Should I Even Bother With A Shavette?

[mjclark]

As my technique's improved I've been getting great results with aggressive open comb DEs.
This gave me the confidence to try out the Rolls Razor and again great results and a more comfortable shave than the DEs.

So, of course, I've started hankering after a proper straight.
Unfortunately, me and SWMBO are utterly skint at the moment and I can't begin to think about the expense of getting a half-decent straight and honing/stropping set up so I started thinking about shavettes as a cheap way in (and I've already got a ton of very nice blades I can snap!), but I don't hear a lot of good things about them.

What I read is that the shavette combines the worst aspects of DE and straight shaving, is too light and utterly unforgiving.

Opinions please, my friends...

 

[deafficianado]

I say go for it and get one. If you don't try it, you'll never know how it goes.

 

[Seraphim]

The Parker shavettes are nice.

Get one.

 

[Acmemfg]

I bought a Feather SS and found it to be more than a tad unlike using a straight, kind of a waste for what I had hoped to accomplish. Watch B/S/T for a decent price on a straight..go big or go home as they say.

 

[Frankthetank]

I would say go for one of the nicer feather artist clubs, but then you're spending a similar amount to a beginners traditional straight set up anyways (depending if you go for the nicer DX models or the cheaper SS models). I've never used the DE blade type shavettes, so can't comment on them, but I have and love the Feather AC system.

 

[temjeito]

PM me.

 

[Vercin]

Sextoblade .. about as close as it can be to a 5/8 straight razor

 

[MightyPir]

Go for it. You may like it...I didn't!

 

[alpster]

I bought both a Parker and a Dovo early on and sold both of them after a few hard shaves. Like others have said, go for a Feather AC. I think the best bang for your buck is the RG model. I am beginning to experiment with conventional straights, but I will keep my Feathers RG & DX for when I need a great shave.

 

[DirtDiver]

In my experience, you are better off grabbing a real straight from whipped dog. The shavette just doesnt feel right to me... YMMV

 

[noahpictures]

You have two options:

SMALL STEPS
Get a shavette first to get used to holding the razor then...
get a shave ready striaght with leather strop and crox on balsa then...
get a whetstone to hone your own razor.

JUMP RIGHT IN
Sink or swim. Get a shave ready straight, a leather strop and a whetstone such as a coticule. If you become proficient you won't need anything else for years if not decades.

Whatever you choose patience and having fun are key. It might take 100 shaves or longer to become proficient and there is no shame in finishing the shave with another razor you feel more comfortable with. It has been worth it for most of us.

 

[Acmemfg]

"JUMP RIGHT IN
Sink or swim. Get a shave ready straight, a leather strop and a whetstone such as a coticule. If you become proficient you won't need anything else for years if not decades."

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!!! You can buy all that stuff (I"m saying first quality gear that you can give your grandkids) NEW for less than $150-$165. That's for a Dovo, full hollow (shave ready), a 3" Bridle leather strop, and a Belgian coticule. Where?? From vendors (and others) right on this list.

Don't like the discipline of the straight? I doubt you will lose 20% of your investment after you sell what you don't want on B/S/T. Like Todd Snyder says: "Life's too short to worry, life's too long to wait". Go buy a razor..............................

 

[Seraphim]

A new Parker is like $22 including blades. No need to wring your hands about it. But one and give it a try. If you keep it almost flat against your face it will shave you smooth as can be, easy as pie. Most problems described in regards to using a shavette is due to pilot error, there is nothing inherently wrong with the razors themselves.

 

[Mo-beffah]

"JUMP RIGHT IN
Sink or swim. Get a shave ready straight, a leather strop and a whetstone such as a coticule. If you become proficient you won't need anything else for years if not decades."

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!!! You can buy all that stuff (I"m saying first quality gear that you can give your grandkids) NEW for less than $150-$165. That's for a Dovo, full hollow (shave ready), a 3" Bridle leather strop, and a Belgian coticule. Where?? From vendors (and others) right on this list.

