Thread: intrigued, excited, scared and can't pull the trigger!

Hello Gents, I'll first start by saying thanks for the amount of info that you guys post...it is making my journey to the life of straight razor shaving quite a ride. I had no idea about any of it!

First off, I'm from the interior of BC where so far I haven't yet found a straight razor community.

I had my first straight razor shave in New York City last year and loved the experience and want to bring it home! My gf bought me some art of shaving gear and it instantly changed my regular shave. She had wanted to buy me a straight razor set as a gift but I held off as I had a feeling there was much more to it than meets the eye.

Where it stands now, I have the art of shaving pre shave oil, shave cream, after shave and silver tipped badger hair brush. I know that they are better than what I had, but up until now didn't realize the extent to which straight razor shave products went. For where I am at are these a good start?

Are there better ways to choose a razor based on thickness of beard? I have a pretty light beard, rarely shave more than 3 times a week with minimal growth.

Having read about whipped dog and larry I think that is where I will be purchasing my razor and strop, and maybe hone, depending on what type of feedback you guys give me, this leads to other questions.

I'm the type of guy that despite being new, I would like to own a razor that even a vet would enjoy shaving with. So, in terms of width, ground and type of steel are there any that are more broad spectrum than specific? From what I have read, something in a 5/8 or 6/8 is a good width? Hollow ground seems to be the norm for most razors? round point for sure at this point of my career.

Having watched the lynn abrams video about stropping i think that whipped dog's the poor mans strop or one of his other strops seems to be more than adequate. With that being said, for an extra $15 is a poly strop worth it for a newbie? What does poly do vs leather, which do you use first during daily routine?

Honing has me curious, some say don't hone until you can shave, other say they are learning while they shave. It doesn't seem like you need to hone more than a few times a year depending on how often you shave or refresh your razor as lynn showed. While I don't want to f*^k up a razor, it seems a bit of a pain to send a razor off for a week or so. I don't want to rush in too deep, but i don't want to be able to maintain my own gear. Thoughts?

Also, do most of you just towel dry your razor and hang it up after or do you put a drop of oil on it to prevent rusting?

I know that there are many great options to get into this, I just need some help.

thanks again!
Noobs

Welcome! I'm still fairly new so I won't say too much but I started with a 5/8 Ralf Aust from Straight Razor Designs. I've been really happy with it. I also bought a couple sight-unseen razors from Whipped Dog and have been happy with those although they aren't much to look at.

I initially bought some Chromium Oxide spray and a Naniwa 12k stone from SRD so I could learn to touch up the razor. That was a decent way to go so as to learn the feel of honing. There are some great videos on Youtube from Lynn on using the Naniwas to touch up the razor.

Just learn to take things slowly and not feel pressured to get up to speed too quickly. I suffered from that up front and it affected my enjoyment of shaving. I've been doing it for a few months now and am still learning the honing process.

I am also new to straight shaving only having been at it for a month. But I will offer that you can't go wrong with a sight unseen from Larry at Whipped Dog. I have one, and while not "pretty", it works VERY well. Great started razor. It would also make a great piece for honing practice once you get to that point.

Ralf Aust does make great razors, especially for the price. I have an Aust, and it is my best shaver thus far. (Out of 4 razors. Yes, I have RAD in a bad way. 1 month in, and I have 4 razors and 3 brushes).

I take blazing hot showers, so I steam my bathroom up fairly well, and it obviously can get quite humid. I put a drop of mineral oil on my razors when I am done with them after wiping/drying them off very well, even if I am not going to store them long term. (Long term? I have only been at this for a month). I err on the side of caution.

You seem to have answered a lot of your own questions in the initial post I have been at this for almost a year now and can say that whatever razor you get all you will want to be sure of is that it is quality steel (carbon or stainless) and is honed by a pro. The question about which type of steel to get is not of any importance right now, in the beginning. Your face won't be able to tell the difference and there are many other more important things to focus on a than that.

