A lady's straight razor...lets design it!

Ladies,
I have been thinking quite a bit on making a few more razors and instead of me "thinking" of what would work, you ladies could help me to get it right. I want to design a razor for women, to be used by women. I have several smaller razors like The Mab (pic below) and such that I would think would be pretty close, but am unsure.

Attachment 78592

Cutting edge is 2 1/8"
Width is 4/8
OAL of the whole blade is just shy of 4 3/4"

Here is where I need your ladies input. I know the underarms may not be too bad to shave, but the nether regions are another story. My wife keeps things smooth down south and mentioned that she would consider using a straight if it was the right size. A traditional straight in my mind would be a bit unmanageable to maneuver. Another thing that I wonder about is if scales would help or hinder. What size of cutting edge? What OAL would you recommend? All in all, what would your dream razor be? I will make it out of carbon steel (1095 or 0-1), but from there it's up to you.
Sincerely,
Scott

check out this thread if you have never seen it....

http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...hie-razor.html

I gave up at page 5 of nothing but guys rambling & somewhat rude banter in that thread...

I am looking to hear from the ladies and their opinions on design. If there is no interest, I'll drop the idea.

If this thread starts in the direction of that one, I'll see that it is deleted.

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Originally Posted by shooter74743

If this thread starts in the direction of that one, I'll see that it is deleted.

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I'll check in with the Mrs. tomorrow. I normally do the shaving for her there, but she uses my Shavette for her legs. Good luck with the thread, you might get a better response by sending a PM or two just to garnish a better response. Thanks for keeping it gentlemanly

I'm just a guy, so what do I know, but I would think that women, just like men, would have varied preferences when it comes to their razors.

Good Morning Gents and Ladies!

I don't check my email as often as I used to, so I'm not sure if there continues to be any interest in this particular subject or not. However I was certainly pleased to be asked for my opinion. Since that doesn't happen very often..... I'm not gonna pass up a good opportunity to throw in my 2 cents worth.

I personally use a 1964 Gillette Blue Double edge razor that was purchased for me as gift from Josh here on SRP, who was simply beside himself knowing that the "Soapmistress" was shaving with a Dollar General disposable razor :dropjaw:

I must admit that I truly love my DE and would never consider going back to a disposable
:nono:. I also love my straight razor collection, but have only attempted to shave my legs a few times with one. I just feel like I have more control with the DE ( not to mention I'm always in a hurry ....sigh )

However there certainly are ladies here who shave with straights. I fear that Silver is the only one I have contact with now and then and I know for a fact that she loves hers.

As far as practical design is concerned, I really do like the idea of a shorter blade. Seems like it would be easier to manuver over the slopes and valleys of a woman's figure.

Soapmistress

i'm not a lady, however it's an interesting question from a requirments perspective, and being and engineer, its got me thinking.. I hope you don't mind?

Perhaps and exaggerated half smile with a very round point? me reason for this would be that the round point would better help protect against nicks on the sometimes very uneven surfaces involved, and also the exaggerated half smile (think of literally a smile cut in half, wide at the toe and sweeping right back to narrow at the heel) would allow for a more easily obtainable "variable width" shaving edge (you can use as little or as much of an arc of the edge radius as is appropriate to the width or size of the flattened plane to be shaved). may be a little more complex to hone though

Really hope this is ok involving myself. that's all i have and i shall now step back and watch with interest

cheers

Simon

I cant speak for ladies but I've shave my legs and arms with my straight recently and found that having the bigger edge comparetively to a normal DE or Cartridge razor made short work of a tedious task. I was pleasently surprised to find how much quicker it was to get the whole job done, though it did require significantly more concentration. I found that it was easiest to start at my upper thigh and work my way down rather then the typical feet to thigh that would typically be done with my DE or the old mach5 (shudders). I did find it quite a bit easier too then shaving my face as there is less angles and small curves to deal with. I for one dont see any changes to the length of the blade or scales that would really facilitate making the job any easier for legs or arms. Underarms and "the bump" may call for something different though, im not venturing that deep into femanine territory though. I would imagine something "prettier" could be done with scales and maybe some more femanine colors. Just my 2 cents!

I'm back from vacation (Padre (PINS) is still as wonderful as I remember. Twice a year isn't enough to make it down there.

Now that I am back, I've gotten a lot of feedback via PM & plan on grinding on it soon. Main thing that I am after is something that works & works very well, then we can dress it up once the design is right.

I truly appreciate all of the input received, now i hope that I can put the ideas into a form. I got in my drive wheel for my grinder & need to finish it up. It's just down to the fine tuning now, then I get to put it to work!

[in raspy, high-pitched voice]

Something in pink scales, please.

How did it all turn out? I note that the Classic Shaving has a ladies razor for sale. Gift Sets & Gift Ideas

Between them and Dovo, they seem to think a 4/8 with a 2" long blade is the way to go. I know I have a razor that fits that dimension made specifically for "mustache trimming," but love using it myself for the whole face. I know TI made a 3/8 with a short blade as well (still being sold at The Knife Center) but isn't labeled as anything other than a razor.

Most guys like thier blades large and that's cool but I really got sold on the smaller blades when I tried a Kami. That thing just gets into places like no ones business. To be quite honest I don't know why blades are typically 3" long to start with. I mean guys use DE's just fine. Moreover, why a woman would need a shorter blade over a guy kind of is hard for me to understand as well.

Anyway, that's all to say that perhaps though ladies might need a shorter blade, I am not sure why when the angles are "softer" compared to say a chiseled chin or a jaw line. If one were to make a "woman's" blade with a quazi unisex set of scales - I would be in! I like my blades small.

