Too much information = overwhelming!

Hi, I'm glad I found this site, it has a lot of information from people that really know this stuff but it's so much that it can be overwhelming.
I hate shaving, it causes irritation, gotta spend money to always get new blades and it's annoying.

Now I'm curious about straight razors but I have a few questions..





#1. what is "honing" Is that sharpening? Why do people say they have to pay to get them honed
#2. How do you sharpen and maintain them
#3. How long to they last
#4. Do u need that little brush
#5. Do I need to buy blades for them separately or those are different types of straight razors?
#6. I've seen ones online where you replace the blade and one where you don't replace them? Which is better?
#7. Which should I get as a beginner's blade?

I know that I can probably search here for hours and find the answer but if anyone can answer these specific questions, that would be lovely!

Go to the beginners and read the stickys.

Yes I see them all but there's no stickies that answer right away questions that I have, I have to read hours of information and sort through it all, I thought someone could if they're kind enough to just answer the specific questions I asked

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kurolap

Hi, I'm glad I found this site, it has a lot of information from people that really know this stuff but it's so much that it can be overwhelming.
I hate shaving, it causes irritation, gotta spend money to always get new blades and it's annoying.

Now I'm curious about straight razors but I have a few questions..





#1. what is "honing" Is that sharpening? Why do people say they have to pay to get them honed Yes and it is not that easy to do
#2. How do you sharpen and maintain them You strop then you learn to hone
#3. How long to they last Varies greatly from person to person and upon experience
#4. Do u need that little brush No but it really helps and a good soap makes it even better
#5. Do I need to buy blades for them separately or those are different types of straight razors? Those are Shavettes
#6. I've seen ones online where you replace the blade and one where you don't replace them? Which is better? Matter of opinion
#7. Which should I get as a beginner's blade? matter of opinion but basically it HAS to be shave ready

I know that I can probably search here for hours and find the answer but if anyone can answer these specific questions, that would be lovely!

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Searching and reading gives you a more in depth immersion into the hobby, what you have above is simply my opinion, not everyone else's

Welcome kurolap!

Attachment 143121

Reading up on your questions might answer more questions you have never thought about yet.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kurolap

Yes I see them all but there's no stickies that answer right away questions that I have, I have to read hours of information and sort through it all, I thought someone could if they're kind enough to just answer the specific questions I asked

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The most honest newbee I've seen yet,Attachment 143122 ,, cut to the chase son & skip the foreplay. Attachment 143123

First lesson don't rush. Using a straight is about going slow and learning.

1. You first need a sharp razor (shave ready)
2. You need a strop to keep it sharp after every use. (something you will ave to learn to use.)
3. The brush and soap is part of it and does help with this type of razor but canned goo will get you by.
4. Honing is another learning process and if you get a bunch of razors you may want to go this route. There are people who will hone/sharpen for you but there is a charge.
5. A straight razor will last longer than you if treated properly. ( I have a few over a hundred years old and they will still outlast me.)

You could get a shavette. It is a different type of razor. (looks like a straight) They have replacable. You don't need a strop, you need to buy blades.

Then there is a double edge razor and once again replaceable blades no strop. These blades a by far cheaper than the plastic multi blade things you are using now.

Your questions are not simple to answer, but I will give it a try.

#1. what is "honing" Is that sharpening? Why do people say they have to pay to get them honed
Razors have a delicate easily damaged edge and need to be much sharper than knives. Honing a razor requires a progression of stones that must be made flat before use. The final finishing stones are ultra fine grit. Think of using course sand paper to shape a board followed by finer grits to get a perfect finish. Anyone can buy sand paper and apply it to wood, but not everyone can turn the board into furnature. With sufficient knowledge, equipment, and practice, most SR users learn to hone blades in reasonably good condition. Restoration of worn or damaged SRs requires a lot of skill.

#2. How do you sharpen and maintain them
Starting with a shave ready edge, you strop after each shave, refresh on a pasted strop, barber's hone, or polishing hone when stropping starts to lose effectiveness. When refreshing no longer works, its time to rehone.

#3. How long to they last
I touch up my SR edges once or twice a month. I rehone after months of SR use. The razor tells you what it needs and when. Most of my SRs are about 100 years old more or less and will still be good in another 100 years.

