is this for me?

Hi all! New member here and I'm just seeking some general advice.

I am looking to buy a straight blade mostly for practical reasons and want to see if I am on the right track. I'm not particularly fond of shaving, and tend to view it as somewhat of a chore. I would probably be the type to just grow a beard if I didn't find it so darn irritating, that plus the white beard (my hair is not white yet) makes me look much older. :boohoo:

I've got no real 9 to 5 so I usually shave only once or twice per week and am now using disposables, which are expensive, and often require me using two to get the job done. I hate throwing things away and look to more permanent solutions wherever I can.

I know for a lot of you the process is part of the satisfaction and enjoyment of straight razors, as well as a superior shave. Perhaps I would grow to appreciate that part as well but for now I see it as more of a practical solution to periodically remove that infernal ever growing facial hair.

From what I have learned already it seems it would be a better buy to purchase a vintage blade that has been honed by a reputable source.


So I ask you all- is a straight blade a viable option for a rough cut character such as myself?

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Originally Posted by dug

I'm not particularly fond of shaving, and tend to view it as somewhat of a chore.

I know for a lot of you the process is part of the satisfaction and enjoyment of straight razors, as well as a superior shave.

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Hello, dug:

Welcome to Straight Razor Place. To both points the answer is a hearty yes.

1. Little by little you will realize how much you do enjoy a wet shave with the straight razor.

2. I love the ritual of wet shaving with the straight razor as well as the shave. I am sure many gentlemen on SRP feel the same. In time you will, too.

I concur with Jeffegg2 on his suggestion for starting with a new "Best Quality" Dovo that is shave ready. With that you need a strop, brush, soap or cream and you're all set. Beyond that take your time honing your skill with the straight razor.

Make sure you float through the Wiki for a massive amount of information. Watch as many shaving videos as you can, including those on shaving, stropping and whipping up lather. Beyond that ask questions.

Regards,
Obie

Thanks! :)

I was thinking about the mentioned Dovo but then saw some of the "shave ready" vintage razors for sale on the classifieds here and saw some pretty nice looking blades at reasonable prices.

Is this a good option?

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Originally Posted by dug

So I ask you all- is a straight blade a viable option for a rough cut character such as myself?

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Absolutely! I used to hate shaving with a passion, and it wasn't because of the price of the cartridges. To me it was just a chore that I would try to do as fast as possible. And, being a construction worker, electrician, I didn't have to shave everyday or even every other day, but I still hated it.
Then I found straight razor shaving. Now, I love to shave and look forward to it.
Bob

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dug

Thanks! :)

I was thinking about the mentioned Dovo but then saw some of the "shave ready" vintage razors for sale on the classifieds here and saw some pretty nice looking blades at reasonable prices.

Is this a good option?

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Hello dug,

Yes, either would be a fine option. For a new model razor you can't beat the price of the Dovo Best. But you can also find a vintage for an even better price in the classifieds. If you buy from the classifieds it is a good bet that it will also come shave ready.

In the end the choice is price vs personal preference.

I'd say your on the right track, in fact your story sounds very similar to mine. I also would only shave once or twice a week, usually only when my neck would start to get irritated from the whisker growth. I bought the best quality from SRD for my first razor, but have since added quite a few others. The thing I really like about straights is that you can have anywhere from one days growth to a full zz top beard and you can lather up and dive in, no whiskers getting stuck in the cartridge and when your done your face is as smooth and as comfortable as ever. When I first switched, my whole attitude about shaving changed and I would shave 3 or 4 times a week, however I have to admit that I have slowly reverted to my old habits of once or twice a week, been at it about a year now. The difference is that now I look forward to shaving and enjoy every minute of it, in fact if things come up that make me put off shaving I get irritated only now that irritation has nothing to do with my whiskers. As long as you keep in mind that it takes a bit of time to master the skills needed, and that shaves will get worse before getting better, you will never catch yourself looking back with regrets, except for the regret of not starting to shave with a straight sooner.

