spoiled by a shavette.

when i started straight shaving about 2 months ago i had a shavette with derby blades. every shave was perfectally sharp. now i have my first dovo and ive had it sharpened to 5 microns, stroped on newspaper and the strop but i notice it does not come close to the buttery glide of the shavette. now, Im not willing to give up if i know there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it is possible to get that buttery glide out of a straight, but if it wont come close, even with experience ill swich to DE shaving. Thoughts? (btw if getting that super sharp edge means hundreds $ in stones id go for it but only if it was possible)

You've got to do what's most comfortable and will make you happy in the long run. Personally, I get much smoother shaves from a straight than I did from a DE or Shavette.

It's a combination between the well honed razor and your "well honed" technique.

You're talking 3 different systems here. No DE will shave as close as a proper straight. The disposable of course comes proper sharp. The straight needs your assistance in that department. In the end once you get it the way it needs to be I don't think you will want to go back to the disposable

IME, especially when I'm in a hurry, I get a quick and smooth shave from a DE, but I have stubble towards the end of the work day. When I use my straights, I may not get the buttery smooth glide you describe all the time, but the shaves with a straight are much closer and last a lot longer. Although the straight shaves are not always buttery smooth, I prefer the end results thereof and therefore think straight razors are worth the time and effort, just my 0.02 cents.

tyguy. i did the same as you. and it is difficult to get that smooth glide from a straight, until you get the angles down, and your straight is properly sharp. de is not the same field as either of the other 2. it does take ALOT of patience and practice to get this down. i do know one day it all goes well, next day or two it is all wrong. i really try to do all the same routine so that i can try to determine exactly where i mussed up. and usually it is with the angles, this is the hard part for me. when all is done properly though, it is better than the shavette.

If you want to know what a real straight can do for you get a quality straight professionally honed. I recommend you only start investing in hones after you have decided you want to go the straight way.

I've been using a shavette for about 7 years, and when I finally acquired my first real straight, I felt just the same way you felt. I was wondering if the real straight can ever achieve the results my shavette does. Well I kept at it, and lo and behold I have achieved the BBS (baby butt smooth) results my shavette gave me. The difference though was something I never understood until somehow explained it to me. Which is this. The real straight razor will not be as sharp as the shavettes, but the shavettes will never get as polished as the real straight razors. Do you know what that means? It means that you can get excellent shaves with a more forgiving blade with the straight razor. Because its will sort of be a littleblunt compared to the DE's. I now experience more comfortable shaves with less nicks with the straight rather than with the DEs. Not to mention less razor burns. I love that with the real straight, it won't get your face raw like e DE does. I still use the DE in the form of the feather artist club, and nothing gets sharper than that I believe, but somehow I sort of gravitate to the real straight razors because of its overall shave experience (forgiving, comfortable, and gives BBS RESULTS). Keep at it, and you will discover why a lot of people like the people here still love using the traditional straight razors.

Thankyou for your helpfull answer. A lot of people give a lot of flack for using a shavette here so its nice to get an answer from someone without a biased opnion on the matter. Since putting this thread out I've bought somw honning stones and am learning more all the time. Recentally I had a pretty good shave with a straight but I dropped the blade and blunted it in one spot so it was back to the stones and with a little patience I had it poping hairs off my arm while hovering and moving along so todaays the day to try that out. Will let ya know the results.

You mention that your razor was honed to 5 microns. That is far short of what is possible. Good finishing stones will be finer than that and you can use lapping film or pastes all the way to .1 micron. Your razor can be as sharp or nearly as sharp as a shavette all the time. After the first shave with the shavette or DE your straight should be sharper til you change blades.

This is interesting. I've been shaving with a Filarmonica shavette and thinking that while the sharpness of a fresh DE blade is an advantage, I wish it were larger, more polished, and carried more weight. I do feel like I could get smoother and closer passes with more mass and the polished edge of a stropped blade. I'm definitely going to invest in a proper straight after reading this thread.

As a relative newbie, I don't regret taking the time to learn the various aspects of wet shaving over the past year, and developing skills ... but I've had the same experience as other guys who opt for the shavette before "full straight" - some nicks and discomfort in the early stages.

I'm with you, Ty. I learned how to use my straight on the shavette and I still like it. I graduated up to a real straight, but the shavette is the one I travel with. Also, I haven't learned how to rehone my straight yet, so I need to get it sharpened and I'm using the shavette until I get that skill under my belt.