#4. Do u need that little brush
The brush and good soap work well with a SR, a DE, and cartridge razors. You can get started for less than $20, or spend a lot.

#5. Do I need to buy blades for them separately or those are different types of straight razors?
SRs have only one blade that must be honed, stropped, and maintained.

#6. I've seen ones online where you replace the blade and one where you don't replace them? Which is better?
Replaceable blade SRs are called "shavettes". The one that comes closest to the feel of a true SR is the expensive Feather AC. Stropping and honing are not needed, but shaving skills still must be learned. You must also keep buying blades, although a blade lasts for several shaves.

#7. Which should I get as a beginner's blade? The finest SR made will not shave unless the edge is shave ready. Most new and vintage SRs of good make will shave well, if the edge is shave ready. New junk razors of poor steel, heat treatment, and geometry can not be made to shave, or hold up in use. After shaving skills, it is really all about the edge. Most new SRs are not truely shave ready, unless opened and honed by the vendor. The best SR low cost deal is a $50 shave ready SR from a SR site classified section, IMHO. If I were to try a disposable blade unit, I would get the Feather AC.

HTH

First welcome to SRP.

The questions asked are good ones that most of us had starting out. The best answer I can give you is read and read about everything. With a list like yours you are going to get bare bones answer where when you read through old post you get a more in depth idea of what is all involved in straight shaving. Which is a lot more then what you are use to.

What I would suggest doing is going to Walmart and buying the Shea moisture shave brush and a puck of vdh deluxe shave soap. Learn how to use these two things while still using your cart razor. You will see an improvement in your shaves just with that.

Then read and start applying things you are reading to your cart shave. Then once you have all your questions about straights answered you will be in a good position to start if you want to.

If not you already improved your shave

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kurolap

Hi, I'm glad I found this site, it has a lot of information from people that really know this stuff but it's so much that it can be overwhelming.
I hate shaving, it causes irritation, gotta spend money to always get new blades and it's annoying.

Now I'm curious about straight razors but I have a few questions..





#1. what is "honing" Is that sharpening? Why do people say they have to pay to get them honed
#2. How do you sharpen and maintain them
#3. How long to they last
#4. Do u need that little brush
#5. Do I need to buy blades for them separately or those are different types of straight razors?
#6. I've seen ones online where you replace the blade and one where you don't replace them? Which is better?
#7. Which should I get as a beginner's blade?

I know that I can probably search here for hours and find the answer but if anyone can answer these specific questions, that would be lovely!

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I would say that a brush should be your FIRST purchase, along with a soap or a cream. Learn to make a good lather on your face, first thing. Get your prep nailed and you got one less thing to wonder about as you try to get your shave together. For a first brush, my own personal rec is to go with an inexpensive badger rather than a boar. The badger doesn't really have a break-in period like a boar. It holds more soap and more water, all other things equal. Costs a few bucks more but not much. Whipped Dog has cheap beginner badgers. Beware the ebay badgers, especially from China... lots of heavy shedders out there and lots of hair of doubtful sources, but most guys who have tried Frank Shaving (prices on that one not as good as they used to be) or Lijun or Virginia Sheng brushes, are happy. You can always get a nicer one later, but paying an extra $200 for a top of the line brush mostly just gets you a finer level of craftsmanship or handle material or finish or brand name, not better performance. YMMV. A good starter soap is Van Der Hagen, from any drugstore or department store or even some groceries. Less than two buckerinos. You might want to upgrade a couple bucks and get some Kiss My Face in Key Lime scent. Or both. I like to add just a pea size blop of cream on top of my soap and wow I can make a blizzard of lather with my Chinese silvertip brush.

Honing isn't all that hard IMHO but it is not something to mess with while you are still learning to shave. The problem with a newbie honing his own razor, is when the first shaves don't work so well, you won't know if it is your shaving or your honing. You need a true shave ready razor to start with, and also one to compare too when you do start honing. Once you are shaving with a straight and getting good comfortable shaves, then buy a second razor, shave-ready, and maybe try to hone your first one yourself. You can learn how, with the help and tutoring and advice of the members here. Or you can do what lots of guys do, and send your razor out for honing when it needs it. You can make your shave-ready edge last a lot longer, maybe even indefinitely (it's all on you) by stropping after each shave on a diamond pasted balsa strop, or even a chromium oxide pasted balsa strop. Some guys like a leather paddle or bench strop, or a loom (expensive) strop.

