Printable View
Welcome to SRP!
1. I wouldn't go with a shavette
2. Personal decision. If you're not comfortable with the idea, don't do it
3. I would recommend this highly
3a. You might consider a sprayed felt paddle or hanging strop for touch ups. If you go this route you shouldn't need to re hone anytime soon. I'm not sure if SRD is still offering a free re-honing with a new razor, but they may be. Check their site for details.
Thanks, Bill! I saw the post about free honing for life here, but there is no mention of it on the SRD website, I guess I missed it by a few days...
Welcome aboard-
1. No. While shavettes may utilize the same type of system as a real SR, they're not like actually shaving w/ one.
2. By used, we're not referring to one that someone was using just last week. Typically this is one that's been found in an antique shop, etc, restored, honed and made shave ready. This is what I'm using and I purchased it through the Classifieds here @SRP. Cost me $50. This is a good idea, because you don't want to spend $200+ on a SR only to find out it's not really your cup of tea.
3. Kind of covered that above. You should wait to find out if this is going to be someting you're going to get into before spending the $$
3A. Correct. As long as your SR arrives shave ready, there's no immediate need for a hone, as long as you properly strop your razor before each use.
Welcome to your new obsession!!
I'm 14 shaves into a Shavette and can recommend it. I believe it is actually more difficult to shave with than a proper straight and less forgiving as well. You will have a lousy time and lousy shaves with it for the first two or three shaves, but that would be the case with a straight as well. There's no point in starting with a real straight and making all the newbie shaving and sharpening (or should I say "dulling") mistakes that we read of here. Get the Shavette, cut the crap out of your face for a week to learn how to shave with it, and by shave ten you'll be able to maneuver it fairly well. The Shavette will also give you a nice lesson on the value of Styptic pencils and how well they work. I'm feeling a tad suicidal so I might even put a Feather blade in mine tonight for my shave tomorrow. If you never hear from me again, you'll know what happened.
Thanks Ace! But just out of curiosity, do you have a regular SR also, or do you only use the Shavette? From what I am reading they would make a great travel razor.
I have used the Dovo Shavette for about two months now. I wanted to start shaving with it to get used to using a single blade before I invested a lot of money in a true straight. I have gotten to the point were I think I have got really nice shaves from it.
I am currently looking for a true straight razor for everyday shaves. But I think I will keep my Shavette for traveling purposes.
Yes, I do have some straights, but have yet to use one. I don't plan now on moving over to the real straights until I am proficient at shaving with the Shavette and with stropping and honing. I don't do much airline travel so that is not much of an issue for me. I think I am getting close to doing well with the Shavette, but I still need to get some practice in with it. Today was my 14th shave with it. The first three were lousy, the next seven or so bearable, and things started becoming presentable, and relatively blood-free, by the 12th shave. I plan on sticking with the Shavette for a while even though I am not a particularly big fan of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zts2004
Thanks guys...but I am still overcome with indecision.
Going back to used SR, specifically the ones listed here - Is a used SR in the 30 - 50 dollar range worth it? Will it get the job done? I guess I just feel like I should be spending a little more in this....
I just looked.....you still get a pro honed razor and you get a certificate for a free second honing. No more free honing for life, but this is still pretty good.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zts2004
I still think the Shavette is the easiest choice for you at this time. It will be inexpensive, and you can experiment with different blades (like the Feather I have installed tonight and plan to torture myself with tomorrow).Quote:
Originally Posted by Zts2004
The Shavette has really helped me refine my technique. I can now get much closer shaves without blood, although it did take ten shaves or so to get there. I think it will take the same amount of time starting with a real straight. I believe, and some posters on here agree, that using the Shavette will help me get some of the learning curve under my belt before attacking my face with a proper straight.
If you were to get a used straight and get it honed, you'd still be up against the same newbie problems one reads every day in here. If the first shave is not too good (and it won't be in most cases), was it your technique, was the blade not shave ready, when you stropped it did you roll the edge? Starting with the Shavette avoids all that. The blades will be sharp, real sharp, and your face will prove that to you. I'd say get the Shavette, don't worry about anything yet but technique, stagger through the first ten shaves, and you'll come out the other side with some feel for straight shaving, improved technique, and then you can move on (like I plan to) to a proper straight that you won't mess up by starting with it.
