In the event of an extended grid-down situation, many men will probably choose to grow beards. But for those who currently shave their faces, continued regular shaving may help to provide them and their families with a sense of stability. That sense of stability, in turn, may help them to better cope with the transition to the new situation. This means that a comfortable, cost-effective, compact, and convenient shaving system may give significant psychological benefits during a disruptive situation. [JWR Adds: In a nuclear, biological, or chemical (NBC) warfare environment, having your chin closely-shaved is important for keeping a good seal on a protective mask. This is why most modern armies allow soldiers to grow mustaches, but they do not allow beards.]
The Henson Shaving AL13 Razor provides such a comfortable, cost-effective, compact and convenient shaving system. It is durable, light, reliable, and effective.
With a price at the time of this writing of $69.99 at www.hensonshaving.com [1] the AL13 razor is not cheap. But with a lifetime warranty and an estimated annual expense of only $2-$3 for blades, it has a good long-term return on investment. Plus, you don’t need to wait for a grid-down situation to begin to enjoy using the razor. Its format will be especially familiar to those who enjoy using a double-edge safety razor. Its blades are not proprietary, so it accepts any standard, double-edge razor blade.
The razor is made in Canada. The blades that I tested are made in India. Compatible blades are made by other manufacturers all over the world.
If you have a beard, I recommend that you ignore this review. But if your wife doesn’t like to kiss you unless you have a smoothly shaven face, then I highly recommend this razor.
Background
I ran across the Henson Shaving AL13 Razor online. Henson Shaving claimed that their razor provides better blade rigidity than other safety razors. They further claimed that this superior blade rigidity provides better blade support, better blade control, and causes less skin irritation. It is a fairly typical safety razor design. I was a little skeptical about some of the claims. But the design of the razor appeared so sturdy, well-engineered, and displayed such elegant simplicity that I was interested. I contacted Henson Shaving and asked if they could provide me with a sample for testing and evaluation. They were kind enough to agree. A week later, a package arrived in my mailbox via USPS Ground Advantage from Henson Shaving, 12400 Fox River Road, Twin Lakes, WI 53181.
First Impressions
[2]The shipping package consisted of a 9.25 x 9 inch plastic padded envelope. The envelope contained a packing list, a box containing the AL13 Aluminum Razor and 5 blades, and a box of 100 RK Stainless Double Edge Blades packed into 5 packets of 20 blades each. The blades that they supplied are made in India. At the time of this writing, the box of 100 blades cost $9.99 at www.hensonshaving.com . That was less expensive than I could find them elsewhere online.
The razor is made by Henson Shaving, 113 Breithaupt St., Unit 100, Kitchener, Ontario, N2H 5G9, Canada. The box containing the razor declares that it is “Designed, manufactured, & packaged in Canada.”
The inside of the box gave three simple tips for shaving:
“Wet/lubricate your skin before shaving.”
“Apply only mild pressure.”
“Store your razor in a dry place.”
The box also had a link to more information and instructional videos at www.hensonshaving.com/using-henson [3] .
The handle of the razor is nicely textured to give a good grip. Each of the small number of components is sturdy, well-engineered, and well-machined. There is something very pleasing about that combination of attributes.
Testing
[4]The proof of the razor is in the shaving. I installed a blade in the handle and placed the razor in my toiletry drawer in the bathroom. The next day, I began to use the razor for shaving. I began using the razor with some fear and trepidation. I was preparing to officiate at a funeral that day. I was concerned that I might significantly cut myself by using an unfamiliar razor. It would be distressing to officiate at a funeral looking like “Baron Von Christianson, Unsuccessful Saber Duelist.”
I need not have worried. The shave went fine.
I used the store brand of shaving gel that my wife, “Kari” had picked up for me at a local thrift store. The first shave was not quite as close as the shaves that I had been getting with my previous razor (a Gillette Mach 3), but the shave was plenty close enough. I managed to get a closer shave on day two of using the AL13, and with more experience, my shaves grew steadily better.
After a couple of weeks of use, my shaves were even better than they had been with the Mach 3, with one exception. I still had not quite perfected shaving over my Adam’s Apple. The shave over the Adam’s apple was okay, but not as silky smooth as the rest of my face.