Answering your question on how to hone or maintain would take writing nearly a whole book. It really is something to absorb over weeks or months on the forum participating and reading. I really don't know where to start LOL! But one thing you need right off the bat, is a strop and to learn how to use it. You strop your razor on a leather hanging strop before each shave, and some guys also give it a few licks after shaving. The strop aligns the edge, though it doesn't remove any metal like honing does. But the difference is like the difference between a good massage and medieval torture. Well not quite that dramatic but you know what I mean. So don't even think about having your first go at straight shaving without a strop. Be advised tho... you will probably destroy your first strop with knicks and cuts and slices and slashes and hacks and dings and abrasions. So a cheap beginners strop is a good idea, like the one from whipped dog or a filly. You can also strop on newspaper folded into a strip and looped over something and pulled back tight. If you gut your newspaper strop, no biggie, right? Use it the first few times you strop and you will save your leather strop from the worst of your damage. Remember to always pull your strop tight and only use light pressure from the razor, and ALWAYS keep the spine of the razor on the leather even when you turn to go the other way at the end of the stroke. Flip the edge outward, not the spine. Come to a full stop before you flip. Take your time at first. You are not in a cowboy movie. I go 50 or 60 laps. A lap is a round trip back and forth on the strop. The honing is not your most pressing thing. The stropping is.

A straight razor lasts basically forever. Actually, with daily use, you should get a lifetime of use out of it. Half of my razors are at or over 100 years old. There are plenty of 150 and even some nearly 200 year old razors out there. I'll put it this way... you buy two razors and you will never need to buy another one as long as you live. Well, you will, but only because they are addictive not because you wore one out.

The ones with replaceable blades are not true straight razors. They are usually called shavettes. YMMV on them. I used a shavette for a couple of weeks before I got my hands on a straight razor and they are unforgiving of careless mistakes, and also not as solid and rigid as a straight. The shave will be better, easier, less traumatic with a straight. Yeah you can use a shavette but unless you have some compelling reason like a religious taboo against stropping on dead animal hide or something, I think you will find a straight more satisfying than a shavette.

For a beginner's blade, almost any straight will do if it is not pure junk, as long as it is honed to shave ready condition by a reputable vendor or honer. My first two razors were a Dovo Best Quality and a modified Gold Dollar, and to be honest I liked the Gold Dollar better but Dovo sells more razors than any other razor maker in the world for a good reason. And their better razors are excellent. I really like the Bismarck, and that would make a great razor for anyone, newbie or old hand. BTW no don't get a Gold Dollar as your first razor. Out of the box they are useless except for opening mail. Properly modified and honed shave-ready by someone who knows what he is doing and cares about his work, you might get a gem. But all that work comes at a price, and a really well done one will cost as much as one that comes from a more respected brand. Also coming from China, you take your chances on the steel. So far, knock on wood, seems to be pretty darn good. But I am a newbie myself so gram of salt, right? Lots of good offerings from Dovo, and also from Thiers Issard, Boker, Revisor, and others. The vendors on this site sell all of these. But maybe you would rather go for a vintage blade. WAY cheaper, generally, and you will most likely be getting a good razor. Otherwise, it would have went in the trash 50 or 100 years ago. Just make sure it is SHAVE READY. Not all razors claiming to be so, are. Anybody can list a POS razor on ebay and say it is "shave ready" but do you know that guy? Does he have a reputation? Somebody on the forum would be better to buy from, someone wanting to keep his reputation intact. Or someone who has satisfied customers on the forum, like Whipped Dog. Figure a shave-ready vintage razor will cost somewhere between $30 and $50 unrestored, just honed, and about twice that for a full restoration unless it is highly sought after. The type or size or grind is a preference thing and as a newbie you have not had a chance to develop a preference, so let's just say that basically any shave ready straight from a reputable person will do.