Thanks Ace! I am definitely considering a Shavette (it is on my wishlist on Amazon.com,) but I know I will be using a SR one of these days (sooner or later) so I want to go ahead and get it done right while I got a fresh batch of Christmas money from my granny.
I am still nervous going the used route because it is hard to know what an individual is selling. Do you guys have any suggestions or recommendations on who to buy from? Feel free to promote yourself...I want to make sure I have the best options!
You can get them off the classifieds on this forum. In the end, what will matter with your first razor is the edge. It can be the ugliest, least collectible razor in the world, but if you get it honed by someone here, it will outshave a brand new blade not honed by a honemeister. I'd concentrate on the shave early on, not the blade or how pretty is looks. I have a few nice ones, but I'm sticking with the Shavette until I feel I can do them justice, which in my case means being able to hone and strop them correctly.
Do you work for Shavette? Just kidding. You must really be satisfied with it if you keep singing it's praises...
No, I don't and I'm glad of it. I don't even like it that much, but it really has improved my technique. It's just a cheap way to start and find out if straight shaving is for you. I'm afraid a lot of people have bought a nice straight, strops, hones, and all of that only to be disappointed by their first shaves and quit. I really wanted to avoid that, and so far it's working. Only time will tell.
Just out of consideration, if you want to go disposable, I would consider a Parker. Much more similar to a regular straight and shaves much better than a Shavette.
I'm not even really sure why the Shavette was ever recommended initially. I assume it was always from someone who had not shaved with a Parker.
I would only recommend used razors from the forum. NEVER Ebay.
I would think that the SRD offer would be a great choice.
I also would recommend, as a very personal and contradictory point, that you should get a finishing hone or a barber hone pretty quickly. To me the straight razor is about independence. I consider the razor, strop, and a barber hone to be a "kit". The most compelling reason to not buy a hone is simply the fact that you have no idea how to use one. To me that isn't a good reason. You'll save money not buying a hone, but, I think, you'll end up buying one pretty soon. I would plan on shaving for about a month (razor and strop) and then by the second month start considering buying a hone.
Maybe think of it this way, just to get my point. Shaving with a straight razor is about the razor, the strop, and the stone. Together they create good shaves and independence. If you've ever bought a car without a spare tire, than maybe you could skip the hone for a few months and just send it out. Then, again, from my perspective, that will be a few months of not learning how to hone. Since you'll be buying a hone anyway, keep it on your short list of needs. A straight razor without a hone is like a gun without bullets. Yes, it'll work great for a while.
Sorry, I rambled . . .
Thanks AFDavis11, I fully plan to buy a hone, but I may need to space out my purchases...
If there is anything more i can say that anyone here hasnt already said, it that any razor here on the classified section, is most likely going to be honed before you get it. You dont have to worry about somebody f'ing you over because we all use the straight and we're on a site dedicated to straight so i think any razor in the classified would be a safe bet. If your still unsure PM the member selling it to ask questions. Remember, theyre selling it for a reason, if youre a prospective buyer, they'll be more than happy to answer questions, maybe even take more pictures for you.
In regards to the shavette, i've been using a Personna disposable blade straight for a bit too, if there is one thing its that those razors are not forgiving. If you can learn and get proficient with that, you'll be on a good starting foot for a real SR.
Hope all this helps.
ZTS I am where you are. I have gleaned information about straight shaving for the past 6 weeks. Most of it is from this great site but I have also watched plenty of youtube videos and lurked on a couple of other sites. Just past Xmas I pulled the trigger on a new kit from SRD! I can't say that this was the best decision for everybody but for me, I seem to be able to sleep at night knowing that I spent money on a new blade and strop. I would highly recommend that your blade comes shave ready!
My shaves still consist of using the str8 on my cheeks but I have now been able to successfully work on my non dominant side. Just knowing that the razor is shave ready has improved the confidence in my stroke.
