Thread: Looking for the first one...

Congrats on your graduation, I'm doing the same in about two weeks. I started recently as well; if you have any questions about getting started, feel free to send me a PM and I'll help out as best as I can.

Lots of great options out there.

Strops - You can get a great starter strop from starshaving.com, whippeddog.com, ruprazor.com, or make your own!

Brushes - As for brushes, I just dove into this hobby myself, and bought the VDH boar brush at CVS or Walgreens for like $8. I also saw the whole kit of soap, brush, and bowl at my local grocery store for $8.99! I didn't really give the brush a chance to break in, and may not ever, because I bought the Shea Moisture badger brush from Super Target for $10 I think. The Tweezerman badger brush is available at lots of local retailers for about $15, too.

Soaps/creams - This is a really personal choice, so ask 20 people and you will get 40 different answers I like and have been using the VDH deluxe soap the most. It is VERY inexpensive, and works great. William's Mug is in that same vein. Both locally available. I just tried the Bath and Body Works labeled Proraso cream and it is nice, too. Very menthol-y and tingly. Really nice in the morning. I think the great big tube was $10, should last a lifetime. Oh, don't forget to get a bottle of glycerine at CVS to make uberlather Oh, my review of the Shea Moisture shave butter/cream from Target is that it smells nice, but I probably wouldn't buy it again. It isn't a big lather maker.

Razors - These guys have given you lots of great feedback on razors, and I would listen to them. Anything from the classifieds here for ~$50 that is shave ready should have to set, at least to learn to shave, strop, etc. I probably did it the "wrong" way and bought a bunch of eBay specials, hones, etc. and am teaching myself to hone and restore them. BTW, I got both of my regular shavers this way. It is more expensive and time consuming, but I am a sucker for a new hobby

Anyway, I hope this helps!

Well guys I finally did it, I just ordered my first razor!!!! SO PUMPED! I got the wet shave set from SRD with a 3" strop and the sandalwood soap....I am so excited to shave with the new gear for the first time! Thanks for all the advice!

p.s. do the same people that run this website run SRD???

Originally Posted by Chemist

Well guys I finally did it, I just ordered my first razor!!!! SO PUMPED! I got the wet shave set from SRD with a 3" strop and the sandalwood soap....I am so excited to shave with the new gear for the first time! Thanks for all the advice!

p.s. do the same people that run this website run SRD???

Great choice!
I'm sure you will be happy with that kit.

Lynn Abrams, who founded SRP is also the proprietor of SRD. I believe he runs that place with a partner called Don.
Also a member here