Thread: Norwegian newb!

Hails from Norway!

I've recently picked up an interest in wetshaving, and - being a Viking - straight razor shaving seems to me the natural choice. One could argue that Vikings just rip the beard out from their face with their bare hands, but in 2008 that's just barbaric. Besides, my grandfather would be impressed that I straight razor shave.

My plan is to learn proper technique with a Dovo Shavette, while practicing honing on a cheap proper straight razor. I'd have to learn honing myself, as there really aren' any honemeisters here in Norway - not that I know of anyway.

So I guess eBay would be the place to pick up the cheap razor, unless any of you know any alternatives? Is my strategy hoplessly stupid, or does it sound sane? This is new territory for me (and most of Norway), so I turn to the expertise.

Sounds pretty sane to me. Just don't overlook the option of flying a honemiester out, paying for room and board, allowing them to tour the country a little, teach you to hone, and then fly them back in an all expenses paid extravaganza.

Or you could just read up here . . .

The wanting to learn on your own sounds fine imo (I assume you're going to couple it with reading about it on your own as well). However, having never used a shavette or feather razor, I can't tell you how close the experience is going to be compared to a normal straight.

ps: sounds like Davis needs a holiday =)

Hei Henrik, velkomen til SRP!

Ok, that has just about taxed my Norsk to the limit...<sigh>. It's been a loooong time since I lived in Drøbak (1978), and I don't get to use the language much here in Canada. Still... nice to see a few nordmen show up on the board. I'm pretty sure there are a few more than yourself but I don't know how active they are.

For the record, the only Norsk shaving shop I've found on the net is Fitjar Soap Co. and they do carry some Dovo razors, strops etc. and their own soaps which I hope to get around to trying one of these days. The prices look a bit steep but then, you do live in Norway after all.

Your plan is a reasonable one, I would however suggest maybe picking up a shave ready razor here off the b/s/t rather than starting out with a dull one. There are also a few regular sellers on Ebay that do sell shave ready razors, Altima55 for one and his razors do have a decent edge on them when they arrive in the mail. My only reason for suggesting a honed razor first is that unlike a DE blade in your Shavette, a traditional straight will not be as sharp but will be smoother shaving. It's hard to know how sharp it's supposed to be and if you have never experienced a properly sharpened straight to begin with, it's hard to know when you've reached the sharpness level you should expect and might beat yourself up thinking it should be sharper than you can obtain with the hones you have.

While I have never used a shavette, reports are that they are very easy to nick yourself with... they are a bit flimsy and those DE blades are very thin and sharp... I started with a Feather AC instead, same idea only the razor is designed for shaving and comes with equally DE sharp blades but they are much stiffer and you can shave comfortably with them but you do need to be extra careful as they really are wicked sharp. I much prefer my traditional straights today but I still have a Feather that I would take for travel as I needn't worry about strops and hones, if I ding the blade, I just put a new one in it and away I go.

Just my 2 Øre worth....

Christian

AFDavis11: wow - I knew that this could be a costly venture, but obviously not just how costly.

kaptain_zero: your Norwegian was just fine. Good idea on buying a "reference" pre-honed razor in order to have a yardstick. And thanks for the heads up on the Shavette - I'd never thought of that.

Hi,

nice to see another Norwegian here, there are lots of good info here. Before you go to ebay, I may have a straight that you could use, PM me if you are intrested.

Oof Da Mega! Velkomen. My father-in-law was full blooded Norsk.

I can only Speak English, never been to Norway, and have never used a Shavette, BUT....

WELCOME!!