with it to see how fast I could get the job done. I would advise staying cautious in sensitive areas, it is still a razor after all.
But yeah absolute game changer. Already paid for itself several times over. Plus I just like it, it’s nice having a piece of metal instead of another piece of plastic

+1 to safety razors in general. The disposables always used to make my neck and chin look like a horror film, not for lack of research on using. Switching to safety razors, I only shave around my beard so I use the same blades for a long while and shave infrequently, and I've been using the same pack of blades that I bought 5+ years ago. A little cardboard and metal, way less waste, I have a huge supply of razors so I haven't thought about buying in ages, and I get a way better shave after just a little practice.
And the waste reduction can't be understated.
- Same. I bought a sample pack thinking I'd remember which one I liked. 7 years later and I'm halfway through the pack. Spouse made me a "piggy bank" from a can of beans to dispose of used razors. They hot glued the top back on after cutting a slot. I will probably die before I need a new one.

Cartridge razors are the most prevelant scam in modern society, they're more prone to ingrowns, gunk up far before the blades are actually dull (making consumers go through them MUCH faster than blades), AND costs literally 100x per unit what razor blades do. Subjectively, I also get a much closer, infinitely less irritating shave.
- I have a life pro tip for people using cartridge razors and having them gunk up: canned air. Like the kind you're supposed to use on your keyboard or computer. Blow your razor out to dry and clear debris. It will last a shitload longer.
  
  Just... Water coming from behind? My cartridges last like 6 months of shaving my beard and head once a week...
  
  If you don't like canned air, you can use a blower/duster.

Be warned, safety razor shaving can become a rabbit hole if you’re not careful. I’ve spent a fair bit of coin on various razors, brushes, soaps, blades, and numerous other accessories. I was pretty settled on my setup for the last 2 years, but really wanted to try a lighter weight razor (aluminum or titanium). These have historically been very expensive. I stumbled upon this Henson AL13 razor and decided to try it out. Still expensive for me at roughly $80, but much cheaper than options I was looking at a few years back.
It’s been a couple of months now, and I am extremely happy with it. Compared with my previous razor (Karve Christopher Bradly, which I was very happy with) I barely even feel this razor on my skin, but it gets just as clean of a shave. I have very sensitive skin, so this is a blessing for me. 100% recommend.
- Outside of this, pricing wise chances are high you will spend less money on a safety razor and it's replacement blades than most others.
  Someone did the math, it's almost exponential.
  
  That’s a great point. I can use a brand new blade every shave and still spend far less than it would cost to buy Mach-3 heads (or similar). Even using those disposable heads for multiple shaves (I would normally go 5 shaves per head), it’s still much much much cheaper with the safety razor blades I now use.

I've used a safety razor for a little under 20 years. I've also spent maybe $30 in blades in that time. Love my merkur futur.

I started using a safety razor around 10 years ago. Highly recommend it. Takes a bit to get the technique down, but then you're golden. But what razor, blades, etc is HIGHLY personal. My face isn't your face. You'll have to experiment for what blades work for you, along with soap and post-shave.
But in 2015 I bought 100 blades for $22. I'm just starting to run out. So I've saved a ton of money and get a better shave.
- I don't understand how you guys can use blades for so long. That's 1 blade per month. I tried about 20 brands. Feather was the best for me. I get 2 or 3 shaves. That's it. All other brands i got 1 shave. I blew through 50 blades (bought in May) in the last 6 months. By the 3rd shave I'm getting nicks from dull spots.
  
  It has to be hair thickness or technique or something. I normally use feathers about 5-10 times before I feel uncomfortable tugging, but I hear a lot of people also say the same thing you do.
  
  I have a beard, so I'm just shaving my neck and cheeks.

Cheaper. Better. Easier (at least for me).
I use a straight razor with disposable blades by Feather. Which is faster than the safety razor but, uh, safety razors are called "safety" for a reason. Probably will go back to the safety razors.

