First "shavette" shave!

[Synack]

I've attempted it quite a few times before, but I always ended up cheating and finishing with a DE. Finally pulled it off tonight, WTG and ATG.

Granted, my face looked like something out of a Hellraiser movie afterwards, but it's shaved . I also think my styptic pencil is now half of it's original size .

This Ustura shavette was the gift that got me hooked on wetshaving and I desperately want to master it. I've been looking at all of the awesome straights on the BST but I want to make sure I'm ready to take the plunge first. Figured this would be decent practice.

The shavette is a fickle beast. Slightest misstep and you stab yourself. Also experiencing a weird suction effect with the lather (starting almost flush to the face and rising slightly as I go to find the correct angle.)

Well, I'm getting there though. Will have to wait a couple of days and bust out my Tech. It had been shelved to make room for the HD and slant, I don't think I'll be up to that for a little while .

(Not intending this thread to become a shave clinic thread; Just want to share my first foray into the world of straights!)

 

[gregs656]

That suction is just where you're creating a vaccumm, becuase shavettes are effectivly a wedge in shape.

It will improve, just keep practising really. No pressure!

 

[pbroddi]

I got the same when first starting out with my Sanguine "shavette". It does get better as you improve and get used to the angles.

 

[jamesbeat]

Yes, it does come with practice. I'm pretty fast with my Sanguine now.
Except the last time I used it.
I had been using Gillette blades, but I used a Dorko blade for the first time last time I shaved, and for some reason it was like trying to shave with a broken bottle.
I found it to be plenty sharp enough, but really 'scratchy' too. I ended up with a cut on both corners of my mouth, I looked like the Joker
I'll try corking it next time.

Other than that one time, I have now mastered shaving with my shavette and can shave with it just as fast as I used to be able to when I was an ignorant mach 3 user (although I have to concentrate a lot harder)

P.S. If you'd like to see my 'custom sanguine' check this thread:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=86372

 

[Synack]

P.S. If you'd like to see my 'custom sanguine' check this thread:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=86372

Very cool looking! Personally I've been seriously considering an actual Dovo Shavette; With the green sleeve that accepts the large Fromm SE blades. They definitely seem more straight-like than a thin, tiny DE blade...

Anyone try such a combo out? Would you recommend it to a noob like myself?

 

[jamesbeat]

While I do enjoy the convenience of my shavette and it certainly has its place, there's no way I would recommend one over a straight.
I use mine because sometimes I'm in too much of a hurry to spend time using a straight razor.

I can understand your wanting to master the shavette first, but you already have one, why not skip buying another one and move onto a proper straight?

I'd say you're probably more likely to nick yourself with the shavette than a straight.
While it's true that a shavette allows you to concentrate on the shave itself rather than stropping etc, it is far less forgiving to shave with than a straight razor.
Don't think of the shavette as the 'training wheels' of straight shaving, look at it as a convenient alternative for occasional use/travelling.

I'd say (and I think a lot of other members will agree) that if your goal is to end up using a straight razor, skip the DOVO shavette and put the money towards a proper straight.

 

[bearbear]

Very cool looking! Personally I've been seriously considering an actual Dovo Shavette; With the green sleeve that accepts the large Fromm SE blades. They definitely seem more straight-like than a thin, tiny DE blade...

Anyone try such a combo out? Would you recommend it to a noob like myself?

I think the black holder is for the long blades, but to be honest, the dovo with red holder and a good blade for your face is more than enough. cut myself much worse with that puppy than i've ever cut myself using a true str8. They're very different shaves.

While I do enjoy the convenience of my shavette and it certainly has its place, there's no way I would recommend one over a straight.
I use mine because sometimes I'm in too much of a hurry to spend time using a straight razor.

I can understand your wanting to master the shavette first, but you already have one, why not skip buying another one and move onto a proper straight?

I'd say you're probably more likely to nick yourself with the shavette than a straight.
While it's true that a shavette allows you to concentrate on the shave itself rather than stropping etc, it is far less forgiving to shave with than a straight razor.
Don't think of the shavette as the 'training wheels' of straight shaving, look at it as a convenient alternative for occasional use/travelling.

I'd say (and I think a lot of other members will agree) that if your goal is to end up using a straight razor, skip the DOVO shavette and put the money towards a proper straight.

this.

 

[Synack]

Well, I think that does it. I'll have to start putting some cash aside to get a proper kit going .

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[jamesbeat]

Excellent

A shave ready razor from the buy, sell and trade section of this forum and a strop, and you're good to go.
I bet you could do it for not much more than the cost of the shavette if you went with basic stuff.

 

[gregs656]

That's a tad optimistic I would say, dovo shavettes are 20 bucks - you're probably looking at 50ish for a cheap shave ready and a cheap strop.

It is most certainly not worth having more than one shavette. Once you shave with a real straight there will be no attraction to the shavette, there's nothing 'wrong' with them - a cheap way to learn to decide if you want to continue - but not a patch on the real deal. For reasons you will feel for your self!

 

[jamesbeat]

That's a tad optimistic I would say, dovo shavettes are 20 bucks - you're probably looking at 50ish for a cheap shave ready and a cheap strop.

You're half right and I was half wrong

I forgot to keep in mind that I live in 'rip off Britain', where everything is more expensive.
A DOVO Shavette here is around £30, even on websites, which are often cheaper than stores. £30 is about $45USD. I bet you could find a shave ready razor for that if you shopped around.
I did say 'not much more than the cost of a shavette' because obviously the strop would have to be bought too.

The only retail outlet anywhere near me that sells straight razors stocks DOVOs. The least expensive one they have for sale (basic plastic scaled one) is over £80. I don't live in a remote location either, I live in the second largest city

I can't wait to get out of here

 

[Dubbya]

Very cool looking! Personally I've been seriously considering an actual Dovo Shavette; With the green sleeve that accepts the large Fromm SE blades. They definitely seem more straight-like than a thin, tiny DE blade...

Anyone try such a combo out? Would you recommend it to a noob like myself?

I'm trying to trade for the green insert right now. I use the Fromm "Shavette" with Personna blades and Fromm blades. From my experience, I would say skip the Fromm blades. The Personnas are a bit sharper, about half the price, and are available at Sally Beauty, so no shipping time.

I really like the Dovo though. It's well balanced and feels solid in the hand.

 

[Synack]

I really like the Dovo though. It's well balanced and feels solid in the hand.

It looks a thousand times better than the Ustura shavette; I also find it neat that it accepts three different style blades.

But I think I'll start off with a RupRazor Filly strop and whatever inexpensive shave ready round point is available on BST at the time. (It's killing me, leighton here actually has a few that I'm drooling over right now... )