Thread: I don't know anything about ANYTHING...many questions need answers please help!

Originally Posted by JFD

Wait, so it's not cheaper to shave with a straight razor than to shave with those Mach 3s and Fusions that you always have to buy the refill packets for?

That depends. A razor from the classifieds, and a bunch of homemade paraphernalia will get you going for under USD for a long time. There is a comparison of straight vs. disposables in the FAQ, too.

Originally Posted by JFD

Does it at least give you a closer shave?

It can.

Originally Posted by JFD

This may be utterly simplistic, but so far this is the plan:

• Buy the 74.99 Black Dovo from vintage blades llc that comes shave ready, and hone it every 2 months
• Buy a Norton 4K/8K, nothing fancy just one stone
• Buy the black 2" strop that they sell

And that's it.

Yes, that's it. Plain and simple. We believe that some people on this site have gone way overboard on the technical issues of shaving! Straight razor shaving is not rocket science!

Originally Posted by JFD

I have shaving cream and I have a brush. I figure with these 3 items I'll be good for the next 15 years or so. Thoughts? I dont think this'll actually realistically suffiec for the next decade and a half, but I was wondering what problems would occur that would necessitate more purchase.

If you have a quality brush, and maintain it well, there is not reason whatsoever why your proposed setup should not get you going for 15 years. None at all.

Originally Posted by JFD

What am I missing here, guys? What'll happen in a few months, a few years if I buy these three things?

That depends. If you can avoid the various acquisition disorders some of our members rejoice in, there is absolutely nothing that will happen, other than yourself getting comfortable with these tools, getting a better shaving experience, and saving money in the process. Nothing at all.

Originally Posted by JFD

Wait, so it's not cheaper to shave with a straight razor than to shave with those Mach 3s and Fusions that you always have to buy the refill packets for? Does it at least give you a closer shave?
This may be utterly simplistic, but so far this is the plan:

Buy the 74.99 Black Dovo from vintage blades llc that comes shave ready, and hone it every 2 months

Buy a Norton 4K/8K, nothing fancy just one stone

Buy the black 2" strop that they sell

And that's it. I have shaving cream and I have a brush. I figure with these 3 items I'll be good for the next 15 years or so. Thoughts? I dont think this'll actually realistically suffiec for the next decade and a half, but I was wondering what problems would occur that would necessitate more purchase. Feel free to utterly shoot this down, but the bottom line for me is not that it's a hobby, just that it's more efficient than running to the store every 2 months to pay $34.99 for refills. Truth be told, I'd probably enjoy stropping and shaving with a weapon every morning, but yeah in terms of cost-effectiveness I think I'm seeing it through different eyes than you guys, and I was wondering if I could get some guidance there. What am I missing here, guys? What'll happen in a few months, a few years if I buy these three things?

That is a good plan IMO. Some guys get into the ADs. IOW, acquisition disorders and get many razors, hones, brushes or whatever. If you're not prone to that then you can do fine with the items you're planning on getting.

BTW, I shave with a straight daily and if it wasn't the best shave I ever got in terms of closeness and comfort I would probably be shaving with the next best thing which for me personally is a slant DE with a Gillette Swede blade. So even though there is a learning curve before you reap the rewards stick with it and you will be glad that you did.

and don't ding your razor edge on the faucet!

I'm going along with the last few posts. I suspect straight shaving would be very cost effective if you were able to stick to one strop, one razor, one brush, and only buy soap or cream when you run out. However, it seems to become a passion/hobby/addiction after a short while. As Lynn likes to put it, there's not one experienced person here that doesn't strive for the perfect shave and perfect razor.
I'm very new to straight razor shaving and in addition to my favorite mug and grandfathers EverReady brush, I've already purchased two soaps, three creams, aftershave, after shave balm, and have my eye on a full razor set from SRD (this shavette thingy is for the birds). Incidentally SRD is partially run by Lynn, the founder of this site and a mentor to all.
Dward, nail on the head buddy. SWMBO is already starting to get 'the look' after those few things I mentioned. Can't wait to see what happens after I get the full setup.

Originally Posted by SlickWillyTFCF

SWMBO is already starting to get 'the look' after those few things I mentioned. Can't wait to see what happens after I get the full setup.

As an aside, we have tried to compile relevant information for beginners in a PDF file, available from here if you click this link.

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

Haha wow you guys are hilarious. I really hope I end up buying those things and start straight shaving when I get back to Toronto because I can just tell I'm gonna have a lot of fun on this site. I wasn't raised in North America, so I'm assuming there's a cultural or Westerner bias involved with this whole "acquisition disorder" concept, I find it thoroughly amusing. Thanks a lot for clarifying on the simplicity of this whole endeavour guys, it was very reassuring.

Originally Posted by JFD

I'm assuming there's a cultural or Westerner bias involved with this whole "acquisition disorder" concept,

Nah, it is a global phenomenon among straight razor shavers. Nobody is safe. You've been forewarned.

Even without AD, I would think that after you shave for a few months and are more experienced you may want to consider buying 1 or perhaps 2 more razors. It's just a practical matter.

If you have 2 razors honed shave-ready and use just one for a month, then start using the other on an every-other-day basis, then the first one will finally need to be honed about a month sooner than the second. Even if you have your own hones, you don't want to get halfway through a shave one morning and discover that your only razor is finally too dull to shave well with. And of course, if you chip or ding the edge, you may have to send it off for a repair and re-honing.

The third razor should be for travel (presuming you do that) and kept pretty sharp and unused except when you suddenly have to pack and go. It should be a plain, very economical razor, which will ease the pain somewhat if it's stolen from your checked luggage. (Realize that TSA will gladly confiscate it if you try to carry it on the plane.)

On the matter of cheap or not, I was shaving my first 2 or 3 months on a kit that cost less than $50. If I wanted to continue, add a barber hone for touch ups, so +$10-$20ish, and maybe a second razor to alternate, so, +$15-$30ish. That would be all I needed to shave for life. Now on the other hand, I like COLLECTING razors. I don't think I have RAD, just I-Wish-I-Had-That-Disorder, as I'm too cheap to shell out much for a razor. My only two razors that cost more than $15 were because they were deals I couldn't pass up ($200 razor going for $35, and a real beauty at that!, $100-$200ish razor going for $80 that I really really wanted). I just spent some money on a barber hone and a few finishers, and am about to buy a basic workhorse set so I can sharpen my collection. But all that is definitely not necessary, and by no means a rush. I save for a couple weeks, then buy a razor or a hone.