Thread: "no sharpen" x traditional straights

Hi all,

I'm new to this straight razor thing. As I live in Brazil, where there isn't a straight razor culture, it's next to impossible to find traditional straight razors, the only choice being "no sharpen" straights.

I've decided to give straights a try, but as importing a dovo or thiers issard blade would cost me around 300 times (yes, that's right, I did the math) more than a national "no sharpen" model, I ask: do the traditional straights give a better shave than "no sharpen" ones? If so, why?

Thanks in advance for all the responses.

Hello!
They give a different shave. Shaving with a shavette, or "no sharpen" is less forgiving. It's also less comfortable, from what i've heard from the guys that have used them. It's still a step towards using a straight though & may well be a good start, under your circumstances.
Have a look in the classifieds though. Even if there's nothing there right now, several members post up ridiculously well priced blades, just so that new members can get into it cheaply. If you're even a little practical you can improvise a strop from some leather!

I'm certain that you can find a very good razor on SRP for a very reasonable price to include shipping. If you are starting out, have the razor honed and shave ready by one of the masters on SRP. It doesn't take a fortune to start out with very good instruments and the benefits are tremendous. Trying to get by generally always cost you more and will have a negative influence on your progress.

Lewis

I have both and use both regularly. (fixed straight & disposable straight)

The disposable blade and its spike point are very sharp when used the first time and requires a nice light touch to shave. The better the touch, the less weepers and scratches/cuts you will get in your initial shaves as you learn. The blades will be slightly less sharp each time you shave with it and usually lasts about 5-6 shaves. It also gives less weepers as the blade becomes slightly less sharp with each shave.

I started out with the disposable and it was nice to know I always had a sharp blade so I could focus on my technique. My technique developed quickly and served me well when using my first fixed straight blade. With my fixed straight blade, I felt I could get away with a heavier touch without getting weepers and scratch/cuts.

Weepers - No problem. Cold water closes these up quick and the scratches/cuts healed 90%- 100% within 48 hours and were not highly visible.

Price and simplicity wise - disposable straights are hard to beat for a short run/travel solution. For about $50.00 you can get yourself a shavette and 10+ weeks of straight blades. There are also many other less expensive versions on-line. I have cheap version that is sold to hair grooming professionals and it gives me a nice BBS shave.

Good Luck and welcome to SRP!

Pabster

Originally Posted by Pabster

I have both and use both regularly. (fixed straight & disposable straight)

The disposable blade and its spike point are very sharp when used the first time and requires a nice light touch to shave. The better the touch, the less weepers and scratches/cuts you will get in your initial shaves as you learn. The blades will be slightly less sharp each time you shave with it and usually lasts about 5-6 shaves. It also gives less weepers as the blade becomes slightly less sharp with each shave.

I started out with the disposable and it was nice to know I always had a sharp blade so I could focus on my technique. My technique developed quickly and served me well when using my first fixed straight blade. With my fixed straight blade, I felt I could get away with a heavier touch without getting weepers and scratch/cuts.

Weepers - No problem. Cold water closes these up quick and the scratches/cuts healed 90%- 100% within 48 hours and were not highly visible.

Price and simplicity wise - disposable straights are hard to beat for a short run/travel solution. For about $50.00 you can get yourself a shavette and 10+ weeks of straight blades. There are also many other less expensive versions on-line. I have cheap version that is sold to hair grooming professionals and it gives me a nice BBS shave.

Good Luck and welcome to SRP!

Pabster

Thanks for the help. Seens that for now I'll stick to the "no sharpen" straight (as it cost me US$ 3,00 instead of at least US$ 150,00 i'd spend importing a traditional straight). I can buy six blades for the "no sharpen" for US$ 1,50, so it would take a loooooong time to justify the expense with a traditional straight (If I insert a norton 4000/8000 + a nice strop I could buy a lifetime suply of blades).

Of course, money isn't everything and sharpening, honing and stroping a beatifull straight razor is a priceless pleasure, but, as I'm trying to see if shaving with a straight razor is my thing, I can't justify the cost of the whole thing.

Good Luck and that was my thought as well. Once I was convinced it was for me, I spent over $500 on new straight razors and accessories. I love it and thought this is a great long term investment and a bit of a luxury since I have many straight razors. But that is me in the U.S. using the U.S. dollar to go a long way vs. spending Reais in Brazil.

Pabster

I'm curious what does it cost you to import a razor that comes via mail service without including the price of the razor.
Heck if you can cover shipping cost or import fees whatever is making the cost so high I can dig up a razor for you no charge for the razor.

It would cost me a import tax of 60% of the value of the razor + shiping, so, say a razor costs me US$ 100,00 + 15,00 shiping, I'd pay US$ 69 just in taxes (and I'd still have to buy a sharpening stone and a strop, so it sums up pretty quickly), and, on top of that US$ 69,00 I'd have to pay 25% "merchandise circulation" tax, so, a grand total of US$ 86,25 just in taxes.

I'm really thankfull for your offer and would be really happy to cover shipping and import fees. Do you have paypal?

Originally Posted by Gunner777

I'm curious what does it cost you to import a razor that comes via mail service without including the price of the razor.
Heck if you can cover shipping cost or import fees whatever is making the cost so high I can dig up a razor for you no charge for the razor.

Yes I surely do have paypal. I can put the cost of the razor at $1.00 on the customs form or just mark it no value scrap material or something like that. Darn I had a hone but sold the one I didn't use but maybe someone has an extra.
I'll got through my razors today and pick one and then post a picture of it here or you can send me a PM with your email if you would rather do that.
I like to see people get started and it's really hard for you. If anybody else out there has a strop or something they want to throw in to help post it here and we'll get him setup! Seriously we joke about it but it may be cheaper for him if the donated items were sent to me then from here to Brazil in one package to save on shipping.

Phil

Oh yea just check my profile and you can email me if you want.

I don't know how the import taxes work over there, but there are two options as i see them. As this is a public forum, these are, of course, purely hypothetical!
Send it as a valueless gift, or
Send it minimally insured with "Repaired Item" clearly marked on the customs form.