Thread: DOVO Shavette

I started my straight journey by using a Dovo Shavette for a very short time using half DE blades. Then I upgraded to a Feather Artist Club SS using the Feather Pro injector blades, which I used almost 100% for 6 months. I learned to straight shave using the super sharp Feather Pro blades. When I converted to regular straights after those 6 months, there was almost no adjustment because regular straights I found to be more forgiving than the surgically sharp Feather blades.

Looking back at my own experience, if you already have a regular straight, then I see no point to getting a shavette. You can learn using a regular straight.

The main reason for using shavettes is mostly the convenience/cost factor just like Gillette's old safety razor slogan used to say "No stropping, No honing", just replace a blade and shave. No strop, no hone, no nothing. Oh also, almost no joy of the mystique of old fashioned shaving with a real knife blade, no pride of ownership and care of fine equipment, no Zen joy experiencing a new lifelong hobby. Straight shaving is a passionate romance whereas shavette shaving is more like "Wham bam, Thank you sir, Next!!".

Wait for your straight to be honed, then start shaving. Like already commented, you could get a Whipped Dog razor as a 2nd razor, as I did and which I still use and enjoy. Get a strop and some chromium oxide paste. Learn to do careful stropping with occasional blade refreshing with the paste. This will take you a long way down your journey. Enjoy your trip.

Originally Posted by Obie

Yes, have the Wade & Butcher honed, and use it. If you want a straight razor with replaceable blades, also referred to in general terms as the shavette, then opt for the Feather Artist Club DX. It is more expensive, far more, but it is a great razor. The Dovo Shavette is a light and thin razor using half of the standard double edge razor blade. The Feather uses its own Feather blades, which I think are the sharpest objects on earth. I find the Dovo Shavette flimsy and the balance far from ideal, whereas the Feather has heft and ideal balance.

My thoughts exactly.

The starting point should be a straight razor.
Once you have that mastered, you can go the disposable route, if you still want.
The Feather Artist Club offerings are a great way to get a disposable straight razor that will serve you well, when traveling or if you don't have the time for the straight razor maintenance.

Using a shavette type razor as "stepping stone" on the path to straight shaving is a mistake IMO, as a true straight is for more forgiving and a better learning tool.

Either way, the learning curve may be steep, but you don't have to make it any steeper by starting off with a shavette.

Shavettes are nice and give very close shaves. I would not discourage anyone from trying both.
If, however, your goal is to use the WB and could care less about the shavette: why waste your $?

if you want to try the shavette and you have already a DE (and supply of blades) and spending $30 to try it out: do it. Why not?