Well my keyboard is running out of words here. Every question you could possibly ever ask, has been asked and answered on this forum and the stickies and stuff have lots of information presented by guys with a lot more experience than me, so do hang out a few weeks and do some reading. Trust me... it's all there. Absorb your background information and then you will be able to ask more detailed questions.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kurolap

I hate shaving, it causes irritation, gotta spend money to always get new blades and it's annoying.

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I didn't like shaving either. Then I bought a straight razor. Now shaving is one of my favorite parts of the day.

As far as what to buy, it depends on your starting budget. A shavette is the cheapest and you don't need anything else other than a can of shaving cream. Or you can spend a $1000 on a fully restored antique and premium supplies. I would imagine that your needs lie somewhere in between.

My wife bought me a Double Edge Parker safety razor and it's like silk compared to disposable cartridges. Not that expensive and replacement blades are relatively inexpensive. They are easy to learn and good to have around even with a straight razor being your main razor.

So ask yourself, do you want to learn a new set of skills ?

I appreciate all the responses with actual answers in them, still a bit confused but I think I'll try the "shavettes" because you don't have to "hone" or "sharpen" or do anything crazy with them?

Now with those I'm assuming the most important thing is the interchangeable blades, not the actual handles and I'm guessing I can start off with something cheap and basic like this?

Steel Barber Shaving Razor Shavette Disposable Blades | eBay

Also when searching for "blades" what do I type to specifically search for the blades for the Shavettes' ?

Thanks again!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mechromancer

I didn't like shaving either. Then I bought a straight razor. Now shaving is one of my favorite parts of the day.

As far as what to buy, it depends on your starting budget. A shavette is the cheapest and you don't need anything else other than a can of shaving cream. Or you can spend a $1000 on a fully restored antique and premium supplies. I would imagine that your needs lie somewhere in between.

My wife bought me a Double Edge Parker safety razor and it's like silk compared to disposable cartridges. Not that expensive and replacement blades are relatively inexpensive. They are easy to learn and good to have around even with a straight razor being your main razor.

So ask yourself, do you want to learn a new set of skills ?

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Are the double Edge ones the same as the Shavettes but single edge? is it a similar shave?

kurolap,

I would stay away from an ebay buy and instead look to some of the SRP vendors so you know what you're getting and they will also have the replaceable blades as well.

Also, search for videos on youtube for shavettes and see what they are all about.

Shaving with Shavette razors

Vendors Corner


https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=ay48qI6zynY

Ok where can I get a decent priced one shipped to Israel? Cuz I'm looking at a few and they are $10-$20 from the UK

If you're intent on just running out and buying something:shrug:, you could check here:

Dovo, Shavette, Parker, Stainless, Black, White, Silver, Blue, Straight, Razor, Shave, Shaving, Folding, Cut, Throat, Cutthroat, Blade, Wet, Classic, Traditional, Single, Double, Edge, DE, Blade

Disposable blade SRs come in two basic varieties, those that use standard double edged safety razor blades 1st broken in half by the user and those that take a specific blade for that razor marketed by the razor's vendor.

The 1/2 DE blade shavette razors are reputed to flex and to be unforgiving. Some dull the sharp corner points before loading the blade. It is cheap to try out. Remember that factory DE blades come sharper than just about any newly honed SR. Reading the disposable blade SR sticky is advised before acquiring and shaving with a shavette.

The Feather AC takes special blades and is reputed to come closest to a true SR shave, but is expensive.

I have no shaving experience with shavette type razors, but my barber uses the 1/2 DE blade type to trim my hair on the back of my neck during a haircut.

HTH

That shavette will work fine. You can buy any de blade for it then snap them half. I think only Darby and shark are the only companies that I have seen that sell blades already set up for these razors. Some people like them and some don't. A de sample pack might serve you best in the long run and find a blade that suits your face best.

Thanks! Please help me pick one of these 4 choices to start with.

1. Steel Barber Shaving Razor Shavette Disposable Blades | eBay

2. Marble Salon Straight Cut Throat Shaving Razor Shavette | eBay

3. Brand New Shaving Razor Cut Throat Razors Shavette Blades Pouch | eBay

4. Shaving Razor Straight Cut Throat Shaving Razors Traditional Shavette Blade | eBay


The 3rd one is my favourite based on looks. All of them come with blades, are they crap?

