Thread: Go straight razor route or shavette?

I have both straights and a Weck sextoblade. I often use the Weck for trips, because it is less stuff to take. Otherwise I stick with the straight. With a straight you also need a strop, so if money is tight it could be a factor. Another plus in the shavette is that you don't need to have them honed or buy hones or learn to strop. But they are not the same. I enjoy stropping and different strops. I love all of my straights and hones and honing. For me it is the process and not just the shave. It is a beautiful thing to take and old straight razor and fix it up and hone it and then shave with a 100 to 200 year old straight razor. So it kind of depends where you are as to which way to go.

Hello Reefer,

I'm a newbie too. I spent so much time researching, contemplating etc. on shavette vs. straight razor. I searched eBay, the classifieds, antique shops and craigslist, as well as the classifieds for a straight razor. If you do decide to get a straight, just wait until the right deal comes along here on the classifieds. You'll find a good deal on a razor that has likely been honed by someone who has experience in straight razors.

That said, I decided to purchase a Feather SS fixed handle. For me, the thought of a traditional straight razor was cool, nostalgic, etc. But the investment needed, and time required to learn to strop, hone etc became too much for a busy professional with two young kids. Plus when I travel, I can just take my feather with a fresh razor and soap/bursh, and not worry about a strop, or damaging my blade during transport. Some day, I may change my mind an get a straight razor anyway.

I don't regret my decision to purchase a feather one bit. I got mine on amazon, and purchased the professional blades. Lucky for me, I only purchased one package of 20 blades, but was shipped 9 packages of 20 blades...enough to get me through 5 plus years of shaving! The feather professional blades are crazy sharp. My first shave with 3 passes took over 25 minutes. I made sure to take my time. The second shave took about 20 minutes. My third shave took less than 15. With each shave not only did I gain confidence, but I noticed the blade was much more forgiving. I'm not sure why, but others have said the same thing.

Others will tell you to get a traditional straight razor...that's fine. For me, I purchased the feather, and I have no regrets. I would highly recommend it.

I went shavette, before straight. And just recently picked up D.E. If shavettes taught me anything, it was taking my time. Seriously exposed half of a D.E. blade deserves respect. The weight and handeling are not the same as a straight, or a DE for that matter. As stated above, some folks prefer shavettes. Doesn't really matter if you end up trying everything, anyway?

Thanks for all the info! The honing aspect is one part that worries me a little about the straight. From what I read online, as long as I strop it properly I should only have to hone it once a year? Does the quality of the strop affect the time between honing the razor?

It is true that you may get some very long stretches between honings with the use of a pasted strop and a regular strop. Once you get a genuine strop it is really more about the hand than the strop. At the price that guys hone for these days, it is not a major expense. At twice a year it is likely the same cost as blades, but I'm guessing there. It is not that hard, you just need to pay attention.

There is honing and maintenance. A barbers hone or finishing stone would last forever and unless you damaged the edge you should be good for a long time. The trick is a little regularly. Touch up with a couple passes as soon as the edge starts lagging. You don't need to bevel set thats already done you are just straightening and refining the edge again andvit only takes a little.

I guess it's all part of the experience/learning curve. Thanks again for the insight

i think go straight to a straight. Why.. you end there in a while, so why not straight to the ultimate goal

I switched from DE to straights. Shavettes made me nervous. I bought one anyway, thinking I'd give it a try some day, but I haven't yet. Still makes me nervous, haha.