I still have a long way to go but I have improved every shave. For me, my pre shave prep needed an overhaul and I can thank the wiki for that. I must give every member that has posted in the last 5 weeks credit for helping me. What a great site!
rob
Here's the way I see it: buy a 'real' straight razor; even if you end up not liking it, it's a good heirloom you can keep in the family-- maybe one day a child or grandchild will want to give it a try. I've never heard of a shavette passed down for three generations. Plus, let's be honest, whipping out a shavette when your friends come over to the house, doesn't have the same impact as a real live cut-throat razor (notice the use of British terminology for dramatic effect).
So, now the question is whether you want an instant classic (vintage), or a future one (new production). I love my new Dovo, but there's also something undeniabley cool about shaving with a century(ies)-old razor.
Short answer: if you're anything like the rest of us, you'll end up with multiple of each. So, stop worrying, find a razor that suits your tastes, buy it, and enjoy the ride.
Real horrorshow my droog... (love the avatar!)
So, I think that I am gonna go with this one instead of getting a new one right away. What do ya think?
5/8 Jos. Allen & Sons 'NON-XLL' Barber's Notch - Straight Razor Place Classifieds
Also, I will need a strop, any suggestions?
That looks like a good start to me. Just one slight word of caution: this razor is a 1/4 hollow, which some people don't like. I tend to prefer the heavier grinds myself, but you'll never know until you try.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zts2004
Check out ruprazor or whipped dog for a starter strop, I've never used either, but have heard good things.
Just lay off the moloko plus synthamesc before you shave, and you should be good to go.
The razor looks decent, but I don't see it mentioned that it is shave ready. It probably is, but just not mentioned. You should contact the seller just to make sure it is.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zts2004
As for strops, I'm partial to ruprazor myself. If you want to spend more, the modular strop from SRD are nice in that you can change the leather pretty easily.
If you want to save some money on your first straight, I'd also like to mention a few other vendors that you can get good, shave ready razors for low price.
Whipped Dog
Restored Razor (look under the budget section).
Holli4pirating
A note about whipped dog. He does not restore them the way most used razors will be, but simply gives them a basic cleaning and hones them up nicely. This is what allows him to charge such cheep prices. They don't look the nicest, but they will get you good shaves without breaking the bank. He also has a nice deal where you can trade any razor bought by him for a different one at the price of a honing. This is a great way to experiment with different sizes and grinds.
I agree with Mark, Larry at Whipped Dog is awesome to deal with, no hassle return policy. Great products, the razor deal for a price of a honing, you cant go wrong. PLus for 30-50 dollars if you like it, then u have a vintage razor for dirt cheap, and his razors are usually in really nice condition so restores wont cost an arm and a leg. I order a decent amout of stuff from him. Great deal on a starter strop too. 19$ for a strop with a balsa piece with two types of oxides. great deal. Excellent start for a beginner. That's what i did, and i still go there.
I started with my Great Uncles Genco (He died in 1975). I sent it out to be Professionally Honed and made Shave Ready.(I have no paranoia about someone long dead and gone 'Giving me something!'!).If you don't have access to a barbers disinfectant, then you could just dip the blade in boiling water for a few moments if you are really that worried.
Since then I have purchased a few used Shave Ready Razors from the classified's; All of the razors have performed well! However,some better than others!
If you are indeed 'Hesitate' about purchasing and using an actual 'Straight Razor' due to 'Costs' I highly recommend that you purchase a Razor that is Shave Ready in the $30-$50 range from this site and give it a try(Many include Shipping in the Purchase Price!) ! They may not be pretty or fancy but thy will get the job done! You shouldn't need a strop right off the bat! Just gently remove the oil from the blade and shave! (A strop is essential to using a straight razor daily!)
If you have any questions: Give me a PM! (Personal Message)
Good luck in your Quest!
Since my last post I have contacted some sellers and have been bombarded with messages. I never new the world of pre-owned razors had so much to offer!
I hope I can make a decision soon... I almost cried using my Mach3 this morning...
There's no crying in shaving!Quote:
Originally Posted by Zts2004