Thread: How many razors to start?

Originally Posted by rastewart

I remember reading a recommendation somewhere that you should start out with at least 2 razors. I don't know what the rationale was. Has anyone else heard that? It seems from reading here that most are starting with one, which makes sense to me.

I know I'm one of the folks who subscribe to the minimum 2 razors and the reason is that "One is none, and two is one".

As pointed out earlier, it takes very little to put a razor out of service, a bad stropping, a light tap on the faucet in the sink or when putting it down... there are a myriad of reasons and when one of them happens, you can't shave with a straight until your get your straight razor repaired or honed, unless you have a second one.

There is no need for 2 new razors, or one for that matter.... vintage razors are just as good, if not better than some new razors. A couple of razors in good condition, shave ready, from the SRP classifieds should cost less than one new quality razor, and you will have an equally comfortable shave. A new razor is like a new car, it attracts err.... shall we call them "whoopsies"? My last new car was a magnet for dents in the parking lots, scratches... bird presents from heaven, you name it... Now it's 6+ years old and who cares! <grin>

So, I would much rather see someone starting out with a pair of vintage razors, so even if something goes badly, there's always that second razor to tie a gent over, until the first razor can be honed/repaired/replaced. Using only one razor and barring any mishaps, there's still the need for that second razor when you send the first one out for honing. Naturally, that is why I have about 30 razors, divided into a "Dull" pile and a "Sharp" pile! I like to save my razors up for honing so that I can make it worthwhile getting the hones, my bench and myself wet. I find I rarely get around to honing my razors when I want or need to, it's more of a whenever I can find the time.

One last advantage to the 2 razor deal is that you can keep that spare, sharp razor, at the ready so that if, by chance, you are not happy with the razor you are using, you can just grab the next one and keep on shaving. It's true that with experience, you won't often need that second razor, but I have been caught with a razor I was sure I'd honed to perfection, only to find myself reaching for the backup because it was harsh, or pulled, or [insert reason here]. Without that second blade, yer stuck.

Regards

Christian

I agree with you 100%
Always a good idea to have a back up.... the more the merrier.
I've been in the situation where I had only 1 razor....... Talk about being paranoid in handling it. If anything happened to it...... Nothing to shave with. Always good to have a back up.

Are you sure you want to shave this way?
It is a way of life, . Call it lifestyle.
If you have one. Well honed by a stand up lifestyler you are good.
That is a big if. Right now do you really know what you like??
2 gives you options. There are many shapes and sizes to sort through.
You have to learn your face in a whole new way. Hair growth. 10 razors and I found what I liked. 50 and I was amazed at all the options and face feels.
You have to learn what you like. 2 razors is a hook. buy in for the Line and sinker.

One. No need for another until you realize this whole program is worth the effort. If that's the case, buy another..or two..or

I started with one and kept only that one for about 6 months. At that time, I had to send my razor out to be honed and it left me without one
Of course that was unacceptable and I had to buy a second. Then I had to buy a third as another backup...

I agree with kaptain_zero. I started with one, to see if I liked it, and then got a second so that I wouldn't have to go to my DE (although that is another strategy) during sharpening. After a year now, I have four, mostly because, as well as having spares, I can try different sizes, styles, and grinds. I bought new for my first one, and got the free honing, and then tried some vintage razors, and later another new one.

The vintage ones, for me, are harder to hone myself, than the new ones. May have just been the luck of the draw though (I've read some people had some difficulty with new razor honing - may not have been the razor though).

It's pretty easy, as a beginner, to have a blade deteriorate in comfort quickly, due to stropping technique or dinging the edge (I did that in the sink, with my first razor), so having the option of a second razor, is a cheap insurance, IMHO.