Shavette vs Straight Razor – The Differences & Comparison: Which is best for you?
The more and more we here at shaving advisor get into the shavette game, the more and more the comparisons to the other methods of shaving come up.
In the pantheon of men’s shaving culture, there is one (mostly) undisputed champion: The Straight Razor. When the concept of the professional barber comes up in any media, the cut-throat style straight razor is the image that pops up in everyone’s head. Just short of the spinning pole with red, white, and blue colors.
There are other methods of shaving your face that might be somewhat easier on your face and your pocketbook. One of the contenders for the heavy-weight shaving champion title is the relative newcomer to the shaving club: the shavette.
Today, we are going to take a critical look at both the shavette and the straight razor, comparing their advantages and disadvantages, and looking at which one is best for you and your face.
Definitions:
First before we get into the real meat, I want to define a few things.
Shavette: The Shavette is a shaving razor shaped like a straight razor, sometimes as a straight blade and sometimes in a folding cut-throat design. The cutting edge of the razor uses a regular disposable razor blade inserted into the metal blade housing. After 3-4 shaves, you can replace the blade with a new one before it dulls.
Straight Razor: The OG shaving blade. A straight razor (if you somehow don’t know) is a single edged straight blade typically made with a slight curve toward one side. 99.99999 Percent of straight razors are made in a folding cut-throat design, with the handle typically made from metal, plastic, or wood. They are often made from stainless steel.
Portability
This may seem like the weirdest comparison, but it is a valid point that should be brought up.
Some guys really do like to take their shaving routine on the road. I wouldn’t blame them either. Shaving for me is a meditative routine that makes me feel better about myself. I send my partner regular post-shave selfies because of how good it makes me feel.
Obviously taking this routine on the road can help you feel more confident about yourself, so taking it with you might make all the difference if you are on a business trip or a vacation.
The major issues you will run into with this practice is taking your razor with you. With the American TSA a straight razor will NEED to go into your checked bags. A Shavette has no sharp edges when it is “unloaded” which means it can go in your carry on really easily. That is supposing the TSA agents have a brain when they see the shavette in your bag.
Post-9/11 American Paranoia™ aside, an unloaded shavette is not going to open up in your bag and slice through anything. Straight Razors (especially shoddily made ones) have a chance to cut their way out of a pocket or bag. This is doubly true if the blade has a point to the end, as some do.
Price Differences
This point is going to be a big one, and it is certainly the option that sways me one way or the other.
Everything is about money these days, and men’s grooming is no exception. It’s a million dollar industry out there, and everyone wants a slice of the pie. Not me though. My motives are pure and innocent, and have nothing to do with YOUR money and everything to do with my Editor’s Money.
And if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you in NYC…
In all seriousness though, shaving is going to come down to economics. Time and money. And Time = Money so really this is money squared.
Shavettes are the overall less expensive option out of the starting gate. The most expensive shavettes on the market typically retail at around $150 to $200 US dollars. This is for the nice spring-loaded high quality shavettes that are just a dream to shave with. A regular shavette from West Coast Shaving, the Razor Company, or Shavenation is probably going to run you $20-$30 USD plus shipping.
Straight Razors typically start at around $120 US dollars and go up from there. That isn’t to say that straight razors are a rip off though. Most are made from real quality materials made to last. Stainless steel blades can last a long time given proper maintenance.
It is worth noting there is an argument to be made about the amount of money you are going to be spending on razor blades over time. You’ll need a supply of blades with a shavette, and nice blades are probably going to run you $2-$3 bucks for a box of 10-20 blades. However, that is easily lumped in with other expenditures like shaving soap and aftershave.
Economically, it’s really going to come down to if you want to make that level of investment to your razor. Some guys do, and that is a valid purchase. Some guys don’t and I really can’t blame them. My pizza and beer money is sacred.
Maintenance
Every craftsman knows you’ve got to take care of your tools. Keep them clean and keep them in good shape. Nothing is worse on your face than a dull razor, whether it is a disposable razor or a straight blade.
Once again, it’s going to come down to how much time you want to invest in your shaving routine.
A straight razor maintenance routine takes more than one would think. There’s stropping, sharpening, oiling, and cleaning. You don’t need to do this constantly, and if you did there would be NO reason to have to go into straight razors. The process seems majorly complicated from the outside, but it becomes much easier to do over time. Building up muscle memory is the key.
Then there is the shavette. You know what kind of maintenance I need to do with a shavette? Change the blade. Clean the razor. Done.
That’s it. There is no other process really. Once you’ve changed the blade and made sure the unit is clean and dry, you are good to go for the next shave.
A disposable product is almost always going to have the edge (get it?) on something that you have to carefully maintain over time. It may seem wasteful, but like I said before time is money squared.
Shaving Performance
Now we are going to get to the real big point. This is where the rubber meets the road, or rather the steel meets your skin.
The Shavette and the Straight Razor are going to use the same skill set. The method you shave with both tools is going to be the same. You make the same motions, and take the same precautions.
In shaving performance, a well honed straight razor in practiced hands is always going to give you the closest shave. Hands down, it is the best. Your cheeks are going to feel so smooth, you are going to question if you ever even HAD whiskers to begin with. Combine that with a good steam towel on your face and some nice hot lather, and you have heaven in shaving form.
In the case of the shavette, your razor is only going to be as good as the disposable razor you use. The best skilled barber and the best made shavette can only take you so far. The cutting edge is where the real review comes in.
There is no arguing that some disposable razors just aren’t as good as others. I haven’t done the legwork (facework?) to try them ALL yet, but I can definitely tell you that Lord and Muhle have some of the best, while 7AM blades are pretty mid. I think that is what the kids are saying now? I don’t know, the internet is a confusing place.
If you do go with a shavette, you will want to invest in some quality disposable razors. This is why when I do my shavette reviews on our site, I make sure to note what kind of blades I am using. It’s not just to pad my word count.
In Conclusion…
In conclusion, to sum up, therefore, and furthermore…
Shavettes and Straight Razors really come down to two things: how much time you want to spend shaving and how much money you want to drop on your routine. Personally, I am going to come down on the side of the shavettes almost every time. I value my time, and spending time honing and stropping does not sound like a good time for me.
That being said, this is my personal opinion. There are probably tons of guys out there who find all that maintenance and all that money just part and parcel with a great shave. I won’t lie, I will do almost anything for a good shave.
If you have the money though, there is no reason you can’t do both. I use my shavette 99 percent of the time, but sometimes I will just jump to a safety razor if I am feeling it. No reason you couldn’t enjoy both if you’ve got the money to spend.
Keep it Real and Happy Pride, friends!
