Aberlite Touch 2 Review: The Ultimate Finishing Tool for a Razor-Close Head Shave?
Aberlite Touch 2 Foil Head Shaver
The Aberlite Touch 2 foil-type head shaver gave very close head shaves, but lacked ergonomics, among other features, when compared to a dedicated head shaver. It shines as a useful touch-up tool after using a rotary head shaver for additional closeness.
Pros
It gives a very close head shave and almost manual razor close (manual razor close on most areas)
It is a good touch-up tool after using a rotary-style head shaver
It has a good amount of runtime of 2 hours
The power button is positioned well and cannot be switched accidentally, and I like the LEDs
The pause before the shaver powers on is useful and acts as a travel lock
Cons
It may seem a little bulky for some guys compared to some other head shavers and twin-foil shavers
It was better used as a touch-up tool after shaving with a rotary and not as a solo head shaver
Too aggressive for my face when facial shaving
The head/cassette attachment design could be improved
I know some of you gentlemen are chasing that super-close head shave finish—the kind of closeness we usually only get from a manual razor.
Most dedicated rotary head shavers I test are great for speed, ergonomics, and other aspects, but they often leave behind what I call a “fine sandpapery feel”, or a funny and great worded comparison mentioned to me recently was that parts of the head feel like a cat’s tongue (funny, but true).
The Aberlite Touch 2 aims to bridge that gap. Aberlite claims it provides a shave 60% closer than rotary shavers thanks to its ultra-thin foils.
After putting it through its paces on both my head and face, here is my take to help you decide whether it belongs in your grooming kit. I’m going to cover all the pros and cons of the features first, based on my experience and views, before sharing how my shaving experiences went.
Note on Ratings: The ratings for the Aberlite Touch 2 I provide are based on comparing it with head shavers, as this shaver is primarily promoted as a head shaver. Keep in mind, though, as a touch-up barbershop tool, I would rate particular aspects differently.
Description and Features
Unboxed, I got the shaver, USB-Type C cable, blade cap cover, small fabric travel pouch, and a mini manual. It is a simple kit with no other attachments, minus the twin foil cassette that is already attached!
It’s a twin-foil shaver marketed as a finishing tool that can also act as a primary head shaver. There are other twin-shavers like the Aberlite available that barbers use for doing hair cut fades and other touch-up jobs, such as the Andis Profoil Lithium or Babyliss Pro, and other twin-foil shavers.
The big selling point for Aberlite is how close it shaves. However, it lacks in other areas (when used as a primary head shaver) that I test in reviews, which I will go into shortly. I experience this lack with all these types of twin foil shavers.
Aberlite markets this in two ways:
- A finishing tool (which makes perfect sense based on my experience)
- A standalone head shaver (more debatable depending on your skin, technique, and how other dedicated head shavers compare)
And from my experience, both of those claims have some truth to them—but not equally for everyone.
It comes in three colors: silver metallic (the one reviewed here), gold colored, and black.
Design and Ergonomics
It is quite bulky and has a very different shape compared to all other shavers I have used and reviewed. It does not have the ergonomically friendly palm-held design and feel that I get from dedicated types of head shavers, which is one of the main selling points of dedicated types.
Design & Ergonomics Ratings
I am able to hold it in the hand, and maneuverability is not bad.
It is a little heavy (approx. 197g – 0.43lb), which I favour because I like weighty shaver/razor products; however, some other guys might find their wrists could ache after a while of using it (I’m sure they will adapt, though, unless they have a medical condition).
There are two grooves on both sides of the shaver. We can grip, kind of underneath the top of those grooves, when using it in the normal manner.
We can also then slide our fingers inside these grooves to use it with a method that Aberlite mentions. The sliding fingers method looks like it would be a very good holding option, but I found the shaver just too weighty for holding it like that, as I lacked a firm hold on it and wobbled too much.
It does not have a rubberized section for grip. However, it does not need it as the grooves for the grip work very well.
The power button is located on the top of the shaver and it’s not in a place which could lead us to switching it off when it is in use accidenalty.
Foils and Cutters
Aberlite’s “secret sauce” is the 0.5 mm ultra-thin foils. Aberlite claims these allow the blades to get four to six times closer to the skin than a rotary. In my experience, those numbers actually hold up—it gets significantly closer than my dedicated rotary head shavers.
Head and Blade/Foil Movement Ratings
The foil thickness of 0.05 mm is one of the reasons we can get a very close shave from the Touch 2. There is less metal between the skin/hair and the cutters inside the shaver (if that makes sense).
These foils are staggered and flex (i.e., press in). One foil stands taller than the other, and I imagine this design helps both foils to maintain skin contact without one foil pressing in too far and preventing the other (top) from making contact.
