Thread: Straight razor sellers in India

Dear All,

I hope to switch over to Straight razors from the dual/triple razors.
If you are aware, would you please let me know of any sellers of straight razors in India? Particularly, good brands like Dovo, TI and others. I am having a hard time finding one. I also would like to know what other items to buy along with the Straight razor - like a strop, honing stone etc.

I would first suggest clicking the library link just above to get information on the items you need, there are a few articles on equipment.

In my opinion (I'm also a newbie) I would be more worried about getting a good brush and shaving soap before a hone. I'm learning that the face/beard prep matters alot more than most of us new people really want to think they do.

In the past, I have read several threads dedicated to Indian straight razors. I have asked several Indian acquaintances also. All I can recollect from the threads, and from my personal investigation is that everyone in India uses replaceable blade straight razors. If not true, I too would be interested to know.

It is true that razors with replacable blades are used in India probably because of the rising concerns with communicable diseases. I have been searching extensively for a straight razor with no luck. I am told that straight razors from Pakistan are available in some states in India - I haven't been able to validate, I gather they lack quality. What is even more surprising that I am unable even to find importers of German/Japanese/US/UK Straight razors in India. My hope however is to procure below items [or equivalent]:

1. DOVO Classic White/Black Straight Razor, 5/8 [ready to use ones]
2. DOVO "Bismarck" 6/8 [ready to use ones]
3. Japanese Razor [not sure of the brand though] [ready to use ones if possible]
4. Dovo of Solingen Leather and Canvas Cut-Throat Razor Strop OR Paddle strop with wooden handle.
5. Styptic Pencil
6. Honing Stone

Shaving paste and other items should be available in India.

Any advise would be much appreciated.

I make contact outside shaving circles with a very global set of ethnicities. If the topic of straight razor shaving comes up, after they understand what I mean by "straight razor", most are intrigued even if the reaction is "No way that is touching my face!" With the few Indians I have contacted outside shaving circles, their response has been more to say something about that being old fashioned. Not cool.

Admittedly and embarrassingly, I am generalizing from a very small sample. (I understand Indians from a sample of maybe 10!) But, forging on, from conversations with an even smaller number of Indians, I get the impression that the use of straight razors died out more recently in India than elsewhere. I get this from the fact that the Indians I have visited with remember their grandfathers shaving with a straight whereas more elsewhere have great-grandfathers who used them.

OK, no science in the above. Consider my statements more like questions for further discussion...

Probably your best bet is do like most of us do and order from outside your country and have it shipped in. Of course here in the U.S we have sources but often times we want something you simply can't find here so we have it shipped in.