So I recently became obsessed, for a variety of reasons, with learning to shave with a straight razor. I had already purchased a pretty sketchy looking one from an antique shop as a lark, never really intending on shaving with it, but then today a miracle happened.
I was discussing my new-found obsession with my boss after which he produced a Dovo Best Quality and strop that he had purchased some years earlier and never used. This brings me to the questions:
1. I'm about 97% sure the blade isn't shave ready and it also has some oxidation or pitting or something on it. I know I need to get it honed and/or restored, but I was really hoping to not have to ship it anywhere to do so. Does anyone on this forum either a) live in the Houston area and offer restoring/honing services or b) know someone or place in said area that does.
2. What else do I really need? I've read about brushes, soaps, and stropping pastes and more. Which of the various accoutrement is actually essential to have before I embark on my first shave?
Please forgive any faux pas I may have commited in this post, but after spending some time searching the forum I wasn't really able to find a definitive answer to these questions.
thanks,
- Mashoujiki