It's a straight razor that comes with 2 blades and I saw it online for only 5.95. Has anybody ever used it, is it any good? I would imagine that being so cheap it doesn't work well.
Annie Disposable Shaver: Anybody ever used it?
- Thread starter TAZORAC
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Never heard of it! The cheapest one I used was similarly priced though, maybe a Coolcut 4 or something along those lines I think. The Parker SR1 types are a step up from there and only around $20 I think. The very cheap ones (like the one you mentioned) are generally very lightweight and as a result are more likely to make you use pressure and cut yourself.
Annie's are a classic. My first foray into straights was that super cheap razor holder. The babershops use it to hold the blades for shaves and lineups and it does its job. I have a Filarmonica type blade holder for lineup so I always have a nice razor line. Good practice.
Haven't used it but it is a shavette - if you are going to plunk down $7, might as well get a SextoBlade (my latest epiphany and RAD - caused by TheVez2). Much sturdier, less likely to drain your blood, acts more like a real straight, can be stropped but not mandatory (just change the blade) and the blades are relatively cheap. See: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/320019-The-Straight-Eight-Shavette-Pass . I really don't like broken blade shavettes. I have two (a Sally special and a Parker) and while they can be made to work, they are not nearly as comfortable as other alternatives.
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What's the difference between a straight razor blade and a "razor holder"? Can you shave with the razor holder or what. I'm a straight razor rookie
Blade holders are for holding blades in a secure way. The blades are disposable. There are a few varieties, the most common (IMHO) being the shavettes like Parker, Dovo that use a half DE blade. On the upper end are Feather AC and clones that hold a much stiffer blade made specifically for the holder. The Feather AC and clone blades are noted for being extremely sharp. Take a look at YouTube for several related videos. There is a good Parker Shavette video and GeoFatBoy has a great Feather AC video. Trouble is, the videos are made by people who are good at shaving and they don't always relate to your results locally.
In essence, you get a 'straight razor shave' experience (sort of) without the paraphernalia associated with upkeep on a classic straight. You don't need to strop or hone blade holders (although some of us have done it just to be perverse).
Here is a straight:
Here is a blade holder (in this case a CJB which is a Feather clone). The blades (shown at the bottom of the photo) are clamped in the blade holder. These are very sharp but give great shaves. The blades are somewhat expensive - up to a buck or more each in many cases. However, they last a long time - I can regularly get 7 shaves from one and once went for 19 shaves just for grins and giggles.
Here is a Shavette. I don't like Shavettes because the blade is a DE blade that is thin and uber sharp. Many people recommend learning on these - I don't. They take a DE blade that has been broken in half. The blades are cheap, of course, but they don't last as long as the upper end blades. Shavettes are evil - they will cut you. I think shavettes were devised in the third circle of hell and should be relegated to punishing people who like The Veg. But that is just me.
Finally, here is my new favorite blade holder. I'm only just finding out about these so I'm a newbie with them. I've shaved 8 times so far with them. IMHO, they are one of those secrets hidden in plain sight. It is a Weck hair shaper or Weck SextoBlade that uses hair shaper blades (available at beauty supply places and everywhere on the web). They are milder than either the Feather AC or the broken blade shavette and they are cheaper to get ( I got one for 1.99 on eBay last week). The blades range from about 25 to 50 cents each and last five or six shaves. The picture below is from TheVez2 who got me hooked on them. They can be stropped (I've done it twice - newbie) although it is not necessary - the blades are cheap enough to just discard. You can read more about them at: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/320019-The-Straight-Eight-Shavette-Pass In my opinion (worth absolutely nothing), these are a good gateway to using a straight. Very sharp but not so sharp that you need to fear them. Almost the feel of a regular straight (almost) and user friendly. Cheap, available, and they turn into a roast beef sandwich and a beer at midnight (but mine all keep changing back in the morning).
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- #7
Where did you buy your "SextoBlade" from?
You can get them on eBay. Search on weck hair shaper or weck sextoblade. I just checked and there are several of the stainless versions on the 'weck hair shaper' search - nothing much worth it on the sextoblade search.
As I said, I'm just getting into them myself but I'm quite pleased with the results I have about 10 shaves on them and the results are quite good. I found a nice one in an antique shop - and I've seen quite a few on eBay. The ones with the stainless handles are common and aren't bad at all. They are slightly handle heavy but they feel pretty good (better balanced than the SS TI razor). The SextoBlades with traditional scales are a bit more expensive but still cheap enough. You should be able to find one for between 5 and 30 dollars (its eBay).
There are lots of Weck Hair Shapers but they tend to be lighter. The SextoBlade seems to be more like a straight.
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