iKon H20 Safety Razor Written by Mike Sandoval Tuesday, November 01, 2011 Across all business segments, products have evolved over time as entrepreneurs have sought to improve upon existing designs. Skyscrapers are constructed taller, cars are engineered to go faster, and smart phones are thinner and more powerful with each release. In the shaving industry, iKon Razors is one obvious example of this concept. This brand merges and modifies existing designs to create new and innovative safety razors. The stainless steel iKon H20 Safety Razor is a stunning hybrid of styles and features. Tired of suffering from razor bumps on his neck, Greg Kahn found relief by putting down his cartridge razor and turning to traditional shaving. He collected a number of quality safety razors, but felt that he could improve upon existing designs. The first iKon Razor was completely handmade on a milling machine and industrial lathe. Greg chose a stainless steel billet for the cutting head, with the handle turned from a piece of 316L bar stock stainless steel rod, because of the sustainability and durability of the material. Over the years, he gathered feedback from wetshavers and modified razor designs based on their recommendations. The result is unique and hybrid pieces, such as the H20 Safety Razor. When I opened the box of the iKon H20, the first feature that I noticed was the stocky handle – the thick and heavy design for which the iKon Bulldog is famous. The handle has the old-school utilitarian design with precision knurling that provides a secure grip for wet and soapy hands. The knurling is cut uniformly across the handle in a flawless diamond pattern. The bulky handle is easy to hold and maneuver around the face throughout the shave, and the 1/3 iKon H20 Safety Razor Written by Mike Sandoval Tuesday, November 01, 2011 smooth rings at the base of the handle provide the perfect point to grip the razor to hold it at the appropriate cutting angle during the shave. The cutting head of the H20 is incredibly innovative. The unique "double action" head features an open-comb design on one side and a smooth safety bar on the other. This provides two different levels of aggressiveness in the same safety razor. The comb is helpful during the initial first pass because it does not push the hair down, but guides the stubble up and into the blade for a clean slice. Unlike open comb razors like the Merkur 11C where the blade rests flat against the comb guard, the iKon has a gap between the cutting edge of the blade and the teeth of the comb. This allows more exposure of the blade edge while still benefiting from the open comb design. For the finishing passes, the regular bar allows a close shave while protecting the skin from having too much exposure to the blade. 2/3 iKon H20 Safety Razor Written by Mike Sandoval Tuesday, November 01, 2011 At first glance, the cutting head isattached remarkably similar toof the DE design nearly Both position have so two that blade in ithalf remains shape perfectly size, notches and centered the on blade the when bottom remains the razor the flatPILS is cutting when reassembled. seated head that in .Both the Both hold cutting razors heads the blade head. are arefully in two-piece designs with steel, machined from the feeling the bottom head and top of heavy the ofalignment iKon the and toand ahead H20 ensures mirror-like Aircraft thatfinish. the to Grade the This handle. T6 use Aluminum. While lightweight the It is PILS formed material cutting from keeps head solid the is billets stainless razor razor isidentical balanced in proportion topolished the handle. During was reduction comb without flipped spot guard on clean-ups side allowed side the to a smooth being few the cut of shave, of the smooth regular the days too just in razor razor the aggressive the the of comb typical and beard iKon right for tracked the H20 level side growth areas and first smoothly performed and of irritating pass, of aggressiveness from completed difficulty, the skipping on the extremely the blade space skin. such my skin shaves glided between shave, to After as maintaining well. reduce the easily over the cutting lower My the initial the the first across blade the neck longer against weekend. pass experience perfect and my length was the skin the jaw completed, Using grain teeth using line. making hairofand quickly the of The the the the open doing H20 I open regular initial aggressiveness level perfectly while still being comfortable without acomfortable. single at the nick same orThe cut time. and After absolutely completing no areas the shave, ofand irritation. my face was workmanship available its overall craftsmanship the customize Although competitors cutting value. at the his head. authorized and This iKon shave and in the The unique razor versatility, H20 experiences luxury unique iKon shares ismaterials recommended stainless dealers and double features more are give for action razor familiar than $149, of the for other market, gives razor any experienced with which modern other a the when itunique isisuser razor apriced fair and design wetshavers an identity price available how added lower razors, to for ofand use level this its today. that the own. therefore the level of appreciate quality different flexibility This of quality. is ofrazor asides to good Among is of RELATED ARTICLES... iKon Bulldog Safety Razor The PILS DE Razor Safety Razor Aggressiveness 3/3