Thread: Looking for my first Straight razor

hey i am looking to purchase my first straight razor. obv i dont want it to cost the earth incase well i am terrible at it and end up ripping half my face off and never use it again but at the same time dont want something cheap that is only gonna last me a few shaves. Any1 have any recomendations on first razors and other bits of kit i will need? I am in Uk so a Uk welsite wud b best for shipping reasons etc.
thanx
Frampi

Maybe buy a second hand one from one of the members on here. It's a very respectable community (in the littel expereince I have had) and you can be pretty sure it will be a good shaver that has been tried, tested and most likely honed to be ready for use buy someon who knows what they are doing.

And since it will probaly be an antique that has been restored it will be of a very high quality that would cost you 2 10 times more if you bought it new.

Also people on here recommend the Wapienika (spelling?) as being a great starter for a good price.

i have never used one and am just starting out myself, but now have 12 old anitques to restore and one new Dovo.

The important thing is to get one that has been prepared as shave ready by an individual (rather than a company) so you know what a good edge is like.

Then look on here about beard prep, it makes or breaks a good shave.

Good luck.

Frampi, first let me welcome you to SRP. You'll find lots of great help here. We have all had to start somewhere and this a good place to do that. Let me make a few recommendations. First, and foremost, see if you can pick up a copy of Lynn's CD. It is over 3 hours long and provides a good reference for most all aspects of straight razor shaving.

Second, I'm not sure what you have purchased, or contemplating purchase, so far. If you haven't given much thought to it, you will also need a strop and shave cream/soap. The last is personal choice. I prefer soap, but there are many out here who prefer cream. The choice is up to you.

Now as to a razor, the choices are almost endless, as well as the sources for them. Check the classifieds. There you will find many, many razors that are truly shave ready. Razors from the vast majority of sources are not. I wouldn't get hung up on a brand of razor right now. You really don't have enough experience and knowledge to make an educated decision for what you want and need beyond what looks really nice. You should probably start with something like a 5/8 round point. It will be the most forgiving for you. I have been shaving with straights for just a few months and I am not sure I am ready to tackle a 7/8 spike point. Although there are some truly beautiful ones out there.

Then you can start looking at hones. Again, you will already have a razor with a good edge on it. So when you get one that requires honing you will have something to compare your edge to.

Best of luck!!

Welcome to SRP,

In addition to the good advice above I'd add that Steve Dempster from Introduction to razors, is also a member here (blueprinciple iirc). I think that's the only good vendor in UK that I know of.
If you haven't already stumbled upon them, there's a whole group of folks from UK and they recently had a meeting in Birmingham, iirc, (check the General section).

wud like to thank every1 that has replied and i am pleased to say that i will probably be ordering within the next couple of days.
thanx again
Frampi