Im a complete beginner so all advice is welcome

Hello all. Im 19 and joining the military. I've always wanted to learn the art of using the straight blade but ive only just had the guts to actually do something about it and I thought it would be rather fitting to learn now before I join up. So being quite anxious, I didnt want to fork out a lot of money for a decent straight razor so I purchased a shavette. Now ive already read how they are two completely different feels, but I just wanted something cheap and cheerful to see if I liked using that over a standard 3 blade. if I enjoy it I will invest into the whole shabang after my phase 1 training in the army, as I won't have the time. I just wondered if anyone has any advice? I will post what my first experience with the shavette is like soon. Thank you.

Welcome! Definitely check out the library before your first go at it!

Linkies I've found helpful starting out:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi..._razor_shaving
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...et_on_a_budget
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...ht_razor_shave

I would think that using a DE (Double edge safety razor) would be a prudent way to go while you are in the service, or till you are established where the rigors and stress of training are minimum. You'll get a better shave from a DE any time over a multi-bladed apparition of a razor. Depending on what your beard is like and the blade chosen (many to choose from) you can get over 4 to six shaves a blade. If you go the DE route buy a sampler pack of razors so you can experience variable levels of sharpness and comfort. Less time involved and no need to worry about the straight razors edge condition.

A shavette is a perfectly reasonable way to start straight razor shaving, and the feel is only slightly different from that of a regular straight razor. It is certainly far closer than using a DE. Whatever the biases on this forum may be, a DE is more like using a cartridge razor.

How long till you ship off?

Nothing wrong with a shavette. That's how I started. Do you have any shaving gear yet?

I think during boot your best off with a shavette as I can't imagine having the time for stropping and blade maintenance.

Welcome to SRP.

I started out with a shavette and the switch over to a straight was relatively easy. I still use the shavette for touch ups some days. The main difference in shaving between them is the blade angle and pressure.

I go to phase 1 training in August. And no I dont really, just standard foam and razor. If I can shave fast enough with a shavette ill use that in basic training.

If you wan to get started on the inexpensive side....
Vdh shave kit the inexpensive one will run you 8-10$ and will include a brush a bowl and soap. It can be found at walgreens or CVS her in California. So it should be available at a few other drugstores around the country.
The shavette I use was found at a Sally beauty supply and is 10$ as well. I bought a 5 pack of persona blades there for another 3$

That's under 30$ total. And I still have and use daily the brush and bowl. An still have blades and the shavette. Inexpensive doesn't have to mean cheap.

+1 on VDH kit. That is how I am starting and it is serving me well so far.

That sounds good but im in the UK and ive yet to find anything like that but ill keep looking

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Originally Posted by Padbrat

That sounds good but im in the UK and ive yet to find anything like that but ill keep looking

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Well... Are you near any major metropolitan areas?

Not sure what shipping is to you, but check out amazon,and ebay.

Additionally with this VDH also has a butterfly style safety razor that I have now seen on sale at Target for pretty cheap as well.

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Originally Posted by ncraigtrn

If you wan to get started on the inexpensive side....
Vdh shave kit the inexpensive one will run you 8-10$ and will include a brush a bowl and soap. It can be found at walgreens or CVS her in California. So it should be available at a few other drugstores around the country.
The shavette I use was found at a Sally beauty supply and is 10$ as well. I bought a 5 pack of persona blades there for another 3$

That's under 30$ total. And I still have and use daily the brush and bowl. An still have blades and the shavette. Inexpensive doesn't have to mean cheap.

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Originally Posted by Briwill99

Not sure what shipping is to you, but check out amazon,and ebay.

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Amazon should have a UK site. That's the way to go if there's nothing local

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Originally Posted by Razorfeld

I would think that using a DE (Double edge safety razor) would be a prudent way to go while you are in the service, or till you are established where the rigors and stress of training are minimum. You'll get a better shave from a DE any time over a multi-bladed apparition of a razor. Depending on what your beard is like and the blade chosen (many to choose from) you can get over 4 to six shaves a blade. If you go the DE route buy a sampler pack of razors so you can experience variable levels of sharpness and comfort. Less time involved and no need to worry about the straight razors edge condition.

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I would go even further and say until you are attached to permanent party, while in a training environment don't even try use a straight, shavette, or DE. Stick with the cruddy disposables and spray foam until you're done training. You wouldn't be able to possess straights/shavettes/DE blades in BCT anyway, nor will you have the time. Granted, it was a different era, but when I was in BCT (in 1984) we had fifteen minutes from reveille until formation, that means sh1x, shower, shave , make bunk, and get into uniform. You will be a busy young man :) Trust me. Wait til after training.


EDIT: Just noticed you're in the UK. I'm a Yank, but I'm sure some of the training fundamentals still apply. I would verify with a recruiter before packing any sharps to recruit training. They have a tendency to react negatively over seemingly very small things, and you'll definitely be wanting to fly under the radar. Life is easier in recruit training when the drill instructors don't know your name.

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Originally Posted by Padbrat

That sounds good but im in the UK and ive yet to find anything like that but ill keep looking

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Just go to boots and buy a palmolive shave stick and a cheap brush, don't get a cheap synthetic brush, get something made from some sort of animal.

