Thread: is this a good list to start with???

ok so im the kind of guy who likes to get all the stuff i need for things before i really get into using it!...i have not been able to get anything at all yet because money is really tight...so i went through classicshaving.com and this is the list of stuff i came up with

luckly my wife was a clinique consultant for about 4 years so she helped me with the skincare list to keep my face nice and clean all the time(she always raggin on me about it neways lol)

herbal ment toner
super shape spf 15
razor bump releif
facial wash
facial scrub

now for the shaving equipment...please tell me if i need to change add or take away anything

dovo presharpend 5/8 black razor the 99.99 one
dovo prima rindleder two sided strop
dovo strop paste
norton waterstone 220 2"
italian pure badger brush
large classic shaving mug soap
classic shaving handmade mug
heart shaving brush stand
and a 6 pack of classic barbershop towel to wipe the blade after passes

all this came out to 367.08 with taxes

is this a good list???

Thats pretty good. A little expensive though. I'd consider cutting back a little to start.

But, if you've got the money that was a pretty decent list.

Let some others reply and lets see what they think.

+1 on the above all good stuff but can get by on less. ie no need for 220 grit water stone( unless taking massive chips) and the towels. but all sound good quality items.

I would trim the starter list to this:

dovo presharpend 5/8 black razor the 99.99 one
dovo prima rindleder two sided strop
italian pure badger brush
A soap, not necessarily that one.

I'm not sure what any of the stuff above the razor is for. Facial wash? I call that soap, a good one but soap none the less. Facial scrub? Razors exfoliate, whoo boy can they exfoliate. Razor bump relief? if you shave properly you don't get razor bumps. Toner? what is aftershave for anyway. I can see using a moisturising sunscreen, of course there are aftershaves that do this too.

The strop paste isn't good for much of anything.
A 220 Norton is good for pocketknives not razors.
A handmade mug is a luxury not a necessity (it's also a good gift to let the wife get you for the holidays, she can't screw it up).
Barbers towels? again a luxury item in an area the wife might want some input into, besides your washcloth works fine.

Dovo paste IMO only the white and yellow has its use (i use yellow to smothen repairs)

220 norton. If you toch this with your razor you will need the full progression of 1000,4000 and 8000 at the least before its usable again

towels and shaving mug. well if you want its up to you

The list looks reasonable but I have serious reservations about that Norton 220. Is your idea to grab a stone to touch up the edge? Because if so the 220 is too coarse. And when you say Dovo strop paste, what are you meaning? All of the different kinds? The leather conditioning one?

James.

ok, good call on the razor, and strop very similar to my set up.

the norton 220 grit whetston is a VERY coarse stone for razor maintenence one of the hone misters here will be able to advise you on better, however a much higher grit stone (10+k) would be ideal for razor maintenance, anything higher than that is for restoring them.

and as for the towels i`ve never used one to wipe the razor running it under the tap works for me.

now as for the cosmetics....

PreShave i use:
hot shower (just use normal soap)
then i use a natural oil mix as a preshave oil. 50/50 castor oil and oilive oil.
Mitchells wool fat soap to shave with.

Post shave:
alum block
after shave balm
then what ever after shave/cologne i want on the day.

exfoliating on the face isn`t that great an idea on your face where you shave, shaving its self exfoliates the skin better than any cream from a bottle, and using an exfoliant before shaving can really increse the chances of shaving rash.

IMHO, you don't need some of the items you have on your list. Using a str8 razor should, for example, eliminate the need for razor bump relief remedies. Nor do you need a waterstone or pastes of any kind this early in your entry into the world of str8 razor shaving. Wait at least 6-12 months before purchasing chromium oxide paste and/or diamond spray to maintain the sharpness of your razor.

You may also want to consider shopping around before pulling the trigger on purchasing your shaving equipment from the particular vendor you have in mind. You may be able to purchase a complete str8 razor set that includes the $90 Dovo you have in mind--plus, brush, mug, soap, and strop for less. And the razor will be professionally honed before you get it.

Just my 2 cents.

From personal experience I can tell you that getting honing equipment too early is a BAD idea. Your razor will arrive completely shave ready, especially if it comes from Straight Razor Designs. Your first few shaves will be rough and you will probably think that your razor needs touching up on that pretty new hone you bought. You will probably just screw that razor up. ( this is all from experience) If I were you I would invest some of the money from the stuff you don't need ( towels, hone, paste) into upgrading the strop and brush, as well as buying some creams and some good aftershaves. Unless you are a previous wet shaver at lot of your time initially is gonna be spent on learning to buld a good lather and learning good general face prep ( read the wiki). I fully understand the desire to buy everything you could ever need at first, but take some of the advice from these posts and put your money into buying quality items you need to get started. Keep reading the wiki and these forums and keep practicing your technique and you will learn what other items you may want. You will also have a better idea as to exactly which items you want.

Just a bit more advice, try Alraz's Da Bomb shaving cream. It is very cushioning and moisturizing. I really think it would make the learning curve smoother .

And of course take all of this with a grain of salt. We each have our own preferences and ideals. But many on this site have been shaving with a straight longer than I have been alive. So when there is a consensus one way or another, go with it!

Best of luck and welcome!

Glad to see a newbie who did their homework. Well done, though the initial norton was way too coarse.

Consider getting stypic and brush stand too. Your wife might be able to help you on astringents/alum. Good luck on your shaves.