Thread: Shavette or not??!!

I'm a complete beginner to straight shaving, but as I've read before if I can have a pleasurable experience doing a mundane task I have achieved something. That's why I've decided to give straight razor shaving a go. I've read many threads and watched many vids on YouTube regarding shaving and scoured eBay and the net for a reasonable priced razor, I found the majority of any straight razor worth in my eyes shaving a little expensive for my limited budget at the moment, I've heard a lot of scary things regarding people buying straight razors that've are cheap and having little or no luck with them so I decided to go down the 'shavette' route until I can save up and afford a reasonable razor. I had my first shave two days ago and prepared with a hot bath first, a good lather of shaving cream and massaged into my beard. I then rinsed off with hot water and re applied the cream with my brush. It started off well and then I nicked myself a couple of times which looked a lot worse than they were. My skin isn't the smoothest and has a few lumps and bumps which bore the brunt of it. I've shaved once since and have cut myself again around my uneven skin. I was wondering if it was because I was using a shavette razor with disposable half razor blades that was the problem? Shouldn't I bother trying until I get a real straight razor? I'm taking my time whilst shaving and concentrating on what I'm doing but I still seem to nick quite a lot. Any advice would be greatly appreciated..........

Hello Manchestertattoo and welcome to SRP. I was where you were at 4 months ago. I had a terrible first shave, nicked my strop, cut my self like a a bad horror flick. Its apart of the process. I have never shaved with a shavette so im not sure what they are supposed to feel like. I do however shave with a straight. What it is sounding like is your technique. You are using a foreign object that your hand is not used to. You have to get the muscle memory going. Its going to take atleast 100 shaves to be proficient. You have to stretch you skin and have light pressure on the blade on your face. More pressure does not equal better shave. I would look up stretching techniques in the search bar. I would also search for jockeys in youtube he does a great intro to shaving. You can look up geofatboy he also does youtube videos. PLease don't give up on this wonderful obsession. You will be greatly rewarded in the end. If you are low on money check out whippeddog i have heard nothing but good things about this website. You can heven check out the classifieds here on SRP all thses folks on SRP are great. I hope this helps. If you have questions send me a message ill do my best to help.

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.

I bought a non folding Feather SS and shaved with it for the first time today. I found it quite easy to use and a lot less intimidating than I thought it would be. Can speak to any other shavette but this was a great experience. I think the fact that it is smaller, (probably) sharper, and free of scales to maneuver makes for an easy shave. I found that it was easy to do my neck and chin with this where I am always struggling with a proper folding straight. I give it a thumbs up.

Originally Posted by Manchestertattoo

I'm a complete beginner to straight shaving,
.....big snip....
Any advice would be greatly appreciated..........

Aha... advice... he opens the door wide as can be... ;-)

To me a shavette is less than ideal. To take half a DE blade and put it
in a clamp is less ideal than using a good DE. DE blades are thin and
need to be clamped closer and tighter to the sharp edge than a shavette might.

The place where a shavette makes a lot of sense to me is in the hands
of a barber giving a razor cut hair cut and not so much a shave.

By contrast the Artist club blade and holder seems a better fit for
face shaving with an open style blade. The blades are thicker and the
holder is well designed to keep the blade under control. But they are
expensive.... and Feather blades are a bit harsh on the first shave.

Having said that in good hands a shavette shave with a
nice smooth first/ second shave edge can be quite comfortable.
Good hands will have a very light touch, correct angle and
zero left to right slice action to cause nicks. This is a love
the one you are with question.... a lot of folk do like the shavette shave.

I would hint that shave prep is key and you might find that
a bag of BiC yellow handled tossables willl let you work on
your "lathering" while pondering the next choice of blade.

While you are working through a $5.00 bag of BiC yellow handled
tossables for sensitive skin your face will get used to being shaved with
a single edge. Your lathering skills will improve, you map of your
whiskers will improve AND you will have time to watch for and think
about the next razor. I would lean toward a $35-$50 no frills DE three
part razor but would watch for quality steel in the Classified knowing
that a straight also needs a good strop for the second day...

Working with a DE or a tossable will teach you the differences between
dull and sharp and also what you like in terms of sharp .vs. smooth.

Since IMO 80% of a good shave is a matter of latherin (shave prep)
this should get you a long way down the wet shaving road.

MÜHLE DE razor heads are used on a number of good razors for a reason.
Merkur DE razor heads are also good...
Skip the expensive adjustable models, skip the butterfly designs
they do not clamp the edges as well... unless you luck into a
good one.

The classified in this forum will often have modest prices on
some quality old no name steel. Keep your eyes open...!

I tried a japanese non folding kai blade..made me play "connect the blood spots"

I got this one:
Feather Artist Club SS Japanese Straight Handle, Black
and a pack of these:
Feather Artist Club Pro Guard Blades 15 Pack

I thought the price was good and it seems to shave easily. I was more afraid of the shavettes at first but several straight razor slices in a row have me leaning the other way now.

Welcome
It takes time to learn, be patient and read the beginner's stickies, lot's of good info.
when you are ready for a solid, not-so-pretty straight ant avery reasonable price try Whipped Dog Straight Razor Shaving Equipment

I found the shavette to be extremely harsh and left my skin raw and stinging. Shavettes are prone to cuts too. I found the real straight to be so much nicer and far less prone to digging in... far less blood with the real thing. I prefer the big 6/8 half hollows; more control on the skin and on the strop. I recommend skipping the shavette and going right to the real McCoy.

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.

I agree completely with your post. I started with a traditional straight but if I knew what I know now and had it to do all over again I would have gotten a Parker shavette. You can get one of these for $20 or less and decide if you want to become a straight razor shaver.