Thread: What is the bare minumum I need?

I've been browsing this site for several weeks, and I have read through the beginners guide and the wiki and just about everything I can find, now its time to take the plunge.

So what is the bare minimum to get started with a straight razor. I've got a reasonably thin beard, and I've got a goatee, so I don't shave my chin.

Obviously I will need:

a razor (I am leaning towards the DOVO Best Quality, but open to suggestions) and

a strop (i have no idea what strop to get, and I could really use some advice on that).


I am on a pretty tight budget (stretching it just to get a decent razor and strop) so can I get away with using the shaving cream canister I use with my disposable right now or would that be missing the whole point?

If you've got any advice on a good, cheap (but more importantly quality) razor and strop I'd love to hear it.

If you think I should not bother wasting my time until I can buy a good badger brush, shaving soaps, and after shaves I'd like to hear that too.

If you started shaving on a budget, and now can't believe that you lived without something (or wonder why you wasted your money on something else), I'd love to hear that as well.

Thanks for helping me jump into the world of proper shaving.

I started on a pretty extreme budget. I got a razor from holli4pirating since it was inexpensive and actually shave ready plus he helped me a lot. I also know gssixgun has a few beginner razors right now as well as those in the classifieds. I got a strop from ruprazor it was the filly and yes I still use it. I recommend cheaper here since you are likely to nick it and the filly fits the bill, yet is quality enough to not need replacement right away. I don't recommend the can stuff since it isn't good for your skin and as a newbie you will be abrading your skin enough. I made my own soap, but the VDH brush and soap from the grocery sroe were my first purchases and they were inexpensive. You don't need a badger brush right off the bat, the boars work great and many prefer the higher-end boar over badger. I have also heard many good things about the brushes from target and bath & body works. I don't know first hand since my target doesn't carry them and we don't have a B&BW. If you hit B&BW they carry C.O. Bigelow cream which is just a rebadged Proraso. I have not tried it personally, but many rave about this cream. I will also say that I made my aftershave, but you would be fine with a bottle if cornhuskers for this.

-G

Welcome! I would say that if I could do it all over again, I would definitely purchase a shave ready razor on the classifieds here and if available, a used strop as well. I just checked on the classifieds and there seems to be both those things available to you right now.

As far as using the canned goop, you simply cannot. It would defeat the purpose and would not give you the proper beard prep that you need to be successful with a straight. You can march down to CVS, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Etc. and purchase a brush and shave soap (VDH or Williams) at a very, very low price and it will preform almost as good as some of the higher priced alternatives.

So, a cheap shave ready razor and a strop from the classifieds as well as a brush/soap combo from the local pharmacy and you have what you need for under $100.

Originally Posted by funklab

Obviously I will need:

a razor (I am leaning towards the DOVO Best Quality, but open to suggestions) and

a strop (i have no idea what strop to get, and I could really use some advice on that).

You will also need water and/or lather

Other than that, you will probably want a contingency plan for periodic resharpening

Funklab,

Welcome to SRP! I'd concentrate on the razor and strop for most of your budget. Definitely ditch the garbage in the spray can. You can get shaving soaps for relatively cheap - there are some available at WalMart and drug stores, but if there is a Crabtree & Evelyn shop in your home town, you can purchase a puck for $8 that will last for 4-6 months. You'll need to find a small bowl of some sort to put it in. Check Target - I found a bowl for $5-8. (Alternately you could just buy the Crabtree & Evelyn puck already in a wooden bowl for $17.

For years I used an inexpensive synthetic brush from Sally's Beauty Supply for about $10. Obviously it's not as nice as a badger, but it will get the job done.

Where to turn for the razor and strop depends upon how tight your budget is. Straight Razor Designs (SRD) has some nice razors & strops as a "package" deal for about $150 and the razor will be shave ready. If that's more than you can spend, check out the classifieds for deals from other members who are selling some of their razors. Steer away from eBay & antique stores at this point - I didn't and wasted about $35 on a worthless old razor that can't be restored.

Good luck! You're in for the time of your life. Once you go str8 you'll never go back - I know I won't.

well, if you're leaning towards the dovo best quality, get the strightrazordesigns kit with a strop.
the fabric component seems important to prolong the lifetime of the edge beyond two weeks. plus when you consider that if you really cut your strop beyond repair, swapping in a replacement leather is inexpensive, it seems well worth the somewhat higher cost compared to the throwaway strip of leather option.

I went with a SRD razor and strop set when I started out too. The Dovo Best Quality 6/8 and SRD 2" strop to be exact. I liked the idea of using a razor that was "shave ready" so at least I could not blame the equipment for less than an ideal shave.

It is a matter of personal preference though. I use a 5/8 and a 6/8 size razor now, both shave pretty well.

Okay, so the consensus seems to be that I also need a brush and some soap. While I was at the grocery store today, I noticed that they have a Tweezerman badger brush for $15. I don't know what the quality is, but that seems like a pretty reasonably price.

Does walmart really have shaving soaps?
Any suggestions for one, because I really don't know what to look for?

I think I am leaning towards the SRD Razor and Strop set, but I'm thinking about getting the kit that also comes with a mug, soap, and a brush... getting kinda out of my price range there, though.

Originally Posted by gugi

well, if you're leaning towards the dovo best quality, get the strightrazordesigns kit with a strop.
the fabric component seems important to prolong the lifetime of the edge beyond two weeks. plus when you consider that if you really cut your strop beyond repair, swapping in a replacement leather is inexpensive, it seems well worth the somewhat higher cost compared to the throwaway strip of leather option.

Out of curiosity, where do you get a replacement leather for your strop?

But also just dive in, if you keep thinking too much about it your list of what to buy will get too big and put you off, I started out with really dodgey gear and eventually got (getting) there, I suggest a half decent razor and make do with everything else, you'll eventually will be able to afford higher quality stuff and when you get it you'll wonder how you got by with out it, but you won't know the difference till you get there, so start small, at least it's a start.