Just bought a Shavette.....any tips??

[sphiny]

Well, I've been thinking about dabbling in some sort of straight shaving adventure for a while, and finally decided to purchase a Dovo Shavette this morning from ClassicShaving. I know I will need to go slow, use no pressure, and recognize that the lightweight razor can bite.

Any other tips or bits of wisdom you guys have picked up using this thing???

[jrcrow79]

good luck with it..straight vs de is same smoothness..DE vs se...se is easier to use

go on youtube n look for how to shave with straight razor

[mkevenson]

Only thing that I can say is that the shavette (i used one for 2-3 shaves), is really not anything like a str8 except the general style. If you don't like the shavette it doesn't mean that you won't like a str8 and the shavette is less forgiving than the str8, for various reasons including weight, length of blade, rigidity of blade and others. I hope that you enjoy as some do but encourage you to get a str8 if you are at all interested in this style of shaving.

[sphiny]

Only thing that I can say is that the shavette (i used one for 2-3 shaves), is really not anything like a str8 except the general style. If you don't like the shavette it doesn't mean that you won't like a str8 and the shavette is less forgiving than the str8, for various reasons including weight, length of blade, rigidity of blade and others. I hope that you enjoy as some do but encourage you to get a str8 if you are at all interested in this style of shaving.

Well, the whole honing/stropping thing throws me off. Honestly, I feel that an open blade (of some sort) makes the most sense in terms of maintaining proper blade angle, since the blade can be seen all the time, and there is no guesswork when it comes to the angle of the razor, its handle, etc. and the actual angle of the blade to the face. I guess I figured it would give me a way to be more sure of my blade angle while still having some fun and trying something new (or slicing off part of my face ).

[mkevenson]

Well, the whole honing/stropping thing throws me off. Honestly, I feel that an open blade (of some sort) makes the most sense in terms of maintaining proper blade angle, since the blade can be seen all the time, and there is no guesswork when it comes to the angle of the razor, its handle, etc. and the actual angle of the blade to the face. I guess I figured it would give me a way to be more sure of my blade angle while still having some fun and trying something new (or slicing off part of my face ).

Well, yes and no. When using a str8 or a shavette for that matter your view thru the mirror is directed at the broad part of the blade facing away from your skin. It is hard to really see the angle of the blade as you shave unless you can look head on but that is hard for most of us. You can lay the blade against the face and then bring the spine away to approx an angle of 30 degrees, but I bet most shavers just judge by the feel of the edge on the skin. If you are accomplished in getting the angle of a DE right then a str8/shavette shouldn't be too big a problem. There is a learning curve, fun for some, discouraging for others.

I look at str8 shaving as a pkg deal. The prep, the razor, the strop, the hones, the styptic, the after shave. Taken in its entirety the way they did in the "old days". Or maybe just in the movies?

[sphiny]

Well, yes and no. When using a str8 or a shavette for that matter your view thru the mirror is directed at the broad part of the blade facing away from your skin. It is hard to really see the angle of the blade as you shave unless you can look head on but that is hard for most of us. You can lay the blade against the face and then bring the spine away to approx an angle of 30 degrees, but I bet most shavers just judge by the feel of the edge on the skin. If you are accomplished in getting the angle of a DE right then a str8/shavette shouldn't be too big a problem. There is a learning curve, fun for some, discouraging for others.

I look at str8 shaving as a pkg deal. The prep, the razor, the strop, the hones, the styptic, the after shave. Taken in its entirety the way they did in the "old days". Or maybe just in the movies?

That's a good point, I guess.

[Basset]

I just bought the Dovo stainless shavette (w red and black blade holders and DE-sized and long blades) posted on BST. My fabulous experiences with SE shaving has encouraged me to experiment more. Who knows? I might like it better than SE.

I'm also a bit hesitant about the stropping thing. Not only is there a bit of expense involved, but the time investment to learn how to strop properly - and then the inevitable honing - has kept me back. If I had a neighbor or friend who could watch me strop and correct the typical newbie errors, that might be different. At least I know with a Dovo my blade is as sharp as it can be each time.

If I like the Dovo, then perhaps I will try a straight perhaps.

