Some big names like Dollar Shaving Club, Schick, and Gillette have dominated the men’s shaving industry for years. However, in the last few years, new names have taken over the market.

Such brands include the popular new entrant Harry’s. The reason such brands are slowly taking over the market is that they offer more choices for consumers.

Harry’s, for instance, has gained a lot of popularity mainly because no other Razor in the market matches the style of their signature Truman razor.

Even if you’ve not used one before, you must have seen the sleek razor with a bright orange handle in advertisements. 

However, thanks to their appropriate beard grooming kit, Harry’s razor has so much to offer besides the look.

What Is Harry’s Razor

Tired of spending money on overpriced razors that either affected the skin or didn’t get the job done, two men with only a background in private equity decided to create a razor company that would offer more to consumers.

In July 2012, Harry’s was established by Jeff Raider and Andy Katz-Mayfield. Their mission was to create razors that were not only affordable but could be delivered to your doorstep.

Harry’s has grown immensely as a brand because they address all men’s face in modern razors. Their razors are high quality and made with the best material to ensure durability. 

Benefits of Using Harry’s Razor

5 German Blades

When buying a razor, you want a razor that helps you achieve as close and comfortable a shave as possible.

Sadly, that’s not what you get after spending your money on a new blade most of the time. 

Harry’s razor comes with 5 German blades that are guaranteed to give you a close and comfortable shave with little to no skin irritation afterward. 

Precision Trimmer

If you’ve used a razor before, you know how annoying it can be trying to reach those hard-to-reach spots when shaving.

Harry’s razors come with a precision trimmer that makes it easy to reach such spots for a uniform clean shave. 

Flex Hinge

Harry’s razors also come with flex hinges meant to contour with your face when you are shaving for the most comfortable of shaves. 

Rubber Grip Handle

Perhaps the main selling point of Harry’s razors is the look, from the blades to the handle. The razors have a rubber grip handle with a weighted core to give you more control when you are shaving.  

How Does Harry’s Razor Work

Harry’s works on a subscription-based system. The system works because you have to choose a shaving package and a refill will be sent to you every few months via mail. 

Before you subscribe to a package, you are at liberty to select their free trial set, whereby you only need to pay for $3 worth of shipping cost.

You can also purchase their starter package that will cost you between $15 to $30. So that begs the question, what do the two packages contain to warrant the price range?

If you opt for the free starter set, you will get one Truman razor handle plus a blade in one of their three color options (Nautilus Blue, Total Orange, or Olive 107), a travel blade cover, and a 2oz sample of shaving gel. 

On the other hand, the starter set includes a razor handle, 3 blades, 4oz sample foaming shaving gel, and a travel blade cover.

The difference between the two sets lies in the type of razor handle that you get. The Truman set comes with the same handle the free sample has, while the Winston set has a razor with a polished chrome handle. 

The razor also has a rubber grip. On the other hand, the Winston Winter set has their limited-edition Winston handle that you can engrave with as many as three letters. 

Pros and Cons of Using Harry’s Razor

Pros

• Harry’s package sets are high quality and include 5 blade razors, face wash, shave gel, and other shower products plus accessories.
• Their products are sulfate and paraben-free and you can use them; rest assured that you are not supporting animal cruelty since their products aren’t tested on animals.
• Harry’s razors are designed to offer the most comfortable of shaves. What this means is that everything is meant to work for you, from the ergonomic to the easy-to-handle handles that will not slip even when wet shaving. 
• The products are affordable and this is mainly because Harry’s has a factory in Germany that they use. 
• Rather than worrying about where and when to buy the next razor, Harry’s subscription system means that you will always have blades as well as shaving gel shipped to you every couple of months. 
• If you purchase the products and realize that they are not what you hoped for, you are entitled to a full refund. 

Cons

• While the razors are advertised to cater to all skin types, they cater more to people with sensitive skin.  
• Some consumers claimed that the razors hurt their skin and the grip is not as advertised based on some reviews. 
• The subscription service does not provide an option to include more products like body wash. 

Types of Harry’s Razor

Truman Razor

This is Harry’s original razor. It is sleek and comes with the signature rubberized handle that you don’t find in other razors. The handle is textured to improve the grip to prevent slipping when shaving. 

The razor also has a weighted core that adds to the control, something you need when holding a sharp razor near your face. 

The razor comes in three color options – navy blue, bright orange, and forest green for those who want a razor that matches their bathroom décor. 

The Truman razor is quite affordable, costing only $9, which is excellent considering that the razor has better features than other expensive razors you would buy. 