I use art of shaving products as well and I really like them. They are good for a beginner to learn with as they whip up a good lather relatively easy. There are many cheaper options out there that many of the members here love (Proraso, C.O. Bigelow) that might be easier on your wallet starting off too

Honing I might stay away from for right now. Hones are quite expensive and can dull a perfectly sharp razor in one pass if you don't know what you are doing. If you're only shaving 3 times a week and have a light beard you could make a freshly honed razor stay nice and sharp with proper stropping technique for quite a while. My advice would be to get the razor you want that is within your budget and invest in a quality strop.
This advice was given to me when I started out and I think it really helped my learning curve. Poor Mans strop might be fine and dandy but I would say stay away from something you have to learn a quality X-Stroke on just to keep your razor sharp. Get a 3" strop or the modular strop from SRD and you will not be sorry.

And lastly, you mention staying away from a square point at this point in your straight razor journey. I too thought along those lines starting out, but I really feel that with just a little focus, and you will be very very focused with a giant razor by your face, it shouldn't matter too much. I can't tell you how many times I wished I had a good sharp point when I started out that could get to those hard to reach places on my face. So do not shy away from the square points just because they are not necessarily a "beginner" blade. You WILL cut yourself no matter what blade you start out with just ask any of the members here. Moving from a square/french/spanish point to a round point may even be easier in the future when you want a new blade. So that's my $.02 worth

As for a good razor I have a Ralf Aust and a Dovo and love them both! Whippeddog gets all around great reviews for the razors that are shipped out, even if they aren't the prettiest. I would say 5/8" and 6/8" size blades would be best for you starting out. Whatever is in your budget and is a quality product should serve you just fine as long as you take good care of it

Good luck with everything!

Sam

Firstly, I'm in the "against square points" camp. Particularly for a beginner. My first razor was a square point Hart Steel that, quite frankly, made me doubt all the glowing anecdotes I read about SR shaving. Was everyone trying to convince themselves a rotten experience was not just that? Thankfully, NO. The razor I had, while "keen" on some sort of vivisection via its square point, simply was not sharp enough to shave. It was only after I bought a second round point razor that was honed by someone who new what they were doing, did I begin to "get the hang" of it. I've never found the need for a square point, including shaving into my nostrils. The most important thing to be sure of, regardless of what you buy, is that it is PROPERLY SHARPENED. Recommendations from forum members will get you what you want and need. Keep in mind Canadian online retailers such as:
Fendrihan - Classic Wet-Shaving, Leather Wallets and Straight Razors
The Classic Edge Shaving Store Your Straight Razor & Knife Specialists.
Italian Barber Online Shaving Supplies

Originally Posted by Hart

The most important thing to be sure of, regardless of what you buy, is that it is PROPERLY SHARPENED.

This is THE most important! Sounds like your first razor might not have been And that can cause some very uncomfortable shaves!

Be sure to get a razor that is said to be shave ready from a reputable dealer or to send the razor off to a professional honer as soon as you get it if not receiving one that is shave ready.

Sam

There are a few BC boys on here. Start with a couple of small steps. Get a razor and a strop, learn to shave and figure the rest out as you go. The interior is a big place. Mailing out your razors for an edge is not so bad, some people have two or three just to make that more simple as the the comes. Get one from Larry at whipped dog if funds are a concern or there are some incredible deals here in the classifieds regularly.

A comment about terminology: "refreshing" - making a sharp edge sharp enough to shave with - is honing. In this forum (and many other places) when folks use the word "honing", they usually mean sharpening a dull blade and then honing it to a keen edge.

Whipped Dog if you don't mind a razor that might not necessarily be the most pretty in the world - it'll be cheap and it'll shave well.

Strop wise, bear in mind as somebody said above, should you buy one that isn't very wide (my own is 2.5") you will need to do the "X pattern" when stropping. Unless you're ham fisted to a level of physical disability, this shouldn't be too difficult to learn but its something else you'll have to learn as well as the obvious shaving technique.