[HCSchluge]

Hopefully you have been reading a lot on straight shaving here. There's tons of information. Just don't expect a DE shave out of your shavette any time soon. I have a shavette and tried it with some success, although it's not forgiving at all. One wrong turn and you will pay. I have since started to shave with a regular straight and it's more forgiving, but still going to take some time to get used to.

Given my experience, the shavette is meant for an expert straight user and a regular straight is more for beginners. Unfortunately a shavette is a less costly way to try out straight shaving. Kind of makes things a bit bass-ackwards.

Best of luck, take your time!

[Fnord5]

Smart ass advice: Go get a real straight.

More helpful advice: Make sure your lather is top notch, don't go ATG till you get the WTG pass down (and XTG if you are normally using that too).

[leighton]

Smart ass advice: Go get a real straight.

More helpful advice: Make sure your lather is top notch, don't go ATG till you get the WTG pass down (and XTG if you are normally using that too).

I agree. With both points. Mostly the first though.

[Jaydawg]

I own a Shavette and love the shave. However you must use a very light touch, because if you don't you will feel the burn. It should shave you as close as your fav DE shave, but now you control the angle and you don't have the safety bar of that DE shaver to save you. Use a light touch and short strokes and you should be fine.

[Disburden]

Any other tips or bits of wisdom you guys have picked up using this thing???

Don't cut yourself.

[sphiny]

Don't cut yourself.

I think this is honestly my favorite post in this thread. I always appreciate healthy sarcasm. I think that the first time I use this thing I'll probably be shaking so bad I'll have to stop before I hurt myself.

I'll let you guys know.

[sphiny]

Wow.....so I just checked the mail and my Shavette arrived. After doing some "dry runs" to get the feel of the razor in my hand and how to position it relative to my face, I think I'm beginning to understand why everyone warned me.

It's definitely more difficult to maneuver this thing around the face than I though. Now I'm scared to use the damn thing!!

[Aquanin]

Just use a shallow angle and a really light tough. I mean really light tough. Much more so that a regular straight. To get the full straight shaving experience you need to get a shave ready straight off the BST, but if you master the shavette, a real straight will be easy a much more comfortable.

[gregs656]

Now I'm scared to use the damn thing!!

Don't be! Honestly, just do what's comfortable and you will be fine.

You've just got to get on with it really, I wasn't a member of any shaving forum when I got my shavette a couple of weeks back, whacked a bit of canned goo on my face and took off about 4 days of growth, sure I had a quarter inch cut on my chin and a weeper or two but apart from that it was a pretty damn good shave.

Forget how 'dangerous' it is and just enjoy it, the challenge is half the fun.

[sphiny]

Well, I did end up using the Shavette for most of one N-S pass today.........and I didn't cut anything off. I did get one nick on my chin when setting the blade, but that was surprisingly all. On the other hand, I only did ALMOST one pass, and decided to call it quits. The cheeks were pretty easy, but the chin and neck were extremely difficult for me to find the right angle. In the interest of my own safety, I picked up my DE for the second pass.

One thing I did get from this experience is how great of tools DE razors are when it comes to taming extremely sharp blades. After messing around with the Shavette, I felt like I was playing with a dull toy when I did my second pass with a Feather-loaded Merkur Classic. All in all, an interesting experience, but I don't think I'll be bothering with the Shavette or straights in general for a while, if ever. If anyone is in need of a shavette, let me know, as I might be selling it soon.

Thanks for the advice.

[swink]

I started with a shavette about a year ago, then moved to a regular straight after about a month. I haven't used the shavette once since.

It's tricky to start with a shavette because the blades are so damn sharp. My advice would be to use the blade once in the de, then halve it (if that's the style you have) and use it in the shavette.

I get fewer nicks (almost none) and less irritation with a regular straight.

Plus regular straights are generally much more fun.

[DBLE ARROW BLADE]

I've been using straights for a couple of months and am getting pretty comfortable with them. Only a couple of nicks at first, and nothing since . . . enter the shavette. Got it as a travel razor. I've only used it once, but 3 cuts, not too big, but bigger than I've ever had with a regular straight.

Definately a different animal--but I look foreward to taming it!

I also recently got a DE PIF'd from a very generous member of B&B--so many razors, only one shave a day . . . life just isn't fair!

[Bacchus]

so many razors, only one shave a day . . . life just isn't fair!

I hear ya, its the biggest disappointment I face