I'm now embarking on learning how to use a DE, as my skin can't take any straight every day, causing me to need to use my Fusion several times a week.

i started off for the first year with a shavette and loved it but i just got a dovo prima klang and it was professionally honed by lynn. its way smoother then my shavette ever was. just keep at it and when you get the honing down itll get smoother and you wont regret it.

Didnt want to start a new topic on this subject as this one already exsisted.

I used a Dovo stainless shavette back in November 12. It was my first attempt at shaving with a straight blade and I managed to cut myself nicely (still carry 2 small scars on my left cheek from that one).

I then ordered a Dovo straight razor from Straight Razor Designs with a strop and began using that, carefully following the directions on this site. I found the shave to be good but not as smooth as I lexpected. Perhaps my stropping wasnt up to par? So I ordered a second Dovo straight razor from the same place. These Dovo razors are shave ready when delivered. The second razor shaved about the same as the first, maybe slightly better.

I continued to shave with the Dovo straight razors for another 2 months and my technique improved somewhat. I also exchanged emails with Lynn about proper blade maintenance. During this time I was tempted to again try the shavette but the slicing experience was keeping me away from it.

Today I got up enough courage to once again try the shavette. My improved technique made this shave much nicer than the first.

I found that the shavette will shave as close or closer as the straight and with less irritation. With the straight razor I may have to pass over the area on the sides of my chin several times to get it nice and smooth but the shavette will do the job in one or two passes. On the other hand, the straight razor is more forgiving and less likely to cut me than the shavette, which is extremly sharp.

Last time I saw my barber, Carmin Sorintino, we had a discussion about the disposable straights now used in barber shops (Carm has been cutting my hair since I was 16 and I'm 62 now). He claims the disposables are sharper than the straights he used to use and he actually prefers them (he still does shaves). He also recommends only shaving with the grain and perhaps accross it. But never against it.

Now these are my personal obsevations and I'm not trying to convince anyone of what they should do or not do. I use both the shavette and the straight. The shavette is great for travel. I really enjoy stropping and shaving with the staright as well but it does irritate the skin on my neck more and I cant use it more than a few days in a row.

I'm glad I tried them both. And they both have a place in my shaving routine.

The shavette was harder for me to learn than a straight, but I still recommend starting with a shavette because it is an inexpensive way to try straight shaving. As you have discovered, it takes desire and commitment to master the beast.

I had the desire, because I had decades of dissatisfaction with multiblade razors and was fascinated with the use of the straight razor in movies.

I started with a true straight and by the time I got a razor, strop, and 4k/8k/12k stones, I spent some major bucks. That is a lot to spend to try something.

Actually I'm torn between the two. Ive always had the goal of simplifying my life and lets face it, straight razors arent exactly simple with the stropping and honing routine. The shavette on the other hand is quite simple and foolproof, once one gets the hang of it.

I think my ego gets in the way because the shavette isnt seen as a "real" straight. And I have to admit I'm drawn to the straight because of its nostaliga.

But if you want simple, affordable and a good close shave with a straight single blade, its hard to beat the shavette. A Dovo stainless shavette and 20 blades will set you back only about $50.00 and no stropping or honing ever.

Life can tough sometimes. LOL

Since my last contribution to this thread (thanks for kicking it up again, BTW), I've switched primarily to a DE razor for daily shaving and a straight razor for when I stay away from home overnights for work. I have been using the Shavette almost all the time when I use a straight because it has gotten a lot easier for me to simply replace a blade than to send out a razor for sharpening and then to strop. And when I use a straight, I can go two days between shaves instead of the daily shave required of me when I use a DE.

You're right about the shavette being sharper and less forgiving. For me, at least, it is only for the first three shaves. I always look like I went three rounds against a cat and lost. But after three shave sessions it works like any other straight for me. And I've got a permanent scar near my right ear during my learning curve from the shavette also.

Its nice to know I'm not alone having a few battle scars LOL

I have tough, dark beard (but getting more and more gray), espically where one would grow a gotee. Had to shave twice a day when I was in the service; once for morning inspection and a second time before I could get into the mess hall for dinner.

Even with a close shave I have to do the morning ritual every day. But the shave from the shavette does last longer into the day than the straight razor, at least right now it does.

Ill continue using the straight razor as much as I can and see if the continued shaving and stropping and practice improves the closeness of the shave. But the shavette will remain handy as well.

At least now I can use either one without cutting my face to ribbons.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by therewillbeblood

At least now I can use either one without cutting my face to ribbons.

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If you're like me, sometimes you'll go through a stretch where your face gets unusually irritated after a shave. I guess it could be symtomatic of a blade needing a touch up, but most often for me it's when I find myself rushing up and applying too much pressure. Over time I've gotten faster and without realizing it I'm going faster and applying more pressure than is needed.