Well, I'm going to buck the trend here and ask "What is your current shaving process, right now? What do you use for shaving? What do you do to prepare your face for shaving?"

And just to catch the bus here, why not just get a DE and a sample pack of razors to try? This will save a little of the muck around with snapping blades in half to suit the Shavette and gives you a bit of ease of use in swapping out blades to find which ones work for you. Not putting down the shavette's at all, just trying to give you options that might be better suited to what appears to be an impatient nature.

Using a brush and a decent shave soap or cream might be all it takes with your current shaving method, to improve the way you feel about shaving. Get a good name brush and a tub of Cella, Proraso, Mama Bears, Taylor of Bond St, Col. Conks or something of that nature in soaps/creams before anything else.


Mick

What is the point of the Brush if I can use my hands? Same question with this "soap" vs the regular shaving cream?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kurolap

What is the point of the Brush if I can use my hands? Same question with this "soap" vs the regular shaving cream?

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Many many of us have found that it is a much better shave with the brush but if you insist on using your hands go for it you won't know any better so won't miss it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kurolap

What is the point of the Brush if I can use my hands? Same question with this "soap" vs the regular shaving cream?

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The only point is that using lather made from shaving soap/cream using shaving brush works better that smearing the stuff from the can with your hands.
I hope you don't ask what's the point of shaving when you can just leave your facial hair just grow.

Kurolap, you've gotten a lot of advice from a number of the SRP members. The one bit of advice I didn't see listed (if I'm reading right) is edit you info to show where you are at and post a request for a meeting with any mentor in the area or comfortable driving distance. No matter what you read here, as good as it is, nothing and I repeat, nothing can take the place of a one-on-one meeting with a mentor who is more than willing to answer ALL of your questions and get you on a steady path of successful straight razor shaving. I live 50 minutes from my mentor and between PMs and a every other month face to face with him I have avoided many of the pitfalls of a new str8 user. Do it, you won't regret it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kurolap

What is the point of the Brush if I can use my hands? Same question with this "soap" vs the regular shaving cream?

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Basically, the stuff in the can has chemicals (propellants among other things) in it that age your skin and dry it out. It also doesn't provide enough protection, nor does it hold enough moisture.

Without a brush, you cannot create a lather from non-canned creams or shaving soaps.

Another thing about a brush is that it is better at raising the hairs up, which helps you get a closer shave easier. When you apply canned cream with your hands, you're pretty much pushing the hairs down flat.
A brush is also better at working the lather into your beard which softens it, making it easier for your blade to cut the hair, which = less pulling and tugging = a more comfortable shave.

Plus, it feels nice.

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Originally Posted by Razorfeld

Kurolap, you've gotten a lot of advice from a number of the SRP members. The one bit of advice I didn't see listed (if I'm reading right) is edit you info to show where you are at and post a request for a meeting with any mentor in the area or comfortable driving distance. No matter what you read here, as good as it is, nothing and I repeat, nothing can take the place of a one-on-one meeting with a mentor who is more than willing to answer ALL of your questions and get you on a steady path of successful straight razor shaving. I live 50 minutes from my mentor and between PMs and a every other month face to face with him I have avoided many of the pitfalls of a new str8 user. Do it, you won't regret it.

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I've been at it a while now and this would probably be a good idea for me as well! Someone double check my work :p

Where would be the best place to post said request?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kwlfca

I've been at it a while now and this would probably be a good idea for me as well! Someone double check my work :p

Where would be the best place to post said request?

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Right here on SRP. Post in two areas. Beginners forum and the general Conversation section. And being where you are I'm sure there are several SRP members more than willing to share their knowledge with you. Might even be an American mentor just over the border also.

That third link shavette is nice. The "point" of the brush and good lather is that a good brush and lather is a key point in the "upgrade" process. If you are upgrading the quality of your razor you should upgrade the quality of all the components, so you upgrade your shave. Buying a straight razor and using can foam works. It's just like buying a new race sail boat and using bed sheets for sails. Silly, but, it works.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kurolap

What is the point of the Brush if I can use my hands? Same question with this "soap" vs the regular shaving cream?

