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

hello, a couple friends mentioned they straight razor shaved and how much better it is so i want to start. I read a good bit on this and noticed there are two routes i can go. Use a razor and sharpen it all the time or just buy a shave ready one and keep buying replaceable blades. Is this true?

Is there anywhere local in pittsburgh i can buy hand sharpened shave ready razors (wal-mart etc.)? if not, where do i buy online and can you recomend one?

Once i buy the initial razor, do i just have to keep buying the replacement blades that are shave ready and where do i get them?

Hi there... Let's see if this helps.

"shave ready" is a term generally used to describe a straight razor (non disposable) that is sharp enough to give a comfortable shave. A shave ready razor will eventually require re-honing.

A disposable blade razor is completely different. When we say straight razor on this site, we are referring to non disposable razors that will need maintenance over the users life. And we always recommend that new guys buy one that is already shave ready.... Already :D

Generally, replacable blades are available at the drug store. I've never used one but my barber has used double edge blades that he breaks in half and inserts into the holder. Peronally, I don't see the point of using disposables. You're still buying blades, you're still throwing them away and you still have the learning curve that all novice straight razor shavers are faced with. All the inconveniences of a disposable without the true benefits of a straight. My advice would be go ahead and try the disposable and if you find this way of shaving agrees with you, buy a straight razor and make the commitment. Good luck with your decision.

can disposable straight razors be good to use if i buy the right kind? my friend does that and he says he gets a smooth shave. do disposable ones come shave ready (as in as shave ready as much as the hand sharpened non disposable ones come)?

@JimmyHad

Those DOVO no sharpen straight razors you linked to say nothing about 'replaceable' blades. how do those ones work. whats does single or double edge mean?

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Originally Posted by mikej411

@JimmyHad

Those DOVO no sharpen straight razors you linked to say nothing about 'replaceable' blades. how do those ones work. whats does single or double edge mean?

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I haven't used them but guys who have say they are alright. Of the three blade options listed the "green" would be the one to go with. Breaking DE blades in half is not a shave that I would want to do.

For the top of the line disposable the Feather here is probably your best bet but I only use sure enough straight razors that need sharpening so I am only going by what others have posted. They are more expensive than the Dovo shavette. If there are other alternatives I'm not familiar with them but someone will be along who is. :)

does walmart or local stores sell these replaceable blades? the good ones like DOVO

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mikej411

hello, a couple friends mentioned they straight razor shaved and how much better it is so i want to start. I read a good bit on this and noticed there are two routes i can go. Use a razor and sharpen it all the time or just buy a shave ready one and keep buying replaceable blades. Is this true?

Is there anywhere local in pittsburgh i can buy hand sharpened shave ready razors (wal-mart etc.)? if not, where do i buy online and can you recomend one?

Once i buy the initial razor, do i just have to keep buying the replacement blades that are shave ready and where do i get them?

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Hey there, you can find a Dovo Shavette that matches the description of what you are looking for and you can find them at your local Art of Shaving stores around your area or malls if you have them or you can even purchase them cheaper at numerous websites online. They use half of any DE disposable blade. It will help you shave the way you would a straight razor without needing to hone and strop your blade. The downside is just that to most guys. You wouldn't yet learn to strop or hone and you still have to buy blades and the feel of any disposable DE straight razor isn't the same as a heavy real straight razor. But it is a great way to learn how to angle and shave.
Hope this helps! :fim:

I'll just throw this in because I haven't seen it mentioned yet.

The disposable razors have a much sharper angle than the straight razors. I've never used a shavette, but from what I've read this has contributed to greater irritation for some people. Just keept that in mind, so if you do find yourself liking the shavette, but are still getting irritation, then the razor you are using may be the culprit.

