Thread: Greetings

Hello all! *waves*

I've recently got fed up with the over-the-counter-disposable-razor-industry and decided it was finally time to take the plunge and put the time and money into learning how to straight shave. I am a little overwhelmed at the start.

I should start out by apologizing. There is a veritable wealth of information available instructing me in glorious detail about how to precede and I am positive all of my questions are answered many times over in this community. Instead of compiling and shifting all of this varied information for myself, I'm going to be a selfish jerk and ask the same novice questions that I'm sure are asked quite often.

I have read Mr. Christopher Moss' guide "The Art of the Straight Razor Shave, A Basic Guide" (http://www.shavemyface.com/downloads...azor-Shave.pdf) as just about my only source of credible information on the skill and lifestyle. I am quite patient and fins repetitive, detailed, mechanical work with my hands to be relaxing and enjoyable. I am generally unobservant but I am very detailed oriented in what I remember to pay attention to. I have good skills in general with respect to work requiring attention to detail.

There are two things overwhelming me at the moment. One of the things is by how much instruction is easily available to get me started. This is why I am asking patience of some experienced members of this community in giving me personal advice on something I should be able to figure out on my own with the resources available here. I am also overwhelmed by the number of products available to me and how to discriminate amongst them to purchase what would be best for me.

I am expecting to pay in the $300-$400 range to get me started and while this is something I can handle I would prefer to get this down to the $200-$250 range if possible. I would not be willing to spend hours going through pages of classified to get it into this range nor do I generally but time into getting the best value if it's probably going to be within about 15% of what I'm already set to spend. I am willing to pay a little extra not to shop as long.

Generally speaking, I prefer functionally primary, cost secondary, and style/prestige tertiary in products I purchase though I am willing to make some trade offs. I also tend to like more vintage aesthetics and style. I am planing on making my purchases From Classic Shaving (Straight Razors - Safety Razors - Traditional Wet Shaving & Grooming Supplies for the Modern Gentleman-Gifts for Dads, Grads, Groomsmen, and Modern Gentlemen.) unless otherwise advised.

As far as razors go, I gather that carbon steel, 5/8 in, round point razor is advisable for myself. While I understand why the metal content and point are advisable for me, I have no clue what width is best for me so I am assuming the "standard." Knowing me and from what little I read, I think I would prefer a grind with no hallowing. I doubt I would mind the extra difficulty in honing a wedge and would probably find the extra weight helpful while shaving.

For honing I would need a simple wetstone but I am clueless to the strop I would need though I gather I should get two to have one as a backup for when I damage my origional. I am planing on getting a synthetic brush as I am vegan sympathetic and I dobut that the mug choice will be much of a dificulty. I could also use some advice on which soap and moisterizer to get though I am leanign towards Mr. Moss' sugestion of Trumper’s Skin Food.

I am soliciting advice for more information on a good strop or two for a beginer and a good plain soap or to be pointed in the direction of more information on these producs. Specificly what specifications should I be looking for. I would also apreciate advice on easily finding products that match my specifications and decerning the quality of such products so I don't over pay but don't get low quality producs. I would definatly apreciate any other advice anyone might have. :-)

I apreciate you'alls patientce and understanding as I recieve assistance in entering the world of streight razor shaving.

In Gratitde
Benjamin Arthur Schwab

For strops, Tony Miller throws in a practice strop for $7 when you buy one of his regular strops. KenRup at Ruprazor has his Filly beginner's strop that comes pre-pasted with Chromium Oxide on the backside. Newspaper on something flat will work in a pinch. Check the classifieds and SRD, too.

Welcome to SRP, Benjamin!

Although Classic Shaving are a fine company, very well respected amongst the straight shaving community in fact, the current offer from Straight Razor Designs to hone, for free, your razor for as long as you own the razor is simply too good an offer not to recommend to someone purchasing a straight razor for the first time. Although I'm an avid viewer and sometimes purchaser from the classifieds here, I would still suggest you purchase a new Dovo razor initially, although I am aware that other, more experienced members here might have a different opinion. You will have seen advice to buy a 5/8", or 6/8" round point half hollow blade and this is good advice as it puts you roughly in the middle of blade styles. You might decide you'd like to try a smaller 4/8", or a larger 7/8" or even a meaty 8/8" once you're more experienced, but by starting with a 5/8", or 6/8" you will be better able to judge where your tastes lie in time.

You mention shaving soap, but you should be aware that Trumper's Skin Food is not something that is often used as a shaving lather itself, it's usually used as a pre-shave product you use before lathering and as a post shave balm to soothe and condition the skin once you've finished your shave. If you're buying your razor from Classic Shaving, or Straight Razor Designs then browse their selections of soaps and creams and feel at ease that their selections are top notch as I don't believe they stock anything considered sub par. As a rule of thumb, creams are often easier to use than soaps, but the soaps offered for sale by the two companies mentioned have been extensively tested by an enthusiastic and growing wetshaving community and found to be very effective at producing lather.

As far as synthetic brushes go, I have little direct experience with them, but have seen enough posts by others to know that Men-U offer an affordable entry into the synthetic brush world, with The Body Shop offering something readily available on the high street if you have such a store in your area. If you decide on something a bit more expensive then a Google search for Jack Black Synthetic Shaving Brush will throw up a lot of glowing reviews.

For a vegan sympathetic strop I would really only look in one place:

3" Artisan Synthetic Vegan Friendly Strop - The Well Shaved Gentleman The Heirloom Razor Strop Company

To say that Tony Miller is well respected for his strop making ability would be to understate things considerably. Everyone who has dealt with Tony will speak in the very best of terms about both his products and the man himself. I would advise contacting him directly to discuss your needs.

More than anything I would steer you towards the wiki on this very site:Straight Razor Place Wiki it will have all the information you need to get started.

Have fun and don't hesitate to post again with any further questions you might have.

Welcome to SRP!!

Be sure to look at Straight Razor Design's Decembers promotions. They have GREAT deals on new Dovo straight combo with a Strop. I was able to see their Strops last month and they all looked GREAT.

Good luck and welcome aboard.

Welcome to SRP and smooth shaving !