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Since too much information is overwhelming, let me give you some very simple advice. Don't buy any new razors. Don't worry about honing or even stopping. Change one simple thing. Get that little brush and a good quality cream or soap. If you don't want to spend much try Proraso cream or Arko shave sticks. Just the simple improvement of a good soap/cream and a brush will greatly enhance your existing shave routine. Once you convince yourself that the experience can be made more enjoyable, look into a double edge safety razor or have yourself a try at a straight razor. But a nice cream or soap (maybe a good aftershave too) might help you enjoy the process some first. And its not overwhelming either since its shaving cream. I mean we're not curing cancer at this point. That's how I started out. I never intended to have this be a full blown hobby or anything . I just tried some decent products to make the experience less miserable and before I knew it, it was great.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Razorfeld

Right here on SRP. Post in two areas. Beginners forum and the general Conversation section. And being where you are I'm sure there are several SRP members more than willing to share their knowledge with you. Might even be an American mentor just over the border also.

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Phill @ Classic Edge is probably closest...he's just super busy!

That's a really good idea though. I've tried messaging someone from the local members area but they don't seem to be active...this seems like a much better idea!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kurolap

What is the point of the Brush if I can use my hands? Same question with this "soap" vs the regular shaving cream?

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kurolap, you seem to be questioning all of the advice you're being given, which is not a healthy way to start anything involving sharp knives against your skin; especially since you don't wish to read through the material.
The answer to this question is in your first post: you find shaving irritates your skin. What you're doing now isn't working. You've come to the right place to learn what DOES work. Just try out what they're -- we're advising you.
I echo OCDshaver in advising that you change to "one of those little brushes". Canned foam is bad -- just bad for your skin. Of course your skin is irritated! Get even a Van Der Hagen "Premium Shave Set" ($11.95 at my local Rite Aid) and that will make a huge difference.
The next thing is that what you should be questioning is the "MOAR BLADEZ!!!!11!!1!!!!" mantra of Gillette and Schick. A razor pass will take some skin off, period; how does adding MORE blades make that less so!? One blade, three controlled passes...great shave.
If you want to know why, then do the research. If you don't want to do the research, just take the advice.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kurolap

What is the point of the Brush if I can use my hands? Same question with this "soap" vs the regular shaving cream?

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Making the lather on the face instead of just dabbing it on from a can has a lot of advantages. In fact, I think it is more important to get your prep optimized (that includes using a brush to make your lather right on your face) than to get your shave equipment optimized. Your fusion will even shave better if you do a good job of moisturizing the skin, softening and lifting the whiskers, lubricating and cushioning the face, and you learn about stuff like mapping out your face, controlling angle and pressure, going WTG, stuff like that. Serious. Your cartridge can give you a better shave if you do everything right, though a straight is of course still better.

Canned foam is mostly just dry air. Has no slickness to it. That "gel" stuff is hardly any better. The lather mainly does two things... it lubricates your face so the razor slides across it better, and makes a microscopic cushion or buffer to protect your face from that super duper sharp edged cutting device you are applying to your skin. So, it helps you to shave easier and helps to prevent irritation and cuts.

The process of face lathering is good cause it helps to lift and soften the whiskers and exfoliates the skin. Plus, hey, it feels good. Well, if you use the right brush, anyways. Some guys like a boar but I don't I like a badger, and there are different grades of badger hair and I can use Black Badger but it isn't my favorite at all. You might like a little bit of scrubby feeling and that's what you get from boar brushes and black badger brushes and some "pure" badger brushes. Pure as in the grade, not pure as in not mixed with camel hair or dog hair or whatever. A silvertip if it is not too floppy feels very silky on the face and I can only imagine that it is doing nothing but kindness to your skin. Silvertip is the highest common grade of badger but there are also "Super" badgers and YMMV because there doesn't seem to be any standard for the grades, not chipped in stone anyhow. A silvertip brush can be expensive, as in over $200, or it can be pretty chreap, like around $30 or even less. Some cheap brushes are pretty good, they just got a molded plastic handle instead of a fancy one turned on a lathe from some exotic material by some expert either self proclaimed or acknowledged. If the knot, which is the bundle of hair is good, and it doesn't fall out of the handle, and the handle doesn't break apart, and it doesn't shed hairs like crazy, it will get the job done. You might want a fancy one. You might want a cheap one that works just as good. There are cheap brushes that suck. Very few premium brushes suck but I am sure that there are a few sucky ones that sell for a lot of $. Selecting your brush is probably a whole nother thread but I am finding that SOME of the Chinese brushes are really really worth the money, like the Virginia Sheng brushes for instance. Oh, and Whipped Dog. Okay, so a silvertip brush is great, as long as it isn't too floppy and doesn't shed like a Persian cat. And it doesn't have to cost a lot, even though it can. And it is good for your face, and it softens and lifts the whiskers and makes your shave better. And playing patty cake on your face with canned foam lather sucks, compared. So I hope that answers your question. My advice is get a decent brush FIRST and then worry about straight vs shavette.

