Using regular shaving cream?

Good to have you here.

You could. But I am pretty sure that if you go to a goo-in-the-can company, nobody in research is testing the product with a straight razor shave. More than likely the stuff is developed for a multi-bladed cartridge razor.

The soaps and creams straight razor and DE shavers use developed over time to supply the characteristics necessary for the best straight razor or DE shave possible.

Plus it would be like playing a Chopin piano concerto on a toy piano. The notes are there - but just not quite the same experience.:)

JMHO

More importantly, just wanted to mention it, did you get a strop as well? You didn't mention it, and it's required, so if you don't have one you'll need to get one ASAP.

Happy shaving![/QUOTE]

Yea, I did get a good strop... I actually own a knife sharpening business and have just recently started sharpening straight razors, this is actually what peaked my interest in straight shaving! I have a double sided paddle strop from thiers issard, and am using a .25 micron paste on one side and leaving the other side un pasted.

Thank you all for the advise...i will probably try both, but I do have a shaving soap like I said... I was just trying to find a way to shave that is cheaper than using the mach 3 blades all the time, but some of the shaving soaps and creams are so expensive! Does anyone have any suggestions about where and what I should get that is for a good price and will last for a long time?

Welcome to SRP. It's true some soaps and creams are a tad expensive, but they do last a long time as you only need a little bit to make enough lather for your shave. A great and inexpensive cream is C.O.Bigelow and you can get it at Bath & Body Works. The large tube is $10 and I think if you buy 2 you get one free.

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Originally Posted by Alembic

Plus it would be like playing a Chopin piano concerto on a toy piano. The notes are there - but just not quite the same experience.:)

JMHO

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Touche' LOL

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Originally Posted by razoredgeknives

... I actually own a knife sharpening business and have just recently started sharpening straight razors, this is actually what peaked my interest in straight shaving! I have a double sided paddle strop from thiers issard, and am using a .25 micron paste on one side and leaving the other side un pasted.

... I was just trying to find a way to shave that is cheaper than using the mach 3 blades all the time...

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Well, you're off to a good start then with a lot of honing experience! Just remember that the honing is a very light touch with a razor, as opposed to knives, but I'm sure you know that already.

If you're just after a cheaper way, why don't you try out Double Edge (DE) razors. The blades are very cheap, and most of us do a bit of DE shaving as well as straight razor shaving. It's not nearly as rewarding as straight razor shaving, but it is a cheap and easy way.

If you ask some guys about shops in your area, you might just be able to buy some supplies directly from a shop, in stead of waiting for an internet order. One of the most commonly used creams & soaps is by an Italian company called "Proraso". They have a nice range of stuff, and is very cheap. (Actually the exact same stuff that is made for C.O. Bigelow) Most shaving shops will carry Proraso.

Btw, the Thiers Issard paddle strop is a brilliant piece of kit, well done on your purchase! Wish I had one! :beer2:

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Originally Posted by razoredgeknives

Does anyone have any suggestions about where and what I should get that is for a good price and will last for a long time?

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Define "good price"?

I think paying $15.00 for a puck of soap or tub of shaving cream that lasts 6 months to a year a pretty good price.

You don't have to get $45/tub Castle Forbes to get a great shave - it just enhances the experience.

Go to the Soap/Cream forum - you will find plenty of stuff for under $15.00 that is excellent.

I love CarrieM's Creams - who is a member here, I love Alraz's The Bomb, who is also a member here. Mitchell's Wool Fat is excellent. I really like Taylor of Old Bond Street St. James collection for a cream. La Toja is good cream. Mama Bear's Soap is good soap.

Again - these can run around $15.00 a container. A puck of MWF will last a year or more. So average 5 shaves a week over a year gives you .05 cents a shave. To me, that is a "good price" for an excellent product.

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Originally Posted by leadingedge

Well, you're off to a good start then with a lot of honing experience! Just remember that the honing is a very light touch with a razor, as opposed to knives, but I'm sure you know that already.

If you're just after a cheaper way, why don't you try out Double Edge (DE) razors. The blades are very cheap, and most of us do a bit of DE shaving as well as straight razor shaving. It's not nearly as rewarding as straight razor shaving, but it is a cheap and easy way.

If you ask some guys about shops in your area, you might just be able to buy some supplies directly from a shop, in stead of waiting for an internet order. One of the most commonly used creams & soaps is by an Italian company called "Proraso". They have a nice range of stuff, and is very cheap. (Actually the exact same stuff that is made for C.O. Bigelow) Most shaving shops will carry Proraso.

Btw, the Thiers Issard paddle strop is a brilliant piece of kit, well done on your purchase! Wish I had one! :beer2:

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Thanks a lot! Well, the expense is not really in the razor for me...because I will keep that honed and sharp. The expense comes in the soap or cream, but I really appreciate the tip on that soap, I'll definitely get some!

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Originally Posted by Alembic

Define "good price"?

I think paying $15.00 for a puck of soap or tub of shaving cream that lasts 6 months to a year a pretty good price.


Again - these can run around $15.00 a container. A puck of MWF will last a year or more. So average 5 shaves a week over a year gives you .05 cents a shave. To me, that is a "good price" for an excellent product.

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By "good price" I mean that I can shave with a straight razor for cheaper than I can with the mach 3 razors... I figure I use one or more of those blades a month (at about $4-5/blade) or about $60/year, so yeah, I think that is a good price - what you mentioned. thanks!

A good puck of soap will last a very long time. I've got a 15 dollar puck of mitchell's wool fat that I've used for the last few months, and I've hardly dented the thing.

Found a place to get it for $13 for you. Many people swear by this soap as one of the best (including myself), and like I said, it lasts forever.

I started with regular shaving cream, and it worked fine. I thought! A few weeks into the experience, I bought a cheap mug and soap and boar hair brush from Wal Mart for $8. And, I immediately saw why using shaving cream was a mistake. It is too dry. It is too hard to apply. And, more.

Come on! We're talking less than $10. :)

Back on topic. Let's say you have a tough patch of very tough whiskers. You lather up and shave WTG. Lather's gone, but the whiskers are still too stubbly to shave ATG or whatever your next angle is. You need to relather and shave WTG a second time. It takes too long to relather with shaving cream. But, with a brush, you dip and slap and voila! Ready for action. 3 seconds!

We're talking practice man! Sorry! I slipped into my Allen Iverson persona.

I meant to say...

We're talking $10 man!!