We have two foil option types: premium gold TiN coating or advanced black diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating. I have the DLC foils, as they are not gold colored. I have not used the gold type to be able to give my views and experience, comparing them.
The foils are also quite wide. If we compare with other Braun and Remington foil facial shavers, the Aberlite foils are much larger. Larger foils are a big plus for covering a surface area like the scalp, but not as useful for facial shaving (especially tricky areas like under the nose, chin, and around the lip area).
The foils and cutters are not contained in one unit. We have two inner blades, which are easy enough to remove and replace, and then the two top cap foils. The benefit of separating them is found in keeping them clean, as they allow us to deep clean them without any part of the cassette being hidden and unreachable, but it means we have separate parts.
I’m not a fan of the clip-on and off cassette design. I know Aberlite had issues with the first batch of these, with the top cap coming off while in use; however, they did resolve that (it’s comforting that they are honest). This top cap only has a small indent at the side where we can either put our thumbnail inside to prise it off, or we can use the side of the cleaning brush supplied, which fits in the gap. The design is just not as good as it could be, and not like other shavers I have used that have push buttons or an easier and stronger method of removal. I found the top cap easily clips back on, though!
The next clip shows detaching and attaching the foil head.
Battery, Charging, LEDs, and Travel Lock
Runtime is extremely good, as we get up to 2 hours, and it takes 2.5 hours to fully charge. I used mine for around 1.5 hours before needing to charge it, and it took around 2 hours to finish charging back up.
Battery, Charging, and LEDs Ratings
It is charged via a USB Type-C port and cable (thick and long enough), which is useful for any of us who use Type-C cables. It also comes with a useful adapter, so there is no need to switch devices!
I quite like the simple and unique LEDs. We have to press and hold the power button for a few seconds until it powers on, which shows a lightning strike, and a segment LED light shows us how many segments of charge we have left. I find a segmented battery left indicator useful, so I am aware of how much charge is left. When the battery is low, we get a flashing yellow light, and the lights also indicate when it is on charge and finishes charging (yellow flashing = charging/yellow constant = fully charged).
The next clip shows attaching the power cable, powering on the shaver delay, and the segmented battery indicator.
It does not come with a travel lock. However, it does not need one, as the few seconds’ delay when holding the power button when switching it on acts as a safety lock. Pretty cool and practical feature, really!
Cleaning and Maintenance
Cleaning and maintenance are pretty straightforward. The only concern I have is about the top cap, which I am not that keen on, as I mentioned above. It concerns me that removing it and attaching it may wear out and prevent it from clipping back on properly (that is just an observation, though, and no issue as yet).
Cleaning & Maintenance Ratings
This is my cleaning and maintenance routine and what Aberlite recommends:
- After every use: Remove the foil section and brush (plus blow) out any debris. I brush only the inner section of the foils to prevent damaging the outer area.
- Wet clean: Aberlite seems to recommend wet cleaning the foils after every use, but I only do this after the fourth shave. I use a little hand antibacterial soap rubbed in by hand on the foils and cap, plus I take off the cutters and do the same.
- Monthly deep clean: Aberlite recommends removing the foil cap and two blades for wet cleaning once a month. As I mentioned, we can use a hand antibacterial soap, which helps clean and sanitize them.
- Drying: After any wet cleaning, I leave the cutters and foil cap apart for a couple of hours or so to dry properly. Giving them a shake and dabbing dry with a tissue speeds up the drying time.
You can follow Aberlite’s instructions or do as I do, and find what suits you best.
Do keep the USB Type-C power port free from water. I’m not sure why Aberlite does not provide a kind of rubber covering to cover that, as they also mention not getting that really wet.
We need to oil the blades after every wet clean and after using the shaver for wet shaving. If you skip getting it wet, it’s still best to lubricate the blades after every few shaves. I take the top cap off and just put a couple of drops of mineral/clipper oil on the cutters and switch the shaver on for a few seconds. When I switch the shaver off, I wipe a little of the excess oil off to prevent hair debris from sticking and clogging (as shown in the next clip).
You can also apply a few drops of oil on the foils and let it seep into the blades. Both methods are fine!.
Aberlite recommends replacing the foils and cutters every 6 – 12 months, which is pretty much in line with other twin-foil shavers. Mileage will vary based on usage and hair coarseness, plus length.
Noise and Waterproofing
Like most foil shavers, this isn’t a quiet device. It has that familiar loud, buzzing sound that you’ll recognize if you’ve used other foil models before. It’s not unusual, but it’s worth noting if you’re coming from a quieter rotary shaver.
The sound test video below was interesting as the comparison with the Braun S9 Pro+ and Skull Shaver Pitbull Gold Pro SX5. There is not that much difference in the noise level, although the sound is quite different from the Pitbull due to being a rotary shaver.
