My first shave using a....shavette...

Ok so to first answer the question that is on everyone's minds:
"Yes, I did cut myself. 3-4 nicks. So, yes, there was blood".

I've never used a straight or a shavette before so obviously my confidence was at an all time high when I yesterday received this thing in the mail:

The Sanguine r5 with wood handle:


I picked up mine on Amazon where it sells for $14 with free shipping.

The two things that attracted me to it was the fact that I could just use regular DE blades snapped in half - and that it sports scales made out of wood.

It comes, as you can see, with a pack of Wilkinson Sword razors and a pleather sleeve for the razor.

Build Quality
First impression of the shavette is that it is rather well made.
The scales feels great - very smooth and has a nice weight to them. It feels 'balanced'.
I was pleasantly surprised.

Loading the razor
So what you need to do is snap a DE razor in half.
That was surprisingly easy. Keep the wax paper on the razor and just fold it and it snaps very easily.

You then load one half of that razor as per below:


Place the mid metal plate ontop of the the one where the blade is resting and then push the last metal 'cover' in place. It felt really secure and I tried to get the blade to move a bit but it was very steady. A rather nice and simple loading design.

Once loaded this is the blade exposure you get (blade on the top);


This video shows how to load the blade (a different model razor (r4) - but the loading is the same). It's really rather simple:


The shave
I gather a usual set of suspects to accompany the shavette on it's maiden shave:


Remember, this is the very first time in my life I've attempted to shave with something like this...

I did watch this video a couple of times to prepare myself:


My goal: to shave one full WTG pass.

I lather up and puts blade to face...and slide it downwards..
So far so good. I shave the left cheek without any real issues. Trying to 'fine tune' the angle.
I am surprised to find that shaving under my nose is actually easier than with a DE. I get a very clean under-nose shave using a combination of WTG and XTG there.

Then...when shaving the other cheek and chin I start nicking myself...once..twice..three times.
I can't seem to find a comfortable way to hold the razor.
The way the guy holds it in the video just doesn't work for me at all.
I end up using an odd grip like this:


Two fingers ontop and the tang hidden somewhere in the middle of the hand.

I am right-handed and have never been able to switch to my left hand when using DE/SE razors so I attempt both sides of my face with my right hand. I notice when trying to shave the right side of my face I have to pull my arm back so far I feel like a contortionist. It's just not comfortable and I still can't find a grip that feels natural.

I finish my one WTG pass that was my goal.
Pick up some blood and pride and load my black tip and finishes the second pass quickly and smoothly.

Conclusion:
For $14 shipped this is one great introduction to shavettes.
Great build quality and I really like those scales.
Did I do well my first time?
I think so... I didn't sever the jugular vein and I did do what I set out to do - one complete WTG pass.

Remaining Question:
When I did the second pass with the Blacktip DE razor...it struck me how extremely fast, safe and efficient it was. It cleaned me up in no time and left a great feeling face.

So why am I still intrigued by this [to me now] awkward, cumbersome, slow way of shaving - and even more than ever considering a straight razor in my near future...?

Could be I'm just crazy.

Anyway, that's my review.

 

Thanks for taking the time and effort to do this review!

If we were all afraid of a little blood, we'd stick with cartridge shaving or grow a beard....

I found that, in time, I could comfortably use both hands with an SR. It ALL feels a bit awkward in the beginning, but with practice, switching hands does become easier to shave the opposite side of one's face.

Once you've gotten a few more shaves under your belt (an odd idiom when used in shaving context ), the concern over amateur jugular angioplasty will subside. My first dozen SR shaves were painfully SLOW and I often thought to myself, "This will take me all morning, and the results are mediocre!.."— which at that point in my progress was certainly true. It felt cumbersome, awkward and irritating—BUT in time and with practice, the experience improved to the point where DE razor clean-up was no longer needed. I now can get a three-pass SR shave done in only a slightly longer timespan than with a DE—and with my current handicap of a dominant hand wrapped in a carpal brace.
As others often say to new DE shavers...'it will only get better'....

 

Nice write up! For $14 I may get one to try myself. I've been curious.

 

I just ordered mine.

 

And you don't need to buy $35 worth of stuff to get the free shipping
When I bought mine it quoted me a 40 day shipping time but as others have noted - it only took about 10 days for it to arrive

 

Post your thoughts when you get it and try it out!

 

I will. I am sure it will be absolutely the best razor I have ever used.... at least for a week.

 

Neat razor! Thanks for posting! And as Kevin said: if you shave more with it, you'll get used to it.

 

Yeah it wasn't too bad on the cheeks and throat - and super easy under the nose - but the chin and jawbone were tricky for me.
I think I may - and this may sound dumb - lather up a few times and shave sans blade... just to practice holding and using it.

 

Not dumb at all.

 

Smart!

 

Nice review! I'd say it was a success. I look forward to your next shave.

 

Great review, makes me want to try using a shavette.

 

No, that's a really good idea.

 

I was doing that very same thing initially (I had to find a straight razor that was butter-knife dull, however). I also did it when I began in earnest to exclusively use my non-dominant hand to shave with. It was very helpful both times in allowing me to gain confidence.

 

I use these to clean my neck line and side burns. Maybe I need to expand my horizon and try a shave with it. I enjoy my DE thus far but maybe its time to try something new.

 

If you keep up with it you'll be getting fast and extremely efficient shaves with it, zero irritation but always be careful. My first cut with the shavette was months after I started shaving with it, and it was bloody

 

Congrats on a satisfying shave DB. I don't know why but these never really appealed to me. It's early days still with a straight but I think, for me, the stropping is definitely part of the appeal as well the blade. Then again, $15 is a pretty sweet deal!

Thanks for posting the close-up pics of the loading mechanism and the blade-reveal - I hadn't really seen either before in that kind of detail.

Keep up the smooth shaves, with whatever tool you choose...

 

Thanks I would LOVE to get into real straight razor shaving but the maintenance is what is giving me pause right now....

I'll keep practicing with the shavette - knowing its a different shaving experience than with a straight - and see where it goes

 

That's the real reason I don't date some women - too much maintenance use a straight - too much maintenance.