Winston Razor

The Winston razor is expensive compared to the Truman razor, with the only distinguishing feature being the handle design. 

The handle is of a higher quality than the one found on the Truman razor. It is also made of weightier and polished chrome that has a rubberized grip.

The razor will cost you $20 and comes in one color – silver chrome. The Truman razor is designed to get the job done, while the Winston razor is designed for an elegant shave. 

The good thing about the Winston razor is that it can be engraved with up to three letters which should cost you about $15.

Features of Harry’s Razor

Design

When it comes to the design, very few razors come close to matching the style of Harry’s razor. The razor comes with a uniquely designed handle and a sleek head and it looks great sitting on the bathroom sink. 

Blades

Both the Truman and Winston razors have the same number of blades that you buy separately. Harry’s have their factory in Germany, so their blades are referred to as German 5 blade razors.

The blades come with a flex hinge which makes it easy to shave even the hard-to-reach spots. The blades also have a lubricating strip that is meant to minimize irritation and cater to precision trimming. 

Depending on your budget, you can buy four blades at $2.25 each, eight blades at $2 each and 16 blades at $1.88 each. 

Cartridge

Harry’s razor comes with a cartridge with several features that, sadly, most people overlook when buying a razor. Harry’s razor is a five-bladed razor which, compared to competitors like the Gillette Fusion5, has a larger razor head.

A rubber patch can be seen at the base of the blades and it is meant to pull the skin tight ahead of the blades when you are shaving. At the top of the blades is a lubrication strip to prevent irritation after shaving. Perhaps the best feature is the center support found behind the razors. 

This support means a more consistent shave since the blades cannot be pushed back at the center. A precision blade is placed at the back of the razor head, responsible for the large head, which will come in handy when shaving those tricky spots. 

Handle

The handle of Harry’s razor is rubberized for a better grip when shaving. The handle is also slightly slick with a smooth back plus sides and dotted craters on the underside. 

While the smoothness makes the razor look stylish, it feels less secure than razors with bigger rubber grips. A ridge is located at the top of the handle, where you can rest your finger and index finger for added control when shaving. 

When it comes to weight and size, Harry’s razor looks and feels great in hand with a thick handle. The weight is excellent and makes it easier to control the blade than when using lighter razors. If you want to connect to the razor head, a simple push will do. 

Price

The shaving industry has been dominated by brands like Gillette, which is why we are going to compare the price of Harry’s razor and the Gillette razor. 

Harry’s Truman can be compared to the Gillette Fusion manual razor. They both come with five standard blades and a precision trimmer and neither have a vibration razor head system.

When buying both razors, you will incur an initial cost of the blades and razor handle. With Harry’s razor, you can choose between the standard set and their free trial set.

The free trial set comes with one blade, a razor handle, a travel blade cover, and a 2oz sample foaming shaving gel. The only cost you have to cater for is the $3 shipping cost. 

The Gillette Fusion manual razor with two blades will cost you about $9.95, which means you are getting more with Harry’s razor. 

After purchasing the razor handle, you will need to buy replacement blades. Since Harry’s operates as a subscription system, you can get eight replacement blades at $15 every two, three, or five months depending on your subscription. 

How to Use Harry’s Razor 

Step 1 – Understand your beard

Before you begin shaving, you need to take a good look at yourself in the mirror and understand the direction your beard grows. 

At this point, if you have a long beard, you can use any quality wood beard combs to remove any knots and tangles. 

Step 2 – Apply shaving cream or gel

Your Harry’s razor set will contain their shaving gel and this is where you use it. The shaving gel has moisturizing ingredients. Use a shaving bowl that makes lathering easier at this stage. 

When applying the gel, don’t shave immediately but leave it to do its work for a few minutes. The goal is to soften your facial hair for a comfortable shave free of irritation, something you can also achieve with hydrating bar soap.

Step 3 – Shave in the shower

It is always recommended that you shave in the shower. The hot water will help open your pores and soften your facial hair further.

Step 4 – Shave with the grain

Always shave in the direction your hair grows. Doing so will help reduce irritation and friction. As such, it is recommended that you go with the grain. 

After removing most of the hair with premium beard scissors or the razor, if you still want a closer shave, then you can shave against the grain. 

Step 5 – Down pat

After shaving with your Harry’s razor, your skin will be sensitive since a layer of skin is removed when shaving. 

What you don’t want to do is irritate the skin any further. Therefore, down pat any excess shaving cream instead of rubbing it. 

