Straight vs DE vs shavette - review from a newbie.

I'm sure this has been posted before, but wanted to share my thoughts as a straight razor newbie who took the DE to shavette to straight razor walk:

1. DE - this is how I started. Basically to get over the fear of an actual razor vs gillette cartridges.
Pros: Good shave and very quick/easy. Basically no worries and a lot cheaper than the gillette cartridges I'd been using. I still use this when I'm in a hurry.
Cons: The shave is just not as good as either a shavette or a straight.

2. Shavette - My first step towards a straight. Bought a Parker + feather blades via amazon to keep the price down until I was sure it was something I wanted to pursue.
Pros: Hell of a good learning experience. Learned delicacy vs the quick shave that I used with the DE.
Cons: Unforgiving as hell. You slip up with a shavette, and you bleed.

3. Straight - started with a 5/8 Solingen from SRD and moved onto the 6/8 as a second razor.
Pros: Amazing shave. The closest shave I've ever had.
Cons: Takes some learning and you do need to learn stropping. Buy a cheap strop/razor first so that you can destroy it, which you will. I felt that starting with a shavette was actually good (although a bit bloody) because it taught me patience in preparation for a true straight.

Conclusion: I find the real straights much easier to use than the shavettes, and that they give far superior shaves to the DE. It takes longer, but it's worth it.

You just have not found the right DE and blade combination yet. When you do you might have to reconsider how far apart the shaves are between a DE and a straight.

Bob

Bob - I've used Merker, Feather, and Wilkinsin with the DE. I just don't get as close a shave as I do with the straight. With that said, the DE is definitely a lot quicker and does a great job. Just not as good as what I get with the straight. I used a DE for about a month before the shavette, and used that for several weeks before the straight, so I didn't just swap out before seeing what the results were. I'm a scientists by nature and by profession, so I'm always experimenting and observing results.

Everyone is different I suppose but my Muhle R41 with a Feather blade comes within spitting distance, now there is a scientific term, of what I can get with a straight. Never bothered with a shavette in over 40 plus years of shaving so can't say where they would fit in the scheme of things for me. Anyway that is what I have observed and that applies to me personally, as with everything in shaving YMMV.

Bob

Bob - I still keep my DE on the bathroom counter and use it often for clean up. Maybe I just don't have the right combo, like you're saying. In my experience, I can tell after shaving where I used the DE and where I used the straight. Where I used the straight, it feels "powder smooth". The DE shaves close, but not as close for me.

I enjoy using the straight much more than my DE's but I don't see a great difference in how close they shave.

There is generally more irritation with the DE but the flip side is that it can get to spots against the grain on my neck that I simply can't manipulate properly with the straight.

The DE is pretty much exclusively for travel and for my head which I will not try with a straight but it does a great job

major , I like my straights exclusively, my DE seldom sees any action ,, but I spent 40 plus years with my DE and with the right combo ,, its hard to tell the difference, but it didn't take 40 years to get a DFS with a straight! but I never tried a shavette, that's next on my list for travel, right now I still take a DE when I fly ,, but im thinking the Feather shavettes because their DE blades are the ones I use so hoping they are as good also thanks tc

Started out with the DE. It was my fathers. Went into the service in 1969 and used a DE. when I got out in 73 went to DE and then the new bic. throw away . the company I worked for had a company picnic. and I won the door prize of a Remington electric razor. suppose to be a real good one. back in those days I would let my beard grow for 3-5 days and shave on Friday night for a date or going to the VFW. I got home and was running late so I showered and got dressed and grabbed the electric razor (it was cordless) and ran out the door and was driving down the road when the razor caught a bunch of beard and stopped. so there I was 5 miles from home running late with a electric razor hung to my face. I stopped the car took the razor apart (this was difficult due to the fact I was in a pretty good traffic area) once it was apart I threw it in the ditch went home and used the DE. Now while I was in the service I had tried the straight some. I also tried the shavette. In the late 70's I tried the straight again then for speed went back to the throw away. Now that I'm retired it's nothing but the straight. I now find I can shave almost as fast as I could with the throw away but I enjoy it more and get a better shave. this was suppose to be a short story sorry

