Thread: Beginners Dovo Shavette

I am looking to start using a Straight Razor but not really sure what kind is right for me. I was looking to start with the Dovo Shavette. I have read that the brand name Dovo is one of the tops but wasn't sure about the disposable aspect of it. I have seen lots of forums on here talking about what is a good razor to use and am just a little overwhelmed. Let me know if this is a good place to start or if anyone else has anything better. The razor I am looking at is at the link below.

Amazon.com: Dovo Shavette Straight Razor with Black Handle: Health & Personal Care

After starting out with a Shavette myself, I'd say save your money and get a real straight instead, a real straight is much more forgiving and easier to use IMO.

Here a nice website for getting started without breaking the bank: Whipped Dog Straight Razor Sales

It's a perfectly good way to start, and is in fact the way I started. I took that route because I didn't want to get involved in expensive straight razors, strops, hones, etc. For just $30.00 you can test the waters of straight shaving without a big investment. In my case, of course, I was stropping and honing a proper straight razor within a month, but you don't have to go that way.

Thanks for all of the input. Does anyone have a recommendation for a type of blade to get to start with? I know there are several different kinds and not sure what is the best for me.

Originally Posted by hitman154

Thanks for all of the input. Does anyone have a recommendation for a type of blade to get to start with? I know there are several different kinds and not sure what is the best for me.

Different people prefer different blade shapes and grinds. There's no "right choice". You'll only find out "what's best for you" after a lot of experience. And some people (like me) don't much care -- if the edge is sharp, it's a good razor.

My recommendation would be for a 5/8 or 6/8 wide blade, "round tip", anywhere from 1/4-hollow to full-hollow grind. I would recommend against a "spike tip" -- too easy to get nasty cuts.

I'm sure other people will disagree.

Charles

Originally Posted by hitman154

Thanks for all of the input. Does anyone have a recommendation for a type of blade to get to start with? I know there are several different kinds and not sure what is the best for me.

IMO 5/8 is what you need, I switched from a shavette to a proper straight and found it much better, I use a 5/8 Abram brooksbank of Sheffield.

Im also looking in to a Dovo "best quality" this is a 5/8. Whatever you end up buying, just make sure its truely shave ready, Theres nothing worse than getting your blade and not being able to use it because its not sharp enough.

The other bit of advice I would give you is, map your face, get to know the hair growth directions, it helped me a lot.

Finally check out the vids on this site they are very helpfull.

Good luck and welcome to the forum

If cost is a consideration, and you want to experiment, a great place is Larry over at Whipped Dog Straight Razor Sales

Shavettes are good razors, but as the people above me have said, they are very unforgiving. I find I cut myself frequently with them, but rarely with a regular straight. That said, I started with one and I still keep it because they are great for traveling (they don't need strops)

My shaves are better with the cheap disposable straight than with my real straight. I find that it cuts my whiskers better. Although I hate the way it holds the DE razor blade. The blade is kinda bendy in the holder. I have a Personna magic. I hear the Parker disposable straight is better than mine and the Dovo, and cheaper.
Eventually I think I may get a Kai captain excelia or a feather AC SS.
I had my real straight honed by SRD and it's not as sharp as I'm used to with my feather blades in the Personna magic straight.
My real straight cuts all my arm hair like butter, it just struggles with my beard.

the shavette was a great start for me. i was able to really focus on learning how to create a good lather and how to shave with a straight razor without the worry of if my blade was sharp enough, figuring out how to hone or strop. there is a lot to master in the art of straight razor shaving and i found it really helpful to just take it a bite at a time. for me i have the rest of my life to figure it all out and im enjoying the journey so far. i love my shavette. not sure i would still be shaving with a straight razor if i got frusterated enough struggling with honeing and stropping at first. hope my input helps another beginner.