Thread: absolute beginner to straights, any chance of some help?

Hello. been semi-introduced to this forum by Makar via another forum, and i've been bitten by the straight razor bug!

I'm a complete novice to everything about straights, and so need a lot of advice, if you lot would be so kind.

I'm currently using either a gillete fusion, or a phillips HS8060 (it hink) electric coolskin jobby, and am dissatisfied with both. the phillips isnt close enough, and the fusion irritates me horribly.

My main problem regarding switching to straights is my budget, i'm on an apprenticeship and so have very little money. my budget for most of the 'shaving kit', including razor, brush, soap/cream, alum block/styptic pencil etc is probably about £50/60, or around $100/120 US.

As for a strop, i can make myself one of those quite easily, i have some leather and some flat blocks of wood which will do fine.

So, my question to you, frequenters of SRP, is what straight would be best for someone with no experience at all, and even less money?

Also, would i be better with an alum block, or a styptic pencil? as far as i can tell, they do the same thing, but which is better/easier to use?

Thanks in advance, Tink.

get a prehoned wapi or double arrow from a forum member, that'll be the cheapest shave-ready razor you can buy.

Hi Tink,
+1. I'd definitely recommend getting something shave ready from here.
Alum blocks are great if you suffer irritation. I use mine before & after the shave & they're a great help at preventing ingrowns etc.
Witch hazel is a fantastic after shave too, is cheap as chips & further reduces the chances of irritation.
Good luck!
Ben

Welcome.

Also, there are some vintage razors available in the Classifieds in the 50-60 USD range from our fellow members.
As for the the alum block vs styptic pencil, personally I use the pencil because it's easier to handle and to get to the spot in trouble. I don't use the alum block as some here do to tone the skin after the shave.
Quoting thebigspendur:
"There are two types of alum block. Potassium and Ammonium. The potassium is what we usually use on our face. The usual Styptic pencil contains other ingredients to specifically stop bleeding which the block does not contain. I usually use the block by rubbing it all over my face after shaving after the cold water rinse and then add a lot of witchazel afterwards. The block acts as a skin toner but once on it quickly does its job and once dry just leaves a film on your skin you don't need."

Have fun

Hi Tink. Welcome on SRP. I understand the money problem - I am a student too. One of the main point is that you don't have necessarily to buy everything at once: for example, I first updated from my shaving foam to a shaving cream and brush, then traded my Gillette against a DE, then my DE against a straight - it was mainly because I have never really heard of DE before finding B&B and a straight before SRP but you got my point...

If you want to buy all the stuff at once, you can find - if I am not mistaken - good starting package/kit by Kenrup (maybe you can drop him a pm), or you can scan the classifieds for good and cheap second hand stuff. Don't forget to have a look also on other forum like B&B - for instance (they have often nice stuff on their BST).

Hope you will enjoy your new shaving experience. But beware, Razors acquisition disorder is usually a very fast coming disease, and very pricey.

Hi Tink!

Great to see another UK'er here! Will you be able to make the UK Meet in September? (click the link in my signature to find the details) There will be a shead load of prizes available on the day (razors and accessories) which will help start you off too.

There is also Blue Principle's (Steve) site Invisible edge - Shaving Starter Kits He has a range of accessory starter kits and hones razors here in the UK. Steve will also be supplying some discounted shave ready razors on the day of the meet, especially for us.

Welcome to SRP and enjoy your stay.

If you're trying to go on the cheap, here's my suggestion

If you keep an eye out, you can sometimes get razors on the BST for like, forty bucks. You won't get a thing of beauty but if a member claims it's shave ready, you can usually go to the bank on that. If you're making a strop yourself, that's not an issue, then you just need some soap and a brush.

