Hmmmmm. This is a fascinating razor, indeed. I haven't been in here in close to a year and I don't know what possessed me to get a Henson, probably Instagram advertising. When I saw free shipping for Fathers Day I thought what the heck, get one.
I thought I was done with razor experimentation after about 13 years in this game, but apparently not! I have learned I do not care for aggressive razors, and don't need them. A vintage Gillette Tech or Schick injector suit me just fine and I always seem to come back to the Merkur 34C, which sees the most use. That said I was using a 1970s Shick injector (L1, I think, not the adjustable) and Chick blades for the week prior to receiving the AL13M which was fortuitous because it is a fairly light razor with a long handle, so I was kind of primed for a long-handled, very light razor when it arrived.
There is a bit of a learning curve with it, so I refrained from posting until I had about 5 shaves on it, and I'd say I'm still "learning" it. I am impressed! I've heard it described as "efficient", but I'd probably not use that descriptor, but I will say it is super comfortable and close. I say that because I can get as close a shave with the Schick injector or even the Merkur 34C as I get with the AL13, but the AL13 is orders of magnitude more comfortable. Why I don't say more efficient is that I find I have the same trouble spots on my right neck and left jawline as I do with the other razors, and I have to do the same number of strokes and blade buffing to get that close shave, so it's not like it's super fast or anything.
But there is no question I can get close to a BBS shave with this and I could do it EVERY DAY and not have any irritation. That's saying something, I find it remarkably comfortable to use. I love it! Simply because the young bucks in the office often come in with what I call the "Yasser Arafat look" (they're too young to get the reference), I've been shaving every other day lately. The AL13 may get me back to daily shaving, it's so comfortable.
I'm going to keep using it for another couple weeks, to really dial it in, then maybe compare it to the Schick again, but this is truly a different shaving experience. I have no idea how much flex really happens in something like a Merkur 34C, but clearly it does flex some, and the AL13 absolutely does not. I like the Schick injectors probably because the thin, stiff blade probably does not flex either.
But the AL13 is head and shoulders the closest consistently comfortable shave I've ever done multiple days in a row. I may try some heavy handles with it, but not until I have a few more weeks on it. What's been the experience using heavier handles on it? Recommended? Not recommended?
I thought I was done with razor experimentation after about 13 years in this game, but apparently not! I have learned I do not care for aggressive razors, and don't need them. A vintage Gillette Tech or Schick injector suit me just fine and I always seem to come back to the Merkur 34C, which sees the most use. That said I was using a 1970s Shick injector (L1, I think, not the adjustable) and Chick blades for the week prior to receiving the AL13M which was fortuitous because it is a fairly light razor with a long handle, so I was kind of primed for a long-handled, very light razor when it arrived.
There is a bit of a learning curve with it, so I refrained from posting until I had about 5 shaves on it, and I'd say I'm still "learning" it. I am impressed! I've heard it described as "efficient", but I'd probably not use that descriptor, but I will say it is super comfortable and close. I say that because I can get as close a shave with the Schick injector or even the Merkur 34C as I get with the AL13, but the AL13 is orders of magnitude more comfortable. Why I don't say more efficient is that I find I have the same trouble spots on my right neck and left jawline as I do with the other razors, and I have to do the same number of strokes and blade buffing to get that close shave, so it's not like it's super fast or anything.
But there is no question I can get close to a BBS shave with this and I could do it EVERY DAY and not have any irritation. That's saying something, I find it remarkably comfortable to use. I love it! Simply because the young bucks in the office often come in with what I call the "Yasser Arafat look" (they're too young to get the reference), I've been shaving every other day lately. The AL13 may get me back to daily shaving, it's so comfortable.
I'm going to keep using it for another couple weeks, to really dial it in, then maybe compare it to the Schick again, but this is truly a different shaving experience. I have no idea how much flex really happens in something like a Merkur 34C, but clearly it does flex some, and the AL13 absolutely does not. I like the Schick injectors probably because the thin, stiff blade probably does not flex either.
But the AL13 is head and shoulders the closest consistently comfortable shave I've ever done multiple days in a row. I may try some heavy handles with it, but not until I have a few more weeks on it. What's been the experience using heavier handles on it? Recommended? Not recommended?
