Originally Posted by
1OldGI
I myself began the transtion from classic safety razors to straights almost three years ago with a brief "basic training" with a shavette. My logic was that the shavette would teach me the mechanics of straight razor shaving without the entirely separate learning curve associated with maintaining a traditional straight razor (stropping, honing, etc.) The good news is that the shavette accomplished this objective very well. When I was able to get consistently good, bloodless shaves with the shavette, I transitioned almost effortlessly to traditional straight razors. The bad news is that the first 3 or 4 weeks of shavette shaves were absolutely brutal. I wore out a styptic pencil staunching the bloodflow from my almost daily nicks and cuts. Despite some very discouraging initial results I would not be denied and then suddenly there was a bloodless shave, then another then another, then several weeks worth. Then I knew it was time to transition to the traditional straight.
Now I can't say if my easy transition to traditional straights was because of the shavette or in spite of it. The shavette is an effective tool to teach the mechanics of straight razor shaving for one reason and one reason only: Every time you make a mistake, you bleed. From my own experience, I can say in all candor that a shavette seems to have less than zero objections to carving up the errant user at every possible opportunity. Once you can get consistently bloodless shaves, your technique is pretty well refined. The shavette is indeed a vendictive wench and a cruel task mistress. Conquer her and traditional straights are a cinch.
In contrast even a scary sharp traditional straight is much more tolerant of operator error. Not that I've not occassionally gotten a nick from a traditional straight but they do seem to require a very good reason to draw blood.
PS: Thanks for the reminder, I think I'll pull out the shavette for tomorrow's SOTD. It's been a while and I need to revalidate my Shavette Stud certification.