So I typically shave with a safety as they are easy to use and cheap on the blades. I decided to try a shavette razor the last few weeks. I have since gotten the hang of it, but it does feel way more awkward and not a whole lot better, as such it takes far longer to use. Tho the shave is still rather good.
There are possibly a few pararmeters here:
What kind of shavette do you have, and what blades does it take (artist club, half DE, other)?
What is your technique? Do you use both hands, or only one? You might want to toy around a bit.
Is your lather wet enough? DE razors are more forgiving than open blades.
As djundjila said, it will take time to get fully proficient.
As to result, I don’t find that shavettes have better or closer shaves (unless you need to get rid of weeks or months of growth), but they are more fun (for me).
I use this shavette.
I use one hand and about as much lather as i typically use as with my safety razor
I don’t know that shavette, but it’s worth noting that not all shavettes are created equal, and that most shavettes are designed for hair stylists and don’t work well for shaving.
IME, a product like what grandparent said, the Feather Artist Club, are designed specifically for shaving (vs shaping hair, or shaving the back of the neck) and it makes an enormous difference. They’re on the pricey side, but worth it. The Artist Club razors are also excellent, and one model is a safety razor blade which makes shaving more comfortable.
As I said, I can’t speak to the one you have, but I’d guess they took a stylist’s shavette and paired it with some shaving gear to market it to shavers. I’ve had one of those back-clip style shavettes and did not find it acceptable - but your’s could be different. One give-away is that they’re showing using it with snapped safety razors. Notice that the corners of the blades are sharp angles:
Compare that to the Artist Club’s rounded corners:
These are much more forgiving, and much less likely to catch and cut you (pictured are the safety version, but the regular Artist Club blades also have rounded corners). You could also try these blades in your shavette, or find safety razors blades with rounded corners. That alone will improve your shave from your current shavette.
If you’re having trouble with it, though, consider getting a shavette designed for face shaving, from a reputable company.
Excellent explainer 👍
I don’t know the model, but that’s a DE shavette. I much prefer Artist Club blades - which are longer, and much stiffer (and mrre expensive, also for the blades).
As for technique, you can look for our own Greg Gallant on youtube - or also Shave and Butcher, if you want a free dad joke with the shave.