Hey there dug,
Shaving was a pain and a time sink when I was doing the mach 3 thing. Straight razor shaving is more of a skill, like developing any skill in sports, chess, etc. I seem to always try to get the best shave possible. I tend to be critical of my skill in honing, shave technique, lather building and so on. It gets to be a fun game for me (type A = competitive). One thing you may find is that if you are straight razor shaving, using more than one pass, you actually may need to shave less. I find that the straight razor shave is so close that I can easily go every other day with out seeing any real difference when compared to every day with the mach 3. Go to the classifieds and get a shave ready razor and see how you like it.
Cheers,
Dave

Hi Dug,

I recommend whippeddog.com for a starter kit. You can get a razor for $20, a strop for $13, and that's all you'll need for awhile. The razor comes shave ready and at those prices, there's little holding you back!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dug

Thanks! :)

I was thinking about the mentioned Dovo but then saw some of the "shave ready" vintage razors for sale on the classifieds here and saw some pretty nice looking blades at reasonable prices.

Is this a good option?

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Hello, dug:

A shave ready vintage from the SRP Classified is a good option. Make your choice and get started. We have an army of knowledgeable gentlemen here more than willing to help you.

Regards,
Obie

For me, it wasn't really about the cost of the disposable straights. All they seemed to do was bounce along top of the whiskers. The straight really gives me a nice, close shave with little effort. As to cost, :shrug:. Let's see how many brushes, razors, soaps, creams, etc., will you finally settle on... :roflmao

Have you considered carbon or stainless steel?

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Originally Posted by jbcohen

Have you considered carbon or stainless steel?

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This is getting old

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Originally Posted by jbcohen

Carbon or Stainless Steel?

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Originally Posted by jbcohen

Would you be interested in carbon or stainless steel (stainless does not rust as easily).

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Originally Posted by jbcohen

Do you want a stainless or carbon steel? Carbon is easier to work with but rusts more easily then stainless.

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Did you leave your razors in water recently?

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Originally Posted by jbcohen

I need all my straights to be stainless, they are able to save me from myself.

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As long as you dry your razor after use and keep it dry, it will be fine whether stainless or not. Stainless will still rust if not kept dry

+1 to much of what was said...

Yes, In most cases, you will enjoy shaving more so than you did, but not always...
and you will get a much closer shave once you know what your doing..Closer than anything you've felt. If you can stick to 2 or 3 razors...(you need at least 2) and maybe a little barber hone, this can be a savings over disposables. If you let the addictions kick in, this can be one expensive hobby....

thanks everyone for the good advice and encouragement.

As previously stated I am a total greenhorn and at this stage am hoping to keep this somewhat a practical matter. With disposables at about 2 bucks a pop I'm thinking a minimal setup might allow me to break even in a year or so. At least that's what I'm pitching to the wife! :)

Knowing absolutely nothing about blades, I was considering this one in the classifieds here-

U.S.A. - Kinfolks Blue Steel Special - 11/16” Hollow-Ground, Shave-Ready - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Hope it's O.K. posting this link. Any opinions as to whether something like this would be on par with a shave ready Dovo? The one I was considering is a Dovo best quality which would be 30 or so dollars more. It seems to me that a quality used one properly honed might be just as good, maybe better?

Also, looking for recommendations for a decent first strop. From what I gather here I'm going to mess this one up so I'm guessing an inexpensive one is on order. 2 or 3 inch wide?

Thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dug

Hi all! New member here and I'm just seeking some general advice.

I am looking to buy a straight blade mostly for practical reasons and want to see if I am on the right track. I'm not particularly fond of shaving, and tend to view it as somewhat of a chore. I would probably be the type to just grow a beard if I didn't find it so darn irritating, that plus the white beard (my hair is not white yet) makes me look much older. :boohoo:

I've got no real 9 to 5 so I usually shave only once or twice per week and am now using disposables, which are expensive, and often require me using two to get the job done. I hate throwing things away and look to more permanent solutions wherever I can.

I know for a lot of you the process is part of the satisfaction and enjoyment of straight razors, as well as a superior shave. Perhaps I would grow to appreciate that part as well but for now I see it as more of a practical solution to periodically remove that infernal ever growing facial hair.

From what I have learned already it seems it would be a better buy to purchase a vintage blade that has been honed by a reputable source.


So I ask you all- is a straight blade a viable option for a rough cut character such as myself?

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Hi, Dug! Welcome to SRP!

