Thread: The Importance of Good Stuff

Last night, I took my Lynn sharpened NOS Hess 44 Stainless for a shave with Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouqet shaving cream. Oh, my straight shaving brethren, can I get an Amen?? It was truly the Ultimate Shaving Experience so far.

It got me thinking... what was the main difference between this shave, and my first one several months back? Well, besides the fact that the first shave was done by very inexperienced hands...

Answer: Dollars spent

Yes, experience with a blade helps, but this is definitely a hobby that requires good equipment for best results. Now I'm not saying that everyone needs to go out and find a NOS Wonderedge, the most expensive cream/soap, a 200 dollar strop and a complete set of Shaptons. Not at all. There is alot of *good* stuff available out there for less money. What I *am* saying is educate yourself on everything you can. Figure out a price/performance ratio on all your gear, and go for the "sweet spot"; the stuff that's going to be good quality without breaking the bank.

If you settle for a Zeepk twenty dollar starter kit, you're going to get equivalent results, and probably give up straight shaving the next day.

Here's my newb ultimate starter kit that will give great results with minimum bucks spent:

Boker Red Injun (round point if you can find it) in decent shape will run you about 40 bucks or so.

Tabac shaving soap refill, 9 bucks if you shop around

Vulfix No. 1000A Pure Badger $25 vintageblades

Tony Miller strop, I think you can get his cheapest for around thirty bucks.

Get the razor sharpened by a honemeister, 25 bucks.

So for $129, you could have a very nice setup that will give you *great* straight shaving results.