Thread: New razor.

I am looking to buy a straight edge razor for the boyfriend for his birthday. I have no idea where to start. all he said was he never wanted to have to sharpen it but i do not think it is possible ?
So if i can get some advice on this it would be very much appreciated.

Welcome to SRP. What is your price range? Do you want a vintage or new razor?

He can get by without having to sharpen it to a certain extent. You can purchase a razor shave ready and when the razor does need sharpened again, you can send it out for sharpening.

See this for what "shave ready" means.

Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Wiki

He will need to learn how to use a strop though, which is used before each shave. It would be smart to also use diamond or chrome ox paste, used on a balsa paddle or a cloth strop, to refresh the edge when the razor starts pulling on the whiskers a little.

I think it would be a good idea to have your boyfriend start educating himself a little more about shaving with a straight. This is a good place to start.

Straight Razor Place Wiki:Books/Beginners Guide - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Originally Posted by Jmcmmin

I am looking to buy a straight edge razor for the boyfriend for his birthday. I have no idea where to start. all he said was he never wanted to have to sharpen it but i do not think it is possible ?
So if i can get some advice on this it would be very much appreciated.

+1 on what keenedge said.

Just so you know, I don't think you can go with just a straight razor. You should at least have a strop (a leather/linen strap) to keep the edge keen. A good straight razor will inevitably need to be sharpened -- if he doesn't want to do it himself he can have it done professionally for about $10 - $20.

Before you buy any razor for him, please check the list of razors not to purchase:
Brands of Straight Razors to avoid - Straight Razor Place Wiki