How do I use my Henson razor?

Correct Assembly

Not fully tightening the handle will result in more blade exposure and less blade support than the design of the Henson razor intends. The bushing in the baseplate allows the handle to turn smoothly when tightening, giving you a clearer feel for when it stops and is fully closed.

Fully Tightened

To minimize irritation, proper hair preparation is crucial before shaving.

Ideally, shave immediately after a shower, within a minute or two of stepping out. After spending 5-10 minutes steaming and soaking your hair in the shower, it will be perfect for shaving (remember to use a good shaving cream still).

If you're short on time, try to let shaving cream sit on your face for at least a minute or two, massaging it into your hair to help soften and prepare it for a comfortable shave.

The softer your hair, the less the blade has to work. The less the blade has to work, the less irritation there will be.

The Henson is designed to present the blade near the bottom of your hair follicle, right where it meets your skin. The design sets the optimal shave plane for you, and too much pressure can force too much skin against the blade. You may be surprised by how little pressure you need to apply to get a good shave.

Due to the exit channels built into the head of the razor, running the razor under the tap or swishing in water is the best way to remove hair/creams. We do not recommend banging the razor against your sink or tub.

After each shave, loosen the handle to the point where the blade is no longer bending (about 1 and a half turns) and store the razor on its side in a dry place. This will ensure that the razor can properly dry between uses.

Store Razor On Side
How do I care for and maintain my razor?

Best practice is to thoroughly rinse the razor with water after each shave. Loosen the handle to the point where the blade is no longer bending (about 1 and a half turns) and store the razor on its side in a dry place; we don’t suggest storing in the shower. This will ensure that the razor can properly dry between uses.

To ensure you are shaving with a fresh, sharp edge, we recommend replacing the blade every 2-5 shaves. Double-edge blades are quite affordable (around $0.10 USD each) so you don’t need to feel guilty about changing your blade often.

When disassembling the razor to replace the blade, we would recommend a light cleaning. You can hand wash using a soft bristled toothbrush, water and soap. Do not clean with harsh cleaning chemicals/solutions or use your dishwasher.

Make sure to dry the razor before placing a new blade in.

The threading of each razor is lubricated before they are shipped out. However, if the threads aren’t turning as smoothly as they once did, we would recommend adding a drop of oil into the threading of the handle. You can use any household oil (olive, vegetable, coconut, etc) or standard machining oil.

No, the Henson is not dishwasher safe.

General

We use + symbols to denote different aggressions.

+ for mild (AL13 and Ti22)
++ for medium (AL13-M and Ti22)
+++ for aggressive (Ti22)

First, if you haven't opened the boxes yet, you can find the aggression symbols above the barcode beside the product/colour name.

Second, if you disassemble the razor and look on the inside of both the baseplate and top cap, you will see the aggression and lot number engraved there as well.

Aggression and Lot Number Locations

A 5 pack of RK Stainless double-edge razor blades are included with every purchase. This will provide the average shaver with 1-2 months of precision shaves. You also have the option to purchase a pack of 100 blades which will last approx. 2 years for the average shaver.

However, our blades are not proprietary. Henson razors can be used with any standard double-edge razor blade, which can be purchased from many locations such as the retailers found in our International Retailers section, or on Amazon.

Our Razors are fully designed, manufactured, assembled and packaged in Canada.

RK Stainless blades are manufactured and packaged in India.

First, it's precision. By CNC machining our Henson razors (as opposed to molding or casting), and anodizing them for protection (as opposed to painting or plating), we are able to target and maintain specific sizes and reduce the necessary allowance so that critical features of our razors are kept consistent within a thousandth of an inch. This ensures a straight and consistently loaded blade every time, meaning that the blade is presented to your skin the same every shave!

Second, it’s the shortest blade extension on the market. Shorter blade extension means less vibration in the blade (chatter). Less chatter means less irritation and a better shave every time.

The only differences between the Henson AL13 and the Henson AL13 - Medium are the blade gap and blade exposure. These measurements are two major factors in controlling the "aggressiveness" of the shave. For finer hair and shaving areas other than the face, a milder razor is generally desired. For coarser hair, the aggression of our Medium razor may be more suitable.

Technical Details
AL13 - .68 mm [.027”] Blade Gap and .033 mm [.0013"] Blade Exposure
AL13 - Medium - .85 mm [.033”] Blade Gap and .058 mm [.0023”] Blade Exposure

Handle dimensions:

The handle is tapered from 12.25 mm [.482”] at the tail to 9.75 mm [.384”] near the head.
The overall handle length is 96 mm [3.780”].

Weight:

Henson AL13 - 1.3oz
Henson Ti22 - 2.23oz

Our machinists were impressed with the consistency, sharpness, and quality of the RK blades. Furthermore, RK produced their stainless steel blades to match our specific razor dimensions, bringing to life the full potential of the precision of the tabs that hold the blade.

However, our blades are not proprietary. Henson razors can be used with any standard double-edge razor blade.

The Henson razor has large exit channels for hair to flow out after it’s cut, preventing clogging or interference with the cutting action of the blade. Simply rinse the razor in water to quickly remove hair and shaving creams.

We ship internationally.

The list of locations we are unable to ship to includes:

Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Colombia, Greece, Greenland, Iceland, Israel, Kazakhstan, Macao SAR, North Macedonia, Palestinian Territories, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela

If ordering from outside the US or Canada, consider taking a look at our International Retailers list to save on international duties and fees. You can find this list HERE.

We don’t suggest throwing used blades directly in the garbage. Double-edge blades are metal and fully recyclable; they can be disposed of in a blade bank.

You can purchase a blade bank specifically for razor blades or you can use a small jar, box, or other container. Your local pharmacy or drugstore may even supply you with a sharps container at no charge.

It can take years to fill up, at which point you can place it in your recycling or bring it to a metal/sharps recycling facility (depending on your local guidelines).

The Henson Ti22

The design of both razors is the same, the only difference being the metal used and aggressions offered.

The AL13 is made of anodized aluminum and weighs 1.3oz. It is offered in both regular/mild and medium aggression. It is not offered in an aggressive form.

The Ti22 razor is made of bare titanium and weighs 2.23oz. It is offered in regular/mild, medium and an aggressive option.

The aggressions of the AL13 and Ti22 are comparable, outside of the aggressive option, which is exclusive to the Ti22.

The Ti22 does not qualify for our 100-Day Satisfaction Guarantee and therefore is final sale. Our Lifetime Warranty will still apply for manufacturer defects.

The Ti22 comes in 3 aggressions: mild/regular, medium and aggressive. These aggressions are the same in blade gap and exposure to our AL13 razor.

Mild - .68 mm [.027”] Blade Gap and .033 mm [.0013"] Blade Exposure
Medium - .85 mm [.033”] Blade Gap and .058 mm [.0023”] Blade Exposure
Aggressive - .99 mm [.039”] Blade Gap and .115 mm [.0045”] Blade Exposure