NOOB

I currently do not own a straight razor but I am hoping to get one for my birthday coming up. I currently am using a Gillette Mach 3 Power. The blade cartridges are expensive and they leave so much irritation that I can only shave once a week. By the end of the week I have quite a bit of growth and it uses up one cartridge, even trimming with an electric razor first. The little fade strip to tell you when you need to change the razor is gone after one shave and I don't press that hard.
I'm 25 and have had real facial hair for around 5 years. I bought a straight razor about 6 years ago from a knife shop in a mall. I had no idea how to use it, and after reading on straight razors now, it probably wasn't sharpened. I didn't cut myself and my stropping was all over the place like the movies.
My face hurts so much and itches all the time, that if I don't get it for my birthday I will probably fork out the money myself.
I was wondering about some kits. A cheaper razor, badger hair brush, cream, and a strop. If anyone can send me some links that would be great. I have been looking all over and none of the sets have enough description on everything, either they describe the blade or the brush but not both.
Or if you know some inexpensive individual items that would be great. Thank you guys.

Tony Miller's kits are great. I started with one and I'm still using it. The Well Shaved Gentleman The Heirloom Razor Strop Company : Home

Occassionally you'll see kits for sale in the classifieds here. These are almost always a high quality setup at a great deal.

Those would be my first two choices if I was starting out. Otherwise, you could try to piece one together yourself in the classefieds. Good luck and keep up posted on your progress.

I didn't buy a set when I started and always felt that if I did enough homework I would be able to put a set together that meet my needs much better. I would suggest you do the same. If you want to make a gift list for someone just past the web address into a Word doc or email to them when complete.

Read the Main Page - Straight Razor Place Wiki to find brands to buy and brands to avoid. There is a lot of good information in the WIKI to help you select. a blade and brush. This section will show some of the member reviews Reviews - Straight Razor Place Forums .

I have a Vulfix badger brush from Vintage Blades LLC that went for under $30. There are some members that sell WAPI blades which would be on the less expensive side of the equation. Be sure the razor is shave ready or you will need to have it sharpened (suggested over honing yourself for your first razor). The classified section is a good place to look but the deals go very fast and it would be hard to suggest that to someone for a gift search. For a strop there is nothing better than a Tony Miller Heirloom but you may find cheaper. :gl:

Thanks for the quick replies.
Jimmyray: I checked the Tony Miller site and didn't see anything other than the strops and paddles. Am I looking in the wrong place?

Joed: I think I may follow suit. I will start working on a list at least until I find a set. That way if there is something I like better I may not like the set.

Anyone post any starter items and brands or just anything you like and I will check them out.

Welcome to SRP:D Kenrup is a member here he has some good starter stuff (like double arrow or wapi razors and some good strops) if you pm him I think he even has some starter kits. Vintage blades has some kits that come with just about everything you need to get started. Look at all the retailers there is a section at the bottom of the forum page, and check the classifieds they are always a good place. When you do order a razor make sure it is shave ready so you know what a sharp razor is. Also give yourself time its not going to be perfect overnight. It will take time to learn proper prep, razor angles, stroping,ect. Don't get discouraged when you start. If you are like me it will turn into a happy addiction of great shaving.:gl:

Thanks sbrouwers.
Thanks. I wish I could get some of the blades here in the classifieds, but I have to be realistic. Nobody I know will register on a forum to buy me a razor, I don't think they would trust it. I will most likely have to stick with retailers or SRD. Someone mentioned in another thread that they had a Dovo Black Bismark from SRD, but I didn't see it. So, I'll keep looking. When I first got a straight razor I was so frustrated, because I didn't know about prep and the guy who sold it to me didn't say a thing. At the time I thought I bought a crappy razor. I was using aresol shaving cream, applied by hand, and my razor was left in the bathroom and accumulated so much rust I threw it out.

Sucks to hear about your razor getting rusty, what kind was it do you remember? Second search straight razors on SRD (second click down under catigories) and it will come up with dovo click on the dovo logo and it will take you to the dovo razors. They have a bunch and all are prehoned I beleive, one you might consider that alot of people like is the Imitation tortise it comes in 5/8 or 6/8 either size is good to learn with but the 5/8 might be a little easier to move around the face. All you need is a paypal acount for most of the classified ads and they are not hard to set up just go to paypal.com.

I've been looking at blades all day. Thanks, sbrouwers, I found the Dovo Blades on SRD. The Faux Tortoise are not my thing. I like the Dovo Ebony, except the blade has nothing on it other than the gold plating. Just a personal preference. I found a Dovo Ebony Silver Steel blade for 105.00 and it is beautiful. Anyone know the difference between these two? Or if SRD can get the Silver Steel version?

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Originally Posted by Kentington

Thanks for the quick replies.
Jimmyray: I checked the Tony Miller site and didn't see anything other than the strops and paddles. Am I looking in the wrong place?

