Thread: Shavette vs straight

Originally Posted by pavariangoo

Hi peeps!,

A nice gentleman commented on my intro topic something to the effect of 'when you can afford it, upgrade from a shavette to a straight razor', so I have a couple of questions,

1.) Is a straight razor really that much more effective?
2.) With the shavette, one gent said that I should hold it nice and flat as i shave (have been having major problems getting it to cut anything), is there anything else?
3.) Are there any affordable places in SE brisbane to get this gear from? Currently I go to the place in mount gravatt.

Cheers!

I would be curious if folk compared a Shavette with half a Feather DE
to a good DE with a Feather blade.

When I first saw shavettes years ago they were used by beauticians to
give razor hair cuts and not for shaving. To me the shavettes expose too
much thin DE blade and are not as consistent on the skin as
a str8, DE or the Artisan Feather open razor.

I suspect they have improved a lot for shaving because the barber
community has been pushed away from solid steel razors, shaving mugs,
strops and such (because of blood born diseases).

Q: is a straight more effective... ?
A: it depends... an open blade is infinitely adjustable:
from the hone to the strop to the face... yet it
is still steel versus whiskers. N.B. The process of wet
shaving helps any blade shaver.... I find that the attention
to detail and time that an open blade imposes on me improves
my shave... so yes more effective but your face
is the final judge.

As with any infinitely adjustable device bad adjustments
are possible. If your temperament lets you get it
right more often than not a straight is a winner. If
you are casual, imprecise and impatient an open blade is less
likely to be effective.

I use the Dovo Shavette quite regularly, and enjoy the shave just as with my traditional straight razors. However, the feel of the blade is totally different. With the Shavette you have to have a very gentle touch, as the blade is scary sharp. My traditional straight is much more forgiving. It just depends upon preference. I enjoy shaving with them both.

I bought the shavette to keep in my gym locker, so I would not have to worry about a strop, honing, rusting in the humid environment, ... .

Originally Posted by mhailey

I use the Dovo Shavette quite regularly, and enjoy the shave just as with my traditional straight razors. However, the feel of the blade is totally different. With the Shavette you have to have a very gentle touch, as the blade is scary sharp. My traditional straight is much more forgiving. It just depends upon preference. I enjoy shaving with them both.

I bought the shavette to keep in my gym locker, so I would not have to worry about a strop, honing, rusting in the humid environment, ... .

I think that's the best run down I've heard of the Shavette and how it differs.

I have a Shavette but don't know if I can get proficient enough to make it my travel razor unless I use it on a regular basis. When I'm home I want to use the traditional straight. I have medical grade Personna blades and haven't had a bad one yet in my DE razor (Merkur Slant) so I am not worried about varying quality from blade to blade.

My best guess as to the difference between Shavette and straight razor is that the straight, due to not being as sharp as a Shavette, floats on the skin pressing down the skin right before slicing whiskers. While the Shavette doesn't float on the skin, due to it being sharper, but slices off the top dermal layer(s) of dead skin while at the same time cutting the whiskers.

I think this is why straights very seldom produce weepers, and Shavettes frequently produce weepers. At least in my experience.

Both shave very close. The straight feels better.

I started with a "Magico" (essentially a shavette) and migrated to straights. I think its a very good idea to start with one as it eliminates the "is it shave ready" question, so you can just learn technique. It also allows you to practice with an empty bladeholder so you can get used to the strokes with no chance of injury.

I agree with the above statements that a real straight is more comfortable, and I find that the Magico gives you more nicks but I think its from the exposed sharp corners of the blade. I also agree that the choice of blade can make a difference. I have used "Personna" and "Gillette" double edged blades, and they were both great. I bought some "panda" at the dollar store and they were very dull.

This discussion made me want to whip out the ol' Shavette since my straight shaving has improved and today I got a terriffic shave with it. But I also cut myself several times, so I definitely experienced the "unforgiving" aspect of it in comparison with a traditional straight.

I'm really on the fence as to whether to try to make it into a travel razor because I prefer the traditional straight and also have a Merkur Slant for times I don't have time to strop and straight shave.

The thing I don't know about is if I took, say, a week's vacation. Would I get progressively better with the Shavette as the week went on, or is this just something I can't use unless I use it on a regular basis.

I have not shaved with a shavette but my barber uses one on my neck when I go. I can tell you that it is a much harsher shave then my straights. The straights are smoother and do not make my skin feel irritated.

I use a Parker shavette regularly in my rotation along with traditional straights , theres no doubt if you master the shavette using a regular straight is a breeze , theres little margin for error with the shavette so it demands proper technique . The parker holds the blades very firm & close to edge so flex is not an issue . I dont belive you should be using an almost flat angle most of my shaving with the shavette is around 20-30 degree's or there about depeding on areas your tackling ..You read alot of negatives about the shavettes that they are solely for neck an hairline shaving , thats just not true , while they maynot be suited to everyones taste they do provide awesome shaves once mastered .

Thanks to the discussion and a couple of shaving attempts, I did crack the code, so to speak on the Shavette.

I feel stupid in saying this, but so be it. I didn't realize until yesterday that there are little notches that tell you where the blade sits. They were so inconspicuous that I had been experimenting with how much the blade should hang out and was shredding myself.

When I got the blade properly placed the thing shaved like a dream and I found out that I didn't have to be any more careful than I had to be with a traditional straight razor.

Perhaps others were having the same difficulty I was having. I think that Dovo ought to make these notches another color or something because evidently I'm not the only one having difficulty with this.

Anyway, problem solved for me and hopefully others.

Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

I feel stupid in saying this, but so be it. I didn't realize until yesterday that there are little notches that tell you where the blade sits. They were so inconspicuous that I had been experimenting with how much the blade should hang out and was shredding myself.

When I got the blade properly placed the thing shaved like a dream and I found out that I didn't have to be any more careful than I had to be with a traditional straight razor.

Perhaps others were having the same difficulty I was having. I think that Dovo ought to make these notches another color or something because evidently I'm not the only one having difficulty with this.

Anyway, problem solved for me and hopefully others.

I should have said something in my post. sorry. I kind of thought that proper installation of the blade was a given. The Dovo does not let the blade hang out too far, and keeps the blade nice and secure, of course, when the notches are properly used.