Beginner, feeling lost purchasing a new straightedge razor

I'm looking into purchasing my first straightedge razor, but to be honest, feeling a bit lost and overwhelmed.

Based on the research I have done so far (and a bias towards German quality), the brand I will likely go with is a Dovo Solingen. The problem is there seems to be a wide range of products and costs, and I'm not experienced enough to know the difference.

(1) What is the main reason one razor by Dovo costs $140, and another $700? Does it all have to do with handle types, gold trim, and other superficial details, or are there other differences I should look out for?

(2) Are there differences in the metal type, or does Dovo use the same type of steel for all their blades?

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Some background info if it helps:

I want to start shaving with a straightedge for practical reasons. I have really sensitive skin, so I go between one to three weeks between each shave. If I were to shave daily like "ordinary" people, my face would be constantly torn up, red, and itchy. Standard razors are not practical for shaving two-weeks worth of facial hair. I'm hoping a straightedge razor will either reduce the problems my sensitive skin, or allow me to still go weeks between shaves as the longer hair won't get stuck in the razor. I am a pragmatist; the feel of a cleaner shave, the manliness of using a razor, or the zen feeling you get from honing your blade, are nice, but not relevant to me.

For this same reason, unnecessary features such as gold trim or mammoth ivory handle. All I care about is the quality of the blade and how comfortable it is to hold the razor while shaving.

So long as I'm not overpaying, I have no problems spending more for a quality razor that lasts for many years; my budget is at the most $300 USD that I can spend comfortably without it becoming a financial burden.

Hi Andreas, there are lots on offer out there and I would say to you Dovo are on the lower scale of the better quality German Razors, there's Ralf Aust also Revisors own brand are very hard to beat so there's two very good starter razors to look at, things that you should be looking out for as a newbie straight razor user are a full hollow grind between 5/8 & 6/8 with a round point.

In general, blades from a manufacturer are all the same. The major difference and possibly the only difference would be carbon and stainless steels. The price is usually reflective of the fanciness of the blade/scales. If you aren't concerned with looks, I would recommend a sight unseen set from whipped dog or a ralf aust set from straight razor designs. These will give you good razors with a strop, which is necessary for maintenance. I do believe if you talk with whipped dog, you can request a German made blade. Other than that, you can also check out the classfieds, there is usually a lower priced razor in good condition and shave ready.

In any production razor line the cost difference between models is basically for additional bells and whistles embellishments. The same steel is use in the entire line. So you are correct on both counts.

Bob

I agree 5/8 round point. A 6/8 is just a little harder to learn on, a 5/8 would be easier to control.

the only thing I can add to what has been said is that it should be hand honed and shave ready. Factory edges are not always shave ready and should be honed either by the seller or a third party before you take the first shave.

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Originally Posted by celticcrusader

Hi Andreas, there are lots on offer out there and I would say to you Dovo are on the lower scale of the better quality German Razors, there Ralf Aust also Revisors own brand are very hard to beat

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I'm not adamant on Dovo or even being a German company, so I am open to both of those. However, I still run into the same problem of not knowing the difference between the dozens of razors each company has for sale.

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Originally Posted by celticcrusader

so there's two very good starter razors to look at, things that you should be looking out for as a newbie straight razor user are a full hollow grind between 5/8 & 6/8 with a round point.

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What makes a razor a "starter razor"? What is the difference between it and a "standard razor" while shaving?

Sir, I would get one off E-bay, there are a couple of W.H. Worley &Sons and some Wm. Elliot&com razors. Buy one or two and send them out to be honed (If you don't have the hones yet.) these are just as good as a brand new razor and a lot cheaper. JMHO.

You would not go wrong with the low end of the price range on anything Straight Razor Design sells, Bokers don't have jimps to help you hold them. Thiers Issard seem a bit less forgiving but all the razors and equipment they sell are of good quality from the cheaper to fantastically expensive. As a beginner you could do way worse going into uncharted stores or eBay.

If your skin is very sensitive you may want to try soap/cream samples before committing to a favorite or three. You may also want to try super soft badger brushes or synthetic brushes.

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Originally Posted by IQAndreas

I'm not adamant on Dovo or even being a German company, so I am open to both of those. However, I still run into the same problem of not knowing the difference between the dozens of razors each company has for sale.


What makes a razor a "starter razor"? What is the difference between it and a "standard razor" while shaving?

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We say starter ai it is no bells and whistles plain jane razor. Blade is the same quality and will give the same shave lasting just as long. They are a good place to start and you can always upgrade if you find you like this way of shaving

OP

I don't want to be answering for Jamie, but my guess is that a "beginner" razor is the least expensive plain Jane model in any makers line. It is no different than the other models in the line as far as the basic blade quality goes. The more expensive models may have bigger blades as measured in height not length. They also may have fancier scales, worked spines and gold etchings. Just remember pretty does not make a razor shave better but only cost more because of the extras.

