shavette vs straight razor newbie first purchase

[Blade_Runner37C]

I just found out about Shavettes. They seem to use a double edge blade? or some use a special blade made for a shavette. wouldn't this just give you about the same shave as just using a DE safety razor?

Is this something that someone who would like to learn to use and purchase a straight razor on occasion and a DE safety most of the time should avoid or would be a good choice. I have a feeling which way this conversation will swing but would love to hear the pro's and con's.

 

[Legion]

It's a straight for people who don't want to learn to hone, IMO. But some people like them, so YMMV.

For me a big part of the enjoyment of using a straight is the DIY element of honing the blades, so they are not for me.

The only real practical reason I can see to use a shavette over a safety razor is if you are a barber offering SR shaves, you are not allowed to use traditional ones due to hygiene laws, and have to use a new blade for each customer.

 

[Lightcs1776]

I found shavettes to be harsher than my SRs, so I have stuck to DE and Straight razors. Plus, you can hone your SRs the way you like them.

 

[Stan_M]

Shavettes with a de blade are harder to tame but you can get great shaves from them. Straights are a lot easier to use and don’t have as much learning curve. If you want a shavette to use as a transition razor I would suggest something that takes an AC blade. They are easier than de blade types and more comparable to straights.

 

[Dave himself]

I don't know how to share links but if you skip over to the S.A.B.R.E thread. The people there are very helpful and use these razors on a daily basis to shave.

 

[StillShaving]

Cartridge, DE, shavette, straight; each type of razor blade provides a different shave experience. If one is curious, it is best to try them out.

 

[Old Hippie]

I just found out about Shavettes.

Lovely! You've got several rabbit holes opening up under your questing feet.

They seem to use a double edge blade?

Some do seem to, yes. I've come to believe that seemingness is really just a mirage. I think that due to the rather flexible nature of the DE blade edge. It really needs more support than the average shavette will give it (let alone the cheap ones). While the DE and half-DE shavettes have a pretty low entrance price, I will say that the format is probably the hardest to master.

or some use a special blade made for a shavette.

There are shavettes for just about any blade. Half-DE, DE, injector, Artist Club, hair shaper and a whole universe of blades the rest of the world uses that I don't know at all. Not many shavettes for Gem blades, but there is one of which I'm aware and it works a treat.

wouldn't this just give you about the same shave as just using a DE safety razor?

If you do it right it's all the same shave. Mind you I don't use plain DE razors but I do use slants. They're all just different shoes for walking the same path. The challenge of learning how to do it right with any razor is one of the things I enjoy.

Is this something that someone who would like to learn to use and purchase a straight razor on occasion and a DE safety most of the time should avoid or would be a good choice.

I don't use straight razors, mainly because to be really honest I'd rather spend my "me time" shaving than hunkering over a stone working on my razor so I can shave. I accept that shavettes can be a bit more touchy than a straight and I'm OK with that.

Allow me to suggest that shavettes are not a substitute or training wheels for any other style of razor. Within the category I find that I'm pretty much off the half-DE format. I really like the hair shapers and the blades they use. The high amount of blade reveal in a hair shaper and learning to be comfortable with that has also brought me some ways toward being comfortable with AC format shavettes. Previously those had seemed a bit more than I can handle, but I knew it was just putting in the time.

I find a lot of shavettes are pretty inexpensive. Some not so much but that's the same as any other style. I have a couple of suggestions if you're interested in shavettes. First, I think it's not a good idea to start with half-DE models. Hair shapers and AC format (also injector blades) are thicker blades and have rounded corners. Corner sticks and blade chatter are problems of learning half-DE but of course you can start there if you wish.

Second, buy something midrange to start. A Tedalus Essence or a Muhle Enthusiast Pro may be nice to look at but may not be a good choice for a beginner. One I wish I'd given a bit more thought to before buying a couple of the razors I have is the Irving Barber Company shavette. A professional tool, it is designed to take three different blade formats: half-DE, injector and AC. They are moderately inexpensive, which is to say you'll pay a bit but not as much as for many others. I probably won't buy one at this point as I have some others that work well for me (Kasho Woody and Feather SR).

Another good choice is a Weck Hair Shaper, Orderly or Sextoblade. They all take the hair shaper format blades. Unlike AC and Gem blades (and any better DE blades) that I have to mail order, I can find at least two brands of hair shaper blades in town. That alone makes me like them. Wecks are all vintage, but they made a tonne of them so you can usually find them going for less than $50 and sometimes a lot less. Build quality is super high, blade quality is generally good, and they're a very fine razor.

Bringing this back around to the straight razor...

Aside from Wecks which some say are essentially a 5/8 frameback straight, if I were rethinking my progress into shavettes I'd probably get the Irving first and get comfortable with it in two formats, the Artist Club first and then take on half-DE. That will bring you a long ways to the muscle memory you need for the style, and you can build on that with a straight if you wish. In the meantime, you'll have that multi-format shavette handy as a razor that's always ready to shave.

And, of course, let us know how it's going!

O.H.

 

[helicopter]

I like AC blades, A77 blades, and Hair Shaper blades in shavettes. The A77 is just a long and narrow DE blade, and suits straight shaving better. I also prefer a shavette with scales to kamisori style. I don't really like the shavettes that use regular DE blades or half blades. The edge length is a compromise.

An AC razor probably feels the most like a straight. Straight razors have less lubricity and generally have higher cutting force (that is, they are less sharp) than shavettes, but there is some overlap.

The big advantage of a shavette is that you don't need to strop and hone, but that also diminishes the magic. It is way cheaper to use shavettes because strops, stones, and good straight razors are all quite expensive.

You can get good shavettes for $5-10, and high end ones for $100. Good straights start around $100 and go up from there. A77 blades are dirt cheap. You can buy a lifetime supply for way less than a decent stone and strop setup.

 

[Blade_Runner37C]

If you do it right it's all the same shave. Mind you I don't use plain DE razors but I do use slants. They're all just different shoes for walking the same path. The challenge of learning how to do it right with any razor is one of the things I enjoy.

I have some older Gillettes and an Ikon short comb, Merkur 34C SLANTS I have a Merkur 37C and a newly acquired Ikon B1 Slant that I found for a great price I mean under $40 shipped great. I'm a slant lover myself.

Thanks for taking all the time quoting everything. If you were close i'd spark one up w/ ya.

 

[Blade_Runner37C]

I think i'll stick with a regular straight razor, I have an old straight razor I have had for 6-7 years (Joseph Rogers & sons #6) it wasn't sharp but it good condition and another member told me I could find someone on here that could get it shave ready.

So instead of dropping $150-$300 which I dont have. I could wait until I hit 45 days and then under BST look for a used strop and sludge stone for a good deal. I'm all about buying 2nd hand. I love saving that sticker shock charge and being let's say less than well off, well it's new to me

 

[helicopter]

You could always pick up something like this and a Gold Dollar for a little over $10 with choice shipping to get some practice and have a razor to learn on.

While it is certainly possible to hone and strop without ruing a razor, I didn't.

You can also get a cheap diamond plate on Alix to make stone flattening easier, unless you want to spend $40 on an Atoma and cry once. The cheap Chinese plates get the job done.

If you get someone to hone the razor you have, then you really only need a strop. You will probably damage it as you learn, so it is better to get something under $50 to start.