Joed: I think I may follow suit. I will start working on a list at least until I find a set. That way if there is something I like better I may not like the set.

Anyone post any starter items and brands or just anything you like and I will check them out.

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Not to butt in but I saw a post by Tony recently in which he states that he is discontinuing everything except strops. In fact it was an ad for a str8 razor box.

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Originally Posted by mkevenson

Not to butt in but I saw a post by Tony recently in which he states that he is discontinuing everything except strops. In fact it was an ad for a str8 razor box.

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I don't mind. Did he say where we could find these razors, because I can only see the strops.

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Originally Posted by Kentington

I currently am using a Gillette Mach 3 Power. The blade cartridges are expensive and they leave so much irritation that I can only shave once a week. By the end of the week I have quite a bit of growth and it uses up one cartridge, even trimming with an electric razor first. The little fade strip to tell you when you need to change the razor is gone after one shave and I don't press that hard.

My face hurts so much and itches all the time, that if I don't get it for my birthday I will probably fork out the money myself.

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Welcome to SRP Kentington. You've already received some great advice from fellow members, so I won't repeat was has already been said. But judging from your quote above there might be some technique issues that are making your shaves miserable. First, as straight shaving is an acquired skill, don't throw out the Mock 3 quite yet, as you will still need it for touch-ups while you're learning. If you are getting so much irritation that you can't shave for a week (don't worry, I've been there too) you might have a sensitive skin problem as well. Throw out that vibrating razor and stick with either a regular Mock 3 or a 2 bladed cartridge. A badger brush and a good soap/cream will do you good as it reduces hand contact on your face pre-shave (and lathers better than your hands ever will). Have you tried mapping your face? In other words, figured out which direction the whiskers grow across your entire face? If so stick a with-the-grain pass in all areas and only touch up certain spots x-grain or ATG if you are bold. These are techniques that will help to break bad habits BEFORE you start to shave with a straight, and before you know it you can perform multi-pass BBS shaves with a straight razor of your choice. I hope this helps.

Ryan

Sounds like you are in serious need of a good shave. I don't know when your birthday is, but you might want to look through the classifieds and let your loved ones buy you a nice brush and soaps instead. Your call.

X

Thanks for the advice. I am looking at Anne Lee's Soap, right now. I saw a video with someone making a lather from a tube cream, is this better than soap? If so are there any recommended brands?
I may invest in the brush myself, I don't think they would understand the purpose of an expensive brush. I'm the only one of my family in this area with enough facial hair to worry about.
Will I need a stone as well? Would the pastes in the Classifieds be enough if I purchased a shave ready blade?
I plan on keeping my M3, but the brush and soap will be needed soon if I want to practice mapping my face. You were saying that I should go with the grain, but I don't get a close shave at all with the grain and it ends up looking splotchy. Any advice on the would be great. If you need me to post a picture of my face for advice just let me know.

Just adding to the good info everyone has given you already... check out ruprazor.com you will find some good low cost shave ready straights there. I don't think you need a hone or pastes yet... just get a strop, a razor, a brush and some soap (or creams... try this) and learn if you like the straight lifestyle. Take your time and check out the srp wiki for technique and buying suggestions. A shave ready razor and a strop (using good technique) will keep you shaving for a while. You can get a stone later when you have the feel for stropping and are ready to take on honing.

Good luck:gl:

You are right Del1r1um, this is good info and thanks for adding. I checked out The Gentlemen's Quarters, what scents of the cream have you tried and did the scent last afterwards?

Thanks for the advice everyone. I took the advice. I went to TGQ and purchased a Super Badger Brush and a Sampler of soaps and creams. 15.95 for 5 samples of soaps and 2 samples of cream, and for some reason it only charged me 13.95. Maybe I will call and let them know. I will try those with my regular razor just to get my faze and neck in good shape.

ah, yeah, i really like colleen's soaps, i'm not much of a cream person. i thought the sampler is a great way to try several.

as far as razor goes, ask SRD if they can stock the one you like, but my understanding is that there is considerable lead time with dovo. the other main vendors are clasicshaving and vintageblades - may be one of them would have it.

gugi: That's funny you mention SRD. I already had my eyes on some of the blades and Don directed me towards the Black Star. Nobody else buy it! At first I look at the Ebony or Silver Steel, Don suggested the Tortoise. I didn't really like the look of the scales and asked about the Black Star. Bingo. I'll ask my parents and send a link.

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Originally Posted by Kentington

I plan on keeping my M3, but the brush and soap will be needed soon if I want to practice mapping my face. You were saying that I should go with the grain, but I don't get a close shave at all with the grain and it ends up looking splotchy. Any advice on the would be great. If you need me to post a picture of my face for advice just let me know.

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Try doing some skin stretching (just like when straight shaving) and see if that helps. As I still resort to the M3 from time to time I find that it does help, and with little irritation, but that's just my skin.