Bob

The concept of a beginner razor is hogwash. A quality razor is just that period. It's not like you're buying a house and they have what they call "starter houses" which are small and have cheap interiors.

If you buy a new razor whether it's a Dovo or an Aust or a TI or any other recognized brands you will be getting a razor that will last longer than you and give you great shaves. It just needs to be honed and maintained properly.

You pay more for limited editions and special crafting and scales and cases and decoration none of which makes for a better shaving razor.

Maybe, read some more about starting in the library, might help you on making up your mind. There's still a lot to consider, soaps strops and learning how to shave. Maybe you should look at Safety razors, might be an easier decision. But as a new guy stay away from eBay and that kind of item for now, get you a good quality razor from a reputable dealer who uses and hones them. SRD was mentioned also just to test the waters, our classifieds are a good place to start. See if they have been here a while to weed out those who might not hone very well yet, and keep the money low in case you find this ain't for you. Good luck. Tc

Another adjective for 'starter' razor is 'entry level.' As noted by previous posters, this is a new way of shaving for you and you may or may not like it. There is a learning curve in the shaving, and in the maintenance. So investing enough for a quality razor, but no more than necessary, is an intelligent approach. :gl:

I'm kinda new at this also and have gotten most my razors off E-Bay, You just have to give it a good look and ask the seller any questions you might have about it. Do a little research and find out about hone wear and what a good razor should look like. Its what I have done and none of my razors (17 of them) have cost me more than $60.00 most were under $30.00. Just saying.

No one saying you can't find some deals, but a new guy is more concerned with a shave ready razor than taking a chance on eBay, we try to give advise that is tryed and true for starting out, Ebay is going to be a little bit harder to get that "shave ready " edge.
Glad your happy with yours, but if the Op wants a razor to start with and maybe keep as his one and the noy, the wisest choice would be to go with a known quality shave ready razor, my opinion is still that new should be a reputable dealer who hones or if used, from the classifieds from a member who has a great track record of selling truly shave ready razors. Give the guy a chance at success. Tc

I know how you feel. There are tons of them and you don't know what to do. Been there done that. What most of these guys have said is dead on. Let me make this easy. They've already told you, that within a brand the difference in price is due simply to the width of the blade, fancy etching, scales made from fancier and prettier materials. Those things don't shave your face, they are just to look pretty in the mirror while your shaving. So to make it easy, I recommend you do the following.

1. Go to Straight Razor Designs and get the lower priced Ralf Aust (best) or Dovo (very good) straight razor in 5/8. You will know for sure that the razor you get is properly honed and ready to shave.

2. Go to whippeddog.com and buy the "poor man's strop kit". Use this strop to strop your razor before you shave. You'll thank me later that you didn't order a more expensive strop to start with. Learn to strop on that, before you go buy an expensive strop. It will save you some tears and a bunch of sanding.

3. Take the free honing card that you get with your razor and put it somewhere where you can find it. About 2 or 3 months from now you're going to need it. Don't lose it.

4. Order some nice shaving soap, a styptic pencil and a good, but inexpensive brush like a Semogue 620 or 830, if you don't have them already.

Job done.

While you're waiting for them, read the articles here about your first straight razor shave and watch Lynn's straight razor shaving video on you tube several times.

Thank me later.

I would suggest buying a strop with readily available replacement leather. That way you will get a good quality strop that can have its stropping surface replaced if it gets damaged.

I just had a very quick look at whipped dog - poor man strop kit $25.
And then at straight razor designs - replacement strop leather starts at $25 for 2" and $35 for 3".
I have not used either comanies products so i cant personally speak for the quality.

+1 on STraight Razor Designs, for your first razor. Then, once you get the hang of it, you can venture into other options. The free honing is really nice - you'll have a known quality razor two times.

Also, don't strop the razor when you get it. It is ready to go, as-is.

You may also want to consider shaving cream over soap, I found that I can get a more consistent lather with a cream like Taylor Of Bond Street, than I can with soaps.

Do a bunch of reading in the forums to learn about everything I got you need and techniques, and don't be afraid to ask questions. You'll get a lot of help here.

Most importantly, have fun!

For what it's worth, there are razors that are already shave ready and inexpensive in the classifieds on this forum that would do what you are looking for. Good luck.


Mike

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Originally Posted by pcm

Also, don't strop the razor when you get it. It is ready to go, as-is.

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I have heard the exact opposite from several sources (including the beginner's wiki here on this site). The razors usually come sharpened, so they don't need to be honed, but but still should be stropped before use.

