Thread: Newbie Help - Same Question, Different Day

Thanks Ace! I am definitely considering a Shavette (it is on my wishlist on Amazon.com,) but I know I will be using a SR one of these days (sooner or later) so I want to go ahead and get it done right while I got a fresh batch of Christmas money from my granny.

I am still nervous going the used route because it is hard to know what an individual is selling. Do you guys have any suggestions or recommendations on who to buy from? Feel free to promote yourself...I want to make sure I have the best options!

You can get them off the classifieds on this forum. In the end, what will matter with your first razor is the edge. It can be the ugliest, least collectible razor in the world, but if you get it honed by someone here, it will outshave a brand new blade not honed by a honemeister. I'd concentrate on the shave early on, not the blade or how pretty is looks. I have a few nice ones, but I'm sticking with the Shavette until I feel I can do them justice, which in my case means being able to hone and strop them correctly.

Do you work for Shavette? Just kidding. You must really be satisfied with it if you keep singing it's praises...

No, I don't and I'm glad of it. I don't even like it that much, but it really has improved my technique. It's just a cheap way to start and find out if straight shaving is for you. I'm afraid a lot of people have bought a nice straight, strops, hones, and all of that only to be disappointed by their first shaves and quit. I really wanted to avoid that, and so far it's working. Only time will tell.

Just out of consideration, if you want to go disposable, I would consider a Parker. Much more similar to a regular straight and shaves much better than a Shavette.

I'm not even really sure why the Shavette was ever recommended initially. I assume it was always from someone who had not shaved with a Parker.

I would only recommend used razors from the forum. NEVER Ebay.

I would think that the SRD offer would be a great choice.

I also would recommend, as a very personal and contradictory point, that you should get a finishing hone or a barber hone pretty quickly. To me the straight razor is about independence. I consider the razor, strop, and a barber hone to be a "kit". The most compelling reason to not buy a hone is simply the fact that you have no idea how to use one. To me that isn't a good reason. You'll save money not buying a hone, but, I think, you'll end up buying one pretty soon. I would plan on shaving for about a month (razor and strop) and then by the second month start considering buying a hone.

Maybe think of it this way, just to get my point. Shaving with a straight razor is about the razor, the strop, and the stone. Together they create good shaves and independence. If you've ever bought a car without a spare tire, than maybe you could skip the hone for a few months and just send it out. Then, again, from my perspective, that will be a few months of not learning how to hone. Since you'll be buying a hone anyway, keep it on your short list of needs. A straight razor without a hone is like a gun without bullets. Yes, it'll work great for a while.

Sorry, I rambled . . .

Thanks AFDavis11, I fully plan to buy a hone, but I may need to space out my purchases...

If there is anything more i can say that anyone here hasnt already said, it that any razor here on the classified section, is most likely going to be honed before you get it. You dont have to worry about somebody f'ing you over because we all use the straight and we're on a site dedicated to straight so i think any razor in the classified would be a safe bet. If your still unsure PM the member selling it to ask questions. Remember, theyre selling it for a reason, if youre a prospective buyer, they'll be more than happy to answer questions, maybe even take more pictures for you.

In regards to the shavette, i've been using a Personna disposable blade straight for a bit too, if there is one thing its that those razors are not forgiving. If you can learn and get proficient with that, you'll be on a good starting foot for a real SR.

Hope all this helps.

ZTS I am where you are. I have gleaned information about straight shaving for the past 6 weeks. Most of it is from this great site but I have also watched plenty of youtube videos and lurked on a couple of other sites. Just past Xmas I pulled the trigger on a new kit from SRD! I can't say that this was the best decision for everybody but for me, I seem to be able to sleep at night knowing that I spent money on a new blade and strop. I would highly recommend that your blade comes shave ready!

My shaves still consist of using the str8 on my cheeks but I have now been able to successfully work on my non dominant side. Just knowing that the razor is shave ready has improved the confidence in my stroke.

I still have a long way to go but I have improved every shave. For me, my pre shave prep needed an overhaul and I can thank the wiki for that. I must give every member that has posted in the last 5 weeks credit for helping me. What a great site!

rob

Here's the way I see it: buy a 'real' straight razor; even if you end up not liking it, it's a good heirloom you can keep in the family-- maybe one day a child or grandchild will want to give it a try. I've never heard of a shavette passed down for three generations. Plus, let's be honest, whipping out a shavette when your friends come over to the house, doesn't have the same impact as a real live cut-throat razor (notice the use of British terminology for dramatic effect).

So, now the question is whether you want an instant classic (vintage), or a future one (new production). I love my new Dovo, but there's also something undeniabley cool about shaving with a century(ies)-old razor.

Short answer: if you're anything like the rest of us, you'll end up with multiple of each. So, stop worrying, find a razor that suits your tastes, buy it, and enjoy the ride.

Real horrorshow my droog... (love the avatar!)