Almost everyone knows what a straight razor is. But, have you ever heard of a disposable straight razor? I'm talking about the handle of a straight that holds a conventional blade, or rather, half a blade. You have to cut the regular blade in half to fit it in the end of the razor. You shave, you finish, and you throw the blade away. Sounds simple, right? There are a few things you should know before you explore this route.
The disposable straight razor is not going to give you the kind of shave you would get from a regular straight razor. Or even a conventional double edge blade razor, for that matter. It takes time and patience to learn the technique, and you might want to practice getting the angle right before you put a blade in. The blade is going to be very, and I do mean very sharp. With a regular shaver, you pretty much have control over where and how you shave. It's usually just up and down. The disposable straight razor is going to take some getting used to because you don't want to end up slicing your face to ribbons, but you will probably end up with a few cuts along the way no matter how careful you are.
One of the good points in using a disposable straight razor is the fact that you don't have to invest a large sum of money on a straight razor and a strop to keep it honed. It's a good way to ease your self into the art of straight razor shaving, and deciding if this method is for you. About the only expense you will have is a package of razor blades that you will cut in half. Not bad. It's perfect if you want a close shave but don't want to be bothered with maintenance.
Deciding where and what to buy will be your next step. There are two highly rated companies that manufacture a disposable straight razor. One is a German company called Dovo, and the other is the Feather Safety Razor Company in Japan. Both make an excellent disposable safety razor. The Dovo design is called the Shavette Disposable Straight Razor and the Feather is named the Artist's Disposable Straight Razor. Both are available in the United states, but you usually have to order them.
It might be a good idea for you to check for reviews of either, or both of these products before you decide if this is what you really want. Straight razor shaving is an art that you have to learn. It's not a jump right in and shave technique. Practice makes for that perfect, smooth, nick free shave.