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Originally Posted by pcm

You may also want to consider shaving cream over soap, I found that I can get a more consistent lather with a cream like Taylor Of Bond Street, than I can with soaps.

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What is the practical difference between shaving with a cream and shaving with a soap? That is, is there a difference beyond how it "feels", will it have an effect on the actual shaving?

The reason for not stropping your razor when it arrives is to give you an idea what shave ready means, just wipe any residual oil off.. If you have no experience with a strop it is not hard to trash the edge of your razor, and I did exactly that with my first. You need to purchase from a reputable vendor like SRP, and they come shave ready. RA are a great razor, and haven't heard one bad thing about them.
Creams and soaps come down to personal preference and something you have to experiment with. Creams are easier to make a lather while you are learning, but either are ten times better than a can of goo and will last longer. Try a mid range soap like Proraso or Cella to get you started, or Arko if you are on a budget. All perform well. Best of luck.

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Originally Posted by IQAndreas

I have heard the exact opposite from several sources (including the beginner's wiki here on this site). The razors usually come sharpened, so they don't need to be honed, but but still should be stropped before use.

What is the practical difference between shaving with a cream and shaving with a soap? That is, is there a difference beyond how it "feels", and will it have an effect on the actual shaving?

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The razor, if bought from SRD or from a reputable seller (for example in the Classifieds of this site) stating it is "shave ready" will come sharpened & ready for use on your face without stropping - that doesn't mean that stropping couldn't make it better. If you are an experienced user stropping prior to use can refine the edge & make for a smoother shave. They key here is that you are not an experienced user and you stropping the edge is more likely to do harm than good. Using that edge for the first time on your face will give you a baseline for what truly shave-ready sharpness feels like and that is very important. Of course, for the next shave you should strop and that is also a very important skill to master. Some people recommend practicing with a butter knife on your strop. I and others don't because this can lead you to pick up bad habits. 1. it's an approximation, but not the same as stropping your razor, particularly due to the scales. 2. with the butter knife it's too easy for you to be doing things (like rolling the edge) that will be bad for your razor and the strop without knowing it because you don't have the feedback of the razor to let you know you're doing something wrong. 3. it makes you build up confidence and speed, which in this case, is a bad thing - the extra boost of confidence from practicing repeatedly with a butter knife can lead you to become overconfident when you strop your real razor the first few times and go much faster than you would have otherwise because you don't have the healthy "fear"/apprehension, so when you do screw up, it'll be far worse due to the extra speed/pressure.

What I do recommend for new users is to strop on newspaper for the first couple of times and then alternate newspaper and your real strop for the next several times. Newspaper is actually a fairly good and abundantly plentiful/cheap medium to strop with - as a matter of fact, that's all some users use, though that was more common in "the old days." If you mess up, you didn't slice your strop, although each mistake is bad for your razor's edge, it would have been just as bad, if not worse, on leather rather than newspaper. I don't recommend going all out newspaper for an extended period of time until you feel you're "good enough" and then switching to the real strop for one of the same reasons as not using a butterknife - you'll be overconfident and over-fast when you do switch to the leather, so in my opinion it's best to do it on newspaper the first couple of times and then alternate the newspaper and real strop while you still have a bit of that healthy apprehension to keep you safer.

As far as your question regarding creams vs hard soaps... you're looking to start a fight with that one. There's users that love their creams and there's users that love their hard soaps - stating that one or the other is "better" in any way is a good way to end up with people arguing "such&such hard soap is way better (in that regard) than such&such cream" or vice versa. Personally, I like the hard soaps better and you are going to have to find out which type you like better by yourself, so ordering a few samples of well regarded soaps (for example, from this Holy Grail of soapology: http://straightrazorpalace.com/soaps...ps-creams.html) is the best way to learn what you and your face/skin prefer. MaggardRazors sells soap samples that last for about 5-8 shaves and will give you a good idea of how a soap performs and how your face/skin reacts to it.
In general: (and again, I'm not trying to start an argument with anyone and recognize each soap, whether cream or hard, is different)
- creams are "easier" to build a lather with (this is primarily because they already have some moisture in them and generally absorb more moisture and build up more readily/faster) - either way, every soap is different and building up a great lather is a skill in itself that you will have to perfect on your own.
- hard soaps last longer and are a better "bang for your buck" (again, this is primarily because creams already have some moisture in them, so you're "paying for water") a good sized tub of a quality triple-milled hard soap can last some people a year... I don't know from my own experience because I keep buying more of different kinds so my rotation is getting longer and longer and I probably have enough soap for another 15-20 years and have never finished any of them yet as a result. I don't care because I like all the ones I have and like each one in different ways... the ones I don't like, well I keep them awhile until I find someone new that wants to try wet-shaving/straight razors and then I give them one or two to help them on their journey, maybe they'll like it better than me & free is free.