It’s also rated for wet and dry use (IPX6), although I personally stuck to dry shaving during my testing. Given the type of shave this delivers, dry use feels like the more natural fit for me anyway, but you do have the option if you need a wet shave.
Performance: Three Types of Shave Tested
I used the Aberlite as a standalone head shaver, as a touch-up tool after shaving with a rotary-style head shaver, and I tested it for facial shaving.
Head Shaving Ratings
Here is how the tests went:
1. The Solo Head Shave
I used the Aberlite on a side of my head that had been trimmed down.
- The Good: The foils stay very close to the scalp with no overlap. It genuinely provides a razor-close finish in most areas, and it gives a closer finish than any of my dedicated rotary-style shavers.
- The Bad: It struggled at the back of my head, where I have natural bumps. Foil shavers generally find these “lumpy” areas challenging, and it took a while to clear them up. It also struggled to pick up the very last few hairs around the ears if they were slightly too long. Holding it and maneuverability are just not as easy as a dedicated head shaver, and it lacks the blade head span that rotary head shavers have (a larger blade head span equals more coverage and speed).
- The Solution: It is best used, as Aberlite states, by touching up or making sure to shave daily or every other day (at most). Every two days worked pretty well for me, with the only real challenge being going over the back of my head, including that damn skull lump (i.e., Occipital Bun).
The next clip demonstrates how well the shaver contours and maintains skin contact, how the method of holding it between the fingers works, and how shaving around the ears was for me.
2. The Rotary + Aberlite Combo (The “Finishing Tool” Method)
I used a dedicated rotary shaver (Philips Head Shaver Pro) for the bulk of the work, then followed up with the Aberlite.
- The Result: This is where the tool shines. The rotary handles the ergonomics and the bumps at the back of the head quickly, but it leaves that “sandpapery” stubble. Using the Aberlite on top of that produces an extremely close, smooth finish.
3. Facial Shaving
I tested this on two days of growth. It sounds like a “lawnmower” on the face—it is very effective at chewing through hair. However, for me, it was too aggressive for the neck. It created significant redness and irritation (as shown in the next clip).
If you have tough skin, you might be fine, but for many, this will be strictly a touch-up tool for sideburns rather than a daily facial shaver.
I found the shape and ergonomics are also not best suited for shaving around the chin and neck area. It is too bulky.
Shaving Notes
The “Protruding Foil” Recommendation
Aberlite recommends using the higher, protruding foil first when cutting in tight areas like around the ears. Turn the shaver so the leading edge (the taller foil) is providing maximum precision. I used it this way, and it was better.
“1-2 Day” Sweet Spot
Aberlite themselves emphasize that this is a finisher (and I totally agree). It performs best on growth that is 0.5 mm or less. If you wait 3 or 4 days, the shaver will struggle, take longer to get teh finish done, and it just does not make sense when we can use a trimmer/clipper first.
Sensitive Skin?
While Aberlite states in its FAQs that it can be used by those who have sensitive skin and pick up irritation easily, I beg to differ, especially concerning facial shaving. As you’ll know by now from what I have covered, this gives a damn close shave but at the cost of possibly being too aggressive for some guys. You can try a light pre-shave oil or electric shave lotion/powder and post-shave balm that can help ease things, though!
Price & Replacement Costs
Using USA prices as a current example, the Aberlite Touch 2 costs approx. $80, which I believe is a bit pricey when compared to the Andis Lithium Profoil ($68). However, there is a lot more build to the Touch 2 than the Andis.
We also have to consider the additional cost of replacement foils and blades. Now they are priced very well at $30 for the Gold x 2 foils with blades and $35 for Black x 2 foils and blades.
Final Thoughts – Verdict (Who’s It For?)
The Aberlite Touch 2 is somewhat of a specialist tool, and it could be best approached that way for most guys.
It absolutely delivers on closeness—that’s its biggest strength. But that closeness comes with trade-offs in comfort and ease of use, particularly if you try to rely on it as your only head shaver.
For me, its strongest role is very clear. As a finishing tool, it’s excellent. It takes an already decent shave and pushes it closer to that razor-like finish that so many of us are after.
As a standalone head shaver, it can work—but it depends on your skin, your technique, and your expectations. I found it is just best to use it on one or two days of growth. And as a facial shaver, it’s simply a bit too aggressive for regular use in my case, but again, those with more hardy skin could be just fine.
In terms of its shape, I am not a big fan and prefer the very simple design of the Andis Lithium Profoil and Babyliss Pro two-foil shavers. I see barbers doing their hair fades and touch-ups having an easier time with the Andis and Babyliss rather than the Touch 2, based on design and shape.
