Thread: Newbie here

Hi all

I have been DE Shaving now for about six weeks. I've been on some of the other DE forms and very interested now into trying straight razor shaving. I'm a little afraid of it and wonder if I need to DE shave a little longer. What do you all think I have watched a lot of videos and read a lot. Would you recommend someone jumping right in and how dangerous is it. I was thinking about buying a Parker replaceable blade straight razor. The cost is very good and I don't have to hone and strop. Any of you ever used the Parker replaceable blade straight razor. The reviews on this razor look very very good.

Thanks for your help Roger

I'd say just go for it! The razor you mention would be a fine starting point. Like you said, you wouldn't have to worry about stropping or honing, which helps with the learning curve. Shaving with a DE longer won't really end up helping that much as the technique is pretty different. And as for how dangerous it is... I would say as long as you stay focused it's no more "dangerous" than regular shaving maybe a few more nicks and cuts than you're used to is all.

I own a Parker and I like it a lot. Consider just shaving your sideburns to start. Build up to shaving your whole face.

Welcome to the most friendly, helpful and informative site on the web!!

You will find members here of all different backgrounds, ages and occupations from all corners of the world and all with a quest for more knowledge about using and maintaining a straight razor!

Nothing wrong with starting out with a shavette style razor! You can always move back in time to using a straight! As you've pointed out, you don't need to learn to strop or hone but once you get used to shaving in this manner you may decide to try a non replaceable razor blade!

If you could update your Profile to include your location it would help! That way we can see if by chance there is a member close to you!! Very recently I was fortunate enough to find a Newbie who lived only 100 miles from me! I've been honing for him and loaning him different razors to try so that he can narrow down what he likes! So far he's found that with his heavy and tough beard he likes the larger and heavier blades! You really never know as there may be a member just down the road from you!

If you do decide to go with a staight razor please stay away from FleaBay! At least until you know how to see the defects and Junk!

Again Welcome!

Thanks for all your help. I have updated my profile and will continue to add some more stuff tomorrow.

I'm new to all of this too, and to be honest, I prefer the feel of the shave with a DE. A replaceable straight should feel the same. However, the nostalgic feel you get when shaving with an actual straight is cool. I say try them all, then decide what you do and don't like. As long as you are on here, there will be people interested in buying what you don't want to keep.

Hi and welcome. I say jump right in. I went from a fusion to a SR and yes it will take a little to get better but you have the DE to finish up with to start out and you already have lathering sorted. If careful you will get a few nicks but nothing of any note. Simply enjoy the shave! Good luck which ever way you go.

jump in! I did ask my barber if I could pick up his shavette and it definitely felt a lot lighter than a traditional straight. I would say pick up a "real" straight, a strop, a norton 4/8, naniwa 12k, crox and go for it. I almost never use my DE's anymore except on travel or weekends.

I'd say jump in as well, but i'd go a different route then gfro!
I spent forever researching and trying to figure out what to buy to get started. First thing i would tell you is to get in touch with larry at whipped dog.
second, I know that strops and hones are super key to the sport, but, for us newbies the honing can be a disaster, for that matter the stropping too. I've just completed my second sr "shave" (both side burns) and I have found that as much as I wanted to buy hones and a nice strop, I have more soap than I can shake a stick at.
My 2 bits is that you avoid the hones, buy some soaps, I just had a great lather of a $2 williams shave soap from walmart that might put my AoS in the drawer. I have quickly discovered that prep is just as important as anything.
If I was to order again from larry I'd be adding a nice badger brush, would be looking for a nice scuttle from etsy, firehouse potter, or sarah's moss scuttle from nova scotia, just to keep the suds and brush warm.
It take some time to figure out how you want to start it off, but when you do it feels great.
Also a half dozen dish towls for the bathroom counter to wipe your blade clean.
If you do go with larry and his refurbished gems, you can afford to get a couple of razors, I asked him for 2 fairly different blades and he came through, and was here faster and cheaper than amazon every would be!
cheers
have fun!

Hi, and welcome to SRP. I as well say jump right in to straights.