Help with xmas gift?? Keeping a beard with a straight razor?

Hi all,

Looking for a little advice if poss...

My boyfriend has hinted ever so subtly, "a straight razor would be great!", that he'd maybe like a straight razor for Christmas. So I've spent weeks researching straight razors, strops, sets, comparing, contrasting, pricing and now... dreaming about the bloomin things! I like the notion of initial purchase and upkeep costs only instead of burning money on replacement cartridges and of the cleaner, more comfortable shave and I've decided (for today anyway) on the entry price, shave ready Boker King Cutter 5/8 so it won't completely break the bank but is hopefully good, lasting quality gift with a low budget (till he knows he'll stick with it) strop and soap set.

But,..... my only hesitation is that he LOVES his beard and only shaves his neck up to the jaw and occasionally his cheeks and wondered if a SR is suitable/practical for shaving just these areas???
I have read that a SR can be used for what I think is called 'Beard Polishing'? so if I understand right it can be used to keep the beard neat too?

So before I take the plunge I just wondered what the general opinion is on using a SR for shaving around the beard, and
if it'd be a worthwhile (if he sticks at it and gets good) gift instead of an ornament?

Thanks in advance folks

I have had a beard for 41 years and find it easier to shave my neck and cheeks with a straight razor than a cartridge. The shaves are very close and leave my skin smoooooooooooth. I am not familiar with the term "beard polishing" so I can't give you any help. My barber keeps my beard trimmed.
Check out the starter kits at "Straight Razor Designs." All of their products are top of the line and the razor will come "shave ready" with a second honing free.
If you have any other questions the folks on this site will give you the answers. I hope this helps and if you do give him the razor have him sign up. It's definitely worth it.

That's exactly what I needed to know! That and is a round point ok for this?
Think that's the last of my questions but I imagine he'll have loads so I'll definately get him to sign up here, preferably before he heads towards a mirror!!

The Straight Razor Designs site looks great but I'm in the UK and don't want to be dealing with international postage + customs at this time of year, it's been really helpful reading the reviews there though. There's a site over here called The InvisibleEdge that by all accounts is very reputable and offers shave ready Dovos, TIs and Bokers that I think I'll go with.

WOO, useful, shiny gifts!!!
Thanks

The round point should be fine for beard edges,
I mainly have square points but I don't use the point realy for around my goatee mainly just the main blade,
and all I've read about the Invisible edge you should be fine they are very reputable

Both my Dovos are round points and I have shaved with a beard and now shave with a moustache .Do remember, that back in the days of Striaght razors there were many styles of facial hair and people did just fine. As will your man . Cheers and Happy shaving.:chapeau

You've found this place, and asked for help, so you are way ahead in the game and you can avoid the big trap most first-time shoppers fall into - getting a razor-shaped-object instead of a proper razor. The site you're planning to buy from does sell razors and not junk.

Shaving just the neck is still shaving, and I prefer straight razor than anything else for that. Indeed depending on the neck it's usually easier than shaving the beard - much smaller curvature. Usually the curvature is the hard part - you have to turn the blade as you follow the curve, if you do just a flat surface like your side it's fairly easy.

Don't forget shaving soap/cream and brush if your boyfriend isn't using that. That would make the biggest difference to the quality of the shave.

On my wifes order my beard stays so all I shave is my neck and top of the cheecks. Since using a straight I have managed to no longer suffer irritation from shaving. A round point will result in less nicks while learning.

I have not ordered from the Invisible Edge but have heard notheing but good things. Their edges on their razors have received high praise from our members.
I use both square and round tip razors and they both work.

Round vs square is probably gonna be answered by his abilities.
Mine are low, so a round doesn't work for me when I am sporting a beard. I find it easier to determine where the end of the cut is with a square point.
I also find it easier with a shorter blade, if you can find one. probably would be easier to find a vintage rather than a new, I havent seen any new that were different in length, though I haven't looked specifically.

Best of luck to you.

The "bloomin" gave away that you.were from the UK, I was going to ask until you said.
The invisible edge has a good reputation as far as I know.
A square point is supposed to be more precise, but more likely to cause inadvertant cuts. It is possible to slightly mute (round off, though in this case it is more removing the very point) of a square point razor. This is meant to make it less likely to cut you by accident, and if done very conservatively will be rectifiable fairly easily.
I would get your feller practicing his stropping with a butter knife and a paper strop, unless you get him the.strop early, like a teaser.
And unless he already uses soap and a brush, it might be worth giving that to him too, so that he can make a decent lather and strop a razor before he has to learn to shave with the razor as well.
I know it's not as exciting as getting it all at once, bit it is far more practical.

Oh and I would put good odds on the beard disappearing for at least a while, a little bit of neck hair wont go far when the shaving bug really hits him.

