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To start I am new to the site, and I am also new to shaving with a straight razor. I am looking for some ideas of a good razor to buy and use. Currently I use a disposeable blade razor and I am looking for a good razor to buy and start useing. I also would like to know if there is a certain way to hold the razor, or if I should just go with what is comfortable. Thanks
Welcome aboard, Fallick87. Glad to hear you're interested.
There is so much information on this site, it's insane. I would suggest taking some time to read through the stickies, especially here in the Newbie's Corner. Also, if you go to the home page (use the link "Home" near the top) and go to the Documents section, there are tons of useful articles there, including the 1961 Barber's Manual picturing how to hold the razor.
As far as what to buy, you'll see some good info in the stickies. I would suggest you watch the B/S/T for a shave-ready razor, post a wanted ad in the B/S/T, or purchase a Wapienica 5/8 from Mike Ratliff. They are great for starting out.
Snoop around and do some reading. Don't be shy about asking questions. The members here are great!
~Chris
I'll keep it simple
1 shave ready razor (honed properly, means sharpend on a stone beyond what the factory does, many people on this site are qualified to sharpen them, by experience)
2 a leather stop (looks like a leather belt) run the razor up and down it FLAT with sharp edge trailing, this cleans or burnishes the edge to make it more effective in cutting hair.Make sure it is flat or you could spoil the edge of the razor. The strop must be held flat/tight.
3 shave cream (or soap if you want to get a brush too)
4 hot water
Blade as flat as you dare to the skin, do not move the razors edge sidways AT ALL, it WILL cut if you saw/slice, work slowly and very gently (no pushing the blade hard)
That is what I had to start with and it's enough. But what do I know? I'm only a beginner too!
you'll love it.
M
I would only add, buy TWO razors and a hone. Get one honed by someone if you are not happy with how it shaves from the beginning. When it is ready, practice trying to make your other razor just as sharp, using information already all over the honing section of this site. I also find that watching a video of proper stropping was helpful. I notice that when the razor is almost ready there is a certain "hissing" sound the edge makes on the strop that it doesn't make so much when the edge is not quite there yet.
Have fun with it! There's a lot to learn, and each razor has its own personality.
John P.