Step 6 – Apply post-shave balm

Once you are done shaving, apply some post-shave balm and water-soluble hair pomade to soothe and moisturize the skin. 

How to Clean Harry’s Razor 

Step 1 – Rinse off cut hair

Since Harry’s razor has a smooth surface and handle, there won’t be much gunk deposited there. A simple rinse under running water will remove any cut hair that has remained on the razor head.  

Step 2 – Deep cleaning

The razor head is easy to clean, but debris and gunk are deposited on the cartridge. You can focus water on the spot to get rid of any dirt.

However, the best option would be to detach the head from the handle and soak for a few minutes. Use a soft bristle brush to get in between the spots and remove any hair and gunk.

Step 3 – Leave to dry

Leave the razor in a dry place to completely dry before using it again. This will ensure that the razor lasts a long time by preventing any rusting.  

Do’s and Don’ts With Harry’s Razor

Do’s

• Do change the blades when they get dull and since Harry’s operates on a subscription system, you will be getting new blades every couple of months. 
• Do clean the razor after use to remove any excess hair and shaving cream or gel that may remain. Doing so will help your razor last a long time.
• If you are new to Harry’s razor, start with the trial set to see if the razor and the products will work for you before committing to a subscription.

Don’ts

• Don’t use Harry’s razor on a dry beard, as this will only lead to a lot of pulling and irritation afterward. 

Harry’s vs Competitors

Harry’s vs Dollar

When it comes to sharpness, there isn’t much difference between the two razors. Harry’s have their factory in Germany, while Dollar Shaving Club sources theirs from Dorco. 

After a few uses, Harry’s razors have the edge over DSC’s in that the latter get dull quicker, which can be tied to the fact that Harry’s razors come with blade covers. 

DSC’s razors have a sporty quality to them and you will enjoy the style, grip, and thickness of the bezels.

Dollar Shaving Club’s top tire razor comes with an edge trimmer also, something that Harry’s only started including in their blades. 

When it comes to the shaving products included, Harry’s face wash, shave gel and post-shave balm are standard and what you would find in any other product. 

Dollar’s products, on the other hand, are more varied and rich. The mix of textures and scents makes shaving something to look forward to every time. 

Harry’s vs Gillette

Gillette offers three razor models: the Fusion ProGlide, Mach 3 Turbo, and the Fusion ProShield. 

The Mach 3 Turbo has three blades, 10 micro fins for smoothing the skin before a shave, and a lubricating strip.

With a subscription, you get five cartridges for $17.50. The fact that you can choose between the free trial set and the standard set with Harry’s razor means more value for your money. 

Harry’s vs Bevel

Bevel’s shave kit is designed specifically for men of color to address the fine shaving and skin needs such as coarse facial hair and curly and kinky hair. 

The shaving kit is similar to what you find at the barbershop and comes with a shaving brush, shaving cream, the world’s best beard oil, and aftershave balm. 

The beard brush can help exfoliate your skin before you begin shaving, while a good quality aftershave saves you from razor burn.

All of the products have moisturizing ingredients to prevent razor burns, bumps, and ingrown hairs. Rather than a multi-blade cartridge, you get a single-blade safety razor with the complete set going for $76.

Bevel sends refills every couple of months which contain shaving cream, aftershave balm, and razor blades.

FAQ About Harry’s Razor

Where can I buy Harry’s razors?

You can buy Harry’s razors directly from Harry’s, which will end up saving you a couple of bucks. You could also order from online stores like Amazon but note that the number of blades will be less than you would get at Harry’s. 

Is Harry’s owned by Gillette?

No, Harry’s is not owned by Gillette. Harry’s was so successful in their subscription model that Gillette being the biggest brand in shaving by then, had to launch their subscription shaving. 

How many shaves can you get from Harry’s razor?

According to their websites, the blades can give you 6 to 8 shaves, although this will depend on your shaving habits and hair type. 

Is Harry’s better than a Dollar shave?

Harry’s and Dollar Shave are almost at the same level when it comes to their shaving products. However, DSC’s razors do tend to dull much faster, but the quality is the same as those of Harry’s. Their shaving products are also rich and diverse compared to Harry’s; that is just standard. 

Why are Harry’s razors not for head?

The design of the razors is not meant for shaving your head. 

Conclusion 

Harry’s razors being a new entrant in the shaving world initially dominated by Dollar Shaving Club and Gillette, has come a long way. So huge was their impact that Gillette had to launch a subscription razor system of their own. However, Harry’s razors remain affordable and still retain the quality you would expect from high-end razors. 

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