Thread: 5/8 v. 6/8

I love my 5/8, 6/8 and 7/8 like my children of which I have none but if I did I know I would love them all the same.
They each have their own unique personality and I can't imagine shaving with only one or two.
I think I will eventually settle on a couple of dozen razors,...all different.
If I were you I would choose a 6/8 square full grind for a second razor.
Having written that I would think whatever choice you make you will be happy.
Good luck

In addition to the other vendors and the Classifieds you might want to look for a local mentor.
I found a local contact when I offered to PIF some Feather Blade samples in one of the other forums.
We ended up trading different "Feather type" razors, then conventional straights.
He loaned me a used Hart that he had brought back to life - that exposed me to Hart, 1/4 grind and square points - and I'm the better for it.
I loaned him some W&B's, older slants - and he was glad to try them but not his cup a tea...

Like just about everything else, its all very YMMV.
Some of us never deviate from a particular type of razor.
Other (yours truly) change as they learn.
My early exposure to the square point was a disaster for instance.
Now I can't imagine trying to shave and trim my Mo with a round point - my regular shavers are Square, Spanish, Barbers Notch or "American" (Ralf Aust)

Smooth Shaving...

I find that the larger hollow blades give me more feedback when stropping which is helpful for a beginner. I would encourage a 6/8 half to full hollow for that reason.

I use a 5/8 at work and either a 7/8 or 17/16 (i think, i cant remember exactly) at home the big razor is fun but slightly more unwieldy than the 7/8. It is also a much heavier grind, i think it is close to twice as heavy.
whatever you choose you will get used to using, i doubt you will find a lot of difference between either size, and in response to 10 pups, it really doesn't make a lot of difference shaving under my nose whichever one I use

Just to throw another "wrench into the works" I like my 6/8, and my 4/8....just sayin'