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 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.

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

How about if somebody "returned" a razor they borrowed from you that you "previously owned". I am sure somebody here would happily act as an intermediary me included.

Hi All,

So far I am putting up the razor and a bit of soap and another member is sending some soaps. Can anybody come up with a barber hone and maybe a strop they can do without?
I want to help this member get started so if anyone can help out with any donated items please contact me at
[email protected]

If you have something just email me and I can give you my mailing address so I can pack whatever is given in one box. I'm going to give it until next weekend before I mail the package to Jose.

Thanks!
Phil

Awesome to see such a great community banding together to help a member out

+1 vote for sainthood for gunner777 and cegadede

... wish someone would donate me a starter razor