Thread: Advice needed!

Hi,

I'm newbie in straight razor shaving. I use to shave with a safety razor and I like it. But I would like to
feel a shave with a straight razor. From what I read here it's pretty smooth and the feel is good.
so I've bought a very cheap Selective razor and strop on ebay to at least feel how it handles.
As I was thinking, this razor was absolutely not shave ready!! I even tried to do a hone job on it with
a fine sharpening Arcansas stone and some fine grit sandpaper. I have not been able to get a good shaving edge.
Far from being able to slice a hair! :-)

So now I know it's not good to start with a cheap razor, but before to spend on a high end razor, I'd like to have your thought.

Here are my question:

1)As I said, I use to shave with a safety razor and it's very confortable for me, so compared to a safety razor,
how smooth a straight razor can be?

2)With a high end razor, does the Selective strop I have could dull the blade, or it can do the job?

3)fendrihan sells shave ready razors hand made honed, do you know if they are really shave ready?

4)What is the best starter hone? Does double side 4000/8000 grit be the best?

5)Does the blade of a 140$ Dovo is the same quality of a 250$ Dovo or the difference is only in the look and handle material?

Thanks in advance!

First let me say welcome. The move to straights is a smart one. I'll start from the top:

1. Compared to a safety razor a straight can be every bit as smooth and then some. It will provide you with a closer shave with less irritation. Now let me say this, it does take some practice to get your technique down. Don't expect your first shave to be the best one ever, but with time it will be.

2. I'm not sure what a "Selective" strop is so I couldn't tell you how it will work. As long as it's of good construction and is flat then it should work fine. If not there are inexpensive starter strops available from some members here.

3. I don't know who that is. Is that an ebay seller? You can get inexpensive shave ready razors through the classifieds on this site. I highly recommend doing that.

4. In the beginning I wouldn't worry about a hone so much. Just get a razor sharpened by a pro, and a good strop and you're set for a while. Though the 4000/8000 Norton hone is kind of the standard around these parts.

5. As far as I know the quality of the different dovo blades are the same. The higher price is usually due to a bigger blade and nicer scales(handles). You can find a wonderful shave ready razor in the classifieds here for less than $100.

I'm only a few yards down the road from you, having started with a SR in February. For twenty some years before I shaved with a DE and had a good handle on lathering with brush, soaps and creams.

I cannot yet duplicate what I got with the DE. But then, I really went for it.... ATG on most areas, even my upper lip when I wanted absolute smoothness.

With a little over a month on the SR, I can go ATG on my cheeks, neck and lower chin, but it is still nerve-wracking for me in some areas, especially with the non-dominant hand! And I can't imagine going ATG on my upper lip...yikes!

I guess what I am saying is it'll take a while....and depending on how "agressive" you were with the DE you may find you can match it. I'm anxious to read what more experienced SR shavers say. Regardless of my near match, I much prefer shaving with a SR. Greater satisfaction.

Best.

Jim

You got it right Jim. The best advice is to take it slow. Start with the sides of your face until you're comfortable there and then slowly expand.

Now that's the official advice, if you feel comfortable trying your whole face then why not, just don't expect a perfect shave right away. Though it's certainly possible that you are a natural and will have no problems at all.

I'm not trying to scare you or anything. I just hate to see people give up on straight razors because they think the shave they get in the beginning is how it will always be. As long as you're not afraid to ask questions and take the advice people here give you, you'll have wonderful shaves in no time.

I'm afraid the selective razor is on the Brands of straight razors to avoid so I wouldnt be surprised if it doesnt hold an edge..

Brands of Straight Razors to avoid - Straight Razor Place Wiki

I can get a really smooth shave with a straight.. smoother than with a DE but I'm not really experienced with the DE..

I know there was a recent thread somewhere about the Selective strop..

+1 on getting a shaveready razor from the classifieds, a Wapi from kenrup or from one of the advertisers of this forum.. make sure that the razor is shaveready

Maarten

Thanks for you advice.

"Selective" is in the "to avoid" list here on this site. So strop I have seems to be poor quality, the leather is not very flat.

Fendrihan is not an ebay seller (Fendrihan, Traditional Shaving Supplies), here is the comment for their pre-sharpened SR:
"This blade has been honed by D. Gauthier, an experienced straight razor sharpener based in Montreal. Mr. Gauthier has honed and restored hundreds of razors for clients all over the globe."

With my safety razor, I never shaved ATG, always WTG to avoid ingrown hair. So even with a SR, I don't think I will shave ATG.

From some video I saw, a good SR can cut a hair easily, so I would expect a SR shave a lot better than my DE (I can't cut a hair with my DE even with a new blade).

I have been able to shave all part of my face (except chin and lip) with my "Selective" (poor quality) SR honed by me with 1200 sandpaper, so I don't think I will have any problem with the technique.

That being said I think I will buy a new Dovo new with a good strop! If I don't like it then I will re-sell it! :-)

Thanks!

Originally Posted by pdube1

Thanks for you advice.

"Selective" is in the "to avoid" list here on this site. So strop I have seems to be poor quality, the leather is not very flat.

Fendrihan is not an ebay seller (Fendrihan, Traditional Shaving Supplies), here is the comment for their pre-sharpened SR:
"This blade has been honed by D. Gauthier, an experienced straight razor sharpener based in Montreal. Mr. Gauthier has honed and restored hundreds of razors for clients all over the globe."

With my safety razor, I never shaved ATG, always WTG to avoid ingrown hair. So even with a SR, I don't think I will shave ATG.

From some video I saw, a good SR can cut a hair easily, so I would expect a SR shave a lot better than my DE (I can't cut a hair with my DE even with a new blade).

I have been able to shave all part of my face (except chin and lip) with my "Selective" (poor quality) SR honed by me with 1200 sandpaper, so I don't think I will have any problem with the technique.

That being said I think I will buy a new Dovo new with a good strop! If I don't like it then I will re-sell it! :-)

Thanks!

Wow..Shaving directly off of 1200 sandpaper?

Welcome to SRP. Shaving with a straight has a learning curve. If you've been shaving with a DE then you will have some of it down already assuming you've been at it long enough to learn proper preparation, lathering, skin stretching. mapping the whisker direction and multiple pass gradual stubble removal.

You can find alot to chew on here in the SRP Wiki. There are tutorials on all things related to straight razor shaving as well as videos and even a list of razor brands to avoid.

The Norton 4/8 is IMO an ideal hone to start with and also to continue with as you gain proficiancy. There are tutorials on honing in the Wiki as well.

For a really high quality strop check out Straight Razor Designs or Heirloom Strop Company. They both carry strops that are as good as it gets.

The Dovo line has some differences in steel at certain price points but not necessarily better, just different. The entry level stuff with the plain scales is fine if you buy one shave ready.

Whatever you do take a look at this post by SRP founder Lynn Abrams and follow the advice to ease into shaving with a straight. It is the way that I did it and it worked very well for me.

Yeah, but the shave was not very close and not without irritation. Though it was better than when I got it new!! ;-) It's like shaving with my wusthof utility knife!! :-d

What is a Wapi, where can I find one? Is this a good SR?

They ain't bad. Forum member kenrup had starter kits with pre honed Wapis. He has a website here but I would email him before I pulled the trigger and make sure of what exactly he has.