To late Feather as already beat you to it, they make a Feather Artist club SS with lovely pink handle, and being so small and light it would seem to be the perfect choice.

Jamie.

To be honest, I have not gotten to actually grinding the steel. As soon as I get back to making some razors, this will be my first project. Carrie has volunteered to put the razor thru it's paces. I really, really want to get back into the shop to do some grinding...just haven't been able to since the Christmas knife rush. Still trying to get my 2x72 working right anyways...

I'm not a lady, but I can imagine a shorter (2 inch or less) round point blade. Nothing too big in width too, 4/8'' would be ideal, IMHO.

This was discussed years ago in the famous "coochie razor" thread, but apart from having some good laughs, it go nowhere.

I personally would like a bit of a bigger blade, the little blades (5/8 and smaller is what I consider little) feel like I have to push them to work, like a really crappy chefs knife. I tried a Dovo 5/8 that we purchased, nice blade, but I didn't like it as well as the 6/8 Dovo we have. :hmmm:

I absolutely agree about the rounded point, that is a must! :idea:

I dreaming of a fixed blade (I think) sometimes the scales get in the way, especially in the tub. Yesterday I had my leg up on the side of the tub just getting ready to set down the blade on the scary lower leg/ankle area when the scales hit the shower curtain. :gaah: That was a close one. Would a fixed blade with some sort of texture on the handle work better? I wouldn't want something wrapped, I don't think that would last long in the tub. Maybe something with super jimping (maybe like a diamond cut) on the handle, very easy to hold in the water and keep clean.

I shall try a Dobson tomorrow and report back. Stay tuned... same Bat time, same Bat channel

The thought of a fixed blade has crossed my mind as I can see and understand that a set of scales could get into the way. I also understand that a light weight blade with a lot of flex would be of hindrance, so a quarter to half hollow would more than likely be the right choice for heft and no flex.

Sarah, look at this thread and see if it would help you to form an idea: http://straightrazorpalace.com/forge/55259-purist-then-plagiarist-now-plagiarist-part-deux.html

The razor that I designed had all kind of issues with the handle, I tried to make it ergonomic and I missed as it was only good for one hold, so lesson learned. I gave it to a leather-working friend for detail work when he's cutting leather. The wood handled East/West razor would have similar issues as different holds aren't so good, so a handle more simply designed with texture would most definitely be a good idea. I've got to get back on this project as it could be really fun & you never know...I could possibly get my wife to using one.

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Originally Posted by sarahbella

I personally would like a bit of a bigger blade, the little blades (5/8 and smaller is what I consider little) feel like I have to push them to work, like a really crappy chefs knife. I tried a Dovo 5/8 that we purchased, nice blade, but I didn't like it as well as the 6/8 Dovo we have. :hmmm:

I absolutely agree about the rounded point, that is a must! :idea:

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And in terms of length, don't you think that a full 2 1/2 inch edge is too much? I mean, you won't have the entire edge removing hair all the time, right? It won't "sit" entirely on the leg, it will have some part of the blade without any contact, I suppose, right? Because unlike our face that has some "plain" areas, the legs are kind of cylindrical.

I will strongly recommend a smiling blade for those tight corners ... as usual.

I had to measure some of the blades I've been using recently... seems they are all around 3 inches long and I don't think I would want one any shorter, educated guess I wouldn't want it longer than 3 1/2 inches. Reasoning: there is a lot of lather goin on when you are trying to shave your entire leg, the 3+inch blade allows for more or longer passes before you have to clean the blade. I never seem to use the entire edge on a single pass, more so sections of the blades allow for a couple passes before cleaning. You are right, the legs are curvy compared to a man's face, however I manage to move my leg position to create various plains, which is helpful.

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Originally Posted by Leon

And in terms of length, don't you think that a full 2 1/2 inch edge is too much? I mean, you won't have the entire edge removing hair all the time, right? It won't "sit" entirely on the leg, it will have some part of the blade without any contact, I suppose, right? Because unlike our face that has some "plain" areas, the legs are kind of cylindrical.

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The SO has Lewis with a wicked smiling blade... yikes! That thing makes me scared. maybe I will have to try the smiling one. Oh the choices, what's a girl to do? (good to have these types of SRAD problems)

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Originally Posted by xman

I will strongly recommend a smiling blade for those tight corners ... as usual.

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I got myself a 8/8 Dovo 55 with french tip, and wish it had round or barbers notch tip but else its awesome;) try it if you can, me neither like the Dovo 5/8, have to be 6/8 or bigger and also heavier, im more towards heavy side of W&B with barbers notch. Since you talk about non folders without wrapping on handle you should take a look at what Str8Raz0r makes they are awesome to look at and they dont got any wrapping on the handle on the last one he made at least. and then you can choose your tip i hope, His name in here on SRP is: Str8Raz0r

It would have to be something like a shape of a paring knife with a rounded tip I would think. Not longer than 3", maybe a smaller handle for better maneuvering and a very good anti slip grip. And of course feminine decoration.
I would be so happy if I could find a straight razor in feminine decor
Anyone up for designing one? I'll help decorate.

Just asked my girl what she thought and she said a small kamisori would be good so maybe I will make one! I will design and make one eventually and post it up. It may take a year but I think it's a good challenge to support all the girls who have thought about using one down there. I will take a polishing wheel to the tip of the kami so that when shaving along bikini line ect the tip does not catch on a thigh. It will be the first safety kami!!

Ps her friends tip is shave with the hair not against the grain to prevent ingrowns. But because this is a shaving forum you all already know that.

Im in!!!!I love using my hubbys..lol