If you’ve made it here, you’re likely considering buying a Leaf Razor. 

Well I have good news – I bought it, and have been using it for five months. So, I’m ready to share if a Leaf Razor is worth the investment. If you’re like me, then you are a little nervous to leave behind Ol’ Reliable, aka your plastic razor. 

After all, you don’t want to find out your razor doesn’t work when you’re using it. Especially before something like a pool party or a big date. While hair isn’t a big deal, when you want a clean shave, you want a clean shave. 

What I’m trying to say is, I was nervous. Maybe like you. 

When I bought the Leaf Twig Razor, I was trying to replace one of the plastic items in my home. I’ve been slowly tackling one item at a time over the last two years. But unlike wool dryer balls or a metal straw, I really needed this item to work. Plus, the Leaf Razor is expensive! 

I was hopeful that this would be a good investment. So here’s what happened when I purchased the Twig Razor.

First Impression: Packaging

I love that all the items I get from Lochtree come with carbon offset shipping and in sustainable packaging. There’s nothing worse than ordering something sustainable and it showing up in a box filled with styrofoam packing peanuts and wrapped in plastic. 

Like how a certain space explorer likes to send things… 

Anyways! Leaf also does a great job of sending their razors in only cardboard packaging. Which I personally appreciate. 

I hate trying to sort through package materials to dispose of them in the right places like I’m unassembling Ikea furniture after a wrong turn 14 pages ago. Leaf’s packaging is no dis-assembly needed. All of it can go in the recycling bin.

The Razor Itself

My initial impression is, “Wow, this is way heavier than I expected.” 

So heavy that it was somewhat gratifying to hold it in my hand. Yes, I did pay $59.99 for this, but it’s a heavy piece of hardware that’s going to make me feel more comfortable when I feel like someone has broken into my house while I’m showering. 

And what intruder wouldn’t leave when I shout, “Don’t make me use my Twig!” 

I chose the Mercury colored Twig. It’s very shiny and eye-catching. Not that you really need that in a shaving razor but again, it feels good to invest in a quality product. 

Holding this is basically the opposite of holding one of those plastic, $1 shave razors. And, that’s when I notice that there aren’t any blades in my razor…

How to Load the Leaf Razor

I was nervous to have to load my Leaf Razor, because I don’t like finger cuts. Or really any kind of cuts. Cue the Sweeney Todd reference. But loading the Leaf Razor was really easy. 

For the Twig, you twist the bottom of the razor counter clockwise. The top of the razor lifts up, and you have plenty of space to place the blade. When the blade is in place, you twist the bottom of the razor again until the top clamps down on the blade. 

And that’s it! You’re ready for your first shave! 

I really like that Leaf also chose to use a blade pattern so thatany blade can fit in your razor. They could’ve gone with an Apple charger method but instead chose to make it easier to find refills when you need them. 

Their exact words on this are, “because we’re not jerks.” 

But, Does It Work?

First off, I know that both Leaf Razors come with their own stand. I didn’t buy the stand, because I didn’t care if my razor laid on its side in the shower. The stand felt like a weird little display, and I’m notthat sustainable. 

Also, no shame if you’re super pumped about the stand! It just wasn’t for me. 

What I’ve found, however, is that the Twig stands up on its own in the shower. I’ve never seen it knocked over, you know, unless I literally hit it with a body part. 

I think it’s important to note the areas that I shave, which are my legs and armpits. I’m not someone who shaves my face, but I have found some feedback from others in regards to their experience for sharing their face or head. 

• Armpits: The twig shaves armpits well. It’s small enough to get in the weird spots where hair grows wild. It does require you to shave in a couple of directions (top to bottom, left to right), especially as the blade gets duller. But, this gets my stamp of approval. 
• Legs: Shaving my legs with a Twig was slow work. Until I got in the shower and got going, I didn’t realize how small the razor was. It worked, but it took me a while because I was using one blade to shave two adult woman legs.
• Face + Head: I don’t shave my face, but I’ve found in other reviews that lots of people think the Twig works great for face and head shaving. It’s small enough that it’s easy to see what you’re doing, and it can get into smaller spots better than the Leaf Shave can. 

