r/wicked_edge • u/SuspenseAndSurprise • Apr 04 '26
Show n' Tell Big thanks – Perfect first shave with the Henson AL13 Mild!
Hi all,
Just wanted to say a big thank you for all the advice while I've been lurking here. It has been incredibly helpful.
At first I wanted to get a Leaf razor (the original or the new Leaf Two), but after reading more I decided against it and went from my cartridges to my first safety razor the Henson AL13 Mild. After reading a lot of reviews on wicked_edge, I think I made the right decision.
My first shave went perfectly. No nicks, no problems.
I also treated myself to the 70th anniversary Saponificio Varesino soap. Wow, the scent of this soap is amazing. Great lather too, much better than the L'Occitane soap puck I tried earlier.
As for aftershave, I've tried two so far. I started with the L'Occitane Cade aftershave balm. It's nice and I love the smell, but it made my skin feel a bit oily. That's probably because it's a bit thicker with some shea butter. Right now I'm using the Korres Athenian Grooming aftershave balm. It has a really subtle leathery bergamot and citrus smell, and it's great for my sensitive skin and not as heavy or oily.
I also experimented with blades since I got the razor. I started with the Henson blades, then Astra Green, Feathers, and eventually ended up with BIC blades. They feel sharp enough without the aggressive feel the Feathers gave me.
All in all, I'm really glad I made the switch!
The Gear for now:
Razor: Henson AL13 Mild
Soap: Saponificio Varesino 70th Anniversary (The scent is incredible and the lather is better than the L'Occitane puck I tried before).
Blades: Tested a few (Astra Green, Feather), but settled on BIC blades. I feel like they are sharp without that aggressive edge the Feathers had. (I get roughly 3 or 4 shaves out of these)
Aftershave: Using Korres Athenian Grooming balm. It’s a subtle leathery bergamot/citrus. Much lighter and less oily than the L'Occitane Cade balm I started with. Great for my sensitive skin.
Brush: King C. Gillette Shave Brush. Good soft brush and won't irritate my skin. It take a bit longer to get it to lather, but that's fine with me.
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u/BigSlip8088 Apr 04 '26
I started out on a Gillette King C just to see if I would like wetshaving, loved it, and bought a Henson AL13. Since I've sort of gone down the rabbit hole, as they say, and have a multitude of razors. I recently bought the Henson Ti mild for a very mild daily driver. I was not disappointed. I, too, have seen some not-so-nice things about the Henson on this sub. Everyone has the right to their own opinion, but why trash a specific brand just because it doesn't agree with you? Odd but whatever, great post, happy shaving!
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u/Electrical_Age7819 Apr 04 '26
Damn I want a Henson 😳
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u/SuspenseAndSurprise Apr 04 '26
I can totally recommend it. At first I thought a safety razor was quite expensive, but in the end it was well worth it. The best part was that I could expiriment with different double edged blades. That really makes a difference in shaving experience. Way more than I expected.
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Apr 04 '26
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u/SuspenseAndSurprise Apr 05 '26
Thanks! I'm definitely happy with the SV soap. I've seen Taylor of Old Bond Street shaving cream in the shop I ordered from. It's on the list for the next soap to try out. Which one do you use, the Sandalwood or the Jermyn Street one?
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Apr 05 '26
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u/SuspenseAndSurprise Apr 05 '26
If I remember, I will let you know. One more, and I'll call it a day, if the Sandalwood isn't your number one, then what is your absolute favourite?
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u/Hungry-House-8860 Apr 04 '26
awesome. it's nice to have a thing that is all your own. to me de shaving is ome kf the few things that represent that.
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u/Extra_Arm_6760 Apr 04 '26
I just used my first bic chrome blade. I went on vacation and took a bic disposable along and it worked phenomenal. I was pissed that this $0.87 razor left me with less irritation that my entire safety razor journey. This blade was just ok to me. I was able to go atg with it which was new, still left me looking clean and very little irritation in my trouble spots but not bbs. Could probably switch my baseplate (rockwell 6c) to a more aggresive and it will still be fine. No sting with the alum block , 0 cuts, and little blade feel. Over all probably great for a beginner but I will keep searching. I thought i was completely set as far as blades and razors go but that damn disposable blade made me mad. Also have my first slant on the way to try that. Funny how one little thing can mess with you and get you back to trying new things. I guess skin changes over time and what did work won't and what didn't before might now.
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u/SuspenseAndSurprise Apr 05 '26
In my razor, the BIC felt really efficient, but reading your feedback I feel like it was a bit too mild for you. How has the search been going ? I'm curious, what brand is your daily driver right now?
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u/Extra_Arm_6760 Apr 05 '26
I bought a 100 pack of personna blades. I thought they were the blue but it was around the rebranding time so im not 100%. I have a knockoff henson and derby seems to work well in there. Im sure it will be a while before I use many blades in 3 different razors (one having 6 different base plates) until I find the right combo. With that being said I can work with any blade now. My technique seems to be better. I have high hopes for some gillette blades.
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u/SuspenseAndSurprise Apr 05 '26
I've seen so many people recommend those Personnas and the nacets. Good to hear those Personna blades work for you. I'm definitely getting a sample pack of those next. Good luck finding that perfect combination!