Hope this helps and hope you get that great, comfortable shave without any more irritation you're looking for.

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Originally Posted by 71L

The razor, if bought from SRD or from a reputable seller (for example in the Classifieds of this site) stating it is "shave ready" will come sharpened & ready for use on your face without stropping - that doesn't mean that stropping couldn't make it better. If you are an experienced user stropping prior to use can refine the edge & make for a smoother shave. They key here is that you are not an experienced user and you stropping the edge is more likely to do harm than good. Using that edge for the first time on your face will give you a baseline for what truly shave-ready sharpness feels like and that is very important. Of course, for the next shave you should strop and that is also a very important skill to master. Some people recommend practicing with a butter knife on your strop. I and others don't because this can lead you to pick up bad habits. 1. it's an approximation, but not the same as stropping your razor, particularly due to the scales. 2. with the butter knife it's too easy for you to be doing things (like rolling the edge) that will be bad for your razor and the strop without knowing it because you don't have the feedback of the razor to let you know you're doing something wrong. 3. it makes you build up confidence and speed, which in this case, is a bad thing - the extra boost of confidence from practicing repeatedly with a butter knife can lead you to become overconfident when you strop your real razor the first few times and go much faster than you would have otherwise because you don't have the healthy "fear"/apprehension, so when you do screw up, it'll be far worse due to the extra speed/pressure.

What I do recommend for new users is to strop on newspaper for the first couple of times and then alternate newspaper and your real strop for the next several times. Newspaper is actually a fairly good and abundantly plentiful/cheap medium to strop with - as a matter of fact, that's all some users use, though that was more common in "the old days." If you mess up, you didn't slice your strop, although each mistake is bad for your razor's edge, it would have been just as bad, if not worse, on leather rather than newspaper. I don't recommend going all out newspaper for an extended period of time until you feel you're "good enough" and then switching to the real strop for one of the same reasons as not using a butterknife - you'll be overconfident and over-fast when you do switch to the leather, so in my opinion it's best to do it on newspaper the first couple of times and then alternate the newspaper and real strop while you still have a bit of that healthy apprehension to keep you safer.

As far as your question regarding creams vs hard soaps... you're looking to start a fight with that one. There's users that love their creams and there's users that love their hard soaps - stating that one or the other is "better" in any way is a good way to end up with people arguing "such&such hard soap is way better (in that regard) than such&such cream" or vice versa. Personally, I like the hard soaps better and you are going to have to find out which type you like better by yourself, so ordering a few samples of well regarded soaps (for example, from this Holy Grail of soapology: http://straightrazorpalace.com/soaps...ps-creams.html) is the best way to learn what you and your face/skin prefer. MaggardRazors sells soap samples that last for about 5-8 shaves and will give you a good idea of how a soap performs and how your face/skin reacts to it.
In general: (and again, I'm not trying to start an argument with anyone and recognize each soap, whether cream or hard, is different)
- creams are "easier" to build a lather with (this is primarily because they already have some moisture in them and generally absorb more moisture and build up more readily/faster) - either way, every soap is different and building up a great lather is a skill in itself that you will have to perfect on your own.
- hard soaps last longer and are a better "bang for your buck" (again, this is primarily because creams already have some moisture in them, so you're "paying for water") a good sized tub of a quality triple-milled hard soap can last some people a year... I don't know from my own experience because I keep buying more of different kinds so my rotation is getting longer and longer and I probably have enough soap for another 15-20 years and have never finished any of them yet as a result. I don't care because I like all the ones I have and like each one in different ways... the ones I don't like, well I keep them awhile until I find someone new that wants to try wet-shaving/straight razors and then I give them one or two to help them on their journey, maybe they'll like it better than me & free is free.

Hope this helps and hope you get that great, comfortable shave without any more irritation you're looking for.

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Yeah, you beat me to it 71L. A razor from SRD is ready to go (and they will tell you not to strop it). You can shave with it and see what a "shave ready" razor is like. There have been many stories of people stropping a shave ready razor and making it worse. You want to be able to experience a shave with the razor in the best possible form.

Regarding cream/soap, as 71L said, it is a religious war, and that's what is great about wet shaving - lots of opinions, lots of methods, lots of selections.

My experience has been that I can get a more consistent lather, easier, from cream than soap. So while one person may be able to get a "better" lather with a soap or with a cream, for a beginner, my suggestion is to try to do all the things that make this as simple as possible and help reduce the variables that may contribute to a less than optimal shaving experience. If your lather has too much or too little moisture, it won't be as effective in lubricating your face for the shave.

There are MANY things that will affect the quality of the shave, so if you can try to reduce those variations somewhat, it's a good idea, IMHO.