Thread: Complete Newb.

Alright, I'm browsing through the forums trying to gather as much info as possible in regards to straight razors. Seems to be the way to go as I hate the thought of disposables, too much waste, and the price of repacable heads is insane. With the rising price of fuel I have to figure out some way to save some $ in the long run. I recently got the idea to give a straight razor a try via another online forum.

My questions are what do you recommend for a straight? And who should I purchase it from, and it's accessories? I have read Sheffield Steel blades that are hollow ground are the way to go, is this correct Or are there better straights on the market? Now I do not need/want to spend $500 bucks on a straight razor. I will also need all of the required accessories. Any advice to get me on my way is greatly appreciated.

John

Welcome to SRP! For a razor, post in the Buy/Sell/Trade forum. You should get some responses there. I would suggest buying from one of the members here. You should be able to keep the razor expense under $50-60. Remember, you will need a strop, and for that, check with Tony Miller.

RT

Good to see you here. You've come to the right place for info on this lifestyle choice. If you do choose to follow through with it you will not only save the landfill a little, but easily start getting the best most fulfulling shaves of your life. Whether it saves you any money or not is really up to how obsessive you are.

I'm with Randy BTW. Buy your first shave ready razor from a member here (check the Links from the home page for ALL you will need connections to) and you will only need to worry about shaving.
Bill AKA urleebird should still have a few well priced refurbs available.
Tony Has strops and even whole starter sets, all new for the best price and best quality you can find.
Ray's legacy lives on and while the prices are a bit higher than the afforementioned, the selection and service are outstanding.
Again, check the Links and read the Help Files for lots of answers to questions you haven't formulated yet.

X

John,

Welcome. There is an initial investment of a couple hundred dollars to get the minimal equipment to begin shaving with a straight but once you have the equipment, it will pay for itself in less than a year.

Tony Miller's starter kit is a great place to start. It's what I got when I started and it has served me well. Other than the starter kit, you'll also need to get either a hone (e.g. Norton 4000/8000) or a pasted strop to keep the edge in good shape. Depending on your beard, you'll get maybe 10-20 shaves out of the razor before you need to touch up the edge with a pasted strop or hone. ClassicShaving.com has a great selection of other items like mugs, soaps, creams, towels, brushes. Their prices are pretty reasonable. Just take your time to become informed before you buy.

Ed

Thanks for the advice everyone, really appreciated. I'm probably going to opt for one of the starter kits from Tony as a couple of you had recommended him and he seems to have a pretty complete kit available. I had no idea that shaving with a straight razor was so complicated with all of the accompanying accessories. Thanks again for all of the advice.

John

John,

Welcome to the forum and the world of straight
shaving. Looking forward to your presence on
the forum.

Terry

Originally Posted by U.S.Marines

Thanks for the advice everyone, really appreciated. I'm probably going to opt for one of the starter kits from Tony as a couple of you had recommended him and he seems to have a pretty complete kit available. I had no idea that shaving with a straight razor was so complicated with all of the accompanying accessories. Thanks again for all of the advice.

John

John,

Let me warn you before hand that shaving with a straight is addictive. A straight razor shave is like no other and after you get used to the straight razor experience, you won't be able to go back. Soon you'll decide that you need another razor, and another and another until you have a whole bunch. Then there's soaps versus creams, mugs, bowls or a scuttle, best badger or silvertip brushes and the various manufacturers of same, Nortons or a coticule, and on it goes. You'll wish your beard grew faster so you could shave more often. I'm not trying to scare you off, I just don't want you to be surprised when the mysterious draw of straight razors takes ahold of you and you're powerless to resist. It really is that good. So go ahead and order that starter kit. You'll be glad you did.

Ed

Originally Posted by EdinLA44

John,

Let me warn you before hand that shaving with a straight is addictive. A straight razor shave is like no other and after you get used to the straight razor experience, you won't be able to go back. Soon you'll decide that you need another razor, and another and another until you have a whole bunch. Then there's soaps versus creams, mugs, bowls or a scuttle, best badger or silvertip brushes and the various manufacturers of same, Nortons or a coticule, and on it goes. You'll wish your beard grew faster so you could shave more often. I'm not trying to scare you off, I just don't want you to be surprised when the mysterious draw of straight razors takes ahold of you and you're powerless to resist. It really is that good. So go ahead and order that starter kit. You'll be glad you did.

Ed

Just ordered the starter kit from Tony. Thanks for the heads up in regards to the addictive nature of this hobby? I have to shave everyday as it is, Marines, haha. I get plenty of time in front of the mirror. Looking forward to not dropping $10 on four replacement blades every couple of weeks.

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. I look forward to learning from the tribal elders of the straight razor.

John

Originally Posted by U.S.Marines

Just ordered the starter kit from Tony. Thanks for the heads up in regards to the addictive nature of this hobby? I have to shave everyday as it is, Marines, haha. I get plenty of time in front of the mirror. Looking forward to not dropping $10 on four replacement blades every couple of weeks.

Semper Fi John. There's a few veterans around on SRP (I'm ex Air Force). Your post got me to thinking about shaving with a straight if someone was deployed. If you have a straight, a barber's hone, a strop you could roll up and a brush, you'd be pretty much self-contained shaving-wise and the gear would take up minimal room. You could use your canteen cup to lather up. All you'd need is soap and water and you'd be good to go.

Ed