After about a week of this I "wake up" and say, "Hey, dummy, not so rough!" Then I deliberately take things a little slower and get the closeness and comfort I'm used to having.

This is better than my experience with multiblade razors. I never could seem to find a way to get the desired results with that. With the straight razor I can self-correct.

I had purchased a $1 shavette for my first experiments into "straight-like" shaving about six months back. I found it difficult to manipulate around curves due to the the flatness and slipperiness of the polished tang. The shavette used to rotate uncomfortably (sometimes without warning) between my fingers which could very easily prove lethal during a shave.

I therefore cut a few grooves (jimps) (see Image) into the top and bottom edge in an attempt to improve grip. It helped marginally. But it was far from satisfactory.

Attachment 161286

During one shave at that stage I managed a large nick on my left cheek, (largely due to my lack of control on presssure and angle) that has persisted as a scar till today. It is a painful reminder every day I shave, that I need to be meticulous and focussed, or to simply put down the razor till I manage compose myself. Women and children darting around in the foreground / background are an unwelcome distraction that can easily leave a mark in red, many a time.

The shavette was put away for a few months since my newly acquired, shiny little toy had arrived in the form of a Merkur Futur. In time I had mastered it and was running it fully open at 6.5 using a Feather blade. I suddenly needed a new challenge in the form of a new skill to acquire. (We men shall always be boys, wont we?) So the shavette managed to see the light of day again.

I have always been inspired by the Japanese Kamisori style designs, where there are no scales to interfere with your clear vision of the site of action, nor to physically interfere in the process. ( I do shave with my reading glasses on, and the scales don't like them since they always seem to block their path).

The Inoue Tosuke design took my fancy. (See Image below)

Attachment 161287

I therefore decided to alter my standard shavette further to make it easier to grip between the fingers and manoeuvre around the jawline using the Inoue Tosuke as a design inspiration.

I drilled out the pin and removed the scales intact in case they would be needed in future.

I took a knive with a suitable looking handle, and took an impression (mould) of it in Alginate. (The yellow / pink material that dentists use to take a mould of your teeth). Self polymerizing Acrylic resin was poured into the mould and the shavette set into it allowing for 1 1/2 " of tang length from the heel to be left exposed (Images 1, 2) to allow the flexing required to load and eject the blade. (The two halves were being permanently locked into place and shall not rotate anymore)

Using my hand to grip the unfinished handle both ways, (i.e. thumb towards edge and index finger towards edge) the handle was marked and contoured with depressions for the thumb and fingers. (See Images)

Attachment 161283
Attachment 161288


Finally I ground it smooth, sandpapered it and buffed it to a reasonable finish and shine.

Attachment 161289

The handling has improved immensely. The shavette can be rotated between my thumb and fingers in a very controlled and reliable manner now without any signs of slipping. Time to test drive it.

On my first attempt, I managed a BBS with a two pass on my cheeks and neck. I never expected to even attempt ATG much less complete it. This far exceeded my expectations with a shavette at this stage. My tail was up, a little prematurely though, as I moved to the more challenging sections of the face with my hands beginning to tremble a little.
The chin experienced some tugging, and on persevering I managed a very small nick.
Discretion being the better part of valour (especially with anything involving a sharp blade) I decided to quit for the day. I completed the chin and upper lip with my Merkur Futur set at 6.5 with an Astra Superior Platinum blade.

I need to now find a suitable case for my baby. Currently I have to eject the blade when I need to put it away for the day.

Personally I would recommend newbie shavette wannabes like me to use an aggressive DE razor like the Futur at full open (or a slant bar) for a couple of months to get the feel of an unprotected sharp blade on your skin and the pressure control required to achieve a nick-free BBS shave. This will make the transition to a shavette much easier.

Straight razors are banned in India and hence it is unlikely that I shall be ever able to get one through Customs. Hence the shavette remains my only hope of "straight-like" shaving and I intend to make the most of it and definitely not quit my effort without a fair and extensive trial.

These are my experiments that may or may not work for you. As is usual YMMV.

It's been over a year now since I posted to this thread. I still use my Dovo shavette for travel but my everyday razor is a vintage Henckels Emperor straight. I purchased the razor on eBay then learned to properly hone and strop. The difference between this razor and my first one, a Dovo Best Quality, is amazing.

The Henckels shave just as close as the shavette. And, since my technique has improved over the past year, I rarely cut myself with either one. And when I do it's just a small nick.

Its great having the option of using either blade.

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?