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  1. #1
    Senior Member Raulski's Avatar
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    Default Disposable blades

    Hi. I'm sure this question has been asked many times but I couldn't find it in my search of the forum.
    What are the disadvantages of the modern style straight razor that holds half a disposable razor blade in a clip? How often do I change the blade? What kind if maintenance/care is required? Can I just take the advice given for traditional razors?
    I just bought my first straight razor (the type described) & am very new to it all & know nobody else who uses one.
    Any info or directions to where this may have previously been addressed would be great.
    I look forward to mastering this & having something to contribute to the forum

  2. #2
    Senior Member FYNNPETE's Avatar
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    Default

    I've shaved with bpth styles of razor, the biggest disadvantage for me was the replacing of the blade, found it inconveinaint. no stropping, and i always seem to get a less than comfortable shave with them (may have been me and not the razor). i bought mine for travel, didnt want lose my starights in luggage. for maintenance wise i just dried with towel and thats it. and as for changing the blade i change moine every shave, i found a place in my hometown that they cost (if i remeber correctly) $5 for 10 so at that price point why not . hope this helps

  3. #3
    Senior Member Skippy's Avatar
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    Default

    I've used a shavette before. Replacing the blades was fine. The shave was good too. But when I tried a traditional straight, the disposable went bye-bye. I get a smoother shave out of a traditional, and I hardly ever nick or cut myself either. With a disposable, it was very easy to nick and cut myself badly. Once you try a truly shave ready straight razor, your disposable will go bye-bye too. If you want to stick with a disposable, that is fine. I got about 7 or 8 shaves out of my disposable when I had it. The maintenance is virtually nothing, which is why it is appealing for people who don't want to strop or hone.

  4. #4
    Senior Member blabbermouth 1OldGI's Avatar
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    Default

    I started out a safety razor guy (SE mostly) then a couple years ago, I decided I would do "basic training" with a shavette. This way I could learn straight razors without a big outlay of money before I knew for sure if I'd like it. Lots of debate over whether this is a good idea or not but what I can say is that the learning curve when I first started with shavettes was horrendous but I stuck at it and within a month or two I was getting very good shaves out of them. After a couple additional months of almost daily shavette shaves, I decided I was ready for "real" straights. I bought a Boker Red Injun for $20, a cheap water stone and a strop and away I went. Despite what lots of people will say, the techniques I learned shaving with a shavette were very useful when I did pick up a conventional straight. From a strictly technique standpoint, the shavette all but eliminated any technique learning curve associated with the straight. The only learning curve was honing and stropping. Although it is true that from a feel perspective, there does seem to be a world of difference. I found the heft of a real straight razor was far more comfortable. In fact, once I started using straights my shavette shaves were few and VERY far between. Now that you mention it, I may just pull out a shavette for a shave one day this weekend.
    The older I get, the better I was

  5. #5
    Senior Member Snuff's Avatar
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    I only started using straights with disposable blades (Feather DX and SS) after I learned how to shave with a real straight. Different? Not really in my opinion, I use the same angle, pressure and technique as with a straight. Disadvantage: It doesn't have the same charm as a straight. Advantage: Due to the smaller blade it's a bit easier to get around on the face or head. It's just a variation I like to use for shaving.

  6. #6
    Senior Member Raulski's Avatar
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    I did not know they were called shavettes. I found a good discussion here about them. Thank you for all these perspectives. Definitely food for thought. I've had 3 shaves with it so far & I don't get too badly injured but I have to tidy up after with my multiblade Schick. I also shave my head but am not daring enough to try it with the straight.
    My shavette is a cheap eBay buy with Arabic writing on it so I have no idea of brand. My blades are Gillette Wilkinson sword. My brush is deVinci & is garbage - bristles falling out like mad. I'm using Shave brand cream in a tube.

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