After a month of daily use, I changed the blade.
I was pleased to find that I cut myself even less with the AL13 than I had with the Mach 3. That was pretty good, because I only cut myself with the Mach 3 about once or twice a month and those cuts were pretty insignificant. My “cuts” with the AL13 were just as infrequent as with the Mach 3 and so insignificant as to hardly bear mentioning. I just saw tiny red spots on a couple of occasions. Those “cuts” did not require anything more extensive than the application of aftershave to eliminate.
Comfort
[5]The Henson AL13 lived up to its claim of causing less skin irritation. I had so little irritation with the Gillette Mach 3 that it was difficult to tell the difference. But when I put on aftershave after shaving, I noticed slightly less of a burning sensation with the AL13 than I had previously with the Mach 3. So the AL13 has a slight advantage over the Mach 3 in terms of comfort.
Relative Cost
Using each blade for a month at a cost of $9.99 for 100 blades, it costs about $1.20 per year for blades for the AL13.
At our local supermarket, 15 blades for the Mach 3 cost $36.99. I can use each Mach 3 blade for approximately three months. That gives me a cost of approximately $9.86 per year for blades for the Mach 3.
That gives a savings of $8.66 per year for blades for the AL13 in comparison with the Mach 3. That gives the AL13 a significant advantage over the Mach 3 in terms of ongoing monthly costs.
The AL13 razor itself costs $69.99. The Mach 3 handle is often free or almost free when purchased with its blades. A savings of $8.66 per year for the blades would enable me to recoup the purchase cost of the AL13 in just over eight years.
Compactness
The handles for the AL13 and the Mach 3 take up approximately the same amount of space.
A box of 100 blades for the AL13 measures 6.25 x 2.13 x 1.13 inches. That is 15.04 cubic inches for an 8.3-year supply of blades, giving a “stockpile coefficient” of 1.8 cubic inches per year.
Two boxes of four blades each for the Mach 3 measures 4.5 x 3.75 x 0.63 inches. That is 10.63 cubic inches for a 2-year supply of blades, giving a “stockpile coefficient” of 5.3 cubic inches per year.
That gives the AL13 a significant advantage over the Mach 3 in terms of compactness. You can store an almost three-year supply of blades for the AL13 in the same amount of space that you can store a one-year supply of blades for the Mach 3.
Convenience/Ease of Use
This is a somewhat subjective evaluation, but in my opinion the better blade control afforded by the precise 30 degree angle of the AL13 blade makes it easier to use. The Mach 3 is also quite easy to use, so I would say that the AL13 has only a slight edge over the Mach 3 in terms of convenience.
Conclusions
Based on the huge number of razors on the market today, I would have to say that shaving is a subjective experience. Some people prefer a straight razor, some prefer a single edge safety razor, some prefer a double edge safety razor, some prefer one of a wide selection of Gillette razors, some prefer one of a wide selection of Schick razors, some prefer one of a wide selection of Bic razors, and some prefer something else. Some prefer a beard.
[JWR Adds: Shaving hair anywhere on the body is necessary before most surgical procedures, and bandaging. Plan ahead.]
What I can say objectively is that over the course of more than eight years, it will be cheaper for me to shave with a Henson AL13 than with a Gillette Mach 3, and it will take up significantly less room to stockpile blades for the AL13 than for the Mach 3.
Subjectively, I found the AL13 to give a slightly more comfortable shave than the Mach 3 and found it slightly easier to use.
If you would like to shave with a double-edge safety razor, this is by far the best razor of that type that I have ever tried. It is sturdy, well-engineered, precisely machined, and aesthetically pleasing. I am happy to own an AL13, and highly recommend it to those who are looking for a comfortable, cost-effective shave with a compact and easy to use razor.
Disclaimer
Henson Shaving was kind enough to provide me with a sample of their AL13 razor for testing and evaluation. I tried not to allow their kindness to interfere with my objectivity in this review, and I believe that I have succeeded. I did not receive any other financial or other inducement to mention any vendor, product, or service in this article.