I started on a DE and still use one when I'm in a rush. I keep my DE Parker super heavy weight setup for the shower. I only use feather platinum blades in my DE, nothing else with "cut it" so to speak. I get just as close and comfortable a shave as I do with my straight. No irritation, BBS, comfortable. This is also considering that I use one side of the blade on either side of my face and toss the blade after 5 shaves no matter what. I also dry my de and keep it in a shave box in a dry place.
I have incredibly sensitive skin and a coarse beard but in the end technique, preparation, lather, practice and the sharpest edge possible gets a shave where it needs to be. In the end nothing beats my straight for detail, precision, and that nice straight sharp look for my stache and sideburns. I have two spike point straights. It's what I learned on and what I'll always use. At some point in the future ill endeavor to use some more exotic points. The barbers notch intrigues me :hmmm:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BobH

Everyone is different I suppose but my Muhle R41 with a Feather blade comes within spitting distance, now there is a scientific term, of what I can get with a straight.

Bob

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I concur.

Today, if I reach for a DE razor, I use a Mühle R101 (R41 variant with black resin handle) and Feather DE blades combination and that for me is a close as it gets on a DE.

In fact, having come to straight razors fairly late, I use this combination as benchmark against which I compare my straight shaves (e.g after honing).

First passes with the straight, then one half of the face final ATG pass with R101 and Feather DE blade, other half final ATG pass with straight.

If the straight is as smooth and close as the R101 with Feather DE blade, I've done a good job.


YMMV, but with R41/R101 and Feather blades I cannot see how my DE shaves could get any closer and matching this with a straight razor takes some effort and skill.

Major you have taken the exact same trip in wet shaving as I have. You also gave about the exact review of what my experiences have been. I will say that once you find that magic combination in your DE your hurry up DE shaves will rival a straight shave. They don't seem to last as long though. If I want that almost straight shave with a DE for me its a VTG red tip Gillette an feather blade. Or a Merkur hd slant. < That's a wicked shaver. Still nothing beats the shavette an straights.

So today I ran a scientific experiment - right side was a Parker shavette with a new feather blade. Left side was 6/8 Solingen straight.

I must say, both gave great shaves. I'm still more comfortable with a straight vs the shavette, but both did great on first pass. Where I noticed the difference was second pass. The shavette would grab/cut vs the straight when going against the grain and the straight still kept running smooth. In the end, I used the 6/8 to finish a second pass on the right side as the shavette couldn't go against the grain as well.

I did however like the shortness of the shavette. Much more manageable vs the straight. But I might be able to do the same with the 5/8 and still be able to do against the grain cuts. Bottom line - sticking with the straight. I'll try this experiment again with my DE and the straight tomorrow.

Comparisons I've had between my shavette (SR1 w/ Bluebird) and my Straight (Hart) always have left the SR1 winning everywhere except that I need FAR more concentration to make sure I come out unscathed. It's faster, more consistent and I'm always good with two passes.

I spent a solid month forcing myself to use the SR1 with different blades and settled happy at the end. It no longer matters which soap or if I'm sloppy with the soap - much like when I use a DE.

In the several months I've been using the Hart near-exclusively: I'm not at the point I can say I have as good of a shave yet. One thing I do like, however, are the subjective points that it feels nicer, looks nicer and it's way cooler than the SR1.

Just packed my straight , leaving for vacation tomorrow I am considering a DE for travel thank for the info Major.

I have to agree with the guys on the R-41. Mated with a feather blade it's really close to a straight. I think that combo is a real anomaly as far as DE's go though. It's performance is way out ahead of it's closest rival.

This is rather interesting although have you tried kamisori? Some guys say that kamisori gives even better and easier shave than a straight razor does!