So ultimately, I found that yes, the Leaf Twig does work if you want to shave your legs and armpits. However, arriving at this conclusion didn’t come without a learning curve.

My Learning Curve

To level set my shaving experience, normally I’m a dry shaver. Meaning that I don’t use soap, or shaving cream when I shave. I kicked shaving cream cans a long time ago because I felt like it was a product I didn’t need. 

I know that people who exfoliate first are getting their minds blown right now. For what it’s worth, I am deeply impressed with your shower practices! 

However, switching to a Leaf Razor forced me to break that habit. My first dry shave, I felt like I didn’t shave a single hair. My second dry shave was better, but I was still patchy. 

Then, one day, it hit me: I probably needed a shaving soap or shaving cream to help my hair stand up. I personally use Mountain Time Soap’s shaving bar. For anyone that shaves their face, check out Lochtree’s Gentle Farmer’s Shaving Cream. The first time I used the shaving bar with the Leaf Twig my legs came out silky smooth. 

Not only were they hairless, but my skin also felt hydrated. Win/win, given that I live in a dry desert climate and my skin almost never feels hydrated. 

Also, don’t apply too much pressure when using the Leaf Twig. Let the weight of the razor do the work. You’ll also need to shave against the grain, there’s just no way around it. And, change your blades every six weeks like it’s your religion. 

If you follow those steps, I’m sure you’ll find yourself with a smooth, hydrated shave. 

Some other reviews claim that the razors can be “slippery” however, I didn’t find that to be the case… ever. Even when I was using the soap. So… good luck with that?

Does the Leaf Razor Rust?

I know online and on the box Leaf says to “store in a cool dark place” but I’m a bit of a rebel. Sometimes I put the popcorn bag with the “up” side facing down. 

So naturally, I just leave my Leaf Twig in my shower. We’re five months into our relationship and things are looking pretty serious. And by serious I mean there’s no sign of this relationship ending, or me needing to recycle my razor. 

There’s not even a little bit of rust. Which means I think me and the Twig just might be in it for the long haul. 

That is…unless someone else comes between us…

Leaf Twig Vs. Leaf Shave

If you’re trying to decide which razor to buy between the Leaf Shave vs. Leaf Twig, I do have some advice. Don’t make the price the reason you purchase either razor. 

Purchase the Twig if you’re someone who shaves your face or head. The Twig is ideal for someone who needs to shave a smaller surface area, but that surface area might be a little bit more complicated to shave given the non-flat surface. 

Purchase the Leaf Shave if you have a lot of area to cover. The Leaf Shave is too big to be super detailed with. Although, you can shave with only one or two blades. The Leaf Shave is ideal to cover a lot more ground, and take care of a lot more hair, quicker. 

In my opinion, they’re two different tools for two different purposes. Be sure you invest in the right tool for you. 

And, if you’re wondering how these stack up next to a safety razor, from what I’ve read the Leaf Shave has more flexibility and is less likely to cut you all over. 

Is the Leaf Razor Worth the Price? 

The short answer is yes. 

The long answer is, if I could do it over again, I would buy the Leaf Shave instead of the Leaf Twig. The Leaf Shave is more expensive, and, as I mentioned, I was nervous the product wouldn’t work.  

So I opted for the less expensive razor to curb my disappointment should this whole, me and a sustainable razor thing not work out. 

But the reality is, I can tell I’m going to have this razor for quite some time, and I should’ve bought the Leaf Shave for the three blades. I need a razor that can cover more surface area quickly.  

If you’re looking for a razor to give your beard or facial hair a sharp edge, similar to a safety razor, the Twig might be a better choice for you! 

In 2019, the U.S. tossed 2 billion plastic razors. If you consider the average cost of a razor is roughly $5, you’ll pay off the Twig in a year, and the Leaf Shave in a year and a half. 

So, for now, I’ll keep using my Leaf Twig.