Thread: Should I go from shavette to straight?

Hello to everyone. Although I am not new to shaving with a disposable straight razor and definitely not new to shaving my face I AM new to straightrazorplace and am considering buying a straight, strop, ect. But LOVE shaving with my shavette's so much that I am having a hard time justifying spending all the money on a straight razor (even $50.00). I am asking for some encouragement here. A nudge, if you will. I love to sharpen my knife collection and I love shaving with my shavette. You would think its a natural progression right? My problem though is this. Why? When a disposable is always razor sharp and so much cheaper and my shaves are consistently baby butt smooth. What am I missing here?

Oh yeah hello again to everyone and thanks in advance for your encouragement.

Originally Posted by Steel

Hello to everyone. Although I am not new to shaving with a disposable straight razor and definitely not new to shaving my face I AM new to straightrazorplace and am considering buying a straight, strop, ect. But LOVE shaving with my shavette's so much that I am having a hard time justifying spending all the money on a straight razor (even $50.00). I am asking for some encouragement here. A nudge, if you will. I love to sharpen my knife collection and I love shaving with my shavette. You would think its a natural progression right? My problem though is this. Why? When a disposable is always razor sharp and so much cheaper and my shaves are consistently baby butt smooth. What am I missing here?

Oh yeah hello again to everyone and thanks in advance for your encouragement.

Welcome to the forum.

From reading what you wrote, I would say if you are happy with your shavette then there's no problem. Different strokes for different folks right (no pun intended)!

On the other hand, if you're curious, and you've got the cash, check out the classifieds on SRP, grab a blade in your price range and give it a shot. It's definitely a different shave, but there are lots of members here who prefer using a shavette. And don't think just because it's a shavette, there aren't some absolutely beautiful, and expensive, shavettes out there, that rival and / or exceed the price of some straights.

If you're curious, start cheap with a shave ready blade and a strop, if you like it, you can decide then. Also, lots of members here use both and many all three! Straights, shavettes and DE's.

Your call...lots of info here to help you on your way.

Cheers and good luck!

Since you enjoy your shavette there is no rush to buy a straight if you feel that it will cost too much money. When your curiosity becomes greater than your lack of money is the time to buy one.

If its money you dont mind spending, get a shave ready from the classifieds here and an inexpensive paddle strop. Worst come to worst you will lose a few bucks of you dont like it but not too much. I used a shavette for 7 years and loved it until I tried a real straight. (Ignorance is bliss). Good luck.

Originally Posted by Steel

Hello to everyone. Although I am not new to shaving with a disposable straight razor and definitely not new to shaving my face I AM new to straightrazorplace and am considering buying a straight, strop, ect. But LOVE shaving with my shavette's so much that I am having a hard time justifying spending all the money on a straight razor (even $50.00). I am asking for some encouragement here. A nudge, if you will. I love to sharpen my knife collection and I love shaving with my shavette. You would think its a natural progression right? My problem though is this. Why? When a disposable is always razor sharp and so much cheaper and my shaves are consistently baby butt smooth. What am I missing here?

Oh yeah hello again to everyone and thanks in advance for your encouragement.

I guess the only reason would be to try it. However if you have a system that works and you love why would you? The shavette is only cheap until the point that you have spent more on blades than all the stuff you need to go with a straight, and the straight itself. Assuming you are going to hone your own, you can bank on a few hundred bucks in hones, lapping plate etc and about a hundred for a razor and strop assuming you buy shave ready.
You could just drop the $50 for a cheap vintage shave ready straight, and make a strop. Then your only in for $70 or so, and if you.dont like it put it on eBay and get some back.
I haven't tried a shavette so cant compare, but a straight is more traditional, but labour intensive.

Obviously you are happy with your current shave and setup. The real question is could your shaves be better. Most people consider a straight as a step up in the shave experience so could your shaves be better. The only way to compare is to try and until you do you wont know. You can get a cheap razor and give it a shot from the classifieds for 30-35 and you can sell it later for pretty much the same price if your not happy. It could set a new benchmark for you. Being a knife guy you might already have a number of stones you could use for razors. You might just need a finisher.

If your happy don't change. I think the reason so many of the members here use straits is to reach the zenith of shaving. New Razors, stones, brushes and soap are just to see how good a shave we can get, and for some like me it has become an addiction, I mean Hobby... like it was mentioned before, it does not have to be expensive if you wish to try a str8, a walmart brush and soap work well and I do not think you can go wrong with a blade from the classified here or even a set from Whip Dog. in the end it is up to you , but be fair warned I have yet to find a 12 step program for my "Hobby"

Hello and welcome.
You have to at least give it a try someday. I assume you already found the shavette section of the forum. Seems I read a lot of guys saying they moved up to a straight or started with a shavette. The thing about straights is that they have a different feel to them. The buttery feel of an old wedge and the feedback of a full hallow. Sheffield steel versus German, Swedish or American. Then there is size to choose from ,4/8 8/8 etc. I guess you could just say there are more flavors to choose from and the only way to know is try one. Or just eat hot dogs all your life. Hows that for an encouraging push :<0)

12 step program , pffffff like you would stick with it .

Well, I have to say thank you to everyone that took the time to reply!! Believe it or not I have decided to go to straights based on what some of you said and here is why. Yes, I am happy with the shavette and I do to think I could get a closer shave without taking off skin BUT I love the challenge of taking my pocket knife and putting an edge on it that I can shave with (literally but not comfortably) with only an Arkansas stone and a kitchen steel. In fact I take pride in that! After reading your comments I realized that this would be a similar challenge only times 10 because I would be taking steel and sharpening it and honing and stropping until I had a wicked sharp edge. What a great skill to learn! Sure my shavette is razor sharp but I didn't make it that way. I will always have that to use until I develop my straight razor skills. I mean it's not going anywhere I can always use it. It doesn't have to be one or the other. So based on this I have decided to go for it (was there any doubt) because I don't want to eat hotdogs my whole life!! Lol.

My plan is to save up some money and first but the straight and strop. One that is truly shave ready so I know what shoot for when I start honing. I think before I go to whipped dog I may check out the classifieds here at SRP and maybe ill luck out and be able to find something very shave ready for cheap. If not then whipped dog. I already have soap and brush and AS and pre shave from my time with the shavette. Then I will try to hold on as the 'hobby' kicks in. Lol. Thanks again to everyone

I could also enter the next contest/giveaway too hey, crazier things have happened right?