The Well-Rounded Gent: Hands On With the Dreadnought Shavette

Meet the Dreadnought Shavette

We’ve previously discussed what a pain shaving can be. Many of us shave because we have to, not because we want to. We generally don’t enjoy it, and considering a guy will spend almost 6 months of his life shaving, it makes sense to make that time as pleasant as possible. This is one reason you need to throw that bic in the trash and try out some new shaving tools, such as the Dreadnought ‘Cut-Throat’ Shavette/straight razor.

The Dreadnought Shavette and its handy box

What is a shavette razor?

You might remember our review of Dreadnought’s Spartan, the double edge safety razor. It is a well constructed razor with some heft to it – something I still use today when I need a close shave. The shavette continues the quality durability, and style that seems to be a benchmark of Dreadnought products. If you’re unfamiliar with this type of razor, a shavette is a type of straight razor with a disposable blade ( – a blade you’ll be snapping in half per the instructions below). They’re less expensive than a traditional straight razor, and much easier to maintain. Barbers have used them for years to get Since you can change blades when you need to, getting a close shave and keeping your shavette clean takes no time at all.

Shavette blade installation instructions

How do I shave with a shavette?

Carefully. There are two important things to keep in mind when using your shavette. 1. Take it slow. This razor can give you a very close shave, or cut you if you don’t use caution. 2. Prepare your skin. This means warm your face with a damp washcloth, use pre-shave oil, and quality shave cream (all of which Dreadnought offers) to ensure your facial hair is ready for the razor. Be sure to keep shave cream on any section of your skin that you’re still shaving – you definitely don’t want to do a dry shave with a shavette.

As far as specific shaving technique, here’s a video from The Chap Blog that you may find helpful. It’s the first in a series that I made sure to watch before diving in.

The Verdict

After shaving a few times with the Dreadnought Shavette, I was able to get it down. The close shave this razor provides makes it well worth taking the time to learn how to use it, and though I don’t shave often, when I want to take my time and enjoy the process a little more, I’ll certainly make use of the Shavette. If you’re feeling adventurous and you want to get rid of your regular disposable razor, but the thought of upkeep on a traditional straight razor makes you shudder, consider Dreadnought’s shavette.

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