LEAF Shave

LEAF Shave is an American grooming company that designs all-metal, refillable safety razors and natural shave-care products, built around eliminating single-use plastic from everyday shaving. Founded by two engineers, Adam Hahn and Adam Simone, the company reworks the classic safety razor with a pivoting head and multiple blade positions, aiming for tools that shave like modern cartridge razors while using replaceable steel blades instead of disposable plastic.

Accounts of when the company began differ. Most sources date its origin to a 2016 Kickstarter campaign [8], while a founder interview places the official launch and first shipments in March 2018 [6]. The brand remains active, reporting more than 500,000 customers and continuing to release new products through 2026.

Hahn and Simone met more than a decade before launching the company, working together at a startup that built robotics for orthopedic surgery. Simone has described the pair's goal as using "innovative and unique designs to eliminate plastic from common personal care tools, like razors" [6]. According to the company, the idea grew from a simple frustration: two friends who could not find a consistently good shave and concluded the problem was the razor, not their skin.

The founders launched a Kickstarter campaign in 2016, reaching a $100,000 goal within four months and drawing more than 1,400 backers [8][6]. The company officially launched and began shipping in March 2018 [6].

LEAF Shave's core products are its razors, sold under names including the Original Leaf Razor, the Leaf Two, the single-edge Twig, the Branch Single Edge, and the Dermaplaner. The signature design uses a pivoting head that helps hold the blade at a consistent angle and multiple blade positions intended to spread pressure more evenly. Razors accept standard, widely available double-edge safety blades — which can be snapped in half for single-edge use — or the company's own single-edge blades. More recent razors add exfoliating "Prep Fins" and a magnetic blade-loading system. Alongside the razors, the company sells natural shave-care items such as shave oils, a calming serum, and a shave soap bar.

The engineering focus is reflected in a portfolio of patents, including US Patent 10,906,196 for the Leaf razor and US Patent 11,235,483 and European Patent 3582937 for the Twig [3]. The company summarizes its own positioning with the phrase "Shaving as Skincare."

The company frames its mission as removing plastic from common grooming tools while still making a genuinely competitive product. Simone has stressed that the aim is "to make the best product in its category" that "happens to also be plastic-free," rather than an eco-product for its own sake [6]. The brand describes its approach as simple steel blades, durable handles, and shave care without unnecessary ingredients. Products are sold mainly directly to consumers, supported by a paid membership program that offers discounts on refills. The company also operates a sister brand, Smoosh.

Sustainability sits at the center of the brand's identity. The company says it has diverted more than 20 million plastic razors from landfills, works with the organization rePurpose Global on a plastic-negative partnership, uses FSC-certified packaging, and runs a program for recycling used steel blades [2]. It also reports donating more than $115,000 to environmental organizations [2]. LEAF Shave is Leaping Bunny certified, indicating no animal testing [2], and has been Climate Neutral Certified since 2019 [6].

The Leaf razor has drawn grooming-press attention, with GQ describing it as one of the more innovative and exciting shaving products of recent years [8]. The brand has also cited features and mentions in outlets including The New York Times, USA Today, Allure, and Men's Health.

LEAF Shave is an active direct-to-consumer company. It continues to introduce products — recent releases include the Branch Single Edge razor, a limited matte finish for the Leaf Two, and a small-batch shave oil — and reports a customer base of more than 500,000.