Want to get into Straight Razor Shaving

Howdy,
I have been wanting to get into Straight razor shaving ever since i could shave, even though that wasn't that long ago I'm only 18 now. I would really like to get into this, however I'm not sure as to whether to buy my first razor from the forums on here or take a chance and hit up one of the ebay ones. I think i would feel a lot safer buying from the Classifieds here ( i have spent the last 2 days on the sight just reading). Also were is a good place to go get the other parts of the kit i need, such as the brush and cream. I know that it isn't the best stuff in the world but would it be a bad idea to buy the $8 kit at walmart just to make sure of what I'm getting in to? Thanks and Gig'em

Hi Howard and welcome,

You've come to the right place - lots of good info and plenty of helpful people.

Classifieds - good place to start, certainly better than Ebay for first razor.

Equipment - check out the Wiki:
(http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...zor_Place_Wiki - assuming you have already),
there is also a section on starting on budget in the beginner's guide:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...eginners_Guide.

- cheap brush & soap is fine - you've probably got a better range in the USA than here in Australia, but I'm still happy with my $2 brush and $2 shave stick.

-you'll also need a strop - there are cheap 'practice' strops available in the USA that are probably worth getting when you start (then you won't stress about nicking it with your razor)
(Also in the Budget section of Beginner's shopping list)


Again - go through the Beginner's section of the wiki
(http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...eginners_Guide)
and you'll find lots of good advice.

Enjoy the journey,
Michael

Hey I just started straight razor shaving very recently and I'll tell you what I did. I got the starter set from www.ruprazor.com which comes with a good shave ready razor and a beginner's strop. I also got the Van Der Hagen brush, soap, and bowl set from Walmart. I know it's not the best but it works and the total cost was about 70 bucks for everything. This way you know you're getting a good prodcut and you'll be able to shave with it out of the box. At first it may seem a bit rough, but as you'll read many times in the forums, you have to invest time into it to gain a bit of skill. I finally threw my safety razor away today. I'm getting the best shaves I've ever had now. That's 70 bucks I do not regret spending and neither will you if you choose to go that route. Good luck with your decision.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stubear

... and the brush will be a synthetic, not a badger one. So this may affect the quality of your lather.

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Actually the Van Der Hagen set I got at Walmart for under 10 bucks included a boar bristle brush. Not badger but definitely not synthetic. Works quite well for me.

Hello Howard, Welcome to the Striaght Razor Place. You came to the right place for sure. Like said earlier, say away from E-bay. Read the wiki, for beginners from what you will need a beginners shoping list. Check the classifieds, for a good cheap vintage blade. If you wish to buy new you can click on one of the side banners here. Lynn and Dons Straight Razor Designs.com have great starter kits, that include a stropp. Their razors are also shave ready, and they come with a second honing free of charge. If you are on a tight budget, try Rupp Razors.com They offer very inexpensive, new shave ready razors and stropps. They also offer second honing free of charge. Decide what is best for you, and goood luck to this awesome art form.

As a newbie myself, I can certainly tell you that the above feedback is excellent. I can't stress enough to purchase a "shave ready" razor either from the classifieds here or from KenRup Razors or Classic Razor. The thing not to do is go the ebay route, for now.

Having a well honed and shave ready razor is a BIG thing! Honing is a BIG thing, and if you think you can because you've honed your pocket knife, just get that thought out of your head. It ain't happening!

The wikis here are fabulous and the feedback from members superb! Enjoy the forum as I do, don't be afraid to ask questions. And enjoy the journey. You can't find a better place to hang your hat.

ditto on the ebay. until you know exactly what to look for it can be a terrible venture. i myself still get burned every now and then on ebay. also the van der hagen is what i started out with. later on i am sure you will want to get a real badger hair brush. the walmart set will get you started nicely...good luck

Hi and Welcome. As they other's said, Ebay can be dicey at best. Once you know what your looking at, and have some experience under your belt, then you can mess around with Ebay. For now, stick with the Vendors here, or the classifieds. If you want, get a str8 razor first and a strop. That's all you really need to start. No sense in spending a ton of money until your sure you like this. Many guys go out and spend hundreds of dollars only to sell it later at a loss. Start slow...There's no law against using Foamy at first...If you like it, and it's for you, then you can invest in a nice brush, mug and some soaps or creams. Believe me when I tell you, the stuff you get in Wal Mart is junk. Really, when you compare it too a good brush, your gonna say, Wow, I can't believe I actually used this...(because I did) I think they have like 50 hairs in them. So, if you really get into this, then set your sites on the nice brushes, etc....You'll be glad you did...Let me know if you need any further help. You can just send me a PM here....

Rich

Thanks for all the great feed back ill let y'all know how the first shave goes probably wont be for awhile as i acquire all the goods and the information. Plus there is a stupid thing that a bunch of people participate in called No shave November, I being one of those people so i have another 8 days before i can even think about shaving. Once again i really appreciate all the advice and support.

I know that several other folks have already said this, but I'm going to say it again, just for emphasis: DO NOT BUY FROM EBAY! I know from bitter experience that Ebay is not the place to get a razor unless you can afford to take a loss. RupRazors' beginners set is the way to go -- for $60 you get a new, shave-ready razor and a new strop.

While you can get by with a cheap brush, soap, and strop, you can't get by with anything less than a good, shave-ready razor. I've been "wet-shaving" for 45 years, and during most of those years my brushes were bottom-line bristle brushes purchased at the corner drugstore, the same place where I bought my soap -- but I've never compromised on razors, and neither should you, because your razor will the deciding factor in your straight-shaving experience.

Best wishes for many years of pleasurable shaving.

I've bought a lot of razors off Ebay. But, not one of them ever was even close to shave ready. So, until you are able to hone, if you go that direction, I'm with everyone else... avoid Ebay!

My opinion is that Walmart or CVS Pharmacy shave soap and boar bristle brush is an acceptable way to start. But, don't even consider shaving with shaving cream out of a can, or with gel like Edge. I used a straight razor for a month, using shaving cream to save money. (Didn't know if I was going to stick with straights, and wasn't willing to break my bank account getting started.) But, then I spent $7.50 at Walmart for a shave mug, bar of soap and boar bristle brush. Skipping details, waiting a month to buy even the cheap, bottom of the barrel Walmart shave soap was a big mistake by me.

Of course, upgrade as soon as you can.

I sympathize with your attempt to save money during startup. But, you need a leather strop. In addition, you will need "something" treated with, say, Chromium Oxide to freshen up your blade from time to time. Treating the linen side of a leather strop, (for they often come with a leather strip and a linen strip), with chromium oxide is one way to go. But, I don't recommend it. Save the linen for untreated stropping. Once chromium oxide is applied, its hard to remove.

You can use chromium oxide applied to balsa wood, and you can do this very cheaply. Read up on balsa wood strops in SRPs wikis. About anyone here would send you a small quantity of Chromium Oxide powder, or "crayon", for you to treat the balsa wood with. (Just send me a private message request if you decide to go this route.) You can get by with balsa wood from a hobby store (Michaels, etc) for $3.50, treated with Chromium Oxide powder.

(For a few months, you can easily get by with balsa alone. When you know more what type abrasive you will use - many like diamond spray in addition to, or with chromium oxide, you can put in more money on a good balsa strop that is properly backed by a paddle.)