Thread: Pre-Newb here

Hello All, I'm Jim. I recently got into wetshaving, and have been using a DE safety razor for a couple of months now. I spend way too much time on the forums, and they have only pulled me further into the madness of traditional shaving--now I am contemplating a straight razor.

I don't have a knife yet, still kind of sniffing around the idea a bit, but I am on the verge of taking this path. I hope to learn a lot here, and thank you in advance for your patience with the undoubted noob questions that will come.

Oh, and before anyone asks, I live in Japan but Japanese straights are a rare bird here, as well...I MIGHT be able to get one sometime, I'm on the trail, but as of yet I've never even seen one.

Thanks,
Jim

Welcome to SRP, Jim. Please read through the forums and the Wiki. There's lots of information here. If you are contemplating a straight razor you will to purchase the following at a minimum:

1. Shave ready razor
2. Strop (hanging the best, paddle will work)
3. Shave soap/cream (personal choice)
4. Brush (from under$10 to obscene prices)

For purchasing I recommend the vendors corner and the classifieds on this site. Rather than spending a few hundred dollars up front on hones, it is best to buy a shave ready razor at the start. That way you won't have to learn two skills simultaneously (honing and shaving), and you can start shaving with a razor that is ready to tackle your beard. If you can do it, I highly recommend Lynn's CD. It's over 3 hours of great information about straight razors.

Originally Posted by dward

Welcome to SRP, Jim. Please read through the forums and the Wiki. There's lots of information here. If you are contemplating a straight razor you will to purchase the following at a minimum:

1. Shave ready razor
2. Strop (hanging the best, paddle will work)
3. Shave soap/cream (personal choice)
4. Brush (from under$10 to obscene prices)

For purchasing I recommend the vendors corner and the classifieds on this site. Rather than spending a few hundred dollars up front on hones, it is best to buy a shave ready razor at the start. That way you won't have to learn two skills simultaneously (honing and shaving), and you can start shaving with a razor that is ready to tackle your beard. If you can do it, I highly recommend Lynn's CD. It's over 3 hours of great information about straight razors.

Thanks Dan. I think I've got the brush and soaps/creams covered (or they've got ME covered...)
So now I'm just looking for a razor and a strop. Maybe. Sometimes. I'm not ENTIRELY sure I want to go down this route quite yet....


But I know I will.

welcome to srp you are in the best place on the net here you get everything from classifiedes and answers to any possible question you may have to a great support group if you are having trouble with anything shave related everyone here at srp has been great. so enjoy and feel free to ask away

I think that straights are rare everywhere, not just in Japan. Shaving with a straight is cool, I hope that you try it when you are ready.

Al raz,