Thread: Newbie considering moving to Straight

I am new to the world of straight razor shaving but want to become an expert. Can anyone recomend a cheap but effective first time razor as I learn the basics. I have been looking at a Cyril R Salter razor!! Has anyone had any experience with them?
Thanks

Hey Stagga, welcome!

Another Kentish man (or is that man of Kent? )! You're in good company here, there's a few of us in the UK. I think your closest neighbour would be Tonyspurs on the Isle of Sheppey.

My advice would be to buy something from Classicshaving with the honing service (which is sourced to Lynn). The range at Classic is extensive and you'll get better straights for the same money. Cyril Salter is fine, but I think they're just Dovos rebranded. Might as well go for the real thing, especially with the exchange rates the way they are.

But the main reason is to get your first blade honed professionally. If you buy from Carter&Bond (for example) in the UK, you'll get a blade which is not shave-ready. They may claim it is, but believe me it is highly unlikely. And there's nothing worse than trying your first straight shave on a relatively dull blade. It'll probably end up putting you off entirely.

Hope things go well for you. (You'll also need a strop. Suggest you check out Tony Miller's site -- you won't get better quality or better value.)

Cheers
Mark

P.S. I used to live in Canterbury for 10 years. Started off in school just outside Canterbury in a village called Sturry, then moved to the 'senior school' inside the old city walls -- as a local you'll probably know which one I'm talking about. Then spent a year living in a flat just off the old kent road. Haven't been back for some time... is the Three Tuns pub still there?

P.S. I used to live in Canterbury for 10 years. Started off in school just outside Canterbury in a village called Sturry, then moved to the 'senior school' inside the old city walls -- as a local you'll probably know which one I'm talking about. Then spent a year living in a flat just off the old kent road. Haven't been back for some time... is the Three Tuns pub still there?[/quote]

Hey Mark... When I say Canterbury I mean a village called Aylesham. You may of heard of the place. About 8miles down the road from Canterbury.... And yes I can safely say the Three Tuns pub is still standing and one of my favourite water-holes on a saturday night!!...Thanks for the advise aswell! Just looking at the Thier Issard classicshaving now. Will I have to pay import??

VAT and import fee from Parcelforce is often luck of the draw. I nearly always seem to get hammered for it, but others have had theirs get through without being stung.

Both Iwan and I have found that ordering through Classic and getting the honing service often gets around the whole import duty thing. Classic routes the goods through to Lynn first. Lynn then posts to you once he has honed. For whatever reason, customs seem to overlook Lynn-ified packages.