I’ve considered it, but as someone with meh dexterity who does very quick and lazy shaves I’ve heard bad things about safety razors for my use case, is that the case for these as well? I hate using plastic razors, but the whole “shaving ritual” thing sounds awful compared to my 30 second shave
- I can come out of the shower with soap on my face and shave in less than a minute with a blade I haven't replaced in awhile (though blades are cheap). I don't feel like I have to be particularly careful, just go over every piece of skin once. I haven't cut myself in years. I don't have OPs razor but just a generic safety razor from Amazon.
- I don't have this exact razor but a similar model that works for sensitive skin. Most of the time lost on the shaving ritual for me is getting a froth from a bar of shave soap. Back when I had to shave every day I used shave butter and a safety razor and was able to get it done in about a minute being somewhat careful. I get a closer shave with the safety razor than I ever did with the bic razors I used to use so I think that makes up for some time lost shaving
- The only hard rule is don't move it sideways against your skin. You'll slice it. Not deep but it will bleed and hurt. Get one that is adjustable or angled for sensitive skin.
  I think electric is faster but I prefer the smoothness of the safety razor. Safety razor takes me about 2-3 minutes in the shower.
- I've found the whole ritual aspect is pretty much unnecessary, and I kinda regret buying some of the accessories that people in shaving forums say is needed, like a lathering bowl (Honestly you can apply a fancy shaving cream directly to a wet bristle brush and it works just as well, and regular old barbasol has worked fine too).
  A safety razor would work fine for your use case, but a henson especially, since they're pretty much just as easy and safe to use as a cartridge razor. Like others said, you can still cut yourself if you make sideways motions with the blade, but I think that's probably true for cartridge razors too.
  If you want to get a budget razor just to see if it's something that would work for you, the Lord L6 is actually pretty well regarded, and only costs like 7 bucks.
- I also preferred quick and lazy before getting a safety razor, bleeded a lot, too.
  With the safety I'd recommend always starting the shave in the direction of hair growth and then doing across and against if you feel like it. You can find more instructions on-line, I wish I had this advice earlier, that would have helped a lot even with cartridges.

Though do bear in mind, If you have a thick beard or non-sensitive skin, the mild henson might not be ideal for you.
I see they have the -M class for more blade exposure for thicker and longer hair. I wonder if this would mitigate that. Did you have the AL13 non-M model?
- Yes, I have the standard one. I kinda wish I'd gotten the AL13-M now, as I suspect it might've been able to pull double duty.
  
  As someone with thick facial hair who doesn't shave daily, I might still get the standard one. I have a safety razor already with feather blades. But if I could get one that more ensured a lack of nicks and razor burn when I do shave everyday, that'd be great.

Personally, I think the vanderhagen kit at target is the perfect place to start for a beginner. Inexpensive, mild and forgiving razor. Blades are mild but not too much so. It gives you time to go through the very small learning curve and gain the confidence/trust needed for peanuts. Then step two I would say is try a variety pack of blades, then just start ordering the ones you like best. Optional step three is treat yoself to a nicer razor, once you realize what you like (mild vs medium vs aggressive, and weight) and/or try a good shaving soap+synthetic brush, or just enjoy your current razor and call it a day. Your skin and wallet will thank you either way

Any ladies or theys in the chat that can attest to how good it is for legs/bits? I assume that if it's good for faces it's good for any other part of the body as well, but I'd love to hear any personal experiences you guys may have on that front!
- I love my safety razor. Go with one that has a longer handle. I have a vintage Lady Gillette Starburst razor that I picked up on eBay. It's a super close shave. I stay smoother a couple of days longer than I did with cartridge razors. It completely got rid of shave bumps and my skin irritation that was driving me crazy. West Coast shaving sells blade sample packs so you can try a bunch and pick the one you like most.
  Fwiw safety razor shaving is a deep deep rabbit hole. You will drop a bunch of money up front but the benefits are great. Some people get into it to save money (it is cheaper than cartridge shaving) but then they turn into collectors with bunches of razors and a huge array of shaving soaps, creams, and after shaves. You don't HAVE to go that deep.
  
