Thread: Where to start?

Hello everybody, totally new here, and new to straight shaving itself. I actually have never used one or had a profsional shave before, I'm only 18 and I've been using cheap dispoable razors since I was 15. Straight shaving has always been an interest of mine, I've always wanted one but the prices scared me off, along with the fact that nobody I know knows how to do it and they all look at me like im crazy when I say I wanna straight shave. Now being a college kid, I dont have a whole lot of money so I need the a fully functional shaver at a great price, looks really arent of any concern to me. From what I've been reading the Dovo shavette is a great deal, but as far as I know there is nowhere around me that sells them. I've always been wary of buying things online and with money being so tight I want to make sure that I buy the right stuff the first time. Heres where I really need help,
I notice with the Dovo shavette theres alot of talk about the colors of the handles, and what they signify. For somebody on a budget, looking for a cheap but good first razor what would be the best color? and where would be the best place to buy it? Amazon.com has alot of them listed but the prices vary pretty significantly, which is what worries me.

And Im kind of afraid to ask because I feel like its a stupid question but would a shaving cream like Edge or barbasol work with straight shaving, and do you really need a brush?

Welcome to SRP. Check out the classifieds here or whippeddog.com, you can get a shave ready razor from either place. Also at whippeddog.com you can get his strop set or if you are so inclined you could go to your nearest leather supplier and get a piece of good leather and make your own strop. A brush and soap could be picked up at most local drug stores or even Wal-mart. Once again welcome and take a look through the Wiki and the forums most of your questions will be answered but if you have any other questions feel free to ask.

Welcome to SRP!
wmac gives excellent advice on how to get ahold of quality gear at a reasonable price!
While you are pondering what gear to choose, do check out our WIKI.
It is a great place to pick up lots of good info!
Also, I recommend hitting the video section. If you are not able to see someone face to face, the videos are a great substitute!
Good luck with this new venture.
If there is anything we can do at all, ask away

Originally Posted by cherrygarcia

But would a shaving cream like Edge or barbasol work with straight shaving, and do you really need a brush?

Not that I know anything (I am still learning) but I am starting to think that maybe we beginners should keep shaving with whatever we're shaving with now while we learn to get a good lather. The first time I used a straight razor I used canned shaving cream. It worked out pretty well. Later, when I switched to making my own lather using tube cream, I think part of the problem was it was too dry. Based on my experience, I think there are too many variables to start doing everything all at once (making your own lather, stropping, etc.) It might be better to introduce one thing at a time in my view.

First off, welcome to SRP! I wish I'd have gotten into straights when I was in college. I thought I was poor when I was in college...HA...I wish I had as much disposable income now as I did then! I shaved for years with cartridges; just about every different one out there, and several different creams/gels/oils. Only in the last month have I gotten great irritation free shaves!

Originally Posted by wmac

Welcome to SRP. Check out the classifieds here or whippeddog.com, you can get a shave ready razor from either place. Also at whippeddog.com you can get his strop set or if you are so inclined you could go to your nearest leather supplier and get a piece of good leather and make your own strop. A brush and soap could be picked up at most local drug stores or even Wal-mart. Once again welcome and take a look through the Wiki and the forums most of your questions will be answered but if you have any other questions feel free to ask.

+1 to this advice. Larry at whippeddog is a member here and he's set up his site for new guys to get into the realm of straight shaving without breaking the bank.

Originally Posted by Birnando

Welcome to SRP!
wmac gives excellent advice on how to get ahold of quality gear at a reasonable price!
While you are pondering what gear to choose, do check out our WIKI.
It is a great place to pick up lots of good info!
Also, I recommend hitting the video section. If you are not able to see someone face to face, the videos are a great substitute!
Good luck with this new venture.
If there is anything we can do at all, ask away

+1 to this too. The wiki and videos are life savers and the more you know the better off you'll be.

Originally Posted by MikeMN

Not that I know anything (I am still learning) but I am starting to think that maybe we beginners should keep shaving with whatever we're shaving with now while we learn to get a good lather. The first time I used a straight razor I used canned shaving cream. It worked out pretty well. Later, when I switched to making my own lather using tube cream, I think part of the problem was it was too dry. Based on my experience, I think there are too many variables to start doing everything all at once (making your own lather, stropping, etc.) It might be better to introduce one thing at a time in my view.

Mike, I'd agree with your thought too. So to that end, I'd suggest you hit up your local wally-world, walgreens, rite aide or whatever pharmacy you have around and look for the Van Der Hagen kit that comes with brush and bowl and soap all for about $12. I like the VDH soap quite a bit and you can learn to lather with it and shave with your current cartridge and have one foot in the door! Then I'd suggest you pick up Larry's poor-man strop kit and get familiar with it...you can even practice stropping with a butter knife as the weight is similar and it will help you to get a feel for turning the razor properly at each end of the stropping stroke.

If you get that far you'll be chomping at the bit for a razor. Personally I'd skip the shavette. I haven't used one, and I've read of some guys who liked them as a transition in, but I've read of others who nearly left straight shaving (or did leave) altogether. It's like buying a camel to get into horse racing. It works. It has its place. JMHO. I'd suggest by this point picking up a razor from Larry or one of the classifieds listed here. All will come shave ready for that first glorious and long awaited experience.

Also...just thought of this...but if you've got the lather thing figured out, but no dough to get a strop and razor, a good used DE razor can be had for dirt cheap (sometimes free even) and blades are around $1.50 for 10. It'd get you down the road for learning light touch and blade angle...and get you better shaves than a cartridge IME.

I'd recommend getting a honed razor from Whipped Dog. I used the Shavette at first, the $30 job available anywhere, but it is, as they say, very unforgiving. I used it for three weeks and the skills learned with it were helpful. I was very glad to move over to a proper straight.

You'll need a strop, and Larry at Whipped Dog can supply that cheaply as well. As for Barbasol, I bought some a week or so ago just to see if it would work, and it worked fine. It's a bit messy to fool with, and a brush and good soap are more enjoyable, but it did work.

Starting with a straight is not easy, and it does take time to learn all you need to learn. It's all available here in the Wiki, and there are plenty of helpful people here to answer any questions that arise.

All you have to have to start is a honed razor, a strop, and studying the Wiki is worth the effort. Good luck!