Shavette vs straight

[daverenaldo]

Good evening,

I'm recently fedding up with my straight razor. I'm used to my old cheap chinese slicke shavette and it seems to shaves 10 times more comfterable than my straight. I can get a really good shave combined with personna blades. With my straight I can also get a BBS result, but during the shave it takes much more effort.

I've tried to eliminate any other factors like lathering, stropping, honing (it has been send to two different honemeisters) and technique (no pressure). So my blade should have been shave ready.

My question is:
Is it possible when you are used to your shavette the straight seems to be a bit dull?

Has anyone experienced the same like I do right now?

Thank you very much for your answers!

[ottochev]

hello, I have the same issue.
what I've done is purchased but haven't received it the thinnest extra hollow
razor from boker. I know exactly what you are saying. I was told that it was possible to get the same shave from a full hollow razor and that it was tech. , however it would take time. Multiple passes would also help. I am still new to this shaving. I would like some more info if any one else could comment.

Good evening,

I'm recently fedding up with my straight razor. I'm used to my old cheap chinese slicke shavette and it seems to shaves 10 times more comfterable than my straight. I can get a really good shave combined with personna blades. With my straight I can also get a BBS result, but during the shave it takes much more effort.

I've tried to eliminate any other factors like lathering, stropping, honing (it has been send to two different honemeisters) and technique (no pressure). So my blade should have been shave ready.

My question is:
Is it possible when you are used to your shavette the straight seems to be a bit dull?

Has anyone experienced the same like I do right now?

Thank you very much for your answers!

[rodb]

I've gotten super shaves from all grinds of razors, my personal favorite would be full hollow with extra hollow having to much flex for my beard. Shavettes are a different shaving experience from a straight, the blade seem sharper but the potential for cuts and irritation is higher. I much prefer a real straight over a Shavette

[aalbina]

I have shaved with both and by far prefer the straight razor over the shavette. I have a Dovo shavette and I use the long blades to speed up the process. The shavette is sharper than any of my straight razors and much less forgiving. I find that it causes more irritation on my face than a straight. I do the same pre-shave preparation for both (after a shower, oil, brush in scuddle with Proraso or some other quality soap/creme). I have to do as many passes with the shavette as I do with a straight. My facial hair pattern is a little wacky so I have to do 3 passes to get baby bottom smooth with either implement.

The biggest difference is the shavette blade doesn't last very long on my tough beard and tends to flex and slap my face causing irritation and sometimes nicks. The straights are way more comfortable, even doing 3 passes every day, and I get equivalent closeness without the irritation.

Everyone's face is different so you have to find what works best for you. I find that the near wedge or full wedge straights do a better job and are more comfortable for me than half or full hollow grinds.

Just my thoughts -

Adam

[Utopian]

I've tried to eliminate any other factors like lathering, stropping, honing (it has been send to two different honemeisters) and technique (no pressure). So my blade should have been shave ready.

I'm concerned that you did not mention shaving angle. Are you aware that you need to use a much lower angle when shaving with a straight razor? The spine of the blade needs to be much closer to your skin when shaving with a straight.

[dinnermint]

+1 to the shave angle. The shavette feels more angle friendly whenever I use it. Once you get your angle down with a straight, the performance should easily be on par. You will learn to develop proper technique with some patience and looking at some videos members have posted on youtube.

[Moonshae]

Shavettes are generally sharper and less forgiving. If I'm not going to shave the next day, a shavette is ok, but two days in a row leaves my face super irritated. I can get equal quality shaves with both, so your issue is probably technique.

[Hacker7]

Shavettes seem to give a harsher shave. Much less forgiving then a straight. Although I enjoy a shavette shave once in a while. A straight properly honed and stropped will give a much more enjoyable experience.

[Uzi]

Yes sir. Listen to those guys. The angle of the razor is the key. The spine should stay between 1 to 2 spine widths from your skin. If you close it more than that it will not cut well. If you open it up more than that it will not cut well and will start scraping.

[beluga]

In wet shaving, it is not only the sharpness that counts, it is also the smoothness of the blade that decides how comfortable a shave can be and in that area shavettes are outclassed by a properly honed and stropped straight razor.

For shavettes you only need to master one skill, the shave.
With traditional straight razors you need to master the shave, stropping and (unless you want to go on having it honed by someone else for you) honing.

Therefore it may initially be easier to get an acceptable shave from a shavette.
For traditional straight razors a mistake in either of the above disciplines can ruin an otherwise perfect shave, which explains the long learning curve.

Having predominatly shaved with straight razors for years, I can attest that a properly honed and stropped straight razor has the potential to beat a shavette in closeness, smoothness and comfort anytime.
It just takes so much longer to get there and in the interim a shavette may appear to be a better choice.


Now, considering that this is a sub-forum for shavettes, let me close by saying there is nothing wrong with shavettes, that I have no intention to ruffle any feathers, and that I myself use a Feather DX from time to time. Shavettes are handy when time is of the essence or when travelling, but for me nothing beats the satisfaction that I get from a well executed straight shave.

Now, if you excuse me; it’s my day off and I have to go and hone and strop some razors for the coming week - something a shavette shaver never has to worry about.


B.