Thread: spoiled by a shavette.

Glad to hear it. I am experiencing some of the same things you experienced transitioning from a dovo shavette(I prefer the long dovo blades) to real straights. I do pretty well not cutting and irritating myself. I feel I owe that to the shavette. I also am missing the "buttery glide" but I feel I am good with my angles. Been very tempted to go back to the shavette. I think I may have messed up two of my pro-honed blades before I figured out stropping(jury is still out on that statement). I suppose I should say I've only been doing real straights for a couple of weeks and it definitely took me longer than that to become proficient with the shavette. It's nice to know you came out the otherside. There's hope for me yet.

Yep, stropping was an issue for me as well. I finally went to a paddle strop and found it works well for me. 30 strokes on the canvas and 60 on the leather do the trick nicely. But I had to hone the razor on a 12K stone first to reset the edge. I find honing much easier than I thought it was going to be. My beard is quite tough and I need to touch up the razor on green chromium oxide treated canvas about every 6 weeks. I never could get the hanging strop right, just kept killing the edge of the razor.

Actually prefer the straight now and only use the shavette when traveling. After a year and a half I'm just learning to do against the grain. LOL

Excellent thread. As a newbie I appreciate all the insight. I have been shaving with a shavette for about 6 months. Still researching for my first straight razor.

Really enjoying this thread since I am using a Parker SR1, similar to Shavette, and about 8 days in now. The eventual transition to a "real" straight might be similar to a disposable blade after it is broken in by a couple of shaves. I can imagine that a paddle strop would be easier to keep flat than a belt. To me, it seems amazing that anyone strops on a flexible strop every day without curving it at least a little once in a while. I am getting to the point where I don't experience much more burn than with my DE, and my shaves are definitely close. Thanks all!

I'm with therewillbeblood on this, who summarized it perfectly: I get a better shave with a shavette but it's not a "real" straight, is it? And I agree with simplifying my life as much as possible now. Plus, there are no surprises or variations, it's only my skill and technique, without other variables like stropping and honing. But yes, I too miss the nostalgia factor.

"Life can be tough..." Well, here's hoping this is my biggest problem of the year!

What an interesting read. I also started with a shavette and wondered the same thing when I switched over. Is it really possible to get a straight even close to as sharp? YES! In fact there is some studies done that have more than proved this. My face knew it before the science proved it though. I realize that this may not be an easy goal to achieve but for me it came pretty quick once I started honing. I now have two razors that are so sharp that you have to be careful to make sure they are in motion when you put them to your face or you get a nice reminder in the form of a cut. Smooth too. I think the final bridge for me was using a paste after the 12k. I have taken my shavette and shaved one side and my straight and shaved the other side and the only difference is that my shavette(feather blade) is more irritating. Both give BBS close shaves but the straight does it with much less irritation. Smoother? Idk. Not everyone is going to have an experience like this right off. I think I got lucky since I have only been able to get a sheffield and a US blade this sharp but even my other razors come damn close and probably match a cheaper blade like a shark or derby. Anyways, I just wanted to share this since I hear over and over that a straight will never be as sharp as a de razor blade. Many here know better and know about the Verhoeven papers.

Interesting thread indeed. I am curious about the weight of the Parker shavette?
I have the stainless steel SR1 and it weights 42g: what about the white and black handle?

And how much does a real straight weight?

If you get a bad straight you will never get it sharp as a shavette. You will have miserable shaves and torture yourself. You get a good razor with it honed up properly it will utterly destroy a shavette in sharpness and smoothness. Shavettes are fine but cannot compare to a good razor.

I used a shavette for awhile when I started, as per the norm, I went through the edges on my two straights, so figured I'd try a shavette while they were out, did what they were supposed to do, very unforgiving IMO, and I found them quite harsh as well.

Now, the shaves I get from my straight are light years above any other system I've used - period.

If you're not into the honing and stropping, there are some pretty nice shavettes out there, and many find those suit their needs perfectly - but they are two different animals, and if you toss in the DE, three different beasts!

I had thought about using a SR for a while but couldnt buck up the courage so i decided to go for the shavette, as i thought it would be safer to learn with. With it being rather cost effective at £10 for the bluebeards revenge fitted with derby disposable half blades, Being a typical man i couldnt wait to get started so i lathered up and got to it.... BIG MISTAKE! i now looked like i had been fighting with a cat as claret was running down my cheek!! (not good). so i put it down and grew up, did some reading then went back at it.. a few nicks here and there but for my first attempt was very pleased with myself with rather good results.. not BBS but not far off and still better than shaving with carts!
i find my shavette very reliable and easy to use and would recommend it for somebody who wants to learn the techniques, but beware as has been said here before a shavette can be alot less forgiving than a SR. i use mine daily and with only minor discomfort and very rarely spilling my own life juice now so all is good. i am aware that it is a time thing.. dont rush.. keep the skin taught and relax because after-all why cant something mundane like shaving be turned into something that can be enjoyable and quite rewarding?