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Thread: Advice for Total Beginner

  1. #11
    Member xplodngKeys's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Albatrosspro View Post
    Thanks again... do I need to worry about getting a safety razor? Is a safety razor really that helpful for beginners?
    I went from shaving with a Gillette Fusion to that Dovo Shavette, another buddy did the switch and picked up a safety razor.

    The only difference between the two is that I have had more cuts (that heal quickly, within a few hours, and he has only had 2 or 3 minor cuts) and he still wants to switch to a straight eventually and is using the safety razor as a stepping stone.
    Last edited by xplodngKeys; 09-05-2012 at 02:23 AM.

  2. #12
    Member xplodngKeys's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Albatrosspro View Post
    OK after 10 minutes on amazon here's what I got:

    Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream Bowl, 5.3-Ounce
    Tweezerman Men's Shaving Brush
    Parker SR1 Stainless Steel Straight Edge Razor and 5 Shark Super Stainless blades

    I'm a bit confused on the whole stropping thing... this razor comes with blades that are replaced pretty frequently (I believe), and stropping is basically sharpening right, so is this necessary? Some clarify for me please

    I would go for the Dovo Shavette, same idea with the replaceable blades but you have more options as to blade type when you change out the red insert for the black (or green if anyone has them in stock ever). Make sure you get a black insert (not 100% sure if the shavette comes with one, I ended up with 2 so mine came with one or west coast shaving accidentley gave me 2 inserts) and the long blades for the black insert along with some standard size DE blades for the red (should be useful later on for some touchups and bear shaping since the blade is smaller if you're going that route).

    Since you are using a disposable blade system there is no need for honing or stropping, but keep in mind that others say that this method of shaving is harsher and less forgiving on the skin.

  3. #13
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    I'll be the odd man out . . .

    Get a good soap and a brush. Learn to make lather. Use some kind of moisturizer (or glycerine, or oil, or Astroglide, or hair conditioner) as a pre-shave treatment.

    Ignore straight razors and Shavettes.

    Get a good double-edge razor (Merkur 34c, Edwin Jagger DE89, or a "middle-of-the-road" vintage razor like a Gillette Tech or one of the Gillette adjustables).

    Get a "blade sampler" -- a package of assorted blades for the DE.

    Then, learn to use the DE. It's not quite the same as a cartridge razor -- you'll need extremely light pressure, but it will cut off a beard effectively.

    Don't do any fancy passes -- just "with-the-grain" shaving. Which means you'll have to figure out how your beard grows.

    See if that combination helps your skin condition.

    If it does, you might want to try a straight razor (or replaceable-blade straight like the Shavette or Parker) and see if that's even better.

    . . Charles

  4. #14
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    The Parker (I had one) is a replaceable blade razor so the blade feels different than a straight. Also the cutting area is narrower, and you do not strop this one, just change the blade. It helped me learn some of the moves, but nothing like a straight.
    My first blade was a Dovo Best Quality from Straight Razor Designs. I recommend a professionally honed blade like this for your first one. SRD also gives you a free honing when you buy a straight. If you want something more economical Whipped Dog Straights has the sight unseen deal, a shave ready vintage blade. The service is great. When you buy the straight, I recommend get a strop also. Theres a lot of information in this site it helped me a lot so browse every day and you always learn.
    Arise, awake, and learn by approaching the exalted ones,
    for that path is sharp as a razor’s edge, impassable,
    and hard to go by, say the wise. Katha Upanishad – 1.3.14

  5. #15
    Make ready the heat. henryconchile's Avatar
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    As mentioned in previous posts, it is a good idea to get a good badger brush and shave soap (or cream). Learn to lather. You won't get great shave results without a good lather.

    I think that a DE safety razor is a good start. I was using a Mach 3 razor before I switched to a DE a several years back. I got a Merkur "Classic" 33C and tried different DE blades. Over a year ago someone gave me an old Gilllette Adjustable DE razor and I loved it. With an adjustable DE razor, you can adjust the angle of different DE blades to match your shave style. I would recommend an adjustable DE if you want to try DE shaving.

    Last month I jump on the SR wagon and got myself a Parker SR1 razor. This is a shavette, not a SR. I was able to use my existing DE blades on it. Just snap a DE blade in half, while it is in its wrapper, and carefully insert the blade into the razor. I find that it is a good, cheap way to learn SR shaving. I'm getting the hang of it and keeping my shave angle in check. There's no need for stropping since you are using a new blade. Stropping is for SR razors.

    I' m slowly moving to a regular SR. Recently I purchased a vintage J.A. Henckels SR on eBay. I just have to polish it up a bit, maybe hoan it, and then strop it. I also ordered a regular, inexpensive strop and Norton stones for practice. I'm getting there.

    I found that moving to an SR shave slowly (i.e., Mach 3 --> DE --> Shavette --> SR) helps me appreciate it more.

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