Shavette vs. Safety Razor
Both safety razors and shavettes are starting to grow in popularity among people looking to cut out disposable razors once and for all. These razors offer a close shave and can give you the clean cut, sophisticated look you’ve been searching for.
In this article, we'll compare two popular shaving tools—the safety razor vs. the shavette to see which comes out on top.
We've compared these two types of razors based on these factors:
Quick Take
Our Choice: Safety Razor
Safety razors are cost-effective and eco-friendly, quality shaving tools for wet shavers. They offer you a close, precise shave to use on all body hair while avoiding skin irritation. They use high-quality materials and are long-lasting tools. These razors come with a learning curve, but we’re confident it’s something you can master with a little bit of practice. Many people find themselves getting comfortable with them very quickly. They are inexpensive and low maintenance, making them a favorite among those looking for the best quality shave.
Shavettes are also known as "barber straight" razors. They are similar to a straight-blade razor, except the razor used is disposable and oftentimes double-edged, just like a safety razor. They are popular because they are easier to use than a straight razor while still offering a precise, close shave. They still come with a learning curve like straight razors and offer no sort of blade protection like safety razors.
The Most Effective Razor: An Overview
An effective razor can come in all shapes, sizes, and price ranges. But what really makes a razor effective and stand out from the rest is how well they are able to remove unwanted body hair from all the important places. You don't always have to spend hundreds of dollars to find the most effective tool, nor do you have to spend a ton of time shaving. It all boils down to quality materials and technique.
Safety Razor
A safety razor is an effective wet shaving razor that can be used by newbies and experts alike. A double-edge blade lets you get as close to the skin as possible without irritation and offers a high-quality shave for facial hair. Depending on the razor you choose, the initial cost can be high, but over time is a cost-efficient option because the blade replacements are cheap.
Shavette
A shavette is a single-edge razor blade that is easy to use and offers a great close shave. It's perfect for those who want to get a precise, smooth shave. However, it does not provide any kind of safety bar or protection and does come with a bit of a learning curve.
Quality of Shave
Safety Razor
A double-edged safety razor gives a high-quality, precise shave since it uses only one single blade. The sharp blade is designed to glide tightly across the skin without causing irritation. It is more efficient and provides a better shave.
Shavette
Single-edge shavettes are made for shaving all over the body. They are typically smaller and lighter than their double-edged counterparts. Single-edge shavettes are designed to give a closer shave than a double-edged razor.
Winner: Shavette
Ease-of-Use
Safety Razor
While safety razors do come with a learning curve, once you learn how to use them properly, it's very simple and gives you a really smooth shave. They offer an element of protection, making them suitable for everyone from beginners to expert shavers. It takes practice to perfect your shaving technique, but the safety razor offers better control and direction so that you can get all the angles.
Shavette
Shavettes comes with a steep learning curve and don't have any sort of protection while learning to shave with this tool. These razors can take time to perfect the proper techniques and can come with the risk of cutting the skin.
Winner: Safety Razor
Beard Friendliness
Safety Razor
Safety razors come in open and closed comb options. This makes it so every beard type can find the best shaving tool that suits their needs. Safety razors are great for all beard and body hair textures. They are also very forgiving due to the safety bar feature, so the shaving process is seamless.
Shavette
A shavette is similar to a straight blade in that they are great for all beard types because it can provide an incredibly close shave. They provide the opportunity for you to really get into the details of your beard and have clean, precise lines.
Winner: Tie
Cost
Safety Razor
A safety razor can have a high initial cost, but they last for years and, over time, will be cheaper than other options like cartridge razors. Both single-edge and double-edge safety razors use replacement blades, which are relatively inexpensive, keeping your overall cost low. The razor itself can range anywhere from $20 to $300, the latter being the most top-of-the-line brands. Safety razors only require blade replacements every so often, with the average annual blade cost being around $13
Shavette
Shavettes also use replaceable blades, which are relatively inexpensive and easy to replace. The cost of the razor and blades are very similar to that of safety razors and are a cost-effective option. The razor itself can cost anywhere from $10 to $100, while the replacement blades are usually under $1 per blade.
Winner: Tie
Which razor is best for you: Safety Razor or Shavette?
These two options are fairly similar, but the razor we highly recommend for everyday use is a safety razor. Both the safety razor and shavette offer a close, precise shave and are cost-effective, but the safety razor is more user-friendly and is more forgiving for new users. Once you perfect your technique, it offers a quick shave with no skin irritation or razor bumps, so won’t don’t end up looking like a kid who borrowed his parent’s razor.
- Overall Winner: Safety Razor
- Quality of Shave Winner: Shavette
- Ease-of-Use Winner: Safety Razor
- Beard Friendliness Winner: Tie
- Cost Winner: Tie