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Originally Posted by Padbrat

Hello all. Im 19 and joining the military. I've always wanted to learn the art of using the straight blade but ive only just had the guts to actually do something about it and I thought it would be rather fitting to learn now before I join up. So being quite anxious, I didnt want to fork out a lot of money for a decent straight razor so I purchased a shavette. Now ive already read how they are two completely different feels, but I just wanted something cheap and cheerful to see if I liked using that over a standard 3 blade. if I enjoy it I will invest into the whole shabang after my phase 1 training in the army, as I won't have the time. I just wondered if anyone has any advice? I will post what my first experience with the shavette is like soon. Thank you.

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Good luck with your basic training...did mine back in 82. Be sure to leave that shavette at home, the Drill Instructors will have a sh@t fit if they see it! You'll have to do about 10,000 pushups.

Padbrat,

Welcome and hello from Hastings :)

A couple of useful links :

Mr Neil Miller is a supplier of World Class strops, and a honer of great talent (and font of much knowledge) :

Vintage Straight Razor Sales & Restorations, Hand Made Strops, UK Razor Honing and Vintage Hone Stones

Shaving consumables can be had from Mr Mayhew at Connaught Shaving :

Welcome To Connaught Shaving

Have fun :)

Best regards

Russ

I am also new to straight razor shaving. Did my second shave this morning. And hell it is amazing. I cant believe i waited until the age of 31 to switch over to straight razor. Glad to see there is new people. Happy shaving.

If you can make it through basic, you can learn to shave with a straight razor.

Hi guys! Just a quick update, I had my first shave with my shavette and did all my face and apart from one nick it was brilliant, cant wait to get better and enjoy a really good shave..... everyone who has replied on this thread has helped so thank you all!

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Originally Posted by Padbrat

Hi guys! Just a quick update, I had my first shave with my shavette and did all my face and apart from one nick it was brilliant, cant wait to get better and enjoy a really good shave..... everyone who has replied on this thread has helped so thank you all!

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What shavette did you end up getting and from where?

When you do decide to transition to a straight take a look at the products offered by Executive Shaving. They are UK based, have an extensive selection of all things related to wet shaving, including a decent lineup of straights. They also have a small collection of vintage restored straights if you want to go that route. I've purchase from them several times and have always been happy with their timely shipments and customer service.

Good luck!

Online I got the bluebeards revenge shavette..... really good for the price!

Hey, I used my shavette again today and its getting better! Just need to work out the angles! But I did get a few niks on my neck but oh well, try again tomorrow. Also I dunno why but I cant seem to get a good lather up, any advice?

first can you tell us what you are using to make your lather (type of soap,brush), and how you are doing it (do you soak your brush, do you use a bowl/face lather etc)?

A synthetic hair brush and a shaving soap from boots......I dunno how much water I use, and yes I soak the brush.

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Originally Posted by Padbrat

A synthetic hair brush and a shaving soap from boots......I dunno how much water I use, and yes I soak the brush.

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I am going to assume it is the boots for men soap in a black plastic bowl, i have this but have only used it once or twice, but it seemed ok to me, certainly not the best soap in the world but ok. All i can suggest is to try different amounts of water by either soaking the brush longer or shaking less out, or vice versa depending on the issue with your lather, is it too wet or too dry, or just not very lathery? You could try loading the brush with soap then moving to a bowl to build your lather, swirl the wet brush on top of the soap for lets say 30 revoloutions, then, using the bowl whisk the lather up.
I have had inexpensive synthetic brushes that were fairly ordinary so it could be that too, depending on how synthetic they are, as in plastic doesnt really absorb water. Semogue boar brushes are pretty cheap on ebay, but certainly in australia i can pick up bristle brushes at the chemists, i am not sure what would be available in the uk anymore.

The older synthetic brushes, that I've found and used, generally are fairly stiff. From what I can tell the newer synthetics have advanced to the point where you can get a synthetic that perfectly mimics most of the boar, badger and horse hair brushes. I have read where some shavers have sold off their natural hair brushes and gone completely to synthetics. From what I can tell and read, no need to soak a synthetic since they can't absorb water, just carries it the strands. Upkeep would also be simpler since you could rinse off most or all of the lather when done, alieviating the need to periodically shampoo your brush.

Hello, and welcome to SRP!!

I have been experimenting with a hybrid mixture of soap and cream (not foam!) with a few drops of pure glycerin and mineral oil. Better to start with too little water, then add touches as needed until you get a good, rich lather. You don't have to spend gobs on the cream (a tube of Nivia works great), but definitely use a good soap. The glycerin and mineral oil are dirt cheap and can be found in most pharmacies. Food for thought.

Tymus, will call that an uber lather. Everyone has their own formula. Mine is a base of a few drops glycerin, a dash of Tea Tree oil, small amount of Maca Root and a 30 second swirl on a puck of MWF. And as the day feels I often add a small amount of various other soaps, creams or tubed shaving soap. I generally keep this mixture going for about a week, refreshing it each day with a drop or two of glycerin and a touch of the two mainstays. I discard after that week because I've found that most brushes shed hairs while you are mixing the lather and it build up on the bottom of the bowl.

Must learn to type and proof read better. ,will call should read we call.