Cartridge Razor Review

Harry’s Truman Razor Review – Affordable and Simplistic

We’ve given Gillette a lot of web space recently, ‘Good, Bad, and Indifferent’, for their cartridge razors, and bringing another company like Harry’s will help bring something a little different to the shaving sink.

I have recently covered many cartridge razor reviews on a campaign to find the best razors and compare them. Recent reviews include the Gillette Fusion5, Gillette ProGlide, and GilletteLabs Exfoliator.

I’m happy to move on a little from Gillette for now and try out a Harry’s Razor, known as the Harry’s Truman Razor. Currently, it’s quite a simple process when choosing a Harry’s Razor, as the company only makes and sells one razor, the Truman and Winston.

Harry’s Razor joined the best cartridge razors roundup page for the best subscription service razor.

The first thing I liked about Harry’s Razor is the cost reduction compared to other razor companies like Gillette. However, as the title of this article states — Affordable, but it needs to Shave Good applies. So, I was hoping the razor could give a great shave while saving a little cash for some of you guys, and this we will find out further along in the review.

This razor review will highlight important razor features, provide an experience-based opinion on those features, and test the razor out shaving on various days of beard/stubble growth. Finally, I shall recommend who the razor might be best suited for in the final thoughts.

Description & Features

The founders, Jeff and Andy of Harry’s, state on their website that they were fed up with overpriced cartridge razors and wanted a good product at a fair price. 

When I first looked at the razor, I could see what the founders were talking about in terms of the simplicity of the razor design—and losing some of the added features and materials that other cartridge razors will naturally reduce costs.

• Blades: The five-blade razors are made in a Harry’s owned German factory. The company does not state much about the blades apart from that they are durable and sharp.
• Precision Trimmer: Like a lot of the Gillette razors, this razor has an extra blade on the top of the cartridge blade for trimming the sideburns, under the nose, and any other trimming needs.
• Lubrication: A lubrication strip above the blades improves the lubrication on top of the soap, foam, gel, or shaving cream used. 
• MicroFin Strip: Harry’s does not call the bottom strip a microfin strip and doesn’t even mention anything about it in the specs or features. This is a rubber-lined strip that aims to stretch the skin slightly before the blade cuts the hair. 
• Handle: The handle of Harry’s razor is very simple. It’s a plastic fully rubberized handle with grip provided underneath. The handle is available in various colors including bright orange, blue, and green, and then the latest have two color shades.
• Flex head: The head flexes back to around 60 – 70 degrees, enabling the razor blades to shave along the various contours of the skin and to get the best blade angle.
• Changing blades: The blade mechanism is a simple clip-on design, and a small sleeve releases the blade when a user slides it forward. 
• Blade Cover: A nice accessory that comes with Harry’s razors that is very useful is the blade cover. It’s a simple plastic fold and clip on box which covers the blade when it’s not in use.

Anything to add about the Features?

While the features and design of the Harry’s Truman razor are mostly self-explanatory in the description section above, I would like to expand on these and provide more insight into how useful or not they are.

Handle

The handle is as simple as it could be with its all-over plastic rubberized style. No part of the handle could be slippy, and the underneath section with a textured grip added is where it needs to be. However, the side sections could also have added grip, but that’s not a deal breaker.

It’s quite lightweight–but not too light.

The design provides the correct arch shape to make the handle ergonomically friendly. 

This handle is not flashy, unlike some of the Gillette handles. Some users will like this simplicity, while others won’t!

FlexHead (moves backward and forwards)

The head flexing back and forth when using the razor is pretty standard on all cartridge razors and extremely simple.

While the flex design is simple, it’s also very effective and helps the razor glide over the various contours of the face while varying hand pressure.  

Lubrication

The top section lubrication strip is a wide type. I have been able to compare a lot of cartridge razors, and Harry’s is one of the wider types.

The downside of these wider lubrication strips is that they create a gap when shaving under the nose area and leave hair unshaven. The top trimmer resolves the unshaven hair, but it’s still a negative aspect of these larger lubrication strips. 

Usually, when I start using a new cartridge blade, I have to use less shaving soap or cream because of the extra lubrication from the strip. However, this razor felt like it provided less lubrication, and I had to use more lather.

The strong lubrication other cartridge razors provide compared to Harry’s does not last and only delivers that much lubrication on the first couple of shaves. After that, the lubrication strip on these other razors becomes just like a Harry’s lubrication strip. I guess the lubrication strip on a Harry’s razor is consistent, which is a positive compared to changing how much lather I put on my face with the other razors.

Microfin Strip

Although Harry’s does not tell us anything about this rubber strip at the bottom of the cartridge blade, we can assume its purpose is the same as what Gillette states about its function and calls it a Microfin strip.

This strip should help stretch and prepare the hairs to be cut closer to the skin.

