Top 10 Best Shavettes: Disposable Straight Razors & How To Use One

1. Parker SR1 Shavette Straight Razor

With a full stainless steel construction and unique details, the Parker SR1 (known previously as the 31R) is a tried-and-tested classic among the shaving community. It was originally one of the first shavettes to become available to the public and deserves a lot of credit for their popularity.

Weighing in at just under 50 grams, the Parker SR1 is very light and easy to wield. Although it may not be as stylish as the matte black offerings, it’s durable and offers an excellent shave with its mild blade exposure.

Buy this razor on Amazon and you’ll get 5 Shark Super Stainless Steel single blades. This may not sound much but it does provide the opportunity to try before you buy more. These particular blades are quite mild and great for head and face shaving. You can learn more about them on our list of the best razor blades.

At $20 on Amazon, the Parker SR1 offers great value for money. You can learn more about in our dedicated review of the Parker SR1 shavette.

Finally, you could always consider the full shaving kit offered by Parks, which includes the SR1, a badger shaving brush, 100 Sharks Super Stainless blades as well as a chrome shaving stand. All this can be had for as little as $68 on Amazon.

2. Dovo Shavette

Many wet shaving enthusiasts agree that the best razor blades actually come from Russia. In fact, Astra used to be made in the Czech Republic until they were bought by Gillette and moved to Russia.

Dovo is a celebrated German manufacturer of straight razors that was founded in 1904. It continues to produce its razors in Solingen and is the only major brand to have made its own shavette. Admittedly, though, it’s a little controversial.

At just 27 grams, it’s easily the lightest shavette on this list. Some people will absolutely love this as it offers better manoeuvrability. However, you won’t be able to use gravity to cut your stubble, which is the most common technique.

Nevertheless, it is indeed an excellent razor. The sliding mechanism firmly secures the blade in place and is easy to use. Furthermore, the aluminium blade carrier has a red plastic holder. As the holder can wear down, you can easily buy replacements through either Dovo or The Art Of Shaving.

This additional feature provides improved tactile feedback and reduces vibrations, which may irritate the skin.

3. Equinox Professional Shavette

Equinox provides a solid offering with the weightiest shavette on this list. Made completely from stainless steel, it provides durability as well as a great tactile feedback when shaving.

Furthermore, the stainless steel is coated in a scratch-resistant matte black paint. Not only does this look very stylish but it also protects the steel from oxidation and physical wear and tear. This does mean that the surface easily picks up finger marks but it’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

With its streamlined design, the Equinox is cut entirely from stainless steel with no other materials as well as a nice stamped logo down the scales. Meanwhile, the blade is easily secured using a classic clasp mechanism.

We also loved that the Equinox came with 100 Derby Premium blades. The added advantage of these is that they’re single rather than double-edge blades. This makes it more convenient as you won’t have to cut them in half in order to use them.

On their own, 100 Derby Premium blades retail at $6.84 on Amazon so their inclusion offers considerable value. This essentially halves the overall $18 price of the entire package on Amazon!

We’d even say that this is an ideal razor for both home and professional use given its quality and extraordinary value for money. If you want to learn more about this razor, you can read the full Equinox shavette review too.

4. Sanguine Coolcut R5 Shavette

Rather than opting for the more conventional steel scales, Sanguine’s shavette features pure wood. Although we never really determined the type of wood used, we couldn’t help admire its quality and potential durability.

For the blade’s spine, it’s constructed entirely out of stainless steel with a well-curved tang. Rather than a typical pivot pin, the blade is fixed to the scales with a tightening screw so it can be adjusted by the user.

Overall, the razor feels solid in the hand but despite the use of wood, it’s still quite lightweight and easy to wield when shaving. We also really liked the added touch of the faux-leather pouch, which makes it very easy for travelling. The razor also comes with 5 Treet Platinum double edge blades.

The blades are decent but we don’t think they’d last many shaves. Furthermore, you’ll have to cut or snap them in half before fitting them. Instead, we recommend just getting some good quality Derby Platinums with your order.

Finally, at a mere $17 on Amazon, these are a very good candidate for your choice shavette. If you’re interested by this shavette, read the full Sanguine Coolcut R5 review.

5. Black Widow Professional Shavette

With as much as 1.5 mm blade exposure, the Black Widow is without a doubt the most aggressive shavette to be featured on this list. We’d therefore dissuade beginners from try this one out. However, if you’re a professional or have experience in traditional shaving, it might be just what you need.

