I will eventually get a dovo straight but in the meantime would it be worth it to try a shavette razor?
The two are really pretty different. The shavette is a DE blade or something close to it mounted in a straight handle. While you might use similar hand motions and positions as with a straight, the blade is not anything like a straight blade. So there will still be a learning curve with a straight. (Full disclosure: I have never used a shavette, but have seen them and have used straights for a long time, so I can compare their configurations and characteristics. Maybe you'll get a different perspective from someone who has actually used one. But many who have, have said the same things I did here...totally different.)
A Shavette will not help you much with straight shaving. I'd skip it and go directly to a real straight. It's harder to use, requires a different technique and doesn't give as good a shave as a straight.
I have two Dovo Inox straights and inquired about the shavette some time ago and got the same response that you are getting here. Don't waster your time go get the dovo.
I have one and it's very very unforgiving if you mess up. I tried to make it work a few times and then gave up. I bought it with the idea that I could get a straight shave without needing to hone or strop a blade. In theory, it still sounds good. But just not for me.
I can't believe I am agreeing with Chimensch, but here goes: Out of these three: Double edged razor Straight razor Shavette razor I find the shavette the most difficult to use. It feels dangerous snapping a DE blade in half and loading it into the shavette, I can't use as flat an angle as I like when shaving, the toe and heel must both have a vigilant eye kept on them as they are not very forgiving, and it just does not produce a close result for me like a straight can However there's nothing so annoying as trying to learn how to shave with a dull straight razor and not knowing for sure whether or not it is you or the razor
i bought a shavette to try out and could not come to terms with it mesing around with the blades and it was i found more ready to cut you more i thought than a reall straight razor weight for your dovo to come and while you ar weighting you can get the rest of your gear together a nice brush ,strop,and shaving cream or soap or shaving stick and your shaving bowl, i just bought a large coffee mug from car boot and its great with the soap,s thair is plenty of room to lather up no as the other guys said give the shavette a miss, put your extra cash towards some more gear,once you start you will soon want another straight razor i did good luck with your first shave.
I have to recommend you pass on the Dovo shavette. It's too light and can cut you up pretty badly. If you want to avoid stropping and maintenance, spend the extra $ on a Feather AC (I'm not saying this because I'm trying to sell mine . . . honest). The added weight and stiffer blade comes closer to a straight. I went from Dovo, to Feather, to straight. The straight's by far the most forgiving of the three.
Somewhat redundant after all the replies here but..no. Shavettes arent worth the effort imo. True straights shave much nicer (if they are sharp)
Well this appears to be based on using DE blades, what about cabinet blades? or shavettes that use blades similar to hair shaper blades or injector blades?
I used a Fromm Hairshaper for years and it worked well for me. Basically it's a small frameback and since the blade isn't covered by the armature all the way down to the edge, it feels much like a conventional straight. The one drawback is the size and weight; It's heavy enough for it's size that it's not uncomfortable, but the size does take some getting used to. I always wanted to get my hands on a Weck sextoblade, which is the same design and uses the same blade but is as big as a full size straight - never did find one. It's not as nice to use as a conventional straight, but it's definitely less work and delivers a good shave. All that being said I now own and occasionally use a Sanguine X-D20, which has the opposite problem. It has much the same size weight and balance as a conventional 5/8ths straight, but since the blade is covered by the armature it behaves a little differently In the end shavettes are the same as any other type of razor. If they interest you, experiment with them. If you find one you like, well, it is what it is. Enjoy it. goshawk
I've come to view the Dovo shavette is, IMHO, a ridiculous, dangerous device. I bought one as a first step down the road to straights. It's very light, almost flimsy in the hand. The DE blade typically used is way sharper and less forgiving than the typical straight blade, or even SE blade. If you don't want to go the straight route, then save and get a Feather AC with Pro Guard blades. Better feel, though also less forgiving than straights. You can sell it on the Boards for almost no loss in price. In retrospect, the Dovo shavette was a waste of time.
I should add that if you were a Wolverine fan, I would have sent you a shave ready straight razor to try out and return.
