Written by: Comfortable Club | ComfortableClub.com
Although we specialize in comfortable underwear & lounge apparel , you can correctly assume that we're absolutely obsessed with comfort , and when it comes to your shaving routine, we refuse to settle for less. We want nothing but the best in terms of quality, convenience, and comfort, because no guy wants to be the victim of a painful shave or wait forever to get shaving supplies.
Several shaving companies have stepped up to combat this issue, and perhaps the two most famous are Harry’s and Dollar Shave Club (DSC). Both services send shaving supplies to your mailbox at low prices. You’ll receive shipments either monthly (DSC) or at a frequency you specify (Harry’s).
Both of these companies offer a great deal for shavers, but we wanted to know which one was the absolute best. So we pitted Harry’s and Dollar Shave Club together in an all-out match to declare the winner once and for all.
Plans
Harry’s and Dollar Shave Club (DSC) offer similar plans in terms of gear, but they’re much different in terms of frequency. Harry’s asks you how many times per week you shave and sends out supplies based on that information. On the other hand, Dollar Shave Club sends a set amount per month (for example, 4 blades a month). So with DSC, you have to do the math.
Both companies offer similar shaving supplies as add-on items. They also both provide razor handles. But when it comes down to it, we prefer Harry’s for the straightforward shipping times and ease of ordering.
WINNER: Harry’s
Customization
When we ordered the equipment, we looked out for options we could personalize. We liked that Harry’s uses the frequency of your shaves per week as a guide. It was a no-brainer to calculate, and it meant that we’d get exactly what we need when we need it. Harry’s also provides a selection of razor handles for you to choose from.
Dollar Shave Club was less flexible due to their structure. They offer less personalized options, and while their pricing model is simple (see below), it also made us stop and think. How many shaves would 4 blades a month give us? How often do we go through blades? This made Dollar Shave Club much less intuitive, and Harry’s won for maximum customization.
WINNER: Harry’s
Price
In terms of pricing, it’s somewhat tricky to declare a winner because of the way each service calculates how many supplies you’ll need. If you shave once per week or less and choose only blades, Harry’s will cost $3 a month for you. If you shave 5 to 7 days a week and choose to add on blades, gel, and an aftershave, that price catapults to $38. (Harry’s also has free shipping!)
DSC provides less flexibility in terms of price, but their prices are dead simple. They have plans that cost $3, $6, and $9 per month. Depending on whether or not you order extras, you could spend anywhere from $3 to $19 a month.
This is a tougher match because the payment models serve different needs. If you buy other shaving supplies at your local stores, then DSC will give you cheap blades. However, if you want a super convenient, all-in-one solution, it’s Harry’s all the way. In the end, we settled on a tie in the price category.
WINNER: Tie
Aesthetics
Harry’s:
Harry’s impressed us with their sleek design and packaging. It’s clear that a lot of effort went into producing all of the products. There’s no obnoxious branding here, only the subtle H’ logo.
The razor itself is a simple, minimal piece with a smooth handle and elegant appearance.
We’re also big fans of the razor stand.
Heck, even the razor stand packaging is superb.
Need to keep your razor dry? Enter the clamp-on razor head cover. It doesn’t add any bulk and helps your razors last longer.
The extras are top-notch, too. It’s a remarkable set that definitely deserves a place in your bathroom.
Dollar Shave Club:
From the first glance, you can tell that Harry’s and DSC have quite different design tastes. The DSC set looks like a collection of run-of-the-mill drugstore items. That doesn’t mean they’re badly designed--they’re not. It’s simply a difference of style. Harry’s is the classy gent while DSC is the blue-collar everyman.
The razor’s ribs and wide head attachment make it about 50% larger than it needs to be.
To us, the razor looks identical to any random razor you’d find in any store. It’s a sturdy, effective piece, but in terms of aesthetics, it falls flat.
However, we’re fans of the witty lines that are featured on the packaging.
The extras have more countertop appeal, but they also resemble standard drugstore supplies.
The DSC set is great, but it didn’t blow us out of the water like Harry’s did.
WINNER: Harry’s
Comfort
Comfort is the number one priority in shaving. If you have a stylish razor that gives you horrible razor burn, there’s no point in using it! So when we tested Harry’s and Dollar Shave Club, we looked at comfort first and foremost. It was one of the big deciding factors for us in declaring an overall winner.
Harry’s:
Harry’s gear not only looked amazing, but also gave spectacular results. The razor performs like a good razor should: it slides smoothly across the face and doesn’t irritate. It produces a noticeably clean feel that’s a hallmark of a nice shave.
On a functional level, Harry’s also stands out. It was a cinch to wash out the shaving cream in between strokes. The cream itself creates a nice lather on the face that makes shaving even more easy. When it comes to shaving with cartridge razors, Harry’s is one of the best we’ve tried.
Dollar Shave Club:
From the beginning of the shave, DSC’s workhorse gear was quite different from Harry’s. The DSC razor didn’t tug or irritate, and it did the job. It didn’t glide as smoothly as the Harry’s razor did, but it was by no means a bad or uncomfortableshave. It was a good middle-of-the-road shave. However, since Harry’s had spoiled us, we found it hard to go back.
We found that the DSC razor had a tendency to hide shaving cream in its nooks and crannies. We’d later find the cream dried and hardened, and it took some trial and error to get it out. The design of the razor makes it difficult to get all of the cream out effectively, so if you’re pressed for time, you’ll likely find some dried cream the next day.
WINNER: Harry’s
And the winner is…
Harry’s! From the moment we laid eyes on the packaging to the last stroke of the razor, Harry’s was the clear-cut (pun intended) winner. The razor is effortless to use, and the products yield wonderful results. We liked Dollar Shave Club, but we loved Harry’s.
If you’re not ready to use a safety razor and want to automate the process of getting shaving supplies, Harry’s is the best option.