Thread: Im a complete beginner so all advice is welcome

Originally Posted by Padbrat

That sounds good but im in the UK and ive yet to find anything like that but ill keep looking

Well... Are you near any major metropolitan areas?

Not sure what shipping is to you, but check out amazon,and ebay.

Additionally with this VDH also has a butterfly style safety razor that I have now seen on sale at Target for pretty cheap as well.

Originally Posted by ncraigtrn

If you wan to get started on the inexpensive side....
Vdh shave kit the inexpensive one will run you 8-10$ and will include a brush a bowl and soap. It can be found at walgreens or CVS her in California. So it should be available at a few other drugstores around the country.
The shavette I use was found at a Sally beauty supply and is 10$ as well. I bought a 5 pack of persona blades there for another 3$

That's under 30$ total. And I still have and use daily the brush and bowl. An still have blades and the shavette. Inexpensive doesn't have to mean cheap.

Originally Posted by Briwill99

Not sure what shipping is to you, but check out amazon,and ebay.

Amazon should have a UK site. That's the way to go if there's nothing local

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

I would think that using a DE (Double edge safety razor) would be a prudent way to go while you are in the service, or till you are established where the rigors and stress of training are minimum. You'll get a better shave from a DE any time over a multi-bladed apparition of a razor. Depending on what your beard is like and the blade chosen (many to choose from) you can get over 4 to six shaves a blade. If you go the DE route buy a sampler pack of razors so you can experience variable levels of sharpness and comfort. Less time involved and no need to worry about the straight razors edge condition.

I would go even further and say until you are attached to permanent party, while in a training environment don't even try use a straight, shavette, or DE. Stick with the cruddy disposables and spray foam until you're done training. You wouldn't be able to possess straights/shavettes/DE blades in BCT anyway, nor will you have the time. Granted, it was a different era, but when I was in BCT (in 1984) we had fifteen minutes from reveille until formation, that means sh1x, shower, shave , make bunk, and get into uniform. You will be a busy young man Trust me. Wait til after training.


EDIT: Just noticed you're in the UK. I'm a Yank, but I'm sure some of the training fundamentals still apply. I would verify with a recruiter before packing any sharps to recruit training. They have a tendency to react negatively over seemingly very small things, and you'll definitely be wanting to fly under the radar. Life is easier in recruit training when the drill instructors don't know your name.

Originally Posted by Padbrat

That sounds good but im in the UK and ive yet to find anything like that but ill keep looking

Just go to boots and buy a palmolive shave stick and a cheap brush, don't get a cheap synthetic brush, get something made from some sort of animal.

Originally Posted by Padbrat

Hello all. Im 19 and joining the military. I've always wanted to learn the art of using the straight blade but ive only just had the guts to actually do something about it and I thought it would be rather fitting to learn now before I join up. So being quite anxious, I didnt want to fork out a lot of money for a decent straight razor so I purchased a shavette. Now ive already read how they are two completely different feels, but I just wanted something cheap and cheerful to see if I liked using that over a standard 3 blade. if I enjoy it I will invest into the whole shabang after my phase 1 training in the army, as I won't have the time. I just wondered if anyone has any advice? I will post what my first experience with the shavette is like soon. Thank you.

Good luck with your basic training...did mine back in 82. Be sure to leave that shavette at home, the Drill Instructors will have a sh@t fit if they see it! You'll have to do about 10,000 pushups.

Padbrat,

Welcome and hello from Hastings

A couple of useful links :

Mr Neil Miller is a supplier of World Class strops, and a honer of great talent (and font of much knowledge) :

Vintage Straight Razor Sales & Restorations, Hand Made Strops, UK Razor Honing and Vintage Hone Stones

Shaving consumables can be had from Mr Mayhew at Connaught Shaving :

Welcome To Connaught Shaving

Have fun

Best regards

Russ

I am also new to straight razor shaving. Did my second shave this morning. And hell it is amazing. I cant believe i waited until the age of 31 to switch over to straight razor. Glad to see there is new people. Happy shaving.

If you can make it through basic, you can learn to shave with a straight razor.