BTW I used a shavette and it does shave but a straight is so much nicer, less harsh on the face, fewer cuts, easier to use, and just a lot more fun. My shavette shaves were okay but now I would NEVER go back to one of those. Plus I hate the idea of buying, using, and tossing blades. If the North Koreans or Russians or Chinese or Iranians started WWIII and we went basically back to the stone age from nuclear war then your shavette will one day be useless. You will have to shave with clam shells sharpened on rocks or something, I guess, cause I won't give you one of my straights. I will be able to shave forever, and my descendents for many generations, too. Serious though, it is nice to not have to depend on the availability of consumable stuff. Self sufficiency. It's kewl. I feel like sharp edges should be sharpened when they are dull and used again, not tossed into a landfill. YMMV of course. Your face, dude.

A shavette doesn't have much kewl factor either. A straight is like badass and a shavette is sort of bogus and lame. At least in my view. Well I said don't worry right now about straight vs shavette and there I go dissing the shavette and recommending the straights LOL! It is easy to get opinionated, especially when you know you're right, you know? Hey, if you want to go for a shavette then go for it. I have made the case against and you can safely ignore it at your peril.

10Pups signature comes to mind quite vividly.

Well I think the reason to get a brush has been nicely covered...Too much information? I'll break it down for you. A brush, used along with a decent soap or cream, will make shaving, no matter which razor type is used, just so much better for your face, skin and comfort. It should be the first thing changed about any shave routine which doesn't currently incorporate it.


Mick

You got to be kidding, two pages of why you need a brush.

Bob

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You are right - you don't need a brush to put lather on your face. Just like you don't need a house to live in, a tent will do. You don't need a car, with enough time you can walk anywhere you want to get to. Etc.

One of the reasons we all are here is because we want to enjoy our shaving. Using a brush brings enjoyment through less mess, better application of lather to the whiskers, and some brushes are just really cool.

If you are unsure of whether something is useful for you or not the best approach is to try it out for yourself. That's what most of us have done with everything from creams, soaps and brushes to razors, strops and hones. If you find the amount of information here overwhelming (and I fully understand that), just break it down into bits:

1. Software (brushes, soaps, creams, aftershaves, etc);
2. Hardware (strops, razors, hones etc).

Sub-categorise these major ones, then do searches to find out what you want to know. The only way to get through a lot of information is to be systematic about it. Otherwise you just flounder.

Good luck.

James.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OCDshaver

Since too much information is overwhelming, let me give you some very simple advice. Don't buy any new razors. Don't worry about honing or even stopping. Change one simple thing. Get that little brush and a good quality cream or soap. If you don't want to spend much try Proraso cream or Arko shave sticks. Just the simple improvement of a good soap/cream and a brush will greatly enhance your existing shave routine. Once you convince yourself that the experience can be made more enjoyable, look into a double edge safety razor or have yourself a try at a straight razor. But a nice cream or soap (maybe a good aftershave too) might help you enjoy the process some first. And its not overwhelming either since its shaving cream. I mean we're not curing cancer at this point. That's how I started out. I never intended to have this be a full blown hobby or anything . I just tried some decent products to make the experience less miserable and before I knew it, it was great.

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I had a nice long break down written up on my tablet, but then my toddler decided he wanted to "help papa read" and I lost it. Sooo I just going to say that the post by OCDshaver is right on the money. If you don't practice the "wet" part of wetshaving, I would just start growing a beard if I were you.