Is a shavette/cut-throat razor really THAT much better than a safety razor?

[Old Hippie]

Is it faster? Heck, no. I can shave in 10 minutes with an electric, if I'm interested in speed.
Is it safer? Heck, no. But you can learn to deal with that.
Is it closer? Heck, I don't know. I know that I can get glassy with some rather aggressive razors, and I can get equally glassy with a naked blade. Mostly I don't chase the baby.
Is it smooth? Heck, yeah! Even the 1/2DE ones that some people love to hate. Just gotta get the right kit, Mate.
Are some better than others? I'll leave that as an exercise for the student. You do, in fact, get the quality you pay for...but even the cheap ones are pretty good when paired with a decent blade.

Some guys like guarded AC blades. I have yet to find one I like. I generally go straight to the Kai Captain Titan Mild Pink. For the 1/2DE shavettes I'm all in for Astra SP blades.

Personally I find the kamisori style somewhat easier to use than the western style. I have five western style; one kamisori.

In the end, for me, it's a way to get a shave. I've discovered I like it. I like slant razors slightly more, but the difference is statistically insignificant.

O.H.

 

[JasonJT]

THANK YOU to all of your replies! To conclude; I would like to give using a cut-throat razor a go but I don't want to look like a Dracula's meal if I was to attempt using the said razor! However I do appreciate all of your replies! For now I will continue to use my DE razor and enjoy the quality shaves it provides. I am a married man and while my wife appreciates a close shave; I'm sure she doesn't want to see my face with (you know what) on it! (That sentence was censored for the sake of dignity).

I really enjoy using my DE razor a hell of a lot so I think I'll stick with that for now.

All the best to everybody on this thread.

Jason.

 

[JCarr]

@JasonJT you'll never ever know if you don't give it a go.

This...∆...so true.

 

[JasonJT]

Is it better? No. In my experience, shaving with a good shavette or straight razor is more comfortable and is more fun too. I shave with pretty much any traditional mathod of shaving, by the way: straights, double edge, single edge, cartridge, electric.

Good evening and thanks for your comment.

For many years I have alternated between an electric razor and wet shaving.

I have asked my wife which method of shaving she prefers me to use and she said 'The wet shave is better'
Throughout my life I have used several brands of disposable and cartridge razors (such as my existing Mach3)
However since I have started using a DE razor not long ago I feel that my wet shaving has drastically improved. I will continute to use my DE razor and see how things go.

Jason.

 

[Lightcs1776]

Does it give me a better shave? Nope. Is it more fun or enjoyable? Yep. Something really cool about shaving with a straight.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[Alohawyatt]

Does it give me a better shave? Nope. Is it more fun or enjoyable? Yep. Something really cool about shaving with a straight.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

+1


I like to challenge myself from day to day. This is one way of fulfilling that desire. For me, it’s not enjoyable to just sit back and look at things and wonder what it might’ve been like. I’ll admit that I’m not overly concerned about the closeness of the shave. There’s something fun and challenging about taking a piece of sharp steel and sliding it across my skin. I’ve never used a shavette. Somehow they just don’t appeal to me.

As for my wife, she would prefer that I always have two week well-maintained beard. That look brings it’s challenges.

 

[Galaktus]

The safety razor was invented and succeeded as a solution to the problems, dangers and hassles of straight razors.

The safety razor (Gillette's business model) was to invent safety razors to sell razor blades. And their model evolved to selling endless supplies of multi blades cartridges.

 

[ERS4]

The safety razor (Gillette's business model) was to invent safety razors to sell razor blades. And their model evolved to selling endless supplies of multi blades cartridges.

That is not the complete story.

Mr. Gillette supports socialism and he has published the following books.
"The Human Drift"(1894)
"The Ballot Box"(1897)
"world corporation"(1910)
Therefore, he created the blade and razor for the soldiers on the battlefield, and hoped that civilian laborers could share the fruits of labor at a cheaper price. ("Old Type" age)
Of course, his ideas are utopian, and he did make a lot of money because of the invention of the razor.

However, he lost the company around 1930, and later we saw Gillette become all marketing-oriented, and changed the razor/blade specifications to "New Type". But this was not the purpose of King C. Gillette in the beginning.

 

[ERS4]

This question does not define "better".
The definition of "better" cannot meet everyone's needs, but we must know your needs to be able to provide ideas, otherwise it is just describing our own preferences.

First of all, we must know that both options can bring the same clean shave.

If "better" means
1.More traditional spirit.
2.Practice finer shaving techniques. Because you can directly see where the blade reaches.
3.Reduce discards even more. Especially in the era of more environmental protection.
The shavette/cut-throat is indeed "better".

If "better" means
1.Safety─ You can also shave with your eyes closed, and you don't have to worry about falling off the razor and cutting off the happiness of your marriage when you are shaving in the shower.
2.Enjoy the more complex mechanical structure + the fun of modern machining.
3.Your razor (manly) will not get smaller over time.
The safety razor is indeed "better".

I like both of straight/shavette & safety razor. I use the two interchangeably as I like.
And safety razor is used when WWI/WWII the "real heroes" our grandfather and father go to war and defend the country.
Therefore, there is no need to listen to the ad slogan "safety razor makes you less masculine" when some extremists promote their preferences.

