The Haircut & Shave Company’s (HS) Ti offering is a hand polished Titanium (grade 5) version of the successful H&S stainless P076 DE razor with a mid aggressive gap of 0.76 mm and positive blade exposure. It seems many vendors are jumping on the “Titanium razor train” and releasing versions of prior razors or entirely new DE razors in Titanium. The allure of Titanium seems to have bitten users and artisans alike and I have had the opportunity to use this one along with several of the previously available commercial releases from other artisans – I hope to write up a mini comparative review. Although I tried both the SB and OC versions, I personally prefer SB razors and my comments pertain to the SB version.
All shaves were using the Gillette Nacet blades which for me is a very good and reliable blade as it is reasonably efficient and smooth even after 4 uses. I actually use them every so often. My preshave is the standard hot shower and I bowl lather with an APShave Co 2BED synthetic brush. It was a treat as always to use the supplied ETHOS (unscented and noir success pineapple) soaps. As I have previously reviewed the ETHOS soap it has fast become my favorite soap with its high end hydration and excellent glide and cushioning abilities. It was a great opportunity to use the unscented ETHOS which is just as good as the excellent success version. In my experience any razor or blade will shine and perform at a higher level with a superior soap and the ETHOS checks these boxes 100 %. If I had only a single "desert island" soap it would be the ETHOS as that is how impressed I have been with it so far. So now that the razor has been paired with a superior soap how does the HS Ti look and perform ?
APPEARANCE: This is a looker and its hand polished Titanium finish is shiny as others have already commented. Titanium is a difficult metal to polish and you cannot compare the shine of a polished Titanium with the potential mirror polishing from a stainless (303, 316 or 17-40) steel razor. Although difficult to appreciate on a camera photo, it is shinier than the Paradigm Ti2 and is comparable if not slightly more glossy than the Timeless polished Ti. The handle has a very nice pattern which is pretty well standard for the HS line of razors – no complaints here. There was no matching stand to display this beauty in one’s shave den.
MANEUVERABILITY: This is a light weight three-piece razor at 60 gm as Titanium is less dense than stainless and depending on the razor will typically weigh 40 % less. It is half the weight (and nearly twice the price) of the all stainless 303 steel H&S P076 version. For comparison the Paradigm Ti2 and Razorock Baby Smooth weigh between 65-66 gm. The thin profile head which covers the blade tabs is extremely maneuverable feeling nimble and able to glide into all those tight spaces. The handle represents a good compromise between shorter 3 inch and longer 4 inch handles. It gives the razor an overall good balance upon all passes. The knurling although very competent is neither aggressive nor purely cosmetic – I had no issues with the grip with wet hands.
SMOOTHNESS: Titanium razors, whether polished or not, always gives this user a smoother shave as the metal feels softer on the face in comparison to any brass or steel razor which other reviewers seem to also experience. This HS Ti is no different yielding a smooth and comfortable shave across all passes.
EFFICIENCY: This polished HS Ti in both SB and OC reports a 0.76 mm gap and as a mid aggressive razor resulted in an efficient 2 pass shave with some touch ups (for me). It can easily be a daily shaver and likely would function for 2-3 day beard growths without any issues. It was comparable to the Paradigm Ti2 and slightly less efficient than the Timeless Ti 0.95 which was no surprise. I had no problem finding my optimal shave angle (which was small) and dialing in the results. I was able to easily get efficient 8 hour BBS/DFS shaves.
PROS: 1. A great combination of smoothness and efficiency with long lasting results.
2. Although light weight at 60 gm it is well balanced.
3. The blade tabs are covered (I prefer) with the head being very low profile.
4. A hand polished Titanium finish – not easily obtained or produced.
CONS: 1. Some may not be able to justify the premium $400 Titanium price.
2. Some may find the 60 gm weight difficult to adjust versus a heavier steel razor.
3. A nice stand would complement the rugged case option.