As far as I can see or experience, the strip provides some comfort, glides the blades towards cutting, and reduces the possibility of cutting myself.

Trimmer

The trimmer is an extra blade that is fitted on the top and back area of the blade section. I have found it necessary to use this for shaving closer under the nose area. I tested the trimmer out with cutting in the sideburns as well and it works fine, while providing a more accurate line.

How Well Does Harry’s Razor Perform and Shave?

I was looking forward to seeing if the Harry’s razor was as good as or better than Gillette’s and the others I have used. However, I had low expectations, purely because Harry’s cost much less than other five-bladed razors (talking primarily about cartridge pack replacements).

How Often Did You Shave with the Harry’s?

As usual, I try to use a razor with various days of growth. For example, I used the Harry’s razor on three+ days and two days of growth, and then daily shaving for three consecutive days.

Unfortunately, on the first consecutive day of testing this razor out daily shaving, I got a flare-up of neck irritation which told me not to shave the next day. Irritation from daily shaving is quite normal for me, but I could feel this razor, and its five blades are more aggressive than some other razors like a Mach3 or Gillette ProGlide.

Shaving with three days of growth was a great shave, as was two days. I had some tugging going on and needed plenty of lather on my face, but it was a good shave with close to the skin — end results.

How Was Head Shaving with the Harry’s Truman Razor?

Yes, I know. Harry’s states that the razor is not recommended for shaving heads.

Why is that? I don’t know for sure, and this guy in his youtube vid got a whimsical reply after emailing Harry’s. They stated the razor is to be used on the face with no reason why it cannot be used for head shaving.

Anyway, when I am not testing and reviewing cartridge razors, I do not shave my face with a cartridge razor and only use one for shaving my head (my go-to head razor was a Mach3), so I would never have a use for Harry’s. 

So, I tested this razor for head shaving anyway, and it did just as good a job as some other cartridge razors.

At a guess, the only reason I could think Harry’s would not recommend head shaving is it would wear or dull the blades quicker. Also, if a person head shaves with the blades, then they are not likely to get the 6 – 8 shaves out of the blades that Harry’s suggests they will.

Overall Shaving Experience?

The overall shaving experience was pretty good, and the end result was clean and close shaves.

It’s an aggressive razor and would not be a great shaving tool for those with sensitive skin or for some guys that shave daily. The pros and cons of the aggressiveness will depend on the type of coarseness of hair growth and a person’s skin type (i.e., tough skin can take handle most levels of aggressiveness).

While going through this review and shaving with this razor, I always keep in mind that it is a lower-cost razor compared to other competing razors. 

Cartridge Longevity

Harry’s website states a user can get between six and eight shaves from a single blade, though this will depend on your hair type and shaving habit.

I have used one blade for five shaves and a head shave (maybe count that at two), and it feels like it is time to change it; it’s dulling. I would like to change the blade after the third or fourth, but it would increase the costs. 

Changing Blades & Blade Care

The mechanism for changing the blades is a sort of sleeve and clip. The blade is easy to clip on and too easy to clip off. In fact, a user can pull the blade off without sliding the sleeve because it does not really lock into place.

I think Harry’s could improve the blade-locking feature. 

There is not much a user can do to take care of or maintain the razor. Simply cleaning it and patting the blade dry on a towel after using the razor will suffice.

Value for Money – Costs?

Harry’s offers a membership subscription service that buyers can subscribe to receive their cartridge blade supplies when needed. The service can save money if using Harry’s razors are for you, and you never have to go to the store when blades run out.

Before joining the subscription service, most people will want to know if Harry’s razors are the right razor for them before committing. A small issue here is if a person wants to commit to the subscription service, they will pay again and get sent another handle and blade (i.e., starter kit). Receiving another handle, blade, and additional shaving gel might be fine for some buyers, though. 

If a person buys a Harry’s Truman razor without subscribing to the subscription service, then the costs of the handle and replacement cartridge blades are as follows:

• Handle + 1 Blade: $9 USD, £8 UK, and €7 Europe*
• 4 Blades: $10 USD, £10 UK, and €8.50 Europe*

*Harry’s razors and the subscription service are only available in the US, UK, and some European countries. They are likely to expand into other countries.

Final Thoughts – Who is the Harry’s Truman Razor Best Suited For?

Harry’s razor is a good choice of cartridge razor for those that do not want to spend as much as they would on some of the Gillette razors like the Fusion5 and others.

It’s quite an aggressive razor, so I would not recommend it for those that have sensitive skin and irritation issues. But, for those with normal to tough skin, Harry’s is an option to consider.

I feel like this razor combines the simplicity of the Mach3 and the performance and aggressiveness of a Gillette Fusion5. However, I would add that the lower price makes the Harry’s not quite up to the standard of quality as the Fusion5.

If a user finds they like how the Harry’s Truman razor performs and shaves for them, they can save some cash and have the convenience of using the subscription service.

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