Thread: Newbie Help - Same Question, Different Day

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.

Originally Posted by Zts2004

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.

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.

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....

Originally Posted by Zts2004

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...

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.

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 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).

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.