Thread: Closest Shave - Straight Razor vs. Shavette

Hi all,

First, I am new here and I have around 2 months since I am using a straight razor and experience with different soaps, cremes, etc.

I have a DOVO Bismarck and a DOVO Shavette. The Bismarck has been professionally honed and it is passing hanging hair test without problems, I also have a comfortable shave out of it.

What I noticed, and not sure if it is my technique, style or straight razor itself, it is thatI manage to get close shaves out of the Shavette and not the Bismarck, though I was thinking it would be the way around.

I have used the Shavette with long DOVO razors in black cartridge and with Feather razors in red one. I am using the same technique with both of them.

Can anyone share their experience please ? Can we say, generally speaking, that a Shavette will give close shaves rather than a straight ? Is this because they are more aggressive (Shavette) ?

I want to focus on straight that replaceable cartridge and I am starting to get frustrated as the shave are not as close as I want them to be.

Any experience shared is appreciated.
Thanks

You should eventually get a wonderfully close, smooth shave with a straight. It just takes practice.

Having never used a shavette I can't say how they compare.

Michael

I've used a Shavette, started out with one, but the shave quality depends upon the blade. I now use a Feather SS with a Feather Pro Guard blade and get perfect shaves every time. A real straight can do almost as well, but not quite.

So it is expected that a straight to have a milder shave than a Shavette with a good blade or an SS again with a good blade ? I am trying to understand if this is normal (since I dont have a baseline to compare with) or not.

Thanks for sharing.

In a word, yes.

And in multiple words, is there an explanation for this ?

Your better blades for the shavette are lazer sharpened and sometimes have a coating on them. No way to acheve this sharpness with a hone and human error factored in.
Very Best, John

I tried to learn using a Shavette and Feather blade. First attempt was horrible and I didn't get the courage to try again until a year later. I tried a Shavette again and got alot better but still pretty much cut myself to shreds. Then I got a vintage blade (my grandfather's) and sent it out to be honed. I tried it when it returned and got a much better shave but had issues with the angle. After some moderate success, I too bought a Bismarck which I just love. I use it every shave now. I'm still a beginner but I can get a very smooth shave. I rarely (if ever?) get away without some kind of nicks but I can get a nice shave.

Some day I will try the Shavette again but I find the real blade a far smoother shave. I don't know why but I assumed the disposable blades were just plain sharper (especially the Feather) and less forgiving.

i use shavettes daily with perma sharp blades ther the best i have used btw i shave customers with them...You have to have a feather light touch with shavettes and zero pressure as there not very forgiving at all..to much pressure and you end up with blood spots and soreness the next day...the differance with a straight that is well honed is they are very forgiving and skin freindly you can get stuick in and les chance of nicks and blood spots also very good for sensative skin. the shave sclosness is just as good except your skin does'nt loose any skin just stubble ..

gary

I have a Dovo Bismarck as well. When I first got it from SRD I was not getting close shaves. It was professionally honed by Lynn and I wondered what was up. I contacted SRD and they told me to strop it 50x and try again. Before I could do that Lynn contacted me and explained to me that a 6/8 shaves a little differently than a 5/8. He suggested I shave with a closer angle to my face. Less that 30 degrees and almost flat to your face. Ever since it has been the best shaver I have. Thanks to Lynn and the great personal service I got from all involved I am still shaving with it with no problems. Try this and see if your shave doesn't improve. My guess is it will.