or something like this
Spartacus 7/8 snakewood
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or something like this
Spartacus 7/8 snakewood
If it is vintage and isn't rusted badly, it will shave and shave well after being honed by someone who is competent. You can buy tons of razors for around $15 to $20 on Ebay that are quite good shavers. My point isn't to advise you to buy off Ebay at first, for that can be disappointing at first. But, to point you toward a price range you might expect to pay.
But, consider this. If someone buys a $20 razor off Ebay, cleans it and polishes it nicely, and hones and mails that is a lot of value added! $20 for honing. Say, $10 to $15 for making it look really good, administrative and postal costs and the like and another $5 or $10 to make it worthwhile time wise.
Check out the Buy/Sell/Trade here. And, I think the general entry level razor selling for $40 to $60 is a fair price considering what you get with the price.
But, $174.99... might be nice. But, it isn't necessary at the beginning.
Check out the classifieds for a razor the prices are good and you can get a great shaver. Also you could check whippeddog.com a lot of guys have bought from there and get a good shave. The razors aren't in mint condition but they are shave ready and inexpensive, he also sells strops for $20 I think. So you don't really need an expensive razor for your first straight but if you want to go that way it's up to you. Good luck in your search and happy shaving.
William
Welcome aboard! I'd say $174 is a bit much for a straight, especially if you're not sure you're going to stick with it. As previously suggested, a restored straight might be the better way to go. You can get something nice for $30 or so. The Classifieds on this site or whippeddog.com (owned/operated by LarryAndro, previous poster) are great sources. I have a razor from each of them. Between the two, I spent less than $100.
As for other items, the "leather thing" you speak of is a strop, and you do need one. You'll strop your straight every day before use. It keeps the edge even. Illinois Strop Company makes some nice ones. You won't need to worry about honing for a while, so a hone is not necessary. Badgers hair brushes are preffered, as they retain water better. One of my favorite creams is Proraso, an Italian product that's loaded w/ eucalyptus and menthol. Very cooling.
The other piece of advice I would offer is to view the beginner's guides and Wikis here on the site and ask lots of questions.
Welcome to your new obession!
Okay i read some more. so i need a razor, a strop, a good badger hair brush, a lather bowl, lather, shaving oil, and aftershave?
i should find a razor
i found this brush:
Semogue 730 Shaving Brush [Silvertip Badger Hair] - €50.95 : The Vintage Scent Co., Rare and Antique Products for Men
still looking for a strop
this bowl:
Shave Shop
shaving oil:
Origins Easy Slider Pre-shave oil 1.7 oz. - Origins - Beauty - Macy's
Lather:
Amazon.com: Castle Forbes Cedar/Sandalwood Shaving Cream: Health & Personal Care
After shave:
Amazon.com: Castle Forbes Cedar/Sandalwood Aftershave Balm: Health & Personal Care
i read really good reviews on all these things do any of you suggest something different? some of these are kind of expensive but i figure at dollars per shave is a good price.
do i really need after shave?
and what is all the difference between the sizes of razors like i see 7/8 etc?
Something like this? http://www.whippeddog.com/------Whip...raight-Razors/
cool it makes sense tht i should get the hang of it then buy a nice razor
and a strop!
http://www.whippeddog.com/-----$19---Poor-Man-Strop-Kit-with-Leather-Strop/
so at this point i should be set no?
just that steep learning curve.
thanks again!!!
My opinion is that US newbies should just buy the less than $10 shave soap, brush and mug set from Walmart or a drugstore. Get started! Then, at your leisure, start trying nicer soaps and the like. Stretch out the fun!
The cheap soap will definitely work.
I agree with Larry you should check out Walmart or a drugstore for a brush and soap. Also you could head to the Body Shop if you have one near you and pick up their Maca Root shaving cream, it lathers well and performs well during the shave, I like it.
i see i thought if i didn't get the best i wouldn't have a comfortable shave, but am i just thinking too hard about it? i'm terrified of razor bumps etc, but i'll go pick up the less than ten dollar set, thank you for the words of wisdom.
