Thread: Complete Newb stuck between making the jump to a full straight edge razor or

Hello, Mukan7, and welcome to Straight Razor Place. Straight razor shaving is a commitment. You really have to want it. If you, however, are debating whether you should start or not, please study the Wiki for a fair amount amount of usable information. Also, watch as many videos as you can find on straight razor shaving. After that, if you still want to switch to straight razors, buy a good razor and strop and begin.

The vendors listed here are all reputable dealers. Also you have a good choice in the Classified. If you are serious about this, forget the straight razor with replaceable blades and go for the real one.

I started with a Dovo Shavette that takes 1/2 of a DE blade. My guess is that you will eventually get into the REAL straights (as I did). However, when I first started out I dropped the razor once or twice as did my wife. That alone saved me 3 or 4 re-honings. The other advantage is that I now have a travel straight! My wife still uses the Shavette once a week on her legs and I only use it to try out different brand blades or when I don't want to load up my strop when travelling.

I've seen some newb started out with replaceable straight & changing to a real straight, which I think'll cost more money. imo, the curiosity to try the real straight is unavoidable. Go straight all the way bro..

Originally Posted by Obie

Hello, Mukan7, and welcome to Straight Razor Place. Straight razor shaving is a commitment. You really have to want it. If you, however, are debating whether you should start or not, please study the Wiki for a fair amount amount of usable information. Also, watch as many videos as you can find on straight razor shaving. After that, if you still want to switch to straight razors, buy a good razor and strop and begin.

The vendors listed here are all reputable dealers. Also you have a good choice in the Classified. If you are serious about this, forget the straight razor with replaceable blades and go for the real one.

I agree with Obie about the replaceable blade straights, stay away from them. That's how I started out and I had a lot of irritation, nicks, and cuts. It was enough to make me forget about trying to straight razor shave. But getting a true straight razor changed all that. Follow Obie's advice, he knows his stuff.

Hi Mukan7, and welcome to SRP!

I'll second the recommendation to get a set from Whippeddog. Larry specializes in getting people started.

If it doesn't work out for you, you can resell your gear pretty easily. Our Classifieds are quite active.

Click on the Community link up above, and put your pin in the Googlemap. You can also see if there's a member nearby who can help you get started. If you happen to be in western Colorado, you're welcome to drop by and try anything in my collection.

Best wishes!

Mukan, I'd say the guys are telling you right. Strop/razor/brush can be had complete for under $100, and the shaves from the lower cost replaceable blade straights aren't as easy to get used to. Whipped Dog & other places can have you comfortably under $75 for those items. If you hit snags, PM me for help. Part of the name Pinklather was from trying a fake st8.

Or you could try finding someone in your region who is willing to show you a few things about shaving with a SR and loan you one for a while? I've tried a few of Whipped Dog's razors and was happy with them, they have since gone to other people who wanted to find out if straight razor shaving was something they liked. Enjoy your journey!

Thanks for all the responses! I'm currently on my way to acquiring one through whippeddog.com. Thank you all very much for helping a newbie. THANKS!!!

I am a newbie and you are making a good choice go with the straight razor. I do not think you will regret it at all.

Welcome Mukan! I started off with the parker. It is very good at teaching you technique, but after about 2 weeks I couldnt wait to get a Dovo....I havent shaved with the lil bugger since!