I think that you are already in the right frame of mind to begin your straight saving journey. I think that most of us sarted shaving with a straight razor because it represents a much cheaper and better alternative to disposable razors and also because we were looking for something that would provide a better shave. The shave of a straight razor, once you get used to it and get over the steepest part of the learning curve will give you the best, the cheapest and the most satisfying shave possible. And the best thing about the straight razor shave is that you can, with almost the same tools, get the whole bells and whistles or a simple, no frills let's cut to the chase sort of shave... In the end it's your choice. And if you are a rough-cut guy, you'll feel right at home with the most spartan shaving setup possible.
Great advice, the other guys gave you.
I suggest buying a shave ready vintage straight razor from the classifieds. That way you'll have a razor that can serve you as a benchmark for sharpness and you'll make sure that all you'll have to focus on is technique. You can also buy a new razor. The dovo best quality is a good choice. It was my very first razor and it still serves me very well. A great little razor. However - and this cannot be stressed enough - make sure that you buy shave ready.
You'll also need soap, a brush and a strop. Further down the line you'll need a hone to touch up your razo. But that's another matter.
So... welcome and enjoy the ride. If you have questions, ask. This is a great community and you'll find that this is also the greatest resource ever in straight razor shaving.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dug

thanks everyone for the good advice and encouragement.

As previously stated I am a total greenhorn and at this stage am hoping to keep this somewhat a practical matter. With disposables at about 2 bucks a pop I'm thinking a minimal setup might allow me to break even in a year or so. At least that's what I'm pitching to the wife! :)

Knowing absolutely nothing about blades, I was considering this one in the classifieds here-

U.S.A. - Kinfolks Blue Steel Special - 11/16” Hollow-Ground, Shave-Ready - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Hope it's O.K. posting this link. Any opinions as to whether something like this would be on par with a shave ready Dovo? The one I was considering is a Dovo best quality which would be 30 or so dollars more. It seems to me that a quality used one properly honed might be just as good, maybe better?

Also, looking for recommendations for a decent first strop. From what I gather here I'm going to mess this one up so I'm guessing an inexpensive one is on order. 2 or 3 inch wide?

Thanks!

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Personally, I like the round tip razors. Squares and points tend to draw a little more blood, especially for beginners. This Genko is nice, and very well priced. Anything on whipped dog would be great for beginners not looking to spend too much as well, as the site specializes in just that.

As for strops, I highly recommend ruprazor strops. The filly is a favorite of many first timers.

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Originally Posted by markevens

As for strops, I highly recommend ruprazor strops. The filly is a favorite of many first timers.

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Just got mine in the mail yesterday. It's really nice!

I would like to add two pieces of data to consider, and both have to do with the frequency that you are currently shaving, which I think you said is about once a week.

First, straight razor shaving takes practice - I'm talking a lot of practice. Second, there is a break in period for your skin. Typically 4-6 months. I am hoping that if you start this art, you will contribute more than once a week to it. What is hanging in the balance is success and satisfaction.

If you only contribute 1 shave a week to learning this and breaking in your skin, you can take what is sometimes a fairly steep and lengthy learning curve and spreading out over a lot longer period of time, which might be so frustrating it makes you can the whole proposition.

In addition, that practice is not just for technique, but also for muscle memory. Particularly in stropping, but also in developing the dexterity in your hands.

So, in answer to your "is this for me" question, I would ask, are you willing to dedicate practice on a frequency that you currently do not?

If you say no - I might say skip it or go to a DE. Still has consumables, but a heck of a lot less cost, less equipment and less learning curve overall.

Just my very humble opinion.

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Originally Posted by Alembic

I would like to add two pieces of data to consider, and both have to do with the frequency that you are currently shaving, which I think you said is about once a week.
First, straight razor shaving takes practice - I'm talking a lot of practice. Second, there is a break in period for your skin. Typically 4-6 months. I am hoping that if you start this art, you will contribute more than once a week to it. What is hanging in the balance is success and satisfaction.
If you only contribute 1 shave a week to learning this and breaking in your skin, you can take what is sometimes a fairly steep and lengthy learning curve and spreading out over a lot longer period of time, which might be so frustrating it makes you can the whole proposition.
In addition, that practice is not just for technique, but also for muscle memory. Particularly in stropping, but also in developing the dexterity in your hands.
So, in answer to your "is this for me" question, I would ask, are you willing to dedicate practice on a frequency that you currently do not?
If you say no - I might say skip it or go to a DE. Still has consumables, but a heck of a lot less cost, less equipment and less learning curve overall.

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What you wrote is true, but I'd be willing to bet that the OP will end up shaving well more than once a week by default if he takes up SR shaving :w

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

What you wrote is true, but I'd be willing to bet that the OP will end up shaving well more than once a week by default if he takes up SR shaving :w

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Oh yeah Ryan - I believe you are spot on.

But on the outside chance, I wanted to set the expectations properly. ; - )