Thread: Prospective straight razor user !

Hi, I am thinking of buying a straight razor and would like to ask if the following set up would work, since I will be new to straight razor shaving.

I would buy a stainless steel shave ready razor such as the Dovo ‘Renaissance’ razor. I would buy a strop all the shaving products and accessories.

My question is : If I shave every 2-3 days with just one razor, stropping before each use, and send it off to be professionally honed every few months (because i have heard that honing stainless hollow ground razors properly at home take a while to be able to do properly) , do you think this will work well, or am I missing something important ?

I know it is ideal to have several razors on rotation, but since I am just starting I would like to start off with one.

Thanks

You can use the same razor every day if you like!

Your first pro honing will probably las from a week to a month, your second for a few months, and each time last longer and longer as your shaving and stropping technique improve.

I personally have been using the same J.R. Torrey for about 8 months now, every other day or so, and have only touched it up on my 12k Naniwa 3 times-- this to say that using one razor is by no means bad or impossible.

From one minimalist (fairly new Cutthroat user) to another, that is all you need. As a daily shaver, I own two, but the second one is a recent addition. If you move to a regular daily shave, it is handy to have two, IMO you really don't need it though. Others will have their own opinion, guaranteed.


Mick

I agree with the others. Something like a Barber hone, or a Chinese 12k, or even better a Naniwa 12k will help maintain that edge for some time. Using the same razor everyday and being new to it will take it's toll. You don't have to be a honing expert to touch up a blade, You just need to take your time, and use minimal pressure. Normally, When you start shaving with a straight razor, A normal reaction, is, the razor is dull due to poor technique, bad prep, etc... so it's probably a good idea to hold off on buying a hone until you can shave properly...

You could also get a pasted strop for touchups. It's pretty easy to use.

These guys hit it on the head & there is really no need to add any more. The edge will last longer the more experienced you become.

Glen has proven that a pasted strop can prolong an edge for a very long time...this will happen once you have obtained proper form shaving and stropping.

Thanks for the quick replies. Do stainless steel razors need to be stropped for longer than carbon to achieve the same results on average ?

yes


That's all I have to say about that