Proraso Shavette Razor Review – Looks Good, Feels Rough
Proraso Shavette Razor
The Proraso Shavette Razor is a folding, wood handled, cut-throat shavette with a fan and clip style blade housing for Disposable Razors.
Pros
Looks really good. Classic Design
Lightweight
Solid Feeling of Construction
Cons
Awkward and Uncomfortable to Hold
Exposed Blade Edges
Easy to lose track of blade
Hard to fully close
Large Profile
We have a classic looking shavette on our hands this week, my friends. The good folks over at Proraso shaving products have a shavette in their catalog, so of course I had to review it for y’all.
I am a pretty big fan of Proraso honestly. I use their pre-shave creams every time I get down to shaving, and I have come to really look forward to it. They provide some really amazing protection, and nourishment for my skin, as well as some invigorating scents.
How does their shavette stack up with the rest of their products? Well, let’s see!
Brand/Company –
Proraso is an old name in the shaving game. They were founded in 1908 in Italy by Ludovico Martelli, and have provided professional quality shaving products over the counter and by mail order for almost 120 years.
Their name is synonymous with style and class. They are most well known for their shaving creams, oils, beard care, and hair care products. Though they have a small catalog of shaving accessories as well. In the past, we’ve reviewed their Professional Shaving Mug.
Proraso Shavette Razor Features
- Stainless Steel Blade – The blade arm and housing are a shiny stainless steel, making sure there is no corrosion.
- Wooden Handle – The handle of the folding razor is a nice light wood with a good looking grain. Very classic handle design.
- Fan and Clip Blade Housing – The blade splits into three pieces to hold the disposable razor in place securely.
- Proraso Logo – The Proraso Logo on the handle is carved in pretty deep.
- Made in Italy
- Approximate Dimensions – Length: 6.25 Inches (15.88 cm), Height: 1.25 Inches (3.18 cm), Width: 0.375 inches (0.95 cm), Weight: 1.6 oz (46 grams)
How Does it Look and Feel?
I am not going to lie in this instance. I will say when I saw this razor online, I loved the look. Now that I have it in my hands, I still really love this look. The classic style of wood with the stainless steel is a real timeless design.
FUN FACT: I actually caught a look at this razor originally being used as a prop in the horror film Hellrazer: Judgment. Don’t look the movie up, it is bad and not worth anyone’s time. The Proraso Shavette Razor does make an appearance as one character’s “Straight Razor.”
The wood itself is actually not as heavy as it would look. I was thinking it was going to be much more weighted toward the handle, but not in this case. The steel, despite the lower volume, is much heavier. Not that the razor is awkwardly heavy, but not as heavy as one would think.
The handle is actually not completely smooth, but has a small amount of roughness to it. It feels like wood that has been sanded, but not lacquered or sealed. The roughness is a good thing though, because it means your fingers aren’t going to slip off while shaving, but it does give the whole unit an unfinished feeling.
It does look like a real piece of craftsmanship. The Proraso Logo is carved very expertly into the handle, with their motto “Save the Barber” engraved on the clasp that holds the razor into the blade.
I start having some issues just when opening and closing the razor. The hinge is really tight, and that is a good thing. It keeps the razor from just swinging open randomly. However one of the minor issues I’ve been having with this razor is that it actually seems to catch on something as the razor closes.
There are a few times I have tried to close the razor and set it aside during my shave, and I have to go back and force it closed to make sure the razor blade isn’t exposed. That may be particular to my razor, as the blade seems to be slightly off center in the handle. It might be a manufacturing defect, but it’s still something I’ve noticed every time I used the razor.
When the razor is closed, it cuts (see what I did there?) a very large profile. It takes up some space on the shelf or on your sink much more than some other razors do. It probably wouldn’t be great for traveling with, but this brings us into…
How Well Does it Shave and Perform?
This is where we start getting into the weeds on this razor.
I’ve taken about a week with this razor, shaving every other day. As always, I do three passes (with the grain, across the grain, and against the grain) using shaving soap and pre-shave oil and cream between each pass. The first two shaves were with a 7am single sided disposable razor blade and the third time was with a Parker disposable blade.
First off, this thing is really awkward to hold. The wooden handle is one thing, but the blade has these very weird ridges on the inside. I suppose they are to either help you to grip the blade, or encourage you to not get your fingers too close to the cutting edge of the disposable razors? They really do not seem to have a point, and just make this thing really awkward to hold.
I might be spoiled by the Dovo shavette that has a rubberized grip.
The Tang also seems to be too short and not curved enough for my comfort, but that is more subjective than anything else.
Secondly, this razor blade has very exposed corners. If you are not being exceedingly careful with your strokes it is very easy to lose track of where your cutting edge is and accidentally gouge those corners into your skin.
The first time I used this blade, I was just going on autopilot and wound up cutting myself a great deal. On the subsequent shaves, I had to really knuckle down and focus on what I was doing to make sure not to get many nicks and cuts.
If you are planning on using this razor, make sure your blade is seated evenly and correctly, and make sure to rinse your blade very often. Otherwise, you will lose track of where those cutting edges are, and wide up with a good amount of nice scratches on your cheeks.
How Easy Is It to Use?
It is worth noting that if you are aware of how to use a straight razor or shavette, then you have the skill set to use this product well. As I seem to say every time, this is an acquired skill if you are moving from cartridge razors or even safety razors. There are plenty of tutorials online though, including our own guide (how to use and shave with a Shavette) .
The method of reloading blades is really easy once you get a hold of it. You have to kind of awkwardly pull apart the housing with your fingers, but there is enough space to get a fingernail in there and spread apart the two sides of the razor housing.
Getting a disposable razor lined up is kind of difficult if you’re trying to NOT cut yourself. The light and easy metal has a tendency to move around if you just BREATHE on it wrong, so a light touch is necessary.
Once you’ve got the razor in place and everything locked and ready, that razor is not moving again. It holds everything in place REALLY well. I shook the razor after locking it in place to make sure that the disposable blade didn’t move. It holds on very well, and doesn’t move.
Consumer Complaints, Issues, and Overall Reviews
For the most part, the words of other consumers mirror my own. A great deal of individuals use this as their beginner shaver, and it wouldn’t be a bad option for that. The overall price is somewhat of a hassle. Convincing someone to spend $40 US Dollars on a razor they may not like or that may not be for them is not what I would recommend. I would start with another less expensive shavette and then move to this one once you’ve gotten used to it.
Secondly, I would like to point out something that I do bring up in a few of my articles so far. Wood (especially unsealed wood) does not last as long as something like metal or resin in humid environments. After a while, the water may get in and start to damage the beautiful handle on this piece. Already I have started to notice a crack and some discoloration on the bottom of the handle, so you might want to pass this over for something that could last longer.
Final Word – Who is the Proraso Shavette Razor For?
The Proraso Shavette is a beautiful looking piece with a few faults that keep it from really being stellar. Overall, the handle feels awkward, and the design leaves something to be desired in the way it holds the razor blade.
As for who this would be for? I would recommend this blade to someone who is looking to upgrade from a lower quality shavette, or someone who doesn’t shave very often and wants something to use every once in a while. This would make a great surprise gift for a birthday or Christmas for someone who can use a little more class in their shaving routine.
