Thread: A word of caution for beginners starting with a shavette for the first time

I thought I would share this in case there is a beginner considering using a shavette that uses the hair shaper blades for their first straight razor shave. I've been shaving with straights for over 5 years now and just experienced something new. The other reason I wanted to share this is because my barber just told me they had a customer's mother came in and asked them to order a shavette and blades for her son, but later said he gave it up because he cut himself too bad. Now that I've had the following experience, I wanted any beginners to hear this in hopes they try a regular straight before a shavette.

We had an extremely busy summer at my work which is just now beginning to slow down a little. Since I was a little short on free time to hone a razor, I thought I had a bright idea and would order a shavette and blades so I could continue shaving with a straight. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it is my opinion the blades are too sharp to use for shaving the face. I wouldn't have thought there was such a thing as too sharp, but like I said,it's been 5 years I've been using a straight with only an occasional weeper every now and then. Since I started using the shavette, I think I've had at least one weeper with every shave. The cheeks are usually fine, but always see blood anywhere else. It's almost like they are so sharp that they will shave skin along with whiskers. We just began slowing down in the last month which left me some time to hone a razor this past weekend. When I shaved with one of my normal straights this morning, I realized how UNFORGIVING the shavette is. The other issue with the shavette is razor burn. Don't get me wrong though, you will get an extremely close shave on the very first pass, but make sure you don't make a second pass because you will wind up with razor burn. I don't think I would even try a WTG pass followed by an ATG pass. All in all, it is my opinion a traditional straight is forgiving while the shavette with hair shaper blades are not the least bit forgiving.

Anyway,with all this said, I would be interested if anyone has had any similar experiences. I just don't want to see someone interested in shaving with a straight to be discouraged because of a bad experience with the unforgiving hair shaper blades.