shavette question

[aodenkou]

Hi, I have been looking at B&B for a few months now and one thing that keeps popping up is a negative reaction to a shavette. I have been thinking of going to a barber shop for a straight shave, and it seems barbers are now using a shavette. I can understand why they use them from a simple hygiene point of view, and I can understand why someone who uses a straight at home may not think of a shavette in the same light as a regular straight.

So here is my question(s) will a shavette give you an inferior shave? If not would a shavette be a good choice for someone who is going to try a straight shave at home without the expense of going to a regular route?

 

[CloseShave]

A shavette will give an excellent shave that will be as close as a traditional straight. However, it is not as comforable and is more likely to nick due to the extreme sharpness of the blades. The balance of traditional straight make it more pleasing to use.

 

[Zenas]

I use a shavette and it does an excellent job. I am using it until I can invest in a traditional straight. I have not yet used a traditional straight, but I imagine it is more comfortable.

 

[Luc]

I am not pro-shavette but, if you want an idea on how it works, yes, a shavette would be an option.

As mentioned, the balance and weight are not the same. With the plastic sleeve to hold the blade (if your shavette uses a plastic sleeve) it will actually change something in the angle.

 

[dpmtherrien]

As one who has no intention, right now, of getting into a regular straight razor, I've tried several shavette style razors.

I tried the Dovo shavette, and didn't care for it at all. I then tried the Parker SRW, and found that razor to be very nice. The Dovo was around $40.00 for just the shavette. The Parker I got for around $23.00 with 120Shark blades. I found the Parker to be a much better razor, it holds the blade very secure in a stainless steel arm. Check it out here:

www.amazon.com/Parker-Straight-Barber-Razor

I use the Feather AC straight, but this Parker gives a very nice shave.

 

[LaughingAtFate]

I think it has something to do with the variability of replacable blade type razors. With a straight, there is a definite progression from when it is sharp, to when it needs a touchup, with a shavette, it's sharp from anywhere from one to seven shaves, then it's suddenly VERY sharp again, which adds to a bit of trickyness for a razor learner.
Unless you're like me and changed out the blade every single shave.

Or something like that

Unless it's just a form of snobbishness towards the disposable nature of the things? nah, that couldn't be it, could it?

 

[tnewswander]

For a shavette to reduce the initial sharpness & risk cork your blade (i.e. run the blade through a cork a few times before use).

 

[CloseShave]

In my expermentation with the DOVO shavette, I found the long DOVO blade to be most like a real straight. The blade is sharp and comfortable. I tried all three options. The half DE is just ok. The single edge personna is a bit harsh.

 

[Chimensch]

Hi, I have been looking at B&B for a few months now and one thing that keeps popping up is a negative reaction to a shavette. I have been thinking of going to a barber shop for a straight shave, and it seems barbers are now using a shavette. I can understand why they use them from a simple hygiene point of view, and I can understand why someone who uses a straight at home may not think of a shavette in the same light as a regular straight.

So here is my question(s) will a shavette give you an inferior shave? If not would a shavette be a good choice for someone who is going to try a straight shave at home without the expense of going to a regular route?

Any shave by a barber will likely not be as good as the shave you could give yourself with the same razor, if only because barbers do not usually shave you against the grain.

 

[closer]

So here is my question(s) will a shavette give you an inferior shave? If not would a shavette be a good choice for someone who is going to try a straight shave at home without the expense of going to a regular route?

My opinion (based on my experience) is that using a shavette helps. The single biggest issue for a newbie straight razor user is to keep the blade shave ready. This involves proper stropping, and if you've acquired this skill, great, but if not, you will have a rounded edge, and will struggle with severe razor burn until corrected. In the meantime, you will not be able to focus on technique, so quality of shaves will not improve. Shavette allows you to get a sharp blade every time, with no ambiguity, and you can learn initial technique on it.

Make no mistake, though, the comfort and feel from a real straight is something else, but the shavette definitely removes a key variable (stropping) early on for the beginner.

The alternative would be to invest in an inexpensive straight, and learn to maintain it yourself - which means stropping, and potentially touch-up honing.