Switching from DE to straight

Greetings!
This is my first post here at SRP... a little over a year ago -- shortly after I started shaving my head daily -- I decided to ditch the Gillette/Schick "MOAR BLADEZ!!!" du jour and try out this whole wet shaving thing. I started out with the VDH "Premium Shave Set" and a Parker DE from CS. One shave was all it took to convince me these "wet shaving" nuts were on to something! (now I am one)
Since then, I switched to CS' "Black Lavender" WF soap*, quality aftershave and moisturizing afterwards.
But the lure of the straight razor as the "real" wet shaving was always there. Being a head-shaver I was understandably intimidated.
Still, I have a strong grip and a steady hand so I figure, "why not? If I don't like it, I can always use the DE for my head and the SR for my face...."
And so I am here, looking for razor-buying advice. Everyone everywhere (and by "everywhere", I mean here and B&B) seems to recommend starting with a cheap, used razor professionally honed by some guy named "Lynn Abrams" (who I understand it does or did the sharpening service at CS?) and that such razors were available on the forums here.
I'm not even sure what sort of price range to look for; honestly, the TI they have over at CS looks nice and when there are custom jobs going for over two grand, $240 seems like a steal for such nice...steel.
But everyone recommends starting with a cheapy and the reason always seems to come down to "honing". So...I'm looking for advice on the shaving instrument AND in maintaining it. My plan is to buy a strop in the same order as a razor (if I buy new from a vendor) but I also am a DIY guy at heart so the instructions here on making your own strops really caught my eye. But I digress....
I need a strop, that much I know; but what about hones? And what sort of hones? Would I really ever really need a stone, or would a pasted paddle strop do? What are balsa hones for? Am I asking too many questions? Oh, and is T&H "Trafalgar" a good cream? Think it would go well along side CS's Black Lavender? What is the price of tea in China?
OK I think I've given you guys enough work with this post so now that I'm done lurking and posting, I am really revved up to contract a bad case of RAD.
Now...GO!

I want to echo the advice of buying a quality, inexpensive razor that is well honed. Don't spend a lot of money till you know straight shaving is for you.

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Originally Posted by Wayne1963

I want to echo the advice of buying a quality, inexpensive razor that is well honed. Don't spend a lot of money till you know straight shaving is for you.

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+ 1 for this advice. Oh, and wait on the whole honing adventure. Plenty to learn B4 you even consider that side of the equation...IMHO

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Originally Posted by Wayne1963

I want to echo the advice of buying a quality, inexpensive razor that is well honed. Don't spend a lot of money till you know straight shaving is for you.

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Price range is a point of confusion for me... what is considered "inexpensive"? There's a nice looking Ralph Aust over at SRD that comes honed, with a free honing certificate and a strop for under $200. Is that "inexpensive"?

Personally, I do not think that is "inexpensive", however I do believe that is a good price (better than many other merchants). Additionally, SRD folk will treat you right and answer your questions honestly.

I am still what I would consider a newbie at the whole straight razor thing, but I will weigh in with a few comments.

I have shaved with a $3 razor, and I have shaved with a $160 razor. They both shave, though I will admit that the $3 one had to go through a complete makeover before it could do so. I have shaved with razors bought from ebay for $10 to $15 that were over a hundred years old. What made these razors shave? The quality of the steel? Well, that helps, but it's not that big of an issue as long as its not TOO crappy. The workmanship? Nah. Not really, even though there is a lower limit that will still give you something practical and usable. The thing that makes them shave is a sharp edge. If it is properly honed, it will shave. You can shave with an axe, or a spoon, (both have been done LOL!) if they are honed to a proper shave ready edge. Okay, not so practical. More like stunt shaving LOL! But what I am trying to say is that with the exception of some total junk new razors, mostly coming from Pakistan and China, nearly any razor will do if it is honed by someone who knows what he is doing. Even a few of the "junk" razors can be made to shave well. Sure, sometimes a lot of other work has to be done before normal honing, depending on the razor, but a competent honer won't call it shave-ready no matter what, unless it is ready to shave with. So you can go for a $30 shave-ready vintage razor, or a shave-ready $300 new razor, or a shave-ready sky-is-the-limit custom razor, and still get a good shave. The thing about a vintage razor is it really doesn't lose any value. A new one loses value as soon as you open the package. The vintage razor can be resold for pretty much what you paid for it if you decide it's not your thing. A new one, well, it's a new one, bright and shiny that nobody else has ever used. So suit yourself. I would say you would do well to get a vintage one for $30 to $60, or a new one at around $100 or a bit more. Just make sure you can depend on the edge to be sharp. You got enough to worry about when you are learning to shave without wondering if your razor is even sharp enough to do the job.

