Eating a little crow - fastest dethroning of favorite razor ever

[JCinPA]

Well, having about a dozen vintage or new razors and having shaved with the Merkur 34C pretty much exclusively for that last several years, I tried a Henson AL13++ to see what all the hype was about. And it is fantastic! I declared it as having eliminated my razor experimentation--for life. I did not know how I could get a better shave than that razor gives me.

And I still can't. Get a closer or more comfortable shave, that is. But @Dtownvino was singing the praises of the Yaqi Ghost Ti 70 at breakfast last weekend, and he had two, so I thought, what the let's try this thing, and he sold it to me.

Well, it was not as close as the Henson for the first several days. But the Henson took me a couple weeks of daily shaves to dial in. I think if you try a new razor and decide if you like it in a couple shaves, you may not understand it. I'll always use a razor for a few weeks before passing judgment on it.

Well, in about 5 days, I've dialed in the Yaqi, and while it does not shave any better (not sure that's even possible, once you reach effortless daily BBS shaves with no irritation, where do you go from there?), it shave every bit as well, and I like everything about it more. The weight, the balance in the hand, the way it handles. It feels more like a "traditional" razor to me than the Henson does. Don't get me wrong, the Henson is a ridiculously good razor and a great beginner recommendation. But I prefer the Yaqi Ghost Ti 70, and I suspect it has retired my beloved Henson AL13++ after one month of service.

Why do I say eating a little crow? I was so all-in on the Henson, thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread, and it was deposed in about a month by another amazing razor. Many thanks, Mike, I'm really enjoying this thing.

 

[LuckyGlenn]

I think my favorite razors changes every week. I really like the shaves I get from my hensons. But I prefer the look of traditional razors.

 

[BigJ]

Congratulations! You (may) have met your ‘destination razor!’

 

[Phoenixkh]

I enjoy the differences among us. I think it's awesome that some people find "the one".... I decided fairly early on.... I enjoy the variety of some great razors. Mine are all a bit different but they are all in the upper mild to lower medium efficiency range. I like finding their sweet spots if I haven't used them for a while. It keeps things new for me, I guess.... I know it's "just shaving", but I like my shaves to be engaging and all my top razors do that.

 

[nemo]

I was so all-in on the xxxxx, thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread, and it was deposed in about a month by another amazing razor.

Heard this 100 times for 100 different razors/soaps/brushes. Human nature!
Why I don't pay a whole lot of attention to the praise threads.

 

[Dtownvino]

Well, having about a dozen vintage or new razors and having shaved with the Merkur 34C pretty much exclusively for that last several years, I tried a Henson AL13++ to see what all the hype was about. And it is fantastic! I declared it as having eliminated my razor experimentation--for life. I did not know how I could get a better shave than that razor gives me.

And I still can't. Get a closer or more comfortable shave, that is. But @Dtownvino was singing the praises of the Yaqi Ghost Ti 70 at breakfast last weekend, and he had two, so I thought, what the let's try this thing, and he sold it to me.

Well, it was not as close as the Henson for the first several days. But the Henson took me a couple weeks of daily shaves to dial in. I think if you try a new razor and decide if you like it in a couple shaves, you may not understand it. I'll always use a razor for a few weeks before passing judgment on it.

Well, in about 5 days, I've dialed in the Yaqi, and while it does not shave any better (not sure that's even possible, once you reach effortless daily BBS shaves with no irritation, where do you go from there?), it shave every bit as well, and I like everything about it more. The weight, the balance in the hand, the way it handles. It feels more like a "traditional" razor to me than the Henson does. Don't get me wrong, the Henson is a ridiculously good razor and a great beginner recommendation. But I prefer the Yaqi Ghost Ti 70, and I suspect it has retired my beloved Henson AL13++ after one month of service.

Why do I say eating a little crow? I was so all-in on the Henson, thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread, and it was deposed in about a month by another amazing razor. Many thanks, Mike, I'm really enjoying this thing.

View attachment 1891657

I gave up on the one and now have the “few”. Being a Steelers fan I remember the slogan “and one for the thumb”… I’m always open to a new experience when shaving but hard to get me away from that few that I love.

All in all, it is an inexpensive hobby ;-)

 

[Mojo88]

I chased those unicorns for the first several years. In that period I bought and sold too many razors, soaps and creams to count. For me getting that great shave was more about technique and patience. With that said I wouldn’t change anything with what I did. Looking for razors in the wild has given me countless hours of enjoyment. I met dealers in antique malls that were passionate about what they did. Many held razors for me and I still see them occasionally.

The best part of this was finding Badger and Blade. The forum has evolved into so much more than shaving. The mods and the members are the best on the net.

 

[Phoenixkh]

Heard this 100 times for 100 different razors/soaps/brushes. Human nature!
Why I don't pay a whole lot of attention to the praise threads.

Over this past 2.5 years, I've met people here who have the same likes and needs I have... Their advice had been invaluable.... Like many newbies here, I bought far too many razors. I sold 14 of them in Jan. 2023.. just months after I bought them.

Since then, I've enjoyed almost every razor I've purchased because they were more guided buys... recommended by the shaving brothers I've met here.

 

[nemo]

Over this past 2.5 years, I've met people here who have the same likes and needs I have... Their advice had been invaluable.... Like many newbies here, I bought far too many razors. I sold 14 of them in Jan. 2023.. just months after I bought them.

Since then, I've enjoyed almost every razor I've purchased because they were more guided buys... recommended by the shaving brothers I've met here.