I'll add my experience. I've used a Dovo shavette for the last several months, with half DE blades. I don't think breaking the DE blades in half is a big deal. The individual blades come wrapped separately, and you can snap them in half without any issue. The key difference is that a DE blade is much thinner, and dare I say, sharper than a straight, which means that it requires an especially light touch. In the right hands, a shavette is capable of providing excellent shaves, and in my opinion, a viable option for a newbie to get started with straight shaving. You can work on lather, prep, and shaving technique, and defer learning having to keep your own blade sharp.

what does a 'DE' blade mean? and how do you break a blade in half i dont get it?

@Mickr

Are those Shark blades from amazon you linked to DE and breakable?

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Originally Posted by mikej411

what does a 'DE' blade mean? and how do you break a blade in half i dont get it?

@Mickr

Are those Shark blades from amazon you linked to DE and breakable?

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Double Edge.

You fold it from edge to edge. I've never done it, but have seen it on youtube... Some come in a wax paper wrap that you can hold them with.

Hi Mike,

In a pinch you can also use two pairs of pliers to hold the double-edge blade while bending it one way then another until it fatigues and breaks.

Cheers,
Jeff

i use a feather artist club razor and love it.. it offers a close and comfortable shave.. i never have to hone or strop.. from what i understand.. i'm missing out.. but i am somewhat lazy and enjoy the convenience.

i have spoken with people who have used both the artist club and normal straights and they have said that the artist club offers an equal to or better shave than standard straight razors..

the initial costs are high.. i purchased the dx model for $200 and a pack of 20 blades run $12..

prices seem to have recently gone up.. with the dx running $270 and the less expensive rg running $150

you can easily get a normal straight for a fraction of that cost.. you will need to purchase a strop and have it honed though.. so i guess it all evens out..

as for the shavette.. can't really say it ever had my interest.

The shark blades are SE, single edge, you just open them up and put it in and your good to go. DE is double edge prefer to use the SE blades myself but double edge can typically be found in drug stores or walmart in a pinch then you have to split them yourself the way the last two post explained. Did this once when on vacation, forget to bring replacement blades had to buy them there, didn't have much trouble with breaking them.

Okay..I haven't used a shavette(probably won't ever) And I'm not saying this to be mean....Simple rule that can be applied to alot of things in life though......A copy or facsimilie simply will not give you the experience of the real deal. It might come close,but...it's just not it. That being said,good luck on whatever you choose.I might suggest this...if you have a friend who has a straight that is shave ready and is willing to set down with you and help you out.Disinfect the blade and give the real deal a try. It really will be the true test. As was said earlier in this thread,there is a huge support group waiting to help you out...truly. And as we all say here "Welcome to SRP".And as our founder would always say.." Have Fun ".........P.S. when it comes to straight shaving,the first few times will be a learning curve,but once you get the hang of it,...it just gets better and better...Cheers ! :) Just kiddin bout the Guac heh.

ummm ok so i got the parker srw in the mail today and it is impossible to get the damn blades in. it doesnt unclip or anything. it has a clamp that supposedly loosens the razor so you can put the blades in but it barely loosens, so i have to shove the blade in by pushing the sharp top of the blade in with a book or something.

please tell me there is an easier way to put the blades in

Yes there is an easier way. If you purchased the same parker srw razor that I linked you to earlier you will have white scaled parker with a stainless steel holder. Your going to open the razor till the scales and holder are in line. Then hold the razor in your left hand in front of you 90 degrees to your chest with where the blade goes facing towards your left. You should see the parker symbol and stainless steel written on the clip vertically when you look down. Now open the clip next take your right thumb work the nail into the gap in the back of the holder and push slightly up and to the left till the top part is slightly popped of the pin. Next leave your thumb in place and with the rest of your right fingers hold the razor. Now take the left hand from holding the razor to the point of the holder.Use your index finger and pull the top half up and to the left to separate the two halves of the holder.

Once open put your blade in close it back up put clip back and your ready to shave. You could probably put a small amount of oil in between the two halves to make it easier to open the next time but it does get easier after opening it a couple times on its own and I like to change the blades right after I finish shaving as I think it makes it easier to get the two halves apart. :gl:

cool i got it thanks

I've been using the Parker SRW for about 3 months after trying a Monsieur Charles shavette on and off for a couple of years. I really didn't like the Charles, as the metal on the holder extended back past the blade for an inch or so, at the same level as the blade edge, so that the holder would wipe off any lather without cutting any hair (so it was hard to tell where I had been). That and the blades seemed to dull really quickly (like, after one shave).

