Thread: Advice on first DE razor

Greetings gents,

I'm making the switch to wet shaving and I guess I'm doing the norm by starting off with a DE before I move to a straight. Looking around at the selection of whats out there it gets pretty overwhelming as I'm sure most of you know. Between bowls, brushes, razors, blades, soaps, creams, oils and such and all the price tags it's almost like trying to eat an elephant. The best way I know to do that is one bite at a time and I figure the first bite will be the razor and the blades.

So what would you recommend for a newbie?
What are some differences between a razor for a beginner and one for more experienced users?
Do any of you have recommendations on a razor/blade combo for shaving your head?

Scout

I started with a straight then learned DE. I bought the DE kit from SRD. I still use their soap and the Thater brush is awesome. I just guessed between open and closed comb. Closed comb seemed safer (I know, I was already shaving with a straight). Lots of info here but blade brand can only be decided by your face.

I'm a long time DE user, pretty new to straights though. Much of the choice of a DE depends on your beard, if it is light then you could use almost any of them. If you have bristles of steel then a more aggressive razor is in order ..

There is alot of conflicting advice about, basics though for a beginner would be a brush, some cream, and a DE, skip the oils for now. Also avoid the "kits" from various vendors, usually they are overpriced and contain at least one item that you will use once then trash. (like the brush stand)

For a low cost start-up set, I would suggest an Omega Boar brush for about 9 bucks, a tube of Proraso shave cream, and maybe a Merkur model 33 .. actually a vintage Gillette is a better razor by far, but without knowing beard type & preferences hard to pick one.

Scout, if straight shaving is your goal, I would suggest you skip the DE phase. You'll have a steep learning curve, BUT, you'll spend a lot less money. Take this advice from someone who took the DE then straight route. I must have spent hundreds of dollars on DE razors. Don't get me wrong, I still use and love my Edwin Jagger, Merkurs and Ikon. If I could go back in time, I would get two economical straights off the classifieds here, and use one till it needed to be sent out for honing, then use the other till it needed to be sent out.
If you still want to go DE first, I always recommend the Edwin Jagger DE89 razor. It is downright gentle, yet still effective. Get a "sampler" pack of different blades...all major vendors have "sampler" packs. Every wetshaver is different in the blades that they prefer. Get about a $20 boar brush from Semogue or Omega...save that expensive badger brush for later. If you're gonna use a bowl, don't shell out big bucks for anything fancy. I use a goblet shaped candy bowl from Wal-Mart...about 2 bucks it cost. Hope I've given you some good advice.

I went the same route, DE first. I recommend Van Der Hagen shave set. It gives you bowl, shave soap, and brush. I also went with micro touch one DE razor. It has been very easy to use. No blood, no rash. I learned the Weishi 9306 is basically the same razor for a little less. I would probably go that route if I were to do it over. That combo should run you around $30.

I was in your shoes a year ago. I don't about straights but there are certain DE razors more appropriate for beginners.

I wouldn't start with a slant or open comb.

First what is your budget?

You will get many people recommending the Edwin Jagger 89. A good razor at a good price.

I don't care for this particular razor but everyone's different. I would also consider a Merkur 34C or even better the 38C barberpole. The latter is more expensive but has a longer and heavier handle than other DE razors. If you are migrating from a cartridge razor you will be surprised at how small and light the handles can be on a DE. You get used to it but heavier and longer handles are what I prefer.

I like a badger brush. If you look around, you can find one used that is half it's original cost. I would stick with reputable forums to buy anything used. Boars will almost always be cheaper and also note there are many people without a budget who prefer them. Badgers, IMO, tend to be softer and more pleasant.

Blades - buy a sampler.

My biggest mistakes when starting:

Buying countless creams, lotions and oils. When I figured everything out, I found that I like to face lather with soaps.

**Simplicity will really save you money and time. You can concentrate on what is important - technique.

I am getting a great deal of help here for straight shaving. I would be more than happy to help you with DE shaving.

Feel free to ask me anything ... anytime.