  Haha it's funny that you mention the rabbit hole, because this post definitely sent me down one. I was researching using safety razors for body shaving, and people seemed to keep mentioning the lady Gillette! I may have to pick one up. Do you recommend any particular year, or are they all about the same?
- My wife uses Merkur Futur (it has adjustable agression), and I use Chinese rip-off of Merkur Futur for body hairs. Those work great, as for Henson I'd say it's a bit too mild for body hairs unless you have them very thin and soft
- Face and leg razors have different contours (that’s why leg razors are more expensive) if you’re worried about cutting then stick to a leg razor
  
  I was worried about that, especially with a straight razor when my legs don't have many flat planes on them. I will say, though, I've used men's brand razors for years instead of women's brands, and haven't noticed much difference between the two. I assume the price difference is just typical pink tax.
  
  Do you have any recommendations for a non-disposable that is good for legs? I have had the same safety razor for almost a decade but still shill out too much money for disposables because the safety razor tears up my knees/ankles.

I bought the aluminium and loved it so much I upgraded to the titanium. No regrets, although I can't say there's much difference except for the weight feels better.
I haven't used any other safety razors, but I can't imagine how anything could be better. It's so good I can shave with just cold water (no shaving cream) and it still comes out perfect.

I avoided shaving for more than a decade. Electric razors and cartridge jobs left me with endless ingrown hairs and irritation so beard and clippers for me. The only thing I hadn't tried was a safety razor for fear of nicking myself into oblivion.
Enter the Henson Al-13. I'm very happy with it. Amazingly easy, close shave with very little in terms of nicking. I switched from the RK blades it came with to a slightly milder blade and I'm super happy! I can shave clean every day or two with no ingrown hairs, no irritation, no nicks.
Brilliant equipment and extremely well machined. You can switch to milder blades if you're struggling, or more aggressive ones if you need. The ability to tune the handle to fit your skin and hair is absolutely game changing. Truly BIFL.

I currently have a Rockwell Adjustable Model T; used to have a Merkur Heavy(?).
I'm curious of any converts to this model from other razors and thoughts.
- I've used the Merkur HD for years, then got a bad case of Razor Acquisition Syndrome. My Rockwell 6S I used for years before deciding to trey a Henson. I have never looked back. I thought I'd miss the adjustability, but it just does the job that damned well.
  They say it's because the razor locks the blade down so thoroughly, and I'm inclined to agree. I'd been getting some nicks, and then (finally!) got rid of the accumulated gack on the razor with some dilute vinegar and a toothbrush. Bam. Back to incredibly easy, smooth shaves.
  As a few have remarked, it's certainly still possible to nick yourself with a Henson, but it doesn't require more than ordinary care, I'd say. I use the "mid aggressive" one as my whiskers are fairly intense, so can't speak to the mild version. I know I would not bother with the titanium extra-aggressive model if I decided to upgrade the material.
  That said, Rockwell is also excellent, so unless you just want to try out another, I don't think you need to change if you're happy. I will say it has been the endpoint for me after quite a few years of experimenting and probably 8 or 9 different razors.
  
  Thanks so much for conveying your experience. Exactly what I was after.
  I'm quite happy with my Rockwell but that won't stop me from trying something else. I'll give the Henson a go.

Been using a Dual Edge Safety Razor for a year. It's so much more affordable and a better shave. I shave every day. I spent like $15 on my razor (1939-45 Gillette tech,) $15ish for 100 razor blades (I use Gillette Nacets) where each one I use for about a week. So what almost two years of blades? I use Arko shave soap which is like $8 a tub and it last me like 3 or 4 months. After shave about $10 again another 2 or 3 months. Most expensive thing was my shave brush which was like $35. Won't buy another for forever.
Anyway. It's a nice thing to do. It will take a few weeks to get used to. The shave is excellent and once your used to it you can shave just as fast as the disposable ones with a crazy close shave.

The AL13, and not the AL13-M, I presume?
- Yes, and apparently they've redesigned some aspects of my razor since I've bought it.
  
  Oh nice.

FWIW the head of their current model is a bit different. Yours has contact at the blade edges, the ones on their store have a gap across the full width.
- I have the model you're referring to. And I have to agree with OP I'm very happy with. I literally used it today without even using shaving cream. (Was just a touch up on the mustache, nothing crazy)
  I have nicked myself a few times but I think that's more due to the fact I have a scar on my face that makes it more prone to nicking.
- Huh, you're right. That new design looks like a solid improvement, would make it easier to blast hair out from underneath the blade.

I love my slant safety razor. Very few nicks. Load with an Astra platinum and it's a dream shave with some arko cream.

