New here, wife recommended I come and see.

As the title say's, am new here. Wife joined this forum while back and said that this place is great for learning stuff. She goes by TomBoyRed79 here if I haven't typoed it to death.

Any way she's been riding me on my "POS" Gillette Fusion Power razors and "Face Crud" aka gel, she's used a safety razor since I've known her and has always said it makes what I use akin to using a plastic knife on my face.

Seems to me like some new religion the way some talk of it lol, well I think I am about to break down and try it and try and learn how to use this safety razor she got me just for the occasion that I did break down to try it. Think it is a Merker heavy duty, she has one just like it and said it would be easiest to start with so yeah. Guess I'm to use her blades and other stuff as well, I like her have been looking at straight edge's. Though she I think is more into thinking of those because it's new to her, for me my dad used one and well I think it is the most manly way to shave and that is what is attracting me.

So...here I go learning how to shave with a safety razor, but what I really want to learn to use and get is a straight edge. But like she told me, it is a good place to start learning how to not use pressure on a razor and all of that, so when I do go to a straight it should be a bit easier or so we think lol.

Welcome to SRP. There are a lot of beginners here to share triumphs with and get support from when things are not happening the way you expect they should. There is also a wealth of knowledge. I think the only question that can not be answered definitively what exactly a barbers notch is for.
Again, welcome and have fun learning. I know I am.

I'm not sure that using a de is particularly good preparation for using a straight although the HD is an excellent razor - do make the effort to try a variety of blades in it.

Welcome to SRP. There is a wealth of information here, and many kind people who share their knowledge.

I find that coming here is a great way to wind down after a busy day.

Have fun with your new learning curve!

I can't say it enough for a Nooobie, read the SRP "WIKI", all of it, and if ANY question arrise, just start a Thread with that question and you will get all the answers you can imagine, and then some!! It's a great place to start. I use Straight Razors and I still have a Merkur 34C Heavey Duty in my rotation and its a great shaver, you just have to try out various blades and Decide for yourself the best blade to use. The Badger and Blade system for making a great lather is a great start towards developing your lathering skills. You'll find the link in the WIKI section and others.
Oh, and yes, I forgot, Welcome to this great hobby, Wet Shaving is great, and you don't have to spend a lot to enjoy it, but it won't hurt to spend a lot either!!


tinkersd of SRP!

Wow nice turn out, bust forum and that's good as it likely wont get boring. Well either way you go there will always be a learning curve with anything like this, specially straights, but thats fine with me and yeah the DE went great, and I suspect as I get used to it I'll be getting perfect shaves. I know half the time or more my old Fusion Power gave me fits, had to shave with way more passes cause of the rough spots it would leave, then get razor burn and it would just suck but figured that was life till today as the slight burn I did get isn't anything like the burn I would have got with a disposable.

Once you figure the DE out completely...you'll never go back. I promise. And by that time you'll have a small voice inside BEGGING to try a straight. It's all a natural progression...don't fight it, enjoy it. haha

Weclome to SRP...the "other" religion :angel:

Welcome!! I have quickly found that this has become more than a hobby....but a life style....it almost feels like a secret community.....

I think the DE might help with learning to stretch the skin while you shave but as I'm a straight man I'm not positive of that. This is a great place to learn about both styles of shaving just be careful as they can quickly become addicting.

Well, this is a turn. The wife telling the guy to lose the cartridge.

If I were you I would take full advantage of that and get a good supply of soaps and blades and some brushes and all the other accoutrements.

Check out our shaving with a DE forum and welcome aboard.

*laughs*

Yeah it is a turn, the wife shaves with a more manly razor than I do lol but that's about to change cause I rather liked this shave I got, my face is still smooth and that has NEVER happened with a disposable...usually I got 5o'clock shadow by now.

And oh yeah I'm going to get some creams and soaps for myself as well, and maybe some sampler packs of diff blades too, since she has Feather brand covered she got a 100 pack a while back of those so were in full stock for that brand lol. I'll likely have a full armament of stuff very soon. Going to get my own straight though, she's going to get her own as well.

Whats a good Straight to start with? I was looking at some really cool looking ones today, I'll copy and paste this one lol...
Thiers Issard 7/8" Le Thiernois Straight Razor, Circasian Walnut Burl

Really nice, expensive too. SO...I likely have NO darned clue as to what I am getting into here so any advice would help, I'm a big guy and so I like big tough looking things and guess I want the same in a razor, but first and foremost I want it to work and be of a life time of use and so on.

welcome to srp, big guy :p

a good place to check would be the links in that welcome sticky i put up in this section.

most of the current production razors are pretty much a standard size. i think the dovo rennaisance and bismarck may be a bit larger and the TI razors are generally a bit larger too. I was just looking at one of my vintage bookers and it is noticeably larger than the current production.
however you'll have to decide for yourself what is comfortable in your hand and what isn't. i've had plenty of razors that just don't work well for me because the ergonomics is awkward.

of course at first anything will be awkward but in say 6 months you'll be more used to it and can start thinking of what you prefer.

what is imperative though, is to learn to use a light touch and correct angle. what you need is not big razor, but sharp razor and the fine motor skills to use it really well.

as far as recommendations go, i'd recommend that you resist any specific recommendation and figure out the important concepts. most people without much experience will be quick to recommend you the razor they got, or the one that they get best results with their level of limited experience.
however, there are thousands of excellent possibilities, so it's better to figure out what those are (and more importantly what the bad ones are) and then pick anything from those that's most appealing to you.

for example decide on things like budget, how important is a new razor vs. vintage razor, if you're considering the vintage ones how much are you willing to pay for a brand name, or trade off cosmetic between condition and lower price, acceptable honewear... On some of these you probably would be just puzzled, but they can mean vastly different prices (if that's important).

see we can become pretty obsessive about such a simple thing like shaving with a straight razor.

oh, and don't forget a high quality strop, that's what will keep your razor sharp.

Glad to see you decided to join after trying out that Merkur I gave you MONTHS ago lol, well least were are in this together now so should be good. :)