When the dust settled for me as a beginner -
I used a Merkur 38C
Rooney super badger brush 3/1
Mitchells Wool Fat Soap
Post shave - Plan old witch hazel from the grocery store. Hands down my favorite and I have spent more $ than I care to admit on post shave products.

I bought them in intervals but cost wise this set up new would be $200. Used $100 for the brush and razor. Soaps are expensive initially ($20-$40) because of the bowls, replacement pucks are inexpensive.

I highly recommend buying a used razor. People will use them 3 times and sell it because they hate it.

Take care,
Jason

Originally Posted by Wayne1963

Scout, if straight shaving is your goal, I would suggest you skip the DE phase. You'll have a steep learning curve, BUT, you'll spend a lot less money. Take this advice from someone who took the DE then straight route. I must have spent hundreds of dollars on DE razors. Don't get me wrong, I still use and love my Edwin Jagger, Merkurs and Ikon. If I could go back in time, I would get two economical straights off the classifieds here, and use one till it needed to be sent out for honing, then use the other till it needed to be sent out.
If you still want to go DE first, I always recommend the Edwin Jagger DE89 razor. It is downright gentle, yet still effective. Get a "sampler" pack of different blades...all major vendors have "sampler" packs. Every wetshaver is different in the blades that they prefer. Get about a $20 boar brush from Semogue or Omega...save that expensive badger brush for later. If you're gonna use a bowl, don't shell out big bucks for anything fancy. I use a goblet shaped candy bowl from Wal-Mart...about 2 bucks it cost. Hope I've given you some good advice.

I second this advice as well as realdog's (Jasons) advice. As far as razors go for DE I've tried open combs, closed combs and slants and found very little difference between any of them, but that's just my face, yours would most likely be very different. I currently use a slant Merkur, brother to the 34 (can't remember the number for the slant. The letter C, by the way , stands for chrome. G is for gold, or simply not chrome plated ). You go whichever way you like with your starting kit, but there is nothing wrong with hitting the cut-throats first if that's what you intend to do anyway. I alternate equally between the two, but prefer the CT over the DE because I can get around my goatee and moustache edges better and into all the nooks and crannies that I can't seem to hit with the DE. Again, that's just my face, my skill level or lack thereof with a DE. Best of luck and don't be afraid to ask lots of questions.


Mick

I don't recommend it but if you want a DE and feel the need to fast forward things buy a Muhle R41 Open Comb Grande. As far as I know, this is the most aggressive DE out there. New = $60. Used = $35

People are constantly selling these because they don't take the time to use it correctly. I use this razor 95% of the time.

Tread lightly and learn a good pre-shave prep routine and proper lathering.

It's better when you have your technique down but this unforgiving razor will require it one way or another.

Buy some septic sticks as well. I like Pacific Shaving Co.

Wayne1963's advice is also something to seriously consider.

The reason I chose the DE route was time. I wanted time to see if I would stick with traditional methods of shaving. I also needed to consider how much time to devote to shaving on workdays.

- Jason

ScoutsOut,

You cannot go wrong with a vintage Gillette : The SuperSpeeds are very available and well priced.

For new buy, I have been very impressed with the Muhle DEs.

WRT blades, you will have to get a blade sampler pack : the choice of blades is very, very personal. Ones persons top blades is anothers POS, and vice versa !!

Blade samplers can be had here :

Double Edge Razor Blade Sample Packs | West Coast Shaving

Connaught DE Sample Packs

Have fun

Best regards

Russ

Thank you all for the tips. Wayne and Mick, another reason for starting with a DE is I'm in the military and I'll need something that's easier to care for in the field and I can't devote a lot of time to shaving. Reading on some other forums I understand that straights don't particularly respond well to wet environments and I'd hate to be in a position where I'd have to neglect proper blade care in the interest of carrying on with training.

Thanks again for the advice on the Edwin Jagger. I'm looking at that as well as a Murker, either the 23C or the 38C. General consensus seems to be that closed combs are safer(?) and I don't mind taking the time to get my technique down before I move on to open comb or straight.