Don't like the discipline of the straight? I doubt you will lose 20% of your investment after you sell what you don't want on B/S/T. Like Todd Snyder says: "Life's too short to worry, life's too long to wait". Go buy a razor..............................

Perfect advice right here. I wish I had known that you can upkeep a shave ready straight for years with the equivalent to a 12k stone. I bought a misrepresented one and was wondering why after lapping film my "12k" stone was setting my edge back. Turns out its an 8k lol.

 

[PDman]

Your sure to get different opinions on this. There is the "real" straight camp that will poo poo the idea of a shavette. I, like you, am a DE user. I moved from a Merkur 34 to various DE's along the way. I now own a regular DE, Slant, Open Comb. Adjustable, Vintage, Injector and Cobra Classic (kind of hybrid). I also own a Feather DX. I won't compare it to a "real" straight as I have no experience with one. But I do know I have no interest in honing and stropping, etc. For my purpose it works and works great. A two pass shave and BBS. I read about learning curves and the months of time involved to use a straight but it wasn't like that for me. If you have perfected you touch and technique with a DE than you'll pick this up in a very short amount of time. I found that it was easier to move from a DE to the DX than it was from a cartridge to DE.

 

[mjclark]

Your sure to get different opinions on this. There is the "real" straight camp that will poo poo the idea of a shavette. I, like you, am a DE user. I moved from a Merkur 34 to various DE's along the way. I now own a regular DE, Slant, Open Comb. Adjustable, Vintage, Injector and Cobra Classic (kind of hybrid). I also own a Feather DX. I won't compare it to a "real" straight as I have no experience with one. But I do know I have no interest in honing and stropping, etc. For my purpose it works and works great. A two pass shave and BBS. I read about learning curves and the months of time involved to use a straight but it wasn't like that for me. If you have perfected you touch and technique with a DE than you'll pick this up in a very short amount of time. I found that it was easier to move from a DE to the DX than it was from a cartridge to DE.

Thanks...that's very encouraging!

I get a lot of pleasure from shaving with a FaTip or Gillette NEW, and it's clear that straight users get a lot of pleasure too but so far the most enthusiastic quote about shavettes is that they do a good job- I'm not hearing much real enthusiasm.
But it's also clear that one would really kick me up the learning curve for my technique...

 

[Frankthetank]

I also own a Feather DX. I won't compare it to a "real" straight as I have no experience with one. But I do know I have no interest in honing and stropping, etc. For my purpose it works and works great. A two pass shave and BBS. I read about learning curves and the months of time involved to use a straight but it wasn't like that for me. If you have perfected you touch and technique with a DE than you'll pick this up in a very short amount of time. I found that it was easier to move from a DE to the DX than it was from a cartridge to DE.

Wow PDman, your post so closely resembles my own experience and opinion, its scary.

+1.

 

[California Cajun]

As my technique's improved I've been getting great results with aggressive open comb DEs.
This gave me the confidence to try out the Rolls Razor and again great results and a more comfortable shave than the DEs.

So, of course, I've started hankering after a proper straight.
Unfortunately, me and SWMBO are utterly skint at the moment and I can't begin to think about the expense of getting a half-decent straight and honing/stropping set up so I started thinking about shavettes as a cheap way in (and I've already got a ton of very nice blades I can snap!), but I don't hear a lot of good things about them.

What I read is that the shavette combines the worst aspects of DE and straight shaving, is too light and utterly unforgiving.

Opinions please, my friends...

Shavettes are less forgiving, but better to try one for ($20--Parker shavette at razorbladesandmore.com) to see if you like straight shaving than to buy a blade, strop, and honing equipment. You can always get the true straight if the shavette passes the test for you.

 

[chilliman64]

some love 'em, some hate 'em.

I have not had much luck with a shavette but mine is a cheapie from ebay and my technique is poor. many nicks and weepers, many!

best answer I can give you is to give it a go and see if you like it. if not, sell it on BST. if you like it, keep it. as in all things wetshaving, ymmv. best of luck.

 

[DirtDiver]

I have a parker shavette that I used about twice (or tried to use) that I can send you to see if you like using them, and if you do keep it, if not you can send it back. PM me if you want..