Thread: What size razor?

I have been shaving with a safety razor for years so I already had all that stuff including brushes and creams. Decided about 8-9 weeks ago to try straight razor shaving. I heard somewhere that a 5/8 is a good place to start. Found a cool old Clauss 5/8 razor at Bob's and started shaving. I'm thinking now about buying another razor and thinking maybe a bigger one. Any advice will be appreciated.

Welcome to the forum. Well you know what they say - bigger is better!

But that's a load of Texas propaganda . Get whatever size you want. There is no right answer. Get the one you love. I have tried quite a few sizes. I settled on 4/8's. It's whatever.

How many times have you used the 5/8 you have? Do you feel you're proficient with a straight razor. If not I wouldn't introduce a second blade yet. If your doing very well with technique and shave results then try whatever appeals to you.

Originally Posted by earcutter

Welcome to the forum. Well you know what they say - bigger is better!

But that's a load of Texas propaganda . Get whatever size you want. There is no right answer. Get the one you love. I have tried quite a few sizes. I settled on 4/8's. It's whatever.

It isn't that we say bigger is better. We say It's bigger and better in Texas.

Ok so I was thinking about this a bit more and maybe... well, they claim that a larger blade with its added weight help make for a smother shave as the weight allows for a looser grip as "the blade does more of the work." Which is what you want (looser grip).

Of course on the flip-side, some find that the larger blades are harder to wield. This can make shaving tight area's a little more challenging.

There are certainly characteristics to each size. Unfortunately, I really don't think anyone can answer what will be of more use to you, the maneuverability of a smaller blade, or the heft of a larger blade. It's one of those things you're going to kind of have to figure out for yourself.

Again - welcome to SRP. And welcome to straight shaving.

Originally Posted by Sirtexan

It isn't that we say bigger is better. We say It's bigger and better in Texas.

Of course lol - wrong cliche !! Thanks for the looking out !!

I have shaved with this razor every day for the last 9 weeks. I wouldn't say I'm proficient but am now shaving my whole face and not using the safety razor around my lips any more. That is the hard spot for me.

The only way to know if you'll like a bigger blade is to buy one. I have 4/8 thru 7/8 and I like the 5/8 the best. But I wouldn't have know that if i didn't try the other sizes.

Originally Posted by kettlebell

The only way to know if you'll like a bigger blade is to buy one. I have 4/8 thru 7/8 and I like the 5/8 the best. But I wouldn't have know that if i didn't try the other sizes.

Then there is the issue of which grind

5/8 and 6/8 make up most of my collection with a few larger blades. I don't use the larger blades as much as the smaller ones, I do have a 3/8 that gets almost no use at all, it is just too small for me