Thread: Hello, everyone!

Hey, guys. So, I'm on the verge of buying my first razor and I found a shaving kit on Amazon, found here:

Amazon.com: Straight Razor Classical Ultimate 7 Pcs Shaving Set: Health & Personal Care

So, I have a few questions, as one might expect, so please bear with me! Haha...

First and foremost, is this kit worth it? It doesn't specify any kind of details about the razor, or anything. I don't even know if the brush is boar or badger, though it is likely the latter.

Secondly, I found the same kit for $20 less, but it doesn't come with the strop paste or the honing stone. So, do I really need either of these things? Is it recommended? I am a broke college student without a job at the moment, so $20 really makes a difference, haha...

Finally, what is the honing stone really used for? Will I need it if I have the strop?

Thanks in advance!

Yea..Don't do it..You would be better off (if you have a limited budget) to get a Whipped Dog razor and buys a strop and a omega boar hair, than buying that setup. You would come out paying less, and you could acutally shave with it.

Originally Posted by CommanderCrisp

Hey, guys. So, I'm on the verge of buying my first razor and I found a shaving kit on Amazon, found here:

Amazon.com: Straight Razor Classical Ultimate 7 Pcs Shaving Set: Health & Personal Care

So, I have a few questions, as one might expect, so please bear with me! Haha...

First and foremost, is this kit worth it? It doesn't specify any kind of details about the razor, or anything. I don't even know if the brush is boar or badger, though it is likely the latter.

Secondly, I found the same kit for $20 less, but it doesn't come with the strop paste or the honing stone. So, do I really need either of these things? Is it recommended? I am a broke college student without a job at the moment, so $20 really makes a difference, haha...

Finally, what is the honing stone really used for? Will I need it if I have the strop?

Thanks in advance!

The "honing stone" is quite small, probably inadequate unless it is a Barbers Hone, and it is not clear what grit it is. The razor is very likely to arrive not shave ready, and that stone may not remedy that condition. The strop looks fine, but some of the other stuff will certainly be bargain basement variety.

I'd recommend slowing down a bit here. I'd recommend purchasing a razor and strop combo from Straight Razor Designs that'll cost about the same. You can add the mugs, soaps, and all that later.

If that fails, and you're really serious, I'll send you a razor for free, honed properly, and you can take it from there. I expect others will chime in and offer their assistance as well.

You might want to start by reading this:

Shopping list for beginners - Straight Razor Place Wiki

I would not purchase that kit because of the questionable nature of all of the items. I would shy away from stones and strop pastes for a little while as well. Right now I would suggest a starter razor from the classifieds here, holli4pirating's site, whipped dog, gemstar customs or anything from one of the people in our vendor listings here. I would also suggest a strop from any of the vendors. There are quite a few vendors who sell blades with edges you can actually shave from, this one you listed is not. Also if you purchase from straight razor designs they give you one free honing and the guy who hones them is the same who started this forum (he knows a little about honing). As for a soap and brush you can find a simple brush locally at either your target for a badger or many drug stores for a boar and they are inexpensive and will get you started. The VDH soap available at most drug stores will work as well and rite-aid carries real shaving cream (great stuff), there is also C.O. Bigelow cream at bath and body works that I love and is my favorite summer cream. I hope this gets you started in the right direction.

Originally Posted by ace

The "honing stone" is quite small, probably inadequate unless it is a Barbers Hone, and it is not clear what grit it is. The razor is very likely to arrive not shave ready, and that stone may not remedy that condition. The strop looks fine, but some of the other stuff will certainly be bargain basement variety.

I'd recommend slowing down a bit here. I'd recommend purchasing a razor and strop combo from Straight Razor Designs that'll cost about the same. You can add the mugs, soaps, and all that later.

If that fails, and you're really serious, I'll send you a razor for free, honed properly, and you can take it from there. I expect others will chime in and offer their assistance as well.

That would be extremely generous of you. I'll try shopping around first, and I'll let you know. I don't want to take advantage of your kindness, haha...

Thanks a lot for the advice, everyone. I was going to read the stickied post, but I found this kit and I figured I should see if it was worth it, which it clearly isn't. I'll definitely check the resources you guys recommended.

I think your money would be better spent getting a shave ready straight and starter strop from somewhere like the invisible edge, where you know the razor will be shave ready so when you start you can know the razor is ready to shave and technique is all you need to worry about. He has some starter strops that will get you gong as well. The little added extras in that kit are not all that helpful. you will be able to maintain your razor with a strop for some time and by then you can determine if you want to get into honing or simply pay someone to do it for you when needed. I think in the long run you will be happy with the shave ready razor.

I'd follow Wintchase's suggestion, check out Whipped Dog. You'll find inexpensive high quality shaving tools there, which sounds exactly like what you're after.

Whipped Dog Straight Razor Sales

As for brushes, If you want an inexpensive brush, you have alot of choices, But I suggest you take a look at Ian Tang on ebay Shop eBay Canada Store - Ian Tang's Shaving Workshop:: Shaving Brush and Accessories, Shaving Brush Set), his Finest badger brushes give great bang for the buck. I've got one myself & I'm very satisfied with it.

I found this razor on the classifieds:

Baureman Solingen 4/8" Straight razor - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Good for a beginner? Is $60 a good deal? Certainly appears to be!

I'm pretty committed to razor shaving, by the way. I'm really tired of disposable razors, so that is not really an issue. I'm willing put up with the cuts. Haha...

Hey,

I'm a newbie just like you (only been at this for about a month and a half) and I would suggest steering clear of any ebay/amazon purchase for the following reasons:

1. you will not get a shave ready razor and have to spend money on shipping and honing. Plus you will have to wait the extra time before you can shave. I was fortunate to have someone in Edmonton help me out and sharpen my razor so I didn't need to wait more than a couple of days.

2. you might get a rubbish razor that you can't ever get to hold an edge and then you just wasted your money. additionally, newbie's like use don't really know what is a good buy so better to go to a reputable site such as Straightrazordesigns or classicshaving

3. you may never need a hone unless you really are into honing razors (which will require you to spend money to buy other razors) so it might be a waste of money. Especially since if you get into honing you'll eventually want to buy a combo hone or a set

4. Though I'm new at this I believe that you want to get a good brush. unless you use shave sticks the brush is the only essential, in addition to the razor and strop of course, that you will need and it makes a difference to have a nice brush versus a poor quality one.

5. don't worry about mugs and things like that yet because you don't know what type of shaver you will be yet. Will you use creams or soaps? will you face lather or lather in a bowl, etc. I made the mistake of rushing out and buying a brush stand with a bowl included and though I am a soap user I spend at least half an hour a day looking at all those sweet scuttles on Straight Razor Designs wishing I hadn't spent money on the stand and bowl (and it was just because I wanted a mug) Wait and see how you like to shave. if you face lather no mug needed. if you like warm lather get a scuttle etc.

I give all this advice because I made all these mistakes. I went a little crazy and went out and bought stuff that I now would not buy knowing how I like to shave and what else is out there.

stultsy