You don't need hones right away. In fact, you don't need them at all if you want to do without. Some guys just use a pasted balsa strop after each shave, or when the razor seems to be getting dull. I strop after each shave on .1u diamond on balsa. So does the guy who taught me to do this, and he never has to re-hone his razors unless he just feels like it. I haven't had to re-hone mine but I only started a few weeks ago LOL! Some guys prefer Chromium Oxide instead of diamond paste. That works but very fine diamond seems to work better. YMMV. If you would rather go with a hone, and you start out with a shave ready razor, you can get by just fine with only a very fine finishing stone, or a marble tile or piece of heavy glass and some 1u lapping film. A barber hone is another option. Old school, but it works. You don't need the whole kit since you are only barely dulling your razor through normal usage. You can also send your razor out for honing but learning to do simple maintenance honing isn't hard at all and you probably ought to get into that early on. Just be sure you START OUT with a shave-ready straight razor.

A strop can be expensive or cheap or even really cheap, and still work. It's not the bow, it's the Indian. But my recommendation is to figure on $40-$50 for your first strop. But I got to warn you: you will probably slice up your first strop while you are learning. So maybe you might want a really cheap beginner's strop to use until you feel confident you won't destroy your good strop. You can also strop on newspaper for the first week or so. It works okay and you don't have to worry about slashing it to bits. Some guys lay it on a flat surface and strop, and some guys fold a whole sheet longways into a long ribbon of newspaper, and pass an end over something like a towel rack. You pinch the ends together and pull it tight and you got your strop. Not the best, no, but it does work and it will save your good one from beginner nicks.

Can't comment on your creams. I have only used Kiss My Face and Godrej, and of course VDH soap. C.R. Bigelow is popular, and it is just re-branded Proraso which is also well liked. Cella is also supposed to be good and I am gonna order some and try it. KMF and VDH and Godrej are all crazy cheap and of them all I like the Godrej Rich Lather in the red tube the best out of what I have tried so far. It has a lot of lanolin and gives a good cushion effect and so if you are gonna shave your head, it might be a good one to try. Look in Middle Eastern or Indian grocery stores for it, or get it on line. KMF and VDH are at most big grocery stores and some drug stores.

I don't know about straight shaving your head. I just don't know. It just seems kinda awkward to me, but like you said, you can always go back to DE for your head if it don't work out. I really think you ought to learn to shave your face first, before taking the straight to your head. That way you already got stuff like angle, stretching, pressure, direction, etc down pat before tackling the dome. Figure a month, maybe, before trying head shaving with the straight.

Thanks, everyone, for the great advice. I'm even more jazzed than ever to get started!

So...is this a good razor?
American Products razor

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Originally Posted by DarthLord

So...is this a good razor?
American Products razor

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Hard to tell with these pics. Before I buy a razor online, I have to have a clear picture of the bevel and spine on both sides of the razor. Those two areas determine how well the razor will shave and how easily it's edge can be maintained. In both cases you want lines that are even and not too thick.

As far as hones go. IMHO Coticules are the best/most comfortable edges out there. It's all I use. I have spent $15 (Blue Steel) on a razor and I have spent $500 (8/8 Ivory Heljestrand) and a coticule will get them shaving near the same.

And you can pick up a Barber's hone for less than $20.00 and keep your razor shaving well for a long time before dumping hundreds into stones.

Hi and welcome. The SRD package is good. I have 16 razors now with all but 2 of ebay. I got the ralf aust 5/8 and an English bridle 3". The good thing about these strops is you can replace the components when you nick them( you will) and you could get a piece to paste for when you need touch ups. The razors are well made and come with free 2nd honing. The naniwa 12k hone will give you a smooth sharp edge and with no woops moments should see you through for a looong time.