Best Shavette Razors – Our Top 10 Choices on the Market
Straight razors are the new hotness in the shaving world.
Well, the old new hotness. Ever since the James Bond Skyfall film, demand for straight razors has jumped through the roof. Everyone wants one!
However, not everyone can pay the price for a good quality straight razor. There is hope though! There are interesting little items called “Shavettes.” I’ve had some experience with a few shavettes, and honestly think they are the best stepping stone before jumping into full straight razor shaving. Especially for the price difference.
What do I look for in a Shavette?
When it comes to looking into shavettes, there are a few things to gauge when you are buying a new one:
Spine Material, Scale (Handle) Material: These parts are important because you want to know the construction of your razor. You need to be aware of what can break, bend, and possibly fall apart before you buy. You also want to make sure your fingers can’t accidentally slip and cut something important.
Weight: It’s a hard truth that the more dense and heavy items are often the hardest to manipulate. Arms and fingers get tired and slip up. On the other side, if an item is too light, it might be too easy to slice your cheek, especially if you are used to something heavier.
Loading Mechanism: The loading of the razor blade is (unfortunately) not a standardized mechanism, so it is important to take note of how each shavette lets you load the blade into the housing for it. Some are more intuitive than others, or they hold the blade tighter. The tighter the hold on the razor blade, the more control you are going to have.
Blade Types: 90 percent of all shavettes are going to use your everyday average disposable razor, but a few do have their own proprietary blades for their own razors. At the same time, they might also have a recommendation for a type of blade that isn’t proprietary, but definitely the best for the job. It’s a valid point to consider.
Overall Price: Finally we have the hard-earned ducats. Consider just how much money you really want to drop on this piece of shaving equipment. While shavettes are often less expensive than a good-quality straight razor, that does not mean they are cheap. Decide your budget and then find the option that works best for you.
Our Top 10 Shavettes
Below are the top shavettes on the market now, along with links to purchase them. These are in no specific order and can be found on multiple sites on the web. So, if they are sold out, one quick Google search is all you need to find an alternate source.
1. DOVO Folding Shavette Stainless Steel
Dovo is THE name when it comes to shavettes. They were one of the original companies to pioneer the design and patent it. In fact, the term “Shavette” is their term. It’s so famous and ubiquitous that the DOVO name became what we call the product no matter what company is producing it, like Oreo or Coke.
This is one of their most utilitarian designs that is still sleek and nice with a professional look. The scale is a nice brushed metal, stamped with the DOVO logo. The spine itself is polished steel. What really draws my eye is the rubberized grip section for your fingers. When I shave, things get wet, so having some extra grip is always a must.
· Price (approx.): $43 USD @ Amazon
· Review: Dovo Shavette Razor Review – Shaves like a Dream
2. DOVO Folding Shavette Olivewood Handle
DOVO itself is a classical shaving company that has existed for quite a while. They are German, so when you do look up their products be prepared to do some conversion from Euros. That is if you aren’t already in the EU. They created and patented the Shavette in 1907, so I would assume this company really knows what it is doing when it comes to their own types of razors.
This shavette is somewhat more classical and refined than their stainless steel one above. This one has a black aluminum spine with the shavette name emblazoned on it. While the scale is a beautiful light colored Olivewood. It shares the same mechanism as their others, which is a plastic insert that guides the razor into place for shaving.
· Price (approx.): $64 USD @ Amazon
3. Feather Artist Club DX Japanese Razor
Feather is a company from Japan that has been making razors since 1932. They advertise themselves as the “first” company to start manufacturing razors, originally going by the name Seki Safety Razor. They don’t just make beauty and shaving products though. They also produce medical and surgical equipment as well.
This razor is built in what is considered the “Japanese style” in that the razor doesn’t fold. It’s more like a scalpel really, but with hopefully less bloodletting. The handle is a nice and comfortable shape, with a good resin cast that gives just slightly like it’s been rubberized. The blade uses a spring action type mechanism to load in proprietary razors straight from the box into the clamp, and then can quick-release them when they are ready to be disposed of. The issue is the proprietary blades you can ONLY get from Feather.
· Price (approx.): $225 USD @ Amazon
4. Feather Artist Club SS Razor, Black
Our second razor from Feather, this one’s a bit more like a traditional folding straight razor. The spine is a heavy stainless steel, hiding the spring lock mechanism for holding the blade in place, The handle doesn’t have the give of the elastomer resin, instead it is a hard resin shaped to ergonomically fit in the hand. The entire unit was built with the comfort of the hand in mind while in use. It also comes in three different colors: black, lime green, and wine red.
The biggest downside to this one, and the one above, is their proprietary blades. The power of all these other razors is the fact that their blades will all fit each other, while these two only have their own blades. That isn’t completely terrible, as it means the blades will always fit well, but it does mean an investment beyond the already massive price of either of these razors. Still cheaper than most regular straight razors though.
