Thread: Trying to do this on the cheap?

I was thinking how much stuff I bought over the last three weeks, I thought this might be interesting for people trying to get into straight razor shaving on the cheap. This is everything I have bought in 3 weeks, there is everything I need there, and extras as well.



The strop was an ebay job, cost about £11 delivered. One side is pretty beat up, but the other is fine. Seems to do the job, keeping my razor keen anyway.

The two black pots are the products I had been using for the first couple of weeks, before I had a brush. The top one is a latherless shave cream, full of oils and totally natural, hand made in fact. I will be replacing it when it's finished. The bottom on is a aftershave balm, also very good. 100% natural etc. Together they were about £15.

The brush was from boots it's a 'men-u' effort, and seems to do the job. No doubt it's not the best, but it was cheap and came with the small tube of cream, which I won't rush to replace as it seems a bit - I dunno - modern. The brush is synthetic, so even if/when I get a badger brush, it will still be useful to travel with. £9

The pre-shave oil and the nivea balm were bought on the off chance because they had a 3 for 2 offer on when I got the brush, I quite like the nivea balm and the pre-shave oil is nice as well, though I'm not sure it's strictly nessercery. They cost me about £4 (3 for 2, the oil was free)

The little pot I had lying around, so that was a freebie, I think it's quite good for lather. Maybe a little shallow.

The shavette came with the blades, speaks for it's self really, served me very well, I think it's as good a way as any to get into the whole gig. Will keep it as a travel razor, and for those odd occasions I'm too short on time to strop. £11

The other razor is a german number, bought shave ready off a member here. It's fantastic, I don't see my self getting rid of it. £24

So there you go, the whole kit and cabodle for £74 ($108). My initial outlay, which had me shaving happily for nearly 3 weeks, was £26 ($40). If you're worried about cost, as I was, then buying things over a slightly extended period, and not worrying too much about aesthetics means you can get quite a lot of bang for your buck. Hope this is useful for someone.

Originally Posted by gregs656

If you're worried about cost, as I was, then buying things over a slightly extended period, and not worrying too much about aesthetics means you can get quite a lot of bang for your buck. Hope this is useful for someone.

I completely agree. Some of my best razors look like crap. Aesthetics can drastically increase the cost of shaving this way but as you point out, if you keep in simple, you can keep it cheap.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I completely agree. Some of my best razors look like crap. Aesthetics can drastically increase the cost of shaving this way but as you point out, if you keep in simple, you can keep it cheap.

It hasn't worked out that way for me but it has been a heck of a ride so far. Thanks for posting that because it is so true that if you don't let the ADs get you it can be a very cost effective way to get the job done.

In several years of doing this I think I have spent little more than you have. A bit more on comsumables of course. And I have a couple of ways to actually hone my razor but they were cheap as well.

Cheers from another cheapskate.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

I have a couple of ways to actually hone my razor but they were cheap as well.

Cheers from another cheapskate.

Yer, I do see some CrOx paste in my future. I'm a complete cheapskate, but it's saved me cash, and made me cash - so I'm not changing.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

It hasn't worked out that way for me but it has been a heck of a ride so far. Thanks for posting that because it is so true that if you don't let the ADs get you it can be a very cost effective way to get the job done.

Well, it hasn't worked out that way for me either! That's why I wrote "IF you can keep it simple..."

It is nice to see someone exercise the "straight razor shave saving you money bit", vs cartridge. The question is, can you keep it that way. I had the same thoughts in the very beginning. I told myself that was the last razor I'll ever buy and I only need one brush, etc. Now I find myself prowling the classifieds and antique shops trying to get my hands on any shaving gear that I can. It is a hard thing to resist. Good luck with it all and thanks for sharing your story! Jeremy-

I have to say, you were a lot smarter about getting started "on the cheap" than I was.

I convinced myself that all the awful things I heard about zeepk were because people are snobby, and that I could hone one up to a decent shaver.

I bought 4 zeepk razors, a zeepk strop, a zeepk hone, and was never able to get any of them sharp enough to shave my arm, let alone my very coarse beard.

This post is a good lesson on getting started cheap.

Used gold is always better than new garbage.

Originally Posted by cessnabird

It is nice to see someone exercise the "straight razor shave saving you money bit", vs cartridge. The question is, can you keep it that way. I had the same thoughts in the very beginning. I told myself that was the last razor I'll ever buy and I only need one brush, etc. Now I find myself prowling the classifieds and antique shops trying to get my hands on any shaving gear that I can. It is a hard thing to resist. Good luck with it all and thanks for sharing your story! Jeremy-

I think the way I did it is probably not the cheapest way, but it did avoid a big one time out lay. The most I ever spent in one go was £24.

I don't mind spending the odd few notes on a new soap or cream (a badger brush is in my future also), it's something I enjoy and I WILL indulge - but I am glad that I didn't sit in front of the computer on day one and buy all the 'best' kit - it's so easy to do but I'm not sure how much I would have gained.