Thread: How many razors to start?

I was browsing through my heath insurance book to see if I could find a specialist that can cure me of this disease... Un?fortunately there were none...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Soooooooo what you guys are saying here, is that RAD really is a disease, and I have it ??????

I was reading this old post and find it interesting that a razor would need rest between shaves. And the age old question of how many razors to have. For me 1 is to many and a 1000 is not enough. Any newer thoughts on these topics 8 years later?

I've had many, always wanting more, but I settled on two razors in the end and got rid of all the others.
I did have an irrational fear of something happening to my razors so I needed more!

If you're generally very careful and can take care of a razor well, I don't see the reason for more than 1. However, accidents do happen... If you send it out to be honed and need to be clean shaven, it might behoove someone to have 2.

There's plenty of room in my shave cabinet for a few more. Although now days I have refined and confined my purchases to brand new or NOS vintage. I don't use a razor twice in a row because I enjoy the variety.

You only need one razor to start -- the addiction. From there nature will take its course. After you've bought about your 10th, if you are married, your wife will take over this topic with, "How many razors does one man need?"

I say aim for 10 then take stock, you will then realise you need at least another 4 that will take you up to 14 that gives you 2 two week sets, then you will definitely need a few Japanese + a couple of Heljestrands including a big Wade & Butcher FBU a couple of big Greaves, now we are just getting started.

I have 3 straights (1 at work and 2 at home) they are all special in some way or I would only have 2. I do also own one S/E safety razor which has recently come back into service for head shaving. I could probably learn to shave my head with a straight (per how I did the original haircut) however I find it a bit clumsy and also blunts my razor too quickly.

I have 4 shave ready razors, they all different: 1 small NOS Kiebitz, 1 new TI with French nose, 1 old USSR round point, 1 old W&B with square point.

Except that I have 1 restored razor form my grandfather, now it nice and polished, but have problem with geometry and can't be used.

So basically all my razors different and I use them all.

Technically I don't need any more, but still I have at least 2 which will added to my collection: Chinese ZY razor on which I want to practice in honing and have it as travel razor. And I will receive exchange razor from Whippeddog which I also want to make as travel razor or have at my parents house.

So basically you will never stop, always will find excuse to by more.

Recently I get my USSR razor and I really loved it, I can easily buy now 2-3 shave ready razors in excellent conditions for only 20$ each, they easily can be find in local classifieds. You can't imagine how difficult to resist RAD

No offense, but I don't think many barbers were busy enough to do 16 shaves/day, AND one can use the same razor (if well cared for and stropped correctly) for many shaves but barbers did have more than one (probably 5 or 6 in rotation), just like most mechanics have more than 2 screwdrivers. Razors were one of a barbers tools.

The point for you (unless you're a trained experienced barber, to have more than one is that they get dull over time, faster if you're new and not stropping and shaving well, and it's good to have one to shave with while you send the other out to be honed. Honing is not as easy as it looks, and quality stones are not inexpensive, nor are the razors which many new honers mess up learning to hone.

So, IMO, you need at least two, and if you enjoy it you will want more, for variety's and experiences sake. I have about 15. Many on here have hundreds.

Put another way, you've asked the wrong people ... but two is a minimum, I would say.

Originally Posted by jcarey9149

My problem with this recommendation (and something someone may know the answer to) is what did barbers do? If a barber can do a haircut and shave in 1/2 an hour, and works 8 hours, that would be 16 razors per day for him. Did they really have that many?

If they didn't, you have to assume that it is not a "real" reason, but a "luxury" thing like the 7 day sets.

Jim