Hello all,

I'd wanted to buy a straight razor for a while for a number of reasons, not least because I was bored of being a slave to the gillette corporation, but also I'm the sort of person who uses fountain pens and zippo lighters because I enjoy their intrinsic value and there is something about a straight razor that just seems so much more sophisticated then the latest David Beckham endorsed multi blade safety razor.

However, when I bought my straight, I didn't realise that a site like this existed, so I'm after advice after the event as it were.

The razor I opted for is a Dovo of Solingen Straight Razor - Red 'Bismarck' http://www.executive-shaving.co.uk/s...-612680red.php it cost me £112. I'll admit I bought it because, once I had decided to buy a straight, I liked the look.

Is this a good razor? Is it a good razor for a beginner? Or have I wasted my money?

Is there any significant difference between shaving soap applied with a brush and the shaving foam you get in cans? I plan to start to use a proper brush & soap in the future but in the mean time I've got a can of foam sitting doing nothing.

After reading about the need to hone a razor (something I was entirely ignorant of until stumbling across this excellent site) I'm tempted to buy a cheap straight to practice on - I've seen these http://www.theinvisibleedge.co.uk/page83.html - aside from a practice razor would this be a good razor to shave with?

Finally does anyone know of any decent brushes / strops that aren't animal based, I'm vegetarian and I'd be disappointed to have to go back to safety razors on this basis.

Thanks