Welcome to SRP Jay.
I never use aftershave and have only used shaving oil on a few occasions (mainly because it was a free sample:)).
Greg
You can get a great shave from a $10 soap and synthetic brush set or a $30 soap and a silvertip brush. It is all about what works for you. If you have sensitive skin and are prone to razor bumps try Proraso sensitive skin preshave, they also have a sensitive skin shave cream and aftershave.
Hello and welcome to SRP! You definately don't need the most expensive to get the best results...some of the most preffered things in shaving can also be the least expensive. The other ones are just fun to try once you get your skills down and decide if you like shaving with a straight :)
Hello, I'm also very new to this, (as in I'm still waiting on my razor and strop) , 18, but I think I can Help. That is too much for a razor if your not even sure this will work for you. Straight Razor design is a very good company that sells shave ready razors. This means they have been honed and are good to go. That "leather thing" you asked about it called a strop. Look up videos on youtube and in the Wiki on how to use one. you can get a pretty good beginner one on Ruprazors or SRD for around $40-$50. I suggest looking at Ruprazors he has both strops and shave ready razors. If you but shave ready razor then you wont need to hone. Soap and Cream are really up to you. The best brushes are Silver tip badger brush then finest and then pure. Finest is propably the best cost to benifit ratio but is still around $60. You can pick up a decent brush for around $30-$35 but its not going to be the best. Also you may want to look at a Dovo best value for a first razor they are supposed to be pretty good especially from SRD. Good luck and keep us posted
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Devilpup
First of all, Welcome.
Second, most first-timers experience irritation the first time they assault their faces with a straight.
Third, most of your questions can be answered by reading the Wikis and watching Lynn's video. That's the box to the right on the opening page.
Do your homework and if you're still game, give it a shot. We'd love to count you among our numbers!
Or for the same price you could get a Dove Best Quality 5/8 or 6/8 with a strop, mug, soap, and brush from either Straight Razor Designs or Vintage Blades. A good way to start (it's what I did).
Best Wishes.
If you really want to give straight razor shaving a try, visit Whippeddog.com
choose a good looking restored vintage razor, they normally go for around $30-35.
Order the "poor man's strop kit" - $19
then order a cheap badger brush from somewhere... I've read that anything from this seller is good:
Finest Badger Hair Shaving Brush #Tulip Faux Ebony Hand - eBay (item 280605369420 end time Feb-15-11 06:52:52 PST)
which comes out to about $21
so for around $75 + however much you want to spend on soap/cream (~ $3 to $35) for a whole setup that'll last a good long time.
Or you can buy the brush and a $25 dovo shavette with a 100 pack of replaceable blades. $45 gets you a year's supply of close and comfortable shaves without stropping, honing, and guesswork. that is, if you see it as a hastle.
Since most of the advice you seem to be getting is about equipment, let me do something completely different.
Take a good read at these, and that should give you a good idea of what is involved.
Straight Razor Place Wiki:Books/Beginners Guide - Straight Razor Place Wiki
I don't think that it is extremely important which particular option you pick for your tools, once you know what's important and what isn't you can make your own informed choice.
I'd say get a good soap/cream and spend half an hour to an hour making lather over and over so that you get the hang of it. The 99c williams mug soap works well, but since soaps/creams last such a long time, and you're trying to deal with skin problems, this part really is the wrong one to nickel&dime. I actually have never used castle forbes cream, but I believe it's really good one, if that's what you like (i also thought that straightrazordesigns carries the line, so if you're ordering a razor and strop from them, may be more convenient and a bit cheaper to get the cream with the same order).
I think that "badly" and "competent" are pretty broad qualifiers. There are a lot of razors meeting your description with bad hone wear, frowns, ruined tempers, poor steel, cracks, and other problems that are just waiting to take a newbie by surprise.
As tempting as it is to save money, I think the best first razor is one that is new, or has been carefully restored.