Thread: Hello

Hello all. This my first post on your forum. I'm not a straight razor shaver yet, but I'm thinking about becoming one. Right now, I shave with a Gillette 2-blade sensor. But I use a good shaving brush and shaving cream. It amazed my how much better of a shave I got when starting using the brush and cream instead of the canned stuff and when I started making more than 1 pass. If a straight razor can truly get closer than that, it must truly give a great shave.

I don't know if I'm asking this in the right section or not, so I apologize if I'm not. Does anyone know of anyplace in the South Jersey/Philadelphia area that sells straight razors? I'd like to see them in the flesh and not just online before I consider buying one.

Welcome to SRP,

Yes, good preparation makes a lot of difference, doesn't it. I haven't used the sensor blades in a long time, but once you get really good with straights you can get as close shave as possible. You basically have a lot more control of the process, the sharpness and smoothness of the edge and the angle is something that Gillette has predetermined for you. It does take some determination to get there though.

I am not sure about retailers in your area, but art of shaving has many shops and sells thiers-issard razors.

A heart welcome to SRP! You've come to the right place. You already have a good start. Using a brush and soap/cream instead of the canned goop. As aleady said good facial prep is just as important to getting a good straight razor shave as the razor itself. There are really three important compnents to a successful sraight razor shave: 1. A shave ready razor; 2. good facial prep; and, 3. proper stropping. All important to the shave. This list assumes you have acquired the requistie skills for straight razor shaving. Those skills only come with experience. Yes, Dorothy, there really is a learning curve to straight razor shaving.

Again, weclome aboard...

I used a sensor not long ago and to tell you the truth I was not really impressed with the shaving quality of it. In my opinion I would recommend buying one double edge then go to the straight. I went through double edges to get to the straight, of which I simply have not developed the necessary prowess with the blade as yet. In my opinion the double edge is easier to learn to use but it is not as prone to cutting your skin as a straight is. And the skills you learn with the double edge are transferable to the straight.

Greetings from sunny Southern New Jersey (not really)!

There is an Art of Shaving on 15th and Walnut in Philadelphia, but I have not been there. However, you could definitely go in there and check out whatever they have in stock. I am almost certain they do not come "shave ready" which means if you pick one up, you'll either have to learn how to hone in a flash, or send it out to one of SRP's honemeisters to make it sharp. I think they stock Theirs-Issard razors which are good quality, but again, you'll need to get it sharpened. $20 is the going rate.

Let us know if you decide to take the plunge. You won't look back.

Cheers,

Ogie

EDIT: And some guys are offering free honing services for newbies, so be sure to see if those are still available if/when you jump in. Good luck.

Ogie made an interesting point that I would like to expand on. Art of Shaving has one additional thing to offer new straight razor shavers. They have a barber spa attached to the store where they have a professional barber who does straight razor shaves. They will also let you get some 15 minute lessons from the barber providing that you are not interferring with one of their paying customers. And they will give you the lesson for $0, I got two lessons before I got started and I might still go back for a lesson or two. Here in the US capital there are two Art of Shavings, one at Union Station (a mall/train station) and one at conneticut and L street, one block north of the infamous K street (this is the street where all the congressional lobyists have their offices, when you hear someone talk about Washington lobyists they will talk about K street). I went to the one on L street where the barber was a tall black man with a curley beard, he says that he has used straights for 99.9% of his life but has used a safety once or twice and talks sometimes about the problems with safeties. He taught me to strop and hone, although I could probablt stand another lesson or two on the matter.

Art of Shaving is an excellent place to go pickup the necessary hardware and get some lessons. Although the one on L Street told me that htey did not have any straights in stock so I went on-line to get mine.