 

[steveclarkus]

The safety razor was invented and succeeded as a solution to the problems, dangers and hassles of straight razors.

I believe it had to do more with the convenience than safety. When you start using a straight razor at 15 years old, by the time you are shaving daily, it is just old hat. Much of the transition to “safety” razors occurred during WWI when Gillette provided his new razors to troops while other armies were still using straight razors. Can you imagine property maintaining a razor while living in a ditch. No wonder why the Gillette’s took off. Great marketing move by the way. While my grandfather was a machinist, I expect my edges far surpass the best of his.

 

[steveclarkus]

I myself tend to believe in that myth, and here’s why. My 2011 Mühle R41 is undoubtedly the closest shaving razor that I own. I could add several extra passes with most other razors, and not get the results that I always do with the 2011 R41 in two passes.

Somehow, I just tend to think a straight razor (meaning an ACTUAL one, NOT a shavette) would be as close or even closer than the 2011 R41.

Absolutely and I’m the same amount of time. I do two passes with a straight in under five minutes without thinking about it and two passes is all it ever takes for an excellent shave. It just comes down to what you are used to doing. After a while the novelty wears off and you are just shaving regardless of the method you are using.

 

[steveclarkus]

I'm still a beginner with a shavette. However, when I do use one I get a shave that's almost as close as my DE while getting less irritation. My skin also looks so much better that my wife noticed the difference. Out of the blue she said my skin looks younger, like when she first met me, so I'm not imagining it.

With the shavette, it requires fewer passes of the blade over my skin to get the closeness that I desire. The blade angle I can use also seems quite a bit more shallow than it is with a DE, and that seems to make the shavette very gentle on my skin. The main problem, other than time, is that I have a few trouble spots on my jawline that require an ATG direction that's difficult to achieve with the shavette. Other than that, the shavette shave is better, all around, than with my DE.

I usually end up using my DE most of the time, just to save time during the work week.

Yes, you have to use a very shallow blade angle with a shavette or traditional straight and you will be able to handle your problem areas easily with continued use. If you are doing well with a shavette, a traditional straight will be a piece of cake as they are much more forgiving.

 

[Lefonque]

Different between using a DE and a straight razor. For decades I used a straight and loved it. I have now gone back to DE because of control reasons. I also get great enjoyment with a DE razor.

 

[McBlade]

A straight is a bit like an efficient DE razor - the kind of thing which cuts a little closer than average and might get you to an acceptable result in fewer passes.

However full BBS is significantly harder, at least it is for me. WTG and XTG passes are relatively easy but ATG is really going to test your skill. It's a lot easier for the blade to catch and "dig in" going against the grain - which could get bloody with a naked edge. Hence the frequent recommendation for a shallower angle.

 

[Macduff]

The safety razor (Gillette's business model) was to invent safety razors to sell razor blades. And their model evolved to selling endless supplies of multi blades cartridges.

Others have responded to this but it’s worth pointing out that just because someone intends to make money off of an invention, doesn’t mean the invention isn’t designed to be an improvement. The plain fact is the DE razor (and the cartridge after it) were both improvements on shaving. They may not shave better than their predecessors, but their improvements in time saved and ease of use are undeniable.

 

[Edinburgh]

Others have responded to this but it’s worth pointing out that just because someone intends to make money off of an invention, doesn’t mean the invention isn’t designed to be an improvement. The plain fact is the DE razor (and the cartridge after it) were both improvements on shaving. They may not shave better than their predecessors, but their improvements in time saved and ease of use are undeniable.

Improvement is in the eye of the beholder. I respect your opinion, but I also disagree with it, especially with regard to DEs. I have never used a straight razor, but as I stated above, I tend to think they would yield a better and closer shave for me than DEs.

 

[luvmysuper]

It is possible to get as good and close of a shave with an Electric, a Cart, a DE, a SE, a Shavette or a Straight razor.
Each have advantages and disadvantages over the others. Cost per shave, time expended per shave, labor in maintenance, risk of nicks/cuts, potential for irritation, equipment cost, number of passes for a satisfactory shave, ability to remove longer hair growth etc.
In each case, the advantages or disadvantages may be more or less pronounced based on the individuals skin type, hair type, hair pattern, frequency of shaving and skill level.
You have to look at what advantages vs disadvantages the razor you want to use has, but there isn't one type that is intrinsically "better" than any other.

 

[DaveHStone]

... I have never used a straight razor, but as I stated above, I tend to think they would yield a better and closer shave for me than DEs.

Then perhaps it's about time to give it a go...

 

[EclipseRedRing]

I get very close shaves indeed with my Feather AC DX; it took daily use for a month to become proficient but it surely is unforgiving if you lose concentration for the slightest moment. Using the Feather certainly made me understand the true meaning of 'no pressure' and it has benefitted my DE technique immensely; a bit like how riding a motorcycle makes you a better car driver, and for that reason alone I recommend it. Give it a try is my advice.

 

[tamahagane]

When I started DE shaving, I actually used a DE-blade shavette and a safety razor to see which I like better. I used my shavette approx. 5 times.
My impression: more difficult to cut myself with a shavette (yes, you read right: most safety razors I have possessed were, unfortunately, not safe by design or QC), same end result (wrt to closeness), but with 3x to 10x as much time per shave.