Razorine Double Edge Shavette Review – An Acquired Skill
Razorine Double Edge Shavette
A unique shaving tool that requires an acquired skill to get a good shave – The double edge Razorine Shavette, made in Italy.
Pros
Innovative Look
Nice Aesthetics
Comfortable Grip
Relatively Inexpensive
Cons
Tarnishes Easily
Acquired Skill
Rough on Sensitive Skin
As a shaving enthusiast, I sometimes find myself just looking at new products on various sites to try and predict the latest market trends in the hobby. Currently, everything is trending back toward old classics. You can’t get more classic than a straight razor, right?
Thing is, straight razors are pretty expensive. Everyone can see that. So oftentimes you go for the next best thing: the Shavette. Just create something that looks like a straight razor and load in a disposable razor instead, bypassing the need for a Strop or for blade oil.
So imagine my surprise when I saw this baby.
Not going to lie to you all, this drew my attention because of its look, and I took the chance to get my hands on it and give it a try. Lucky for me that my editor is very much open to suggestions and agreed to let me review it for all of you!
The Razorine is a shavette that uses a double edged razor blade on the head, letting you shave with both hands and alternate as you shave. It’s made in Italy and distributed in the US by Shavenation and other online stores.
Razorine Features
- Material and Finish – The Razorine comes with either a Chrome Finish or a Brass Finish
- Handle – There are multiple options for the handle. I went with the Rubber-dipped handle, but there are options for smooth metal or textured metal.
- Double-Edged – The Razorine is a double edged razor head so you can shave with either side of the blade.
- Three Parts – The Razorine comes with three parts: the handle which is connected to the razor base, the cap for the top of the head, and a small screw nut to hold everything together.
- Blade Replacement – Replacing the blade is as easy as taking it apart and placing a new one between the handle and head piece, then screwing the nut back on.
- Dimensions – Weight: 1.8 oz, Length: 5.1 inches
- Made in Italy
- Aggressiveness – Moderate to heavy aggressiveness. Your angle is changeable based on how you hold the blade.
How does the Razorine Look?
First of all, this item really grabs the eye. Most Shavettes copy the design of your typical straight razor, either as a folding razor or a straight blade. However, this one is more like a safety razor on a stick.
Shavenation has the distribution rights for this one, and they sell it with either a Brass or a Chrome finish. It also has options for adding a rubberized grip to the handle, which I sprung for because I am a legendary butterfingered guy.
Overall, it looks sleek and simple but with a very intuitive design. It’s effortless to figure out how to shave with it, replace/change out blades, and clean.
The downside is that after just one shave, I was already seeing tarnish on the brass finish. When I went to change out a blade after two shaves, there was green corrosion on the disposable razor. Though I haven’t seen any damage to the razor, the idea that it might be corroding already doesn’t make me feel great.
My razor came with a beautiful red velvet pouch with a drawstring. I really like this touch, as it makes the razor easier to wrap up and travel with. Though, I wouldn’t want to leave the blade in as you travel. The razor might actually cut its way out.
How does the Razorine Shavette perform and Shave?
For the purposes of trying out the Razorine, I shaved four times total. Each time with two to three days worth of growth between each session. The first two times had an Astra Platinum Double Edge Razorblade, and the last two were with Parker Double Edge Razor Blade.
During each session, I made three passes with the razor: once with the grain, once across the grain, and once against the grain. Each time was with either Pre-shave Oil or Pre-Shave Cream.
The blade glides smoothly over the face, but has something of an issue with the jawline. The long handle sometimes feels awkward when attempting to move over the sharper contours of the face. This is especially awkward when attempting to shave against or across the grain of the beard.
This awkwardness isn’t always just because of the build of the razor. There is a level of skill involved that I didn’t start picking up until my third or fourth shave, but that is normal when you are getting used to a new Shavette.
