My first kit, Coticule and/or pasted strop

Hi, I'm about to purchase my first straight razor with strop and all. (A Dovo Silver Steel with ebony). But I was wondering about the pasted strop and honing stone.

I would like to get a Coticule for a honing stone because of it's versatility. But do I still need a pasted strop? Is is better to have both or are a few laps on a Coticule with water all you need?

Please give me your thoughts on this, although i have read alot on the net about both I can't make up what would be wise. Thoughts on the razor are also welcome of course! Thx!

If you like the shaving edge a coticule leaves, you do not need another finishing stone/paste.

If you do not like the coticule edge, try paste I guess.

Since you're just getting started, a hone is not necessary. Your razor will not need honing for a while. A pasted strop is probably not necessary @ this point either. However, you do need a regular canvas/leather strop for daily SR care.

At this point in time, your primary focus should be learning proper SR techniques. That will take up enough of your time.

As for the razor, I'd suggest something w/ a round tip (square tips, aka spike points) can be tricky to use for a noob, as you're always having to be cognizant of where that tip is on your face.

Welcome to your new obsession!

Thanks for the tips sofar!

I'm going to by a starkerkit, so a blade, strop and a "how to-how not to" manual. But since it would be much cheaper to buy all the equipment in one go i was just wondering, i'll consider being more patient (thats going to be hard...). Anyway the razor is a round tip razor, apparently it helps noobs in order to keep earlobes and noses in good condition. :)

I agree, Just learn how to use the razor and strop first. Hones and Pastes will come later. You have time. Make sure the razor is shave ready when you buy it and you'll be good to go. On a side note, Coticules are naturals, and vary greatly from hone to hone, They're not very user friendly and can leave a new person scratching his head. For someone just learning to hone razors, I'd recommend a Norton combo or Naniwa Super Stone, 3 and 8k....

Sounds like you're set. At the risk of overstating the obvious, make sure you get a brush (preferably badger's hair as they have greater water retention qualities than boars hair), cream, and perhaps aftershave

the biggest concern i would have is the razor being shave ready honed by a professional

Learn the art of shaving and then learn the craft of honing. One hurdle and then the other.

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Originally Posted by Diederik

it would be much cheaper to buy all the equipment in one go i was just wondering

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the coticule would be the more expensive and also more versatile option. with a pasted strop you could keep the razor sharp for a long time, if you're good at it, but you aren't, which means when you mess it up you'll have to either get hone(s) or send it out to be honed.
a coticule otoh should be enough to recover from almost anything that you can do to the razor (may involve huge amounts of time though).

nevertheless you should get your razor already honed by somebody who is good at it, and not touch the hone/strop for few months.