Thread: Total beginner razor selection - any insight would be appreciated!

Jake, I started out with a 5/8 Boker King Cutter new from SRD and it still shaves extremely well for me. I bought a new Dovo because it looked nice but it wasn't shave ready and the blade was warped. I have honed the hell out of it numerous times and have never been able to shave well with it at all. I bought two new 6/8 Ralf Aust razors (square and round) from SRD about four or five months after starting to shave with a straight. These two razors are my favorites and I shave with them most of the time. I've also bought a 6/8 Kinfolk from the classified and am extremely happy with that one as well. I do have a Hart Steel and the 2H2H from Tim Zowada as well as the SRP razor. All, except MY Dovo, are quality razors, feel differently, but all hone up relatively the same with my Shaptons, Naniwas, and Gokuyomo 20k.

Personally, if I had to get only one and start over, I'd get a 6/8, I'd get a full hollow like you suggested and it'd be a new Ralf Aust round point from SRD for the money, quality and shave readiness. I could use that razor for the rest of my life with no issues. IMO, when you first start shaving with a straight razor you want to eliminate all the variables you possibly can so you can improve your technique. For me, a full hollow increases feedback which improves my light-handedness, the 6/8 size allows me to consistently use a shallow angle, the round point prevents me from nicking my ears at 5:00 in the morning every morning, the purchase from SRD eliminates the shave readiness and finally, Ralf Aust razors have been very good quality for me and hone up very well.