Originally Posted by
Castel33
While I respect TBS view point that is not how it worked for me. I started with a Parker and found it very helpful. I went from a cart to the shavette and mind you I started with the shavette before I found SRP. I shaved with the shavette for a year or so before finding SRP and getting the itch for a real SR.
Starting with the shavette can be really rough it's very unforgiving and you really have to be determined to get it right.
However when I moved to a true SR I found a lot of what I learned translated to SR's.
First was that I really learned how to make a good lather in that time. With out also having to learn stropping and wondering if a bad save was a result of poor lather or a dull blade. So it gave me only two factors to worry about technique and lather. As has been pointed out a de can do the same for this but I have read other places before that you can get away with a poorer lather with de then SR and shavette.
Second was angle. The angle of attack with a shavette is almost parallel with the face I learned that pretty quick with the shavette. When I switched to a SR I found myself using larger angles and getting poor shaves it wasn't till i took a break and used the shavette that I was able to realize the problem I was having was do to the angle. So yes angle translates.
Pressure is in my mind a no brainier that translates. Put pressure on a shavette get cut. You quickly learn what light pressure is with the shavette and that's the same thing you need for a SR.
Learning to grip the shavette does translate also but you have to adjust slightly but nothing majorly different. I didn't learn how to shave with my off hand but that should translate as you are developing the muscle memory for it.
Joe