Thread: 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.

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 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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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