A friend of mine picked up a 5 dollar brush at a Pharmasave, which actually isn't too bad a brush... I don't know how far Pharmasave roams, so failing that I'd go for the Omega at Shoppers Drugmart, they may even have them at Rexall. Avoid Wilkinson, though. They are cheaper, but to my mind, total junk. Once again, at Shoppers you can pick up Proraso soap, which isn't too bad a soap. It's a little more money than Williams, but worth it. If you're really out to save the money, though, and you get Williams, just keep in mind you'll have to wash off and reapply soap at some point, as it dries more quickly than what you might expect, so just keep an eye on that while you shave. So, to break it down...

Razor: 40
Brush: 5 - 15
Soap: 1.50-7.00
Strop: homemade

Which gives us a best case scenario of 46.50 or a worst case of 62, so you should be able to afford it.

What trade are you apprenticing in, by the way?

Oh, and if you have some money left over in your budget.... you may want to treat yourself to some aftershave.

And as a general word of advice, don't be too discouraged if after your first shave or two your fave feels like it's made of leather... that's on fire. You'll get beyond that stage very quickly.

Originally Posted by ben.mid

Hi Tink,
+1. I'd definitely recommend getting something shave ready from here.
Alum blocks are great if you suffer irritation. I use mine before & after the shave & they're a great help at preventing ingrowns etc.
Witch hazel is a fantastic after shave too, is cheap as chips & further reduces the chances of irritation.
Good luck!
Ben

I'll almost definately get something shave ready from here.
The only witch hazel i know of is the womans facial scrub, etc though, anyone care to enlighten me?

Originally Posted by Leon

Welcome.
Also, there are some vintage razors available in the Classifieds in the 50-60 USD range from our fellow members.
As for the the alum block vs styptic pencil, personally I use the pencil because it's easier to handle and to get to the spot in trouble. I don't use the alum block as some here do to tone the skin after the shave.
Quoting thebigspendur:
"There are two types of alum block. Potassium and Ammonium. The potassium is what we usually use on our face. The usual Styptic pencil contains other ingredients to specifically stop bleeding which the block does not contain. I usually use the block by rubbing it all over my face after shaving after the cold water rinse and then add a lot of witchazel afterwards. The block acts as a skin toner but once on it quickly does its job and once dry just leaves a film on your skin you don't need."

Have fun

Cheers, i'll have a look through the classifieds. great info about the alum blocks, too. thanks!

Originally Posted by Ockham

Hi Tink. Welcome on SRP. I understand the money problem - I am a student too. One of the main point is that you don't have necessarily to buy everything at once: for example, I first updated from my shaving foam to a shaving cream and brush, then traded my Gillette against a DE, then my DE against a straight - it was mainly because I have never really heard of DE before finding B&B and a straight before SRP but you got my point...

If you want to buy all the stuff at once, you can find - if I am not mistaken - good starting package/kit by Kenrup (maybe you can drop him a pm), or you can scan the classifieds for good and cheap second hand stuff. Don't forget to have a look also on other forum like B&B - for instance (they have often nice stuff on their BST).

Hope you will enjoy your new shaving experience. But beware, Razors acquisition disorder is usually a very fast coming disease, and very pricey.

I've already got plenty of *item* acquisition disorders, another one can't hurt (that much)
I would get one of kenrups sets, but i dont need the strop, otherwise i'd be on that like a .... car on a road. (i fail at similies)


Thanks for all the help so far, people

Question regarding razor grinds, whats best for a beginner? i'd guess at a hollow grind, but probably what you know as a half hollow, (what i'd know as a zero hollow) as opposed to a wedge. is there any real difference?

Don't know what grind to reccomend Tink but Witch Hazel you can pick up a bottle at most chemists like Boots or Superdrug, over the counter no problem.

Witch hazel is an astringent which helps ward off harmful bacteria. It soothes inflammation, helps prevent infections, & has healing properties. I'm talking about the liquid form, looks just like water. Available for a couple of quid a bottle in any chemist or supermarket. I find it makes my skin feel great after a shave. Feel free to try the womans facial scrub version though, you may like it!
Ben