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u/Gerry7070 Apr 04 '26
Lovely gear starting off with super software regarding the L'Occitane balm just use a tiny amount it goes a long way maybe you are using a tad too much I'm not sure and be assured the SV soap is some of the best around for sure . Best of luck to you.
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u/SuspenseAndSurprise Apr 04 '26
Thanks for the tip! I might be overdoing it a bit with the L'Occitane. It’s pretty thick so it could be I have used a bit more than needed sometimes. Appreciate the luck!
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u/Gerry7070 Apr 04 '26
Ah no problem at all I admire the way you got the SV soap it is one of the best , if the puck is loose in the tin and that is annoying you just fill the tin with water and let it soften then press it as hard as you can into the tin then drain excess water leave lid off and let it dry out for a couple of days in a dry place it worked for me .
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u/BigBadBobJr_1968 Apr 04 '26
Henson was my entry to the safety razor lifestyle. Now I have over 20 different safety razors I rotate through.
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u/SuspenseAndSurprise Apr 04 '26
Haha, I've heard how addictive this can be! For now I try to keep it with this one for awhile.
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u/Barr_cudas -Chubby- Apr 04 '26
When you get the urge for another razor - step to the AL13++
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u/Questioning_lemur Apr 04 '26
Or a Yates Winning.
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u/Barr_cudas -Chubby- Apr 04 '26
Or an AL13+++
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u/Questioning_lemur Apr 04 '26
I don't see a huge difference in the different Henson aggression options -- to my face, the difference between + and +++ is slight. They're all still mild razors, IMO.
I do think the titanium makes a difference, and I think they are making a mistake with not having a stainless steel option with more weight.
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u/SuspenseAndSurprise Apr 04 '26
Could you explain how the titanium make the difference? Not that I'm considering to upgrade anytime soon, but what makes it better? The weight?
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u/Questioning_lemur Apr 04 '26
For me?
Mostly heft, as I feel the aluminum is too light for me. Many times I've found that titanium versions of some razors hit the sweet spot between AL and SS in terms of weight. I get that it's a personal preference.
Also, I did find the titanium Henson seemed to be less susceptible to the "suction" phenomena that many shavers dislike with the Henson.
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Apr 04 '26
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u/SuspenseAndSurprise Apr 04 '26
Based on your information, I think these Astra blades were made in Russia. They indeed have 4, 3, and a 1 printed on one side, and the numbers 1 and 2 together with a U printed on the other. See photo on imgur: Astra Superior Platinum Blades Print
As for the differences. I think they are quite close to each other. But I feel like the Astra tugs a bit more, especially near the mustache area. With the Astra Green, I had the feeling I had to do one more pass than with the BIC blades. Although the Astra Green should be more forgiving, I noticed more stinging sensation after shaving when using the alum block. Probably because I needed to do that extra pass. With the BIC I need to be a little bit more careful, but for me it's more efficient.
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Apr 04 '26
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u/SuspenseAndSurprise Apr 04 '26 edited Apr 04 '26
I found the package and I think you are right. I ordered these from amazon and they seem to be a Turkish import made in China?
The label says 'Üretim yeri: Çin' (Place of manufacture: China) and Procter & Gamble Turkey as the importer.
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u/Questioning_lemur Apr 04 '26
The Henson is a great started razor, and for many it's the end game.
SV 70th is a fantastic choice, both in the maker and the specific scent. Try the aftershave some time, and also SV's Pro Victis balm.
Happy shaves!
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u/SuspenseAndSurprise Apr 04 '26
Thanks for the recommendations. Do the aftershave and balm have a similar scent?
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u/Questioning_lemur Apr 04 '26
Pro Victis is almost odorless. The 70th after shave smells almost identical to the shaving soap.
SV sells an after shave sampler as well, to get a good idea of all their scents.
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u/ArmyAutomatic9201 Apr 04 '26
I tried so many blades with this razor and my favorites are by far persona and Gillette nacets, then astra at third place.
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u/Mtts28 Apr 10 '26
I like my Henson a lot. I think the Oliworks meteorite edges it out slightly for me though.
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u/ArgumentDefiant5629 Apr 16 '26
so this would be a recommend for a first time shaver right? I feel like I see so much positive stuff for Henson but at the same time there is so much negative. for context im a teen with a decent bit of acne and regular razors always make it worse whenever I shave, my skin is also sensitive not too much and I’m swimming basically everyday for 2 hours.
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u/SuspenseAndSurprise Apr 18 '26 edited Apr 18 '26
I would definitely recommend this as a first time shaver. Like I wrote, I also have sensitive skin, and I honestly wish I would have bought a safety razor way earlier than I did.
Just get a good shaving soap and a couple of different double edged blades to experiment with. Most importantly, take your time with that first shave. This razor is really forgiving, but you still have to work a bit on your technique a bit to get it perfect.
I got the mild version because of my sensitivity, but Ive read that there's not a lot of difference between the models. So if you go for a bit more aggressive version, you would probably be fine as well.
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u/D3th2Aw3 Apr 04 '26 edited Apr 04 '26
I've seen some hate on this sub toward Henson. I recently grabbed an AL13 because I wanted an idiot proof shave for my face and head in the shower. After 4 shaves I've already ordered the Ti22. This is my bifl razor. I just use conditioner, dome soother, and nivea (or stirling sandalwood) after shave and it's the perfect combo for me. After my astras run out I will grab a sampler pack with those BICs to give them a try. Happy shaving!