Thread: Shavette or not to Shavette

Need some advice about my first shave. I purchased a new Dovo and a used F.W. Engels and they have been sent off to a member for proper honing. It will still be another week or so till I get them back. I am getting antsy to start and get practicing. Should I go to the local barber supply store and get a shavette or just wait it out? If I do get the shavette will this help or hurt my future with straight razor shaving? Thanks

There is no really right or wrong answer to your question its really a matter of personal preference. Which is highly debated on this site. I personally use a shavvette as well as a tradtional SR and enjoy both. I now use the shavette mostly for travel but do still use it when I am in a rush in the morning as I don't have to strop and I can get away typically with one pass.

Here is thread with a bunch of thoughts on the shavette http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...ave-ready.html

There's no need to waste money on something you'll only use for a week before your razors get back. Be patient. Use your time in other ventures like watching videos or reading the wiki to learn as much as you can before your razors arrive....heck, practice stropping.

yeah.. shavettes shave differently from other straights.. so i'd just avoid it.. i'm guessing you wouldn't be able to practice stropping without you razors.. but you could practice lather building.. and also.. a few days growth is always really fun to shave off.

I use a Dovo Shavette quite regularly, and enjoy it. It was also brought to my attention that a person could use this shavette, without the blade inserted, and practice angle, stretching, atg and xtg shaves, ... without fear of cutting yourself. Personally, I enjoy the shavette shave just as much as the traditional stratight razor shave. Of course I'm easy to please (just ask my wife ). If you would use it for travel, for the gym (which is why I bought mine), use it to practie technique without the blade inserted (see training wheels) and you don't mind spending the money, then go for it. If you get one, just remember USE A LIGHT TOUCH.

Matt

I used one when I was younger. These days I have a Feather. If you are new, then those are maybe not the best choice.

Anyway, a shavette is never a bad investment if you're going straight
I always take mine on travel. This way I can shave in hotel bathrooms without having to worry about moisture or stropping. And I have no emotional attachment to it so if it gets lost (checked luggage), broken or stolen, I won't care as much as when it had been a nice sheffield.