SO WHAT'S IT LIKE? SWOOSH! SWASH!

Like a virgin, touched for the very first time!

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I’ll be the first to admit that I am anything but an experienced shaver.  All these years, my view towards shaving was simply a cumbersome task men must perform everyday.  But, damn, damn, DAMN!  Have I been missing out on life!

As promised, this is the review of our first hands-on experience with HARRY’S Winston Shave Set Razor.  In my case, this is also my first ever razor experience.  Before I get too emotional and get carried away, let’s start with the technical aspects of the product. 

The Winston Shave Set as described in the previous article (Here), is one of the first product lines introduced by HARRY’S.  The birth of HARRY’S came from the simple idea of offering quality shaving products at an affordable price.  Of course there are other online shaving stores offering similar products at around the same price.  Just to do some name dropping: Dollar Shave Club & 800Razor, etc.  However, in my opinion, the one thing that really stood out about HARRY’S is the unique design of the razor as well as the elegant look and feel of the entire product experience.  The ability to transform a simple task into a hobby is branding at it’s finest! 


User Experience:

Being that this was my very first take on shaving with a razor, my expectations were quite high.  Let me just say the experience did not disappoint!  As a matter of fact, it was AWESOME!!!  Beginning with the act of applying the shaving cream to actually maneuvering the blade across my face, the overall experience was very engaging (I mean it has to be).  When I used to shave with an electric shaver, I simply stand in front of a mirror and rub the shaver against my face until most of the visible facial hairs were gone.  The simple task of doing so was dull and lifeless.  I hated it so much that I purposely put it off by shaving once every 3-4 days.  The razor however, is different.  When holding the razor in my hand I feel as if I am an orchestra conductor with my baton, creating art in motion!  While using the razor, I found myself constantly thinking and planning the next move as to where the blade should go.  Not sure about everyone else, but I get excited trying to think critically in life; even if it only revolves around how to get a better shave!  Simple things get me there!  There were other emotions too… another part of me felt proud, as if I’ve finally achieved manhood!  I even ran to my parents and showed off my “shaving cream face”.

Highlights:

H’ Shave Cream - The best way to describe HARRY’S Shave Cream is, “Just Right”.  As described on their website, the shaving cream embodies these specific ingredients: licorice, cucumber, marula, coconut oil, eucalyptus, and peppermint.  The aroma of the cream is very soothing, giving off subtle hints of herbs and mint.  After sniffing it couple times, I felt my nostrils lifting and my senses more focused.  The texture is also very well balanced. The overall volume seems to be a bit denser than your typical lotion, but once it’s applied on the face it feels very moist. The overall formula really complimented the razor.  It was effortless for me to run the blade down the area where the shaving cream was applied.  The major difference between using the shaving cream and regular soap (we know lots of men do this, by the way) is the lingering sensation that came after my shave orchestra.  The H’ Shave Cream has a longer lasting moisturizing feel.  Most soaps or other shave creams, come off easy by applying a bit of strength during the wash and the skin usually is left feeling dry.  

Razor Blade - HARRY’S razor blade is known for two unique features:  The Gothic Arch and The Paint Brush. 

The Gothic Arch refers to the unique shape the five blades take on as it rests over the structure.  The shape offers a strong base for support and a sharp tip for cutting.  The marriage of the two results in a crisp and clean cut no matter how tough ones facial hair is.  In my case, I didn’t have to apply much pressure when running the blade over the area that needed to be shaved.  I simply ran the blade along my facial structure and let gravity do its work.  Like magic, the areas where the blade ran over instantly became clean.  Just to highlight how sharp the blades are, I stupidly ran my thumb and index fingers over the blades trying to clean off the excessive hairs stuck to it… believe me, it was sharp!!!  Without a doubt the razor blade offers a much cleaner shave than my usual electric shaver.  Back in the days, I had to use some force and push the electric shaver against my skin to really get a clean shave.  The end result wasn’t just an improper shave, but also skin irritation!

The Paint Brush description about the blade refers to the flexibility of the razor blade.  The housing where the blades and the lubricant resides is supported by two thin poles on each side.  By applying a bit of pressure on the head, the top half will bend backwards.  The idea here is to have an agile razor blade that shapes itself to the facial structure of the user, thus allowing people to reach difficult places around the face.  I personally have mixed feelings about this specific feature.  When I was shaving with the grain, the blade moved quickly and instantly removed the hairs as it went over the area.  However, when I began shaving against the grain along the lower half of my chin, the task became a bit more difficult.  The head of the blade started to become too flexible and bended too much even with just a little pressure applied.  I had to run the blade over the same spot multiple times to really get a clean shave.   

Razor Handle - One of my favorite features about the razor is the handle itself.  The all-steel silver handle is very shinny and fits comfortably in the hands.  I read elsewhere that some people thinks the smooth handle doesn’t offer a good enough grip for the user.  In my case, I didn’t have to wrestle with the razor to get it to stay firmly in my hand.  The weight and size offered a comfortable grip when it’s in the hand.  

All-in-all, I was very pleased with HARRY’S Winston Razor.  Once you’ve used a razor, you’ll never go back...!  I am completely sold on the razor and have vow to never go back to using my electric shaver.  Something about applying critical thinking and dextris techniques, make using a razor very exciting and challenging.  HARRY’S Winston Razor is definitely a must have for any grooming fanatic.  I would highly recommend it to my friends and purchase it as a gift.  The next thing on my list?  Waiting for my facial hair to grow back out.

by ManPossible