· Price (approx.): $108 USD @ Amazon
5. Parker SRDW Barber Straight Razor
Parker is a classic name in the shaving world. For forty plus years they have been putting out what I would consider to be the midrange of products. They are not the top of the line most expensive products, but they provide a good and solid product line for not too much money. They will last and they will do the job, but they aren’t the cream of the crop.
This item in their catalog is pretty nice though. The Sheesham wood scales are a nice and dark woody color, making the whole razor feel like it’s got a real classic design to it. The Stainless steel of the spine is a nice and polished finish, with the Parker logo on the side. It has a nice divot for your finger to give it a more comfortable grip and superior control.
· Price (approx.): $29 USD @ Amazon
6. Parker SRX Barber Straight Razor
Our second razor from Parker, this one is very much like the Sheesham Wood above, down to using the same type of locking mechanism. I would recommend this one for a few reasons though. One being it is slightly less expensive, but also because of the heavier weight. While I make a big deal about lighter weight brushes and razors, some guys do prefer the heavier items. A heavier razor can sometimes be much easier to control as you shave.
The Snaplock mechanism from these is a really simple and easy process to get used to, and actually something I like rather than the majority of shavettes. It manages to hold the blades really firmly and has a great deal of control over the process of shaving. Parker also has their own blades ready for this, but you can use any blade on these razors.
· Price (approx.): $27 USD @ Amazon
7. Boker Barberette, Black | Barber Straight Razor
Boker is kind of an oddball on our list. While they have a diverse line of shaving equipment that is rather impressive, they are first and foremost a knife company. They make a large line of outdoor knives, survival knives, and even kitchen cutlery. Like DOVO, they are a German company based out of Solingen. The similarities in design are very present in this shavette.
The Spine of this shavette is very straight, like most straight razors, but it lacks some of the normal curve to it. The exposed black insert actually makes me think of those old switchblade combs from when I was a kid. The handle has a nice and gentle curve to it, but looks VERY thin. It exposes the spine a great deal, but manages to keep the blade nice and hidden. It also has the plastic rubberized grip that I really like. Overall, this is probably one of the best on this list for value and utility.
· Price (approx.): $52 USD
8. Tondeo TM Shavette Razor
Tondeo is a company that specializes in scissors and razors for hairdressers and barbers all over the world. They are also based in Germany, like Boker and DOVO, but they are less focused completely on shaving and more focused on blades for dealing with hair. Their main stock is scissors, with a few high quality razors to go along with them. It is easier to order off their affiliates than from them directly, so if you are really interested in Tondeo products, go to their amazon store.
This razor is a great deal like the others on our list, with a stainless steel spine and black handle. The handle is textured plastic rather than the average resin. It’s also rather thin, and has a definite feeling like it might break if I flex it too much. That being said, if I flexing it that much, I’m probably shaving wrong. The mechanism for housing the blade is a simple slide and lock into place, with something I have not seen in many other razors. There are lips to cover the points of the safety razors. SOme like those sharp edges for contour cuts, but I find they dig into my skin too much. I like this design a great deal.
· Price (approx.): $60 USD @ Amazon
9. Dreadnought Shavette Straight Razor
Dreadnought shaving is a relatively new company coming out of Britain that is focused exclusively on men’s skin care. Of course that means shaving, and they advertise a line of shaving soaps, creams, and razors only made for the real men out there. They do their best to combine the traditions of shaving with new modern techniques.
Overall, I like their brand, I just wish they were easier to order from. Though they are almost always sold out on Shave Nation, so that must mean something.
The Dreadnought Shavette uses a similar snaplock system as the Parker razors above, with the blade “fanning out” and giving you three pieces of steel to hold your broken razor in. It’s heavy and has some definite weight to the whole unit. Though the handle does kind of feel like it’s too thin toward the center. It has a stylish design though, and it is great for getting used to using a shavette. It even comes with some sample blades for you to try out. At this price, that is a steal.
· Price (approx.): $20 USD
10. Razorine Double Edge Shavette
Our last razor on this list, the Razorine gets in here just because it’s really like nothing else. This item is exclusive to Shave Nation and it’s something I have had my eye on ever since I found out what Shavettes are. The razor is made in Italy, having been inspired by Italian barber Schools. It can be manufactured in Brass or Chrome, and has a nice and shiny finish. It also comes with a rubberized grip, which is always good for me because my fingers are always slipping on razors.
What makes this one so different from the others on this list is that it is basically a safety razor turned on its side. The handle extends from the side of the razor, rather than the bottom. So rather than using a post like a safety razor, it’s easy to get in and move the blade around with easier control. Overall, this is a really interesting style that bears more testing. I recommend it for the novelty, but the price might turn some people off.
· Price (approx.): $50 USD
· Review: Razorine Double Edge Shavette Review – An Acquired Skill
– That just about covers this roundup of the Best Shavette Razors. We update any new information and products as soon as we have anything worth a mention here and will keep the above up to date.
-Shavette Review: The Goodfellas’ Smile Shibumi Kamisori Shavette Review – Style over Substance
