Thread: Dont want to strop, just want to buy replaceable blades. Where to get shave ready?

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Breaking DE blades in half is not a shave that I would want to do.

Nor would I.

Hi Mike

Disclaimer I make no claim at begin an expert or even of the level of novice in straight razor shaving there are far more experienced shavers on the site then me but this is what I have found through my own trail and error. Hope it helps you out.

I have used both a traditional straight razor and the disposable straight razor and get quality shaves from both.While many beginners start out with the disposable they eventually move to the traditional straight razor, like I did but I still use my disposable also. Here is the disposable that I bought off amazon Amazon.com: Parker SRW Stainless Steel Straight Edge Barber Razor & 120 Shark Super Stainless Blades: Beauty. Its Parker blade holder and also comes with 120 single edge shark blades which I can typically get three shaves from a blade and some people say more and some say less. Yes walmart or a drug store will sell blades that are for a double edge razor that you can split in half to fit the Parker also but would recommend buying the replacements online as you will spend 10 bucks on 20 blades or 17-20 bucks on 240 blades. But that is for you to decide.

Some things you should know about shaving with a disposable is that it is very unforgivable you will cut yourself the blades are always very sharp till your ready to toss them. This is even more so then with a traditional straight cause the blade is much thinner, the razor overall is lighter and because of the thinner blade any pressure will cause the blade to flex and cut you. The information on the forums and wiki about traditional straight shaving does transfer to the disposable. Also this site helped me when I was first starting http://www.shavemyface.com/downloads...azor-Shave.pdf. Another thing about the disposable razors is they will give you a nasty razor burn if you don't prep your face right. So I suggest you get a cup, brush and soap puck, Van Der Hagen makes a nice starter set that you can get at walmart for about 10 bucks. In my experience the canned stuff just doesn't work well with any type of straight. Also the number one recommended pre shave item seems to be a shower before shave which I think makes a big difference. From there you can expand a lot on pre shave prep. One last thing before shaving with the disposable or traditional learn you face, ie the way the hair grows and shave with the grain for the first pass always or razor burn is likely to follow and always let the blade do the work no pressure on the blade.

From reading your post, I'd say you need to go back and read some more. I don't think you have done enough study.
Why do you want to go the 'Shavette' style route instead of the true straight razor style? I never found it too hard to learn to strop the blade prior to a shave. I wouldn't call it having to "sharpen all the time". It's just stropping...It's meditation prior to the shave. Yes, occassionally you will have to either send it out for re-honing, or buy some hones and put in a little practice, but that can be meditative also. I certainly find it so. Yes I know not everyone is me, life would be boring with a world full of wonderful people like me. I would highly recommend you either buy a double edge (DE) razor if you want to stick with disposable blades, or jump straight into a straight razor (Non shavette style) and join the rest of the straight men in the world.
I've been at this full time for around three months, I admit I gave it a go some years back now and failed miserably, but I didn't have the education or support network that a forum like this provides (or a professionally honed, shave ready razor). I also admit I was successful prior to finding this forum, but I have learnt a hell of a lot more since I have found this little cyber-world and my efforts prior to finally getting it right were painful. My efforts would have been successful far sooner had I known of this place much earlier, I'm sure, and with less pain to boot.
Just go for it man, Get a straight, strop, brush and shave soap and come join the party. We're all here for ya.


Mick

@Mickr

Huge help, thanks alot. that cleared alot up about disposable razors. i am purchasing those parker srw's and will let you know how it goes. i have the VDH soap and brush and will be ready to go soon

@castel33

Right now i just want to see how i like it so i dont want to go all out just yet.

IMO a shavette is one method of dipping your toes in the SR world without jumping in head first. However, if you are the type of person who feels that they don't have the patience to deal with all the maintenance and prep associated with a real straight, then this method of shaving is not for you.

I agree with Castel and Ryan on this one. I too went the route of shavette (Parker with a white handle though) to start. I also agree that it is less forgivable than a traditional straight. I chose the shavette because it was inexpensive to test whether I would be interested in the shaving as more than a simple idea. I think it gives almost as good a shave as a true straight, somewhere between there and a DE. I learned how to make a good lather this way too which I think came in handy later; when I got my shave ready (from SRD so it wasn't a marketing term, it was a fact) I had been using a sharp blade every time so I was able to tell if I was stropping correctly or not. A lot of people recommend sending your blades out to be honed by a professional until you know what a sharp blade feels like so you don't mess it up yourself and have a good base to learn on. That sharp base is what I got from the shavette. Now that I know I like the straight shaving though I can't stop getting razors and have full blown RAD, thanks guys you've encourage yet another thing to ruin my finances.

Does the Parker SRW take the long Feather blades, or only the half DE blades???

It seems the Dovo shavette takes three different sizes.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

IMO a shavette is one method of dipping your toes in the SR world without jumping in head first. However, if you are the type of person who feels that they don't have the patience to deal with all the maintenance and prep, then this method of shaving is not for you.

I apologise if anybody took offense to what I wrote. It wasn't meant that way. There is a place for the 'shavette', but honestly, they give me the heebee's. Snapping razor blades is not my idea of a fun start to the day. Other people are most certainly free to disagree with me. Once again, sorry if the tone of my post came across in an offensive way.


Mick

No I don't think that the Parker SRW can take the feather long blades the way the blades are secured in the Parker would seem to me that it can only take a snapped DE or a SE blade that is the same size as the snapped DE. I can not say for sure though cause I have only used the shark SE blades in mine as they gave me a good shave.

Originally Posted by MickR

Snapping razor blades is not my idea of a fun start to the day.

You don't have to snap them. They are thin enough to be cut with regular scissors and you could do that in advance, if you prefer, or buy already cutted blades:

http://www.moderngent.com/media/derb...ck_500x472.jpg

Razors which take a full blade are available too:

http://www.casadelparrucchiere.it/van_intera_0001.jpg

EDIT: You can cut a blade while still in its paper wrap.