Thread: General information for a newb please

well, I just bought a razor at an antique shop and i'm interested in learning how to shave with it, well, first off, none of the local barber shops are willing to teach me how to do a proper straight shave, as a matter of fact, they won't even give me a shave with one, only the back of my neck they say their insurance won't cover it. so I guess I need a really good youtube video or a very descriptive web site.

and then there's accessories, what do I NEED beyond what I would already have if i've been shaving with a gillette mach 3 for the last 4 years or so.

and of course what brands the best for things like strops and the like.
(my dad likes col. conk but I don't know that the make strops)

And then, where do I get it, some of the sites that come up when I google it seem a bit shady or REALLY pricey, all I've really found so far are Nashvillekniveshop.com and classicshaving.com, would anyone here vouch for either of those sites?

and last but not least, the blade, its a bit pitted and doesn't really shine anymore, is it worth sending it out and getting it done professionally, if yes, where? or should I just do it myself? (bearing in mind that I have no idea what I'm doing)

Thanks!

I would recommend SRD or Classicshaving.com for a strop and perhaps a stone. I'd send the razor for its first honing to a professional.

yeah, get a strop and have your razor honed by somebody with experience.
don't buy the poor quality strops.

Welcome,
I may not be the best one to answer this question, I have been shaving for 6 months with a straight. The razor you have may not be what you want to start with. I would recommend you buy a razor that is prehoned and shave ready. Lots of stuff to read on this website spend a few hours and learn what you can. Buy lynn cd you should be able to get it at classicshaving.com. Start slow, that is the hard part, do the sides of your face and then finish up with your regular razor. It took me a few weeks to get a complete shave with a straight razor. Its not a rush to do it, take your time learn slowly and carefully, a straight razor can hurt you.

Enjoy. It took me 3 months to be able to get a good close shave nick free, I may be a slow learner though, but if you dont have the patience you may not want to take this up, I can tell you if you do you will not regret it.

Hang in there and enjoy.

Crom

Welcome to SRP. If you post a photo of the blade the guys can better assess the condition as far as whether it is worth sending out for honing. If you go into the SRP Wiki here you'll find shaving tutorials and videos. Ask any questions you may have but do some homework on the site too.

^What they said.

Save some money and get a quality strop and a "beater" strop to practice on while learning (nicks happen).

Welcome to straight shaving.

I'd recommend you start with the wiki here, it'll tell you all the stuff you'll need. At the very least, you'll need a strop, some proper shave soap (try Mama Bear, TGQ, Col. Conk, or GFT - all decent soaps, suitable for a newbie), a decent brush, and a styptic pencil to stop the bleeding when you inevitably nick yourself (it happens to us all). Some good moisturiser/moisturising aftershave balm is usually a good idea too. The exact strop, soap, and brush that you buy are a matter of personal taste, but I agree - buy a cheaper strop to learn on (even a pre-used one is fine), and then when you've got it down get your fancy strop. I'd hate to buy a TM Latigo for my first strop and then nick the sh*t out of it, and I'm sure you would too.

Regarding learning to use a straight, again, check out the wiki. It's generally recommended to only start on the sideburn/cheek area WTG only at first, and to move on from that slowly as you get your beard prep, skin stretching, angles and pressure down, adding new passes and areas as you conquer each new area. Use your M3 to touch up any missed spots and the rest of your face after doing the sideburns rather than going over and over with the straight - that's a recipe for razor burn.

Do NOT try for a full face shave first time out, you'll either not do a decent job and be dissatisfied with using a straight, or you'll slice yourself up (I did both my first time).

And for honing, check out "member services" in the classifieds. There's also a member here, Utopian, who's offering free honing to new members, all you have to do is pay for the shipping. Drop him a PM with pics of your razor and see what he says.

Lastly, welcome, and enjoy your straight experience!

Welcome, I too say start with the wiki for beginners loads of excellent info for us newbies. Also, you really want some of these guys to see your razor. Chances are it is not shave ready but this site has plenty of masters who can make it ready. Don't get discouraged as I am figureing out learning to str8 shave takes time, it's an art and the more I learn the more attached to it I become. Questions are always welcomed here, it seems there is always someone with an answer or two. Learn what works for them and figure out how to make it work for you.

All I can do at this point in time is agree with my brethern. Look through the Vendor's Corner forum below for strops, soaps and brushes. All of which you need to start. DO NOT GO OUT ON EBAY TO GET THESE ITEMS!!!!!

The necessary shaving items you will find from our vendors are quality equipment. They have reputations to protect. Figure out what your budget is and then put together your kit. I agree with the above poster about not spending $80-$90 on a beautiful, fine leather strop. You are going to nick it or cut it. Start with something far less costly to learn on. Besides the starter strops sold by the vendors here you can get a good Illinois strop for $30-$40. I don't recall where to buy it, but you can do a search to find it.