You may be asking a slightly biased crowd here, but there's no doubt in my mind that a straight razor is the best way to keep a beard in shape both in terms of its outline and its volume/length.

It sounds like you've done your research well actually. It's always hard to know with these kinds of gifts whether they will stand the test of time as it were. I guess all you can do is make sure that what you get him is decent (which, from what you describe, it is), and the rest is up to him. Personally I think it is an extremely thoughtful gift.

Even if he ends up not using it, all is not lost. We have a ladies section here, and it is not unknown for women to use straight razors for their shaving needs, particularly legs. So, if it doesn't quite work out the way you intended, his loss may well be your gain. :)

James.

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Originally Posted by Jimbo

You may be asking a slightly biased crowd here, but there's no doubt in my mind that a straight razor is the best way to keep a beard in shape both in terms of its outline and its volume/length.

It sounds like you've done your research well actually. It's always hard to know with these kinds of gifts whether they will stand the test of time as it were. I guess all you can do is make sure that what you get him is decent (which, from what you describe, it is), and the rest is up to him. Personally I think it is an extremely thoughtful gift.

Even if he ends up not using it, all is not lost. We have a ladies section here, and it is not unknown for women to use straight razors for their shaving needs, particularly legs. So, if it doesn't quite work out the way you intended, his loss may well be your gain. :)

James.

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Didn't you ever share your toys jimbo? :).
I actually just realised that you did a nice little article on this exact thing, though it sounds like twotinyturtles won't need it.

When it comes to razors, no. :)

Yeah, the article isn't really aimed at our members actually - the fact they are here means they are already on the right track. It is more aimed at the passer-by considering a razor etc as a gift, and finding our site when they search.

James.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimbo

When it comes to razors, no. :)

Yeah, the article isn't really aimed at our members actually - the fact they are here means they are already on the right track. It is more aimed at the passer-by considering a razor etc as a gift, and finding our site when they search.

James.

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A bit like twotinyturtles did before she had the good sense to join us. Sorry james couldn't help meself.
Oh, I should ask do you prefer james or jimbo?

Either is fine Ed. I call myself James, but my family all call me Jimbo so I respond to either.

James.

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Originally Posted by Jimbo

Either is fine Ed. I call myself James, but my family all call me Jimbo so I respond to either.

James.

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I was taught to address people as they introduce themselves, hence the confusion, plus I am not 100% on forum etiquette, good job you didn't sign the last message professor james mudbrick-bananahammock (or whatever your proper name is). I assume if someone gives their real name in a post it would be ok to use it, or if you know their real name it'd be ok unless they said otherwise.

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

I was taught to address people as they introduce themselves, hence the confusion, plus I am not 100% on forum etiquette, good job you didn't sign the last message professor james mudbrick-bananahammock (or whatever your proper name is). I assume if someone gives their real name in a post it would be ok to use it, or if you know their real name it'd be ok unless they said otherwise.

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I do agree with your sentiment on it.
I know as I first started on SRP I would run into threads where people were addressing others by name without a quote.
That could at times be a bit confusing. So I try to at least include a partial quote attached to help with any confusion.
I do enjoy getting to know peoples real names here, granted this forum has been a bit of the exception and not the rule.
That stems from how most here present and carry themselves.

As with my name it is first initial = Patrick (Pat) and my last name Fries (actually pronounced Freese).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pfries

I do agree with your sentiment on it.
I know as I first started on SRP I would run into threads where people were addressing others by name without a quote.
That could at times be a bit confusing. So I try to at least include a partial quote attached to help with any confusion.
I do enjoy getting to know peoples real names here, granted this forum has been a bit of the exception and not the rule.
That stems from how most here present and carry themselves.

As with my name it is first initial = Patrick (Pat) and my last name Fries (actually pronounced Freese).

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This does bring to mind a conversation I had with another full namer, who shall remain nameless. We are both a bit amazed that when people reply to our posts and refer to us by name they will say edhewitt etc, we both sort of think our names are obvious (hence the (call me ed) that appeared next to henry's cat)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

This does bring to mind a conversation I had with another full namer, who shall remain nameless. We are both a bit amazed that when people reply to our posts and refer to us by name they will say edhewitt etc, we both sort of think our names are obvious (hence the (call me ed) that appeared next to henry's cat)

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I would guess that people miss/don't see or don't put together the Call me Ed with a blessing to address you by name?
I would gather for some it is a better safe than sorry type of issue.

As for me if I answer it got the job done no matter how I was addressed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pfries

I would guess that people miss/don't see or don't put together the Call me Ed with a blessing to address you by name?
I would gather for some it is a better safe than sorry type of issue.

As for me if I answer it got the job done no matter how I was addressed.

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The "call me ed" has actually worked pat. It's not a huge deal either way really, more funny frustrating than anything else. The other guys name is quite long so it's probably worse for the responder :)