You aren’t going to be able to get every nook and cranny with this. There are a few spots you might miss, especially if you are in a hurry. Be prepared to go back over parts like your chin or sideburns with something smaller.
The quality of the shave was really great, though. Taking it slow and making smaller strokes, I got one of the closest shaves I have ever had. In addition, my skin feels nice and smooth after using it.
Though there is an issue of my own. I have sensitive skin that breaks out easily, so acne scars have left several bumps on my skin. Like with the jawline, the blade of the razor has a tendency to catch and cause small cuts on the skin. Pre-Shave helps a great deal, but you still might be cut as you shave.
This option may not be the best if you have sensitive skin.
How Easy is it to Use?
This question sort of hits on two levels. How easy is it to keep clean and change out the blade, and how easy is it to use for your actual shave.
Changing out the blade is as simple as unscrewing the back, taking it apart and putting on a new blade just like a standard safety razor. It’s pretty intuitive overall, but the screw cap for the back of the razor is easy to drop. So when you have to change it out, make sure you aren’t unscrewing it over something like your sink. If you happen to drop it, then you will take a while finding it, let me assure you.
As far as when you are actually shaving? That is a different story.
Learning to use a Shavette is definitely an acquired skill that you have to work on. The impetus is to grip it like a regular razor, with your hands closer to the shaving blade, but in reality, you need to do the exact opposite. Gripping it towards the bottom part of the handle counterintuitively provides more control for smoother strokes over the skin.
Once you get over that and start really shaving, you need to start moving with slow and short strokes, unlike most cartridge and safety razors. This razor needs a light touch and a great deal of control to really make the most out of it. That is not some skill you are going to have out of the starting gate.
Don’t get in a hurry, but make sure to practice. Once you get used to it, you are in store or a really good shave. There is just a bit of a learning hurdle to jump first.
I would also like to highlight one thing: cleaning up afterward. You’ll need to do more than just run water over this. Every few uses, you will need to take this thing apart and make sure to get in and clean out old shaving cream or any hair stuck inside of it. Taking this extra step will keep your razor looking and working great.
Consumer Complaints, Issues, and Overall Reviews
With other customers, the Razorine reviews very, very well. The majority of customers leave 4 to 5 stars overall. This is a very popular product overall, and they are frequently sold out. If you want to get one, I would recommend jumping on the option. And make sure to get the one with the rubberized grip.
Most of the reviews and comments on the Razorine are similar to my own, commenting on the awkwardness of the handle and the learning curve of the product. Like me, there are several guys who got this and started cutting themselves because they were moving too quickly and didn’t have the expertise at first.
There are a few lower star reviews, and those seem mostly to come from the varying construction of the product overall. Sometimes the metal can pick up flaws in the manufacturing process, burs on the metal, unevening machining, incomplete chrome or brass plating, etc. However, Shave Nation has a pretty good customer service and return policy for those types of incidents.
Final Thoughts – Who is the Razorine Shavette best suited For?
Overall, I really like this piece, and I plan to keep using it as a part of my shaving routine. It does the job well, looks good, and provides me with the best shave I have had in a long while. The downside is just having to take longer with every session, which I can afford to do.
If you are looking for something that will get the job done quickly and not take your time with the shave, you would probably want to stick with a regular safety razor.
As for who the Razorine is really for? I would recommend this product to anyone who wants to experiment with using a straight razor or a shavette, but is heavily bought into having a safety razor. This is going to be great for them to use their razors on, but also get used to the skill level necessary for a straight razor.
This would be an excellent gift for a shaving enthusiast in your life or someone who wants to try out new things in their shaving routine. While the holidays are more than 6 months away, this would make a great birthday present for the special guy in your life.
Related
-Recent Shavette Reviews: The Goodfellas’ Smile Shibumi Kamisori Shavette Review – Style over Substance and Dovo Shavette Razor Review – Shaves like a Dream
–Shavette Roundup: Best Shavettes for 2023 – Our Top 10 Choices on the Market