The Parker seems to stay sharp a bit longer (making two passes per shave, I can get two shaves out of a blade...three seems to be one too many), but to reiterate what has already been said on this thread--nicks are inevitable for me with the Parker, unless I'm using a blade that has already been used once, and I'm really, really careful. I've found that I can make one pass now with a sharp blade and not nick myself more than once, but the second pass always seems to be worse. It takes loads of concentration, however.

When I first started with the Parker, I nicked myself a LOT, and still ended up with a poor shave. It was hard not to get discouraged, but I'm so glad I didn't give up. It's totally worth it, but it takes lots of patience and practice.

I graduated today, as I just received a Townsend Special 11/16 full hollow square point from the classifieds here at SRP, and a strop off of Amazon. I used it for the first time this morning, and the difference is amazing. It takes a bit to get the stropping technique down, but I got a shave that's as least as close as the shavette, with only one very minor nick (if I can even call it that). I made three passes, which was impossible with the Parker (I've tried three with the shavette, but my skin gets so irritated on the third pass that I had to quit). Anyway, if you get discouraged, get back on here so we can all talk you back into it. :)

Hello, mikeJ411:

The pleasure of wet shaving with the straight razor is the complete ritual. For me, anyway. The ritual encompasses several artistic disciplines that require skill. Subsequently the individual technique develops from mastering those skills.

The disciplines are: making lather, stropping, honing and shaving. Each requires distinct skill, each an art form that gives the shaver a sense of satisfaction. Each also calls for patience and discipline.

If you prefer to shave only with the straight razor with replaceable blades, that is your choice. You will miss out on some of the other rituals of wet shaving with the straight razor, but I do not fault you for that. After all, those other rituals may not be as important to you are they are to me. That's all right. Is my way better than yours? Of course not. It is better for me. Your choice, whatever it may be, is better for you. So you go with your preference.

You have been offered several good choices for straight razors with replaceable blades. Some have included the Feather. I have a Feather Artist Club and like it. I take it on trips as a back up to my regular straight razors. My back up stash also includes a double edge travel razor.

The Feather is sharp. Some regard it as unforgiving. I don't, because I shave with care, whether with a regular straight razor, the Feather or my double edge. Were I to recommend a straight razor with replaceable blades for you, my choice would be the Feather. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Regards,
Obie

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Originally Posted by mikej411

there are two routes i can go. Use a razor and sharpen it all the time or just buy a shave ready one and keep buying replaceable blades. Is this true?

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Pretty much, although how often you need to sharpen a razor and how often you need to buy blades will depend on how quickly your razor dulls.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mikej411

Is there anywhere local in pittsburgh i can buy hand sharpened shave ready razors (wal-mart etc.)? if not, where do i buy online and can you recomend one?

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Hand-sharpened straight razors can be purchased online - check our vendor forum for those who offer such razors

I don't think anyone hand-sharpens replaceable blades as a customer service though

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mikej411

Once i buy the initial razor, do i just have to keep buying the replacement blades that are shave ready

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Yes, or you could just buy more initial razors

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Originally Posted by MickR

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

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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.

Hello all !

Well I have been researching cut throat razors and shaving for a total of 60mins now and have just ordered this "Parker SRW Straight Edge Barber Razor & 100 Shark Stainless Professional Blades" from ebay (hopefully not a cheap copy, at least it is from the US). It cost about $30 and i thought i was the cheapest way to try out this "real" shaving thing.
I expect I will like it and I am looking forward to investing in a decent straight from someone here in the near future.
I like sharpening knives properly so I'm also looking forward to caring for the straight blade, and enjoying the shave (Im 30 and still dont have a lot of facial hair.. ah well)

This seems like a great forum and looking forward to spending some more time here.