What do we really need to start?

Hey guys!

I'm new to the forum and the straight shaving experience...before you jump all over me and tell me to read the stickies, I have and I'm still confused.

like everyone here I want to start straight shaving but still have a few specific questions I hope you guys can help with.

1) I know you need to get razors and I'm planning to get 2, but they seem so expensive, are there certain razors I should get and don't cost an arm and a leg. I know they're investment and I do want to start collecting, once I get good shaving, but I want to learn to strop properly first.

2) Can I use normal shaving cream, ie. Gillette?

3) how can I tell a good strop from a bad one? What are good ones to start with??

Thanks!

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Originally Posted by looking

Hey guys!

I'm new to the forum and the straight shaving experience...before you jump all over me and tell me to read the stickies, I have and I'm still confused.

like everyone here I want to start straight shaving but still have a few specific questions I hope you guys can help with.

1) I know you need to get razors and I'm planning to get 2, but they seem so expensive, are there certain razors I should get and don't cost an arm and a leg. I know they're investment and I do want to start collecting, once I get good shaving, but I want to learn to strop properly first.

2) Can I use normal shaving cream, ie. Gillette?

3) how can I tell a good strop from a bad one? What are good ones to start with??

Thanks!

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Hi and welcome!

1) keep watching the BST forum, make sure you get them honed, otherwise you will have to invest in stones as well. Tony Miller and a couple of other members do beginners' sets. if you treat them well you can even sell them at almost the same price again here.

2) any cream or soap you apply using a brush is fine IMHO, I have used Gilette cream a lot and still use Palmolive cream as well as more expensive stuff. Good skin prep. is essential when you shave straight.

3) If you buy a strop from Tony Miller (member here) you don't need any knowledge about good or bad: he only sells good and has excellent customer service, he is great communicator, send him a PM and he'll sort you out.

^^^

Thanks for the info....now I just need to find Tony Miller!

http://www.thewellshavedgentleman.com is where you should find him.

Also, you don't NEED to use a cream/gel with a brush. But a cream/soap with brush just gives the best results. There's also people that shave with water only. So it's not compulsory.

Get one razor to start, when you decide you like it, then pick up another razor or five. You only really need one to get started.

If you're thinking about switching to brush & bowl methods of lathering, your local big box drug store probably sells a low end brush and soap in the shaving supplies aisle. Pick that up and see if it feels alright. If it does, you'll want to pick up a badger brush and something better than Burma Shave. The stuff from the drug store will be an improvement over your aerosol, the badger and Col. Conk (or whatever) will be a bigger improvement still. To get started, though, you can keep using the can.

^^^


Thanks for the info guys, keep it coming. Is 1 blade really enough??? I'm worried that I strop the blade incorrectly and have to get it rehoned, which would put me out of commission. I'm not sure though...if you guys suggest 1 is enough then I'll go with that..more opinions please....



I understand that straight blade shaving is an art, but I'm going to need some practicality. I just want to know how particle it is to shave...with the blade..

Oh one more thing, how much better is a straight blade shave compared to the multi blade shavers out there, in terms of comfort and closeness? I know this is a straight blade site, but please try to be as unbiased as possible. hahah

Quote:

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Originally Posted by looking

^^^


Thanks for the info guys, keep it coming. Is 1 blade really enough??? I'm worried that I strop the blade incorrectly and have to get it rehoned, which would put me out of commission. I'm not sure though...if you guys suggest 1 is enough then I'll go with that..more opinions please....



I understand that straight blade shaving is an art, but I'm going to need some practicality. I just want to know how particle it is to shave...with the blade..

Oh one more thing, how much better is a straight blade shave compared to the multi blade shavers out there, in terms of comfort and closeness? I know this is a straight blade site, but please try to be as unbiased as possible. hahah

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Okay, another recommendation I will make is tracking down the PDF titled "the art of the straight razor shave" By Christopher Moss (is this available somewhere on the site?) and Also getting Lynn's DVD (it is set as a sticky in the BST forum). As far as practicality is concerned, you can eventually get pretty good with a str8 and shave fairly quick, however; most folks do this so that they can enjoy the ritual. Your first few shaves will take longer and be a little worse than you are used to but it will improve. Stropping seems to be the biggest hurdle for folks starting out. I haven't had a problem but I am very meticulous and anal about keeping the strop tight and going nice and easy so that my technique is good. In the end, if you can do three passes with the blade (with the grain, across the grain, and against the grain) your shave will be closer than ever before. I do the WTG and XTG passes and I am usually much closer than the old mach 3 ever got. You may look into Double Edge shaving as an interim step if straight shaving takes to long. You can get really good results with a DE razor and it was easier for me to learn than straight shaving. Hope this helps. Keep in mind: everyone is different. Good Luck!

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Originally Posted by sicboater

Okay, another recommendation I will make is tracking down the PDF titled "the art of the straight razor shave" By Christopher Moss (is this available somewhere on the site?) ...

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Yes sir, right here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/compo...,146/Itemid,3/

And if you go to the Straight Razor Place home page (http://straightrazorpalace.com/) and look for the "Library" tab up top, the first link under that is "Help Files & Documents." You'll find Christopher Moss's PDF and much other useful information.

Rich

Man you guys are quick to reply, great forum!

Please keep the input coming!

You need one decent, pre-honed razor and that's it. Everything else is an indulgence.
Stropping must be carried out but does not require an expensive strop; you can make your own out of paper and it'll work. I strop my razors on the legs of my jeans and that works too.

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Originally Posted by Timeo Danaos

You need one decent, pre-honed razor and that's it. Everything else is an indulgence.
Stropping must be carried out but does not require an expensive strop; you can make your own out of paper and it'll work. I strop my razors on the legs of my jeans and that works too.

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Given the number of nicks I've seen in old strops, I think is apparent that some people occasionally accidentally strop in the wrong direction. If you think you might do this, make sure you're not wearing the jeans!

Lots of great posts already, I am one who believes that if you are going to do something do it right!!!!
You are going to eventually need 2 razors exactly for the reason you mentioned...
Tony does sell strops that are a cut above the rest, however my first strop that I ever bought back in 1981 is still going strong and that was an Illinois #837 so quality leather is quality leather. (if I knew Tony back in 1981 I would have bought his strops hehehe)
BST has tons of truly shave quality razors for sale, and yes it is hard sometimes to score them... So I would recommend putting in a WTB post there are some people like myself and others, that very rarely post FS razors but have a drawer full of razors that we would be willing to part with at very low prices and they are shave ready!!!! (I sold 3 yesterday that were never posted FS) just some random thoughts here for you