Shave with Straight razor shavette

D

Double_J

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I know we had quite the thread about safety razors and who uses them a while back. I have also seen a few people say they either use or have used a straight razor. I have been using a safety razor for two years and the other week decided to take the plunge into straight shaving. I went on Amazon and purchased an eight dollar shavette figuring if it doesn't work then I am out lunch for the day.

I will say it took several tries to get used to it and not cut my face to death. I don't use it every time as it is quite the process to shave that way. It does deliver quite the close shave, closer than my safety razor, and MUCH closer than my disposable razor i use for touch up work in sensitive areas. So far I say it is worth the money, but I don't know if I will spend the money for a real straight razor at this time.
 
Definitely worth the money. I bought a cheapy (came with a pack of Derby blades) myself a few years back and a triple pack of Derby blades. I should be set forever I would think. I also have a stack of actual straight razors as well along with strops and hones etc. I prefer the shavette due to simplicity and ease of use.
 
I shaved with a traditional Dovo straight razor for about 25 years before switching to a Dove Shavette maybe 20 years ago. It was always a struggle to keep the traditional razor sharp, and I never got it as sharp as the razor blade in a Shavette. One thing I found after trying many different brands of blades, that depending on your particular beard, you can actually have too sharp a blade. I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but I found the Japanese Feather brand much too sharp, giving me too many knicks. I finally settled on Turkish made Astra blades and have not looked back. I only use each blade for 2 shaves each.

A good resource is Geo Fat Boy on YouTube. He has a shaving supply company and has videos on using different shaving techniques.
 
I use either Feather or KAI blades in my safety razor (depends on what blade I grab from the cabinet). The shavette came with Derby blades. I will use them a few more times and try a different brand if / when my technique improves.
 
justplainbob said:
I shaved with a traditional Dovo straight razor for about 25 years before switching to a Dove Shavette maybe 20 years ago. It was always a struggle to keep the traditional razor sharp, and I never got it as sharp as the razor blade in a Shavette. One thing I found after trying many different brands of blades, that depending on your particular beard, you can actually have too sharp a blade. I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but I found the Japanese Feather brand much too sharp, giving me too many knicks. I finally settled on Turkish made Astra blades and have not looked back. I only use each blade for 2 shaves each.

A good resource is Geo Fat Boy on YouTube. He has a shaving supply company and has videos on using different shaving techniques.
Click to expand...
Good point. I have some Dorko double edge safety blades that I snap in half and use in my shavette. They seem to be way harsher than the Derby blades.
 
Angle is important for shaving. Pressure and speed as well.
 
I tried some "viking revolution" blades I found on amazon in my safety razor. "Platinum series, japanese stainless steel double edged razor blades" (made in china). Unusable is the nicest thing I can say about them. Tried 3 different blades in the pack and none would cut. I have a pretty coarse beard but they were terrible. I suppose I shouldn't have expected much for the price.
 
With a straight razor, you have to have the blade almost flat and your skin has to be tight.

If you like the feel of a straight razor, but you're in a hurry, a single edge razor works well. You just have to find good blades. The hardware store blades aren't sharp.

I usually just shave with a double edge razor. I like Persona blades. They're the only ones I could find that were US made, and last time I bought them it was 100 blades for $14.
 
You can’t beat the shave you will get out of a straight razor. When I have the time I use a Wade & Butcher hollow ground circa 1872. I’m sure it will be sharp in another 100 years. For my daily shaver I use a 1971 Gillette 1-9 adjustable black beauty long handle. My wife laughs at me I have a goatee that hangs to my belly button and have a razor collection :rofl:
 
Made the jump to a safety razor (Shark blades ftw!) years ago and love it! I have a VERY old Boker straight razor that belonged to my great-grandfather. I've eyeballed it more than a few times but that whole process (sharpening, maintaining, and shaving) is a bit intimidating. More power to those of you willing to devote that much time and effort to a forgotten craft!
 
Hmm, wonder when the last time I shaved was?

A straight razor shave does feel different to me though, noticeably cooler skin afterwards vs the razors I used to use. Figured is was the cream the barber used though.
 
I used a couple antique straight razors a few times but I went back to an Edwin Jagger DESR.
I find feather and murkur brands to be very sharp but I only get a couple shaves out of them before they dull. Astra blades are pretty good and I can use one for a week.
The right shaving soap is as important as the blades.
Ive been using a French duck fat shaving soap with a small amount of additional glycerin and a badger hair brush.
 
I have a badger hair brush my wife got for me a few years ago, and I use either a cocoa butter or Shea butter soap. My "daily razor" is my double edge safety razor, and the shavette is for when I have time for the entire ritual. I used a number of soaps before I found the brand I currently use, and I bought a multi pack of blades from Amazon to find what I liked best.
 
I have a couple that belonged to my grandfather who was born in 1888. I've never seriously though about actually using them though. My dad used a safety razor for years and I have used one before. IMG_1889.JPG
 
I cringe every time I see someone on tv or a movie getting shaved w a straight razor and I'm a knife guy. Heck, it makes me nervous when my wife picks up a kitchen knife. That one might not be blade related. :p
 
I think I tried a straight razor one time when I was considerably younger. The result wasn't pretty. Then a few years ago, I tried a safety razor, thinking that it might be cheaper long-term than what I had been using. That result wasn't pretty either. I guess I'm too much of a wimp, but in the end, I went back to the Gillette that I've used for about 40 years now.
 
I have been using ‘throw aways’ for most of my ‘real shaving’ life. Recently, I have been using ‘shaving oil’… works well (See below), but messy. I have bought a set of double edge blades ( a variety pack off of Amazon - see below). I just have not picked the ‘handle’. Wading into the safety scene - slowing…..

SHOP — Old Post Road Oils

www.oldpostroadoils.com www.oldpostroadoils.com

 
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