The Black Widow is also the heaviest shavette, which is important given that the blade is so exposed. This will let gravity do the work for you rather than applying too much pressure. Learn about the full shaving experience by reading our Black Widow shavette review.

The scales feature a similar matte black finish to the Equinox and feel stable in the hand. The tang also has small grooves for an extra grip.

Unfortunately, no blades were included with this purchase. However, you can pick up 100 Derby Premium blades at $9.99 on Amazon.

To discover this razor and its features in greater detail, you can read our full Black Widow shavette review!

6. Taylor Of Old Bond Street Shavette

For a more premium experience, you can rely on Taylor Of Old Bond Street. Like the Equinox, it’s made from stainless steel with an anti-oxidation black matte finish.

Taylor of Old Bond Street carries a certain brand recognition. Being a historical London firm, it was founded in 1854 and offers premium shaving goods and wares.

As such, the logo is proudly printed across the top of the clasp. In terms of shaving experience, the razor is well-balanced and solidly constructed to give a smooth vibration-free shave.

However, it is somewhat lighter. Therefore, if you prefer more control with less weight, this may be an ideal choice for you.

Furthermore, the Taylor Of Old Bond street shavette comes with a nice faux leather pouch, which we found to be considerably better quality than either the Sanguine or Forgica. However, it wasn’t supplied with any blades.

If you’re in London, we’d recommend that you’d head to Taylor Of Old Bond Street to see what they have to offer. Otherwise, you can peruse Amazon for the products that they have online.

You can even read the full review to learn more!

7. Feather SS Japanese Straight Razor

Japanese Kamisori razors are an intriguing alternative to classic straight razors. Unlike their western counterparts, they’re traditionally made from one solid piece of metal, which is wrapped in string or bamboo fibre on the handle.

Sadly, Kamisori razors are also very rare. In our guide to the best straight razors, we used to feature one that was handmade by Osami Mizuike, a renowned artisan from Kanenaga. However, it’s sadly no longer available.

Nevertheless, Feather is a Japanese brand that is celebrated for its high-quality razor blades. It has released its own Kamisori-style shavette, which is beautifully made and offers a very similar experience.

Some professionals swear by the straight handle for extra precision when working on contours. Indeed, you can see them being used by barbers in viral videos. They’re incredibly light and provide much more flexibility when shaving.

8. Dovo Olivewood Shavette

If you’d like a more visually attractive alternative to the Dovo shavette listed above, it is also produced with olivewood scales. However, this surprisingly doesn’t offset the original’s lack of weight as you’d expect!

In fact, it’s surprisingly even lighter! That being said, the razor does feel a little more balanced thanks to this. Furthermore, the scales are easier to grip when shaving, which helps as metal shavettes can be quite slippery.

We would recommend that you keep the razor away from humidity when not using it, though. Olivewood can take in a lot of moisture and easily get damaged if exposed to too much water. We’d also suggest rubbing a dab of olive oil into the scales to help protect them as well.

9. BRV Men Shavette

BRV offers a very similar shavette straight razor to the Equinox listed above. However, if you liked the brushed chrome finish of the Parker SR1, this is an excellent option. It features the same clasp mechanism and has a long tang, which makes it easier to handle.

As it’s quite weighty, this might also be a great option for beginners. Overall, it’s a well-made shavette that promises good value for money.

We also noticed that it came with Lord Platinum Salon Blades. Honestly, we’ve not heard from this brand before but they performed quite well and weren’t overly aggressive. Nevertheless, we do have a preference for the Derby Professional blades as we’ve already mentioned in this guide.

10. Feather DX Folding Japanese Shavette

Although we’re mentioning the Feather DX last, it’s probably the best shavette that you could buy with money being no object. However, $189 for a shavette is a little steep, especially when you’re looking for a straight razor shaving experience.

Indeed, it may cost more than many good-quality straight razors. Yet, if you’re determined that you wish to use a shavette instead, it may be an excellent investment. Indeed, the blade spine is made from high-quality SUS316 stainless steel.

Meanwhile, the scales are crafted from durable resin that is slip-resistant and can take a lot of punishment. It uses the same spring-mounted mechanism as the Feather SS listed above, which cleverly opens with a single touch to avoid any unwanted accidents.

Needless to say, it’s a premium shavette that will last many years whereas some of the options above will eventually break. Therefore, if you’re seeking a long-term investment, this might be the right one for you.