Twig & Thorn Passaround Review – An Outstanding Body Razor at a Bargain Price

Thorn Shave



A very nice shave with the Thorn. I couldn't really tell the difference between the Twig and Thorn, and I will repeat the shave tomorrow, with a different soap and brush because Monday. I like the feedback the razor gives, and it is very nimble, responsive, and how intuitive it is to use. 

Today was another Thorn shave, with the Manchurian badger knot in the purplish Quasar handle.

A great shave until the ATG pass in the goatee area. I had some weepers or nicks yesterday but chalked it up to new injector blade in the Type M that I use for that area. Today I didn't use the M, and got worse results, i.e., many more (like 5!!) nicks/weepers on the chin and corners of the mouth. To be fair, "maskne" has been worse for me of late, so maybe whatever razor I use is going to hit the irritated areas and make me leak. What I figure, as I sip my tea (one sips tea and slurps coffee!), is that since the Thorn is, per Leaf, a medium+ on the aggressive scale, so it "hits" the imperfections more than a milder razor, like the Twig.

In the name of science, I am willing to take it on the chin again tomorrow and will use the Twig exactly as I did the Thorn today.

Shave #2 with the Twig. 

Audibleness is about the same as the last two days with the Thorn, but not taking down as much stubble on the first pass. But this is why we do multiple passes, something about reduction versus elimination on the pass itself. By the end, near glass-like smoothness with no irritation around the chin and mouth corners. However, the maskne bumps from the past 2 days irritation did have a nick. So, not the Twig, but me being too aggressive over the area.

Definitely like the Twig, it is great for me, reminding me of an injector shave. The styling is unique to both razors, and I like it. They feel good in my hand, easy to maneuver, and do the job without drama. I did not have an issue with the handle being too slippery, and I think I addressed this earlier: I believe my water is more hard than soft. Soft water seems more slippery to me, making it harder to rinse off soap. 


Cons for me are basically two. The twisting to open and close is opposite to what I want to do. When I give the knob a nudge to make sure it's tight, I am actually loosening it. I haven't checked, but I think it is opposite what a Gillette TTO does. The second is suspected fragility if dropped. There are literally several moving parts when loading and unloading blades. A drop onto a hard surface may cause breakage, not just a bend, ding, or scratch. 

I think this a unique and fun razor, and it delivers some smooth, easy shaves. More time in use will help settle the user in, as with any razor, but especially when the format is different from what one is used to using.

Thank you DanLaw for arranging this pass around and thank you MaineYooper for sending these to me to try.

SOTD: 02/26/2022

Razor: Leaf Twig
Blade: Astra , 1st use
Brush: Maggard Synth
Bowl: Symmetrical Pottery Bowl
Soap: PAA Doppelgänger Black
Aftershave: PAA Doppelgänger Black Aftershave
Additional Care: Zingari Rescue + Hydration

Notes: I was going to do a side by side with both razors but there was an issue with the Thorne where the top cap kept coming off. I think I managed to fix it and will try tomorrow.

I had an excellent face shave with the Twig. In fact I was shocked how well it shaved. The results were excellent.

I really enjoy razors with slim head profiles. Getting under the nose was a breeze.

I also love that these razors take half de’s. It is so much more economical than artist clubs.

Overall I am very impressed.

DanLaw do you think Leaf would ever make Twig or Thorn in SS or Ti? Thanks

Anything is possible but it would be contrary to the Leaf core strategy

SOTD: 02/27/2022

Razor: Leaf Thorn
Blade: Astra , 2nd use
Brush: Barrister & Mann Synth
Bowl: Symmetrical Pottery Bowl
Soap: Stirling Sandpiper
Aftershave: Stirling Sandpiper Aftershave
Additional Care: Zingari Rescue + Hydration
Additional Care: WS-23

I managed to re-attach the top cap of the Thorn and it worked. Great shave.

This Leaf (Twig and Thorn) is an ingenious design.

They should make one in SS or Ti. And make it 3 piece.

I love the head geometry of both the Twig and Thorn. I also love the half DE format.

Notes: I was going to do a side by side with both razors but there was an issue with the Thorne where the top cap kept coming off. I think I managed to fix it and will try tomorrow.

I managed to re-attach the top cap of the Thorn and it worked. Great shave.

Out of curiosity, and so that we can learn more about it, how did the top come off? Was it from opening up, like the knob kept turning? Not getting feedback back to stop? I think I only opened enough to get the blade out, far enough that the base and top plates were perpendicular to each other. Do you think it is to allow maintenance? Thanks for sharing your experience!

Notes: I was going to do a side by side with both razors but there was an issue with the Thorne where the top cap kept coming off. I think I managed to fix it and will try tomorrow.

I managed to re-attach the top cap of the Thorn and it worked. Great shave.

Out of curiosity, and so that we can learn more about it, how did the top come off? Was it from opening up, like the knob kept turning? Not getting feedback back to stop? I think I only opened enough to get the blade out, far enough that the base and top plates were perpendicular to each other. Do you think it is to allow maintenance? Thanks for sharing your experience!

When I tried to shave with it the first time the top cap came off. But it was easy to re-attach to the metal rod it attaches too. The razor shaved perfectly fine after that and did not come off again.

As someone who bought the 3 blade Leaf last year for head shaving before a deployment, I must say these look a lot better quality than the Leaf. I got maybe 100 shaves out of it before one of the magnets broke off in the shower one day. I haven’t tried to use it since, but seeing as these have a more vintage loading system with no magnets I’d be curious to try one. I’ll probably pick one up next year as I’m in the sabbaticals for this year, but I will admit they do look appealing.