I've been using the Rockwell 6s for a few years now and I've had a pretty good experience as well. For my everyday, the 4 setting strikes a pretty good balance

Got this a few months ago for myself and I’m liking it. It takes some adjustment to technique, as you hold the handle at a different angle than you would with a regular Mach 5 razor, almost perpendicular to your skin instead of at a 45-ish degree angle. I cut myself up a bit the first time I used it, but since then I haven’t had any issues. I’m liking the idea of at least cutting out that little bit of plastic waste (assuming the metal razors are recyclable).

If anyone has a recommendation for one for head shaving, I'm all ears!
- The AL13-M Henson, which is more aggressive than the one I have, may work out for that. (even my ultra mild henson works for head shaving if I do it regularly, it just doesn't work well if you wait too long between shaves).
  I think most 'normal' safety razors would handle head shaving just fine. I use a cheap entry level Maggard razor from their starter kit, but something like a Rockwell 2C, or King C. Gillette would probably work just as well. I've also read good things about vintage Gillette Tech's from ebay, which can be snapped up pretty cheap.
  EDIT: Also just discovered the Lord L6, which only $6.69, but seems to be highly regarded as a solid razor! :o
- If you are all ears, why do you need something to shave your head? Or do ears have heads?
  
  It's ears all the way down, and as you can imagine it gets tough to shave the nooks and crannies!
- Many wet shavers that shave their head like the Leaf razor. Similar in design to modern manual razors so a comfortable transition if that’s what you’re used to. You also can buy regular safety razors and snap them in half yourself to avoid buying the Leaf proprietary ones.
- I do it with a Gillette red tip but you could get an adjustable one.
  I haven't checked the market in a long time, but new razors weren't worth it when I was into it years ago, old models were perfect and cheap.

For a long time I wanted to write a post about safety razors, but this will not be the time, again. I'll just summarize some of my experiences.
First of all, different razor blades will work differently, but the sharpest seem to work great in Henson AL13 (note: mild model).
Next, there are some cheap and good razors, like Feather Popular and Yaqi Mellon. There are also some mid-range good ones like Henson AL13 and Rockwell 6S/2C. Other razors are hit and miss in my experience, they may work well for you, they may work well for you with a specific blade, and they may also be total crap for you; you generally can guess which is which but not be sure.
The shaving in three passes along the hair growth, across the hair, and against the hair is also very important. I used to think that shaving immediately against the hair was enough and would one day get me a smooth cut-free shave, but it wouldn't and I ended up bleeding quite a lot every single time.
Last, on a tangential point, every time I see some product being advertised I feel being scammed, especially if the comments are largely positive. With Henson, it's probably the first time this is not a scam, but I am glad that I got the razor before seeing any of the praises online and already have tried it, otherwise I would have thought that to be another marketing bullshit and passed on it, most likely.
All-in-all, I tried about two dozen safety razors in combination with different blades, and the Henson AL13 is in my top 2.

I have a 3D printer and I've found this to work well:
https://www.printables.com/model/475587-de-safety-razor
One big problem: I left it tensioned in sunlight and it distorted (PLA probably isn't the best choice but I don't print in ABS). I had to print new parts. Probably not "buy it for life" but making replacement parts is so much easier than for a commercially bought model that it's probably now a "ship of Theseus for life".

where can I buy them in europe?
The official website want >50€ for shipping alone.
- They have some official distributors in Europe: https://hensonshaving.com/pages/international-retailers

I'm tempted to buy one but at my current rate I have likely years worth of Harry's blades. I don't wanna waste them
- The safety razor will make your skin feel way better and reduce nicks and irritation. You can save the plastic cartridges for traveling (safety razors are not allowed on planes anymore, even without blades); donate some, etc.

I have had one for a year and will never buy a new razor. The blades are ultra cheap and give an insanely good shave. I've gifted these razors to all my sons as well. They also love them.

I love my leaf razor. Practically zero learning curve ( just a little nervousness with the weight at the beginning), three blade design and they are designed so you can just get regular safety blades from any company and snap them in half to use. I hate when companies design their products so you have to keep buying things like blades from them.

have had it for 2 years, solid purchase. get a nice brush as well!

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