I understand. But what I'm saying is that one's initial enthusiasm with a new product, especially a newbie, can often get tangled up with the true usability, performance, features, or the item's reliability in their review. Same with a bad review. Takes time to really evaluate something in my opinion.

 

[Hairy Callahan]

This is like the EUREKA moment I experienced when I shaved with the Blackland Blackbird.

 

[Phoenixkh]

I understand. But what I'm saying is that one's initial enthusiasm with a new product, especially a newbie, can often get tangled up with the true usability, performance, features, or the item's reliability in their review. Same with a bad review. Takes time to really evaluate something in my opinion.

I was involved in a pass around in another forum site.... I didn't get along with the razor in question and felt bad about it... I only have a few shaves with it... and didn't have one of the base plates they make that might have worked better for me, as it wasn't included in the pass around.

I doubt I'll ever join a pass around again. I'm too new to this whole wet shaving thing to give reliable information. I felt my short review had limited to zero benefit to anyone who would consider buying said razor.

 

[JCinPA]

I agree with @nemo one has to give a product some time to properly evaluate it. I think a lot of folks dump a razor or a soap too soon before they understand it. It took me two weeks to get the most out of the Henson AL13++, but then it was giving me consistent, comfortable BBS shaves with my favorite blades. It did not do that for the first week, however.

It took me just about 5 shaves with the Yaqi Ghost Ti 70, it was less different from my other razors than the Henson, I guess. But now I have that dialed in and it's giving me the same great shaves the Henson does. Not better, mind you, but I just like the feel, the heft, the balance of the Yaqi, it's more familiar to my hand.

But now I understand the enthusiasm people have for other high-end razors like the Blackland Blackbird. Soaps can take me from maybe 3 shaves to a couple weeks to truly figure out. Blades, I'll usually use several before passing judgment on them. The idea that one can instantly figure out new hardware/software is false, I think.

I suspect there are another half dozen razors I may like as much as the Yaqi, but at this point, I think I'm done. How do you get better than repeated, daily BBS shaves with absolutely no irritation at all? Where do you go from there? I think I'm going to PIF a few razors I never use anymore and trim the herd a little.

Edited for clarity.

 

[ButterfaceX]

Once you are dialed in and have your skillings dialed in.
You have a constent process that aligns with your face, stubble and skin. You should be to adjust to good specrum of DE's. Remember you are the master of the tool.And yes, sometimes the wand chooses the magician.
Give more credit to you then the razor.
"The more we value things, the less we value ourselves."
B.L.
Enjoy each shave,
BFX

 

[gdawg55]

Well, having about a dozen vintage or new razors and having shaved with the Merkur 34C pretty much exclusively for that last several years, I tried a Henson AL13++ to see what all the hype was about. And it is fantastic! I declared it as having eliminated my razor experimentation--for life. I did not know how I could get a better shave than that razor gives me.

And I still can't. Get a closer or more comfortable shave, that is. But @Dtownvino was singing the praises of the Yaqi Ghost Ti 70 at breakfast last weekend, and he had two, so I thought, what the let's try this thing, and he sold it to me.

Well, it was not as close as the Henson for the first several days. But the Henson took me a couple weeks of daily shaves to dial in. I think if you try a new razor and decide if you like it in a couple shaves, you may not understand it. I'll always use a razor for a few weeks before passing judgment on it.

Well, in about 5 days, I've dialed in the Yaqi, and while it does not shave any better (not sure that's even possible, once you reach effortless daily BBS shaves with no irritation, where do you go from there?), it shave every bit as well, and I like everything about it more. The weight, the balance in the hand, the way it handles. It feels more like a "traditional" razor to me than the Henson does. Don't get me wrong, the Henson is a ridiculously good razor and a great beginner recommendation. But I prefer the Yaqi Ghost Ti 70, and I suspect it has retired my beloved Henson AL13++ after one month of service.

Why do I say eating a little crow? I was so all-in on the Henson, thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread, and it was deposed in about a month by another amazing razor. Many thanks, Mike, I'm really enjoying this thing.

View attachment 1891657

Looks kind of like a Yates head. If it’s anywhere close it’s definitely a good shaver. Congrats.

 

[Dtownvino]

Anyone who was a little curious as to the razor - I find the Yaqi Ghost Ti a little more efficient than the Karve Overlander, but the head is so low profile I enjoy it.

Also - I do prefer the weight of the Ti razor (which is always about 40% less than SS but still more substantial than Aluminum by a good bit).

This is an ideal daily shaver for many and will never need replaced.

 

[Goblin]

All of my razors have been my favourite razor at one time or another.

I'm fickle.

 

[Frito Ray]

 

[MaineYooper]

I think my favorite razors changes every week. I really like the shaves I get from my hensons. But I prefer the look of traditional razors.

I feel the same way often, and often after writing a glowing post of the previous week's razor! Well said!

 

[spacemonkey42]

It sounds like not so much of a dethroning as adding to your top tier. Congrats!

It is strange, I found the Ghost 90 to be too mild, milder than my Overlander. But it was smooth. Different strokes

 

[BigAlVista]

I enjoy the differences among us. I think it's awesome that some people find "the one".... I decided fairly early on.... I enjoy the variety of some great razors. Mine are all a bit different but they are all in the upper mild to lower medium efficiency range. I like finding their sweet spots if I haven't used them for a while. It keeps things new for me, I guess.... I know it's "just shaving", but I like my shaves to be engaging and all my top razors do that.

I agree. For me, it's alm about the variation. I like being able to look at my collection of razors and go "hmmm...I'll use this one today"