Thread: New To SRP

Hello everyone-

Thanks for all your help so far … SRP and its followrs have been a great place for me to become knowledgeable about cold shaving.

Here are the items I plan to buy to begin straight shaving ..

What are yor thoughts and advice about this stuff and its price?


At "SRD"
Proraso Liquid Cream After Shave $16.00
Proraso Menthol/Eucalyptus Shaving Soap $8.49
Proraso Menthol/Eucalyptus Shave Cream $9.99
Shavex Alum Blocks $7.99
Acrylic Brush Stand Style - Black $7.49
Professionally Sharpened Dovo Best Quality Black 6/8" $84.99


At "Shave Nation"

Illinois Russian Razor Strop # 827 $52.99
Nick Sealer Proraso Gel Bloodstop in Handy Squeeze Tube $12.99
Proraso Pre Post Cream Balm XL "Barber Size" 500ML 1.4 Lbs $39.99

Does anyone have any experience with “shavenation.com” the guy seems knowledgeable and his videos are a bit funny at times too.

I found it hard to choose a strop –so- being from Chicago I’m naturally drawn twards the ILLINOIS strops.

I love the menthol products for other things like shampoos and conditioners so I thought proraso would be a good line for me.

Any1 know good brick and morter stores near chicago?

I also have a mug and brush that was my dads that I plan to use.

Thanks for your time and consideration in responding to this post

-nick

Welcome!

Sounds like a great starter kit to me. I have the Illinois #827 as well, and it holds it's own against waaay more expensive strops that I own.
IMO, get a decent bowl for making lather, personally I think mugs are rather useless.

If you're already buying a razor at SRD, go for the razor+strop combo. This way the strop will cost you less than buying it at your other vendor and will be nicer.

I don't mind spending a bit more for the Illinois strop ...
It seems to come with a cloth and leather portion - haven't herd any bad
Things about it.... There are some many choices on SRD
It's difficult to know which one is best.

Im looking at a bowl on SRD that looks good for 20.00 I'll add that
Per the recommendation.

And I will def continue to check through the wiki.

I read in SRP some place that having 2 razors
Is recommended so that as a beginner you have one to use
And another solely to remind you of how a truly shave ready honed and
Sharpened razor looks/feels for reference only.

Has anyone bought an extra razor for the propose and if so
Does it have to be an identical match to the first one?

Thoughts on having multiple razors?

Originally Posted by nick190000

I don't mind spending a bit more for the Illinois strop ...
It seems to come with a cloth and leather portion - haven't herd any bad
Things about it.... There are some many choices on SRD
It's difficult to know which one is best.

Im looking at a bowl on SRD that looks good for 20.00 I'll add that
Per the recommendation.

And I will def continue to check through the wiki.

I read in SRP some place that having 2 razors
Is recommended so that as a beginner you have one to use
And another solely to remind you of how a truly shave ready honed and
Sharpened razor looks/feels for reference only.

Has anyone bought an extra razor for the propose and if so
Does it have to be an identical match to the first one?

Thoughts on having multiple razors?

Right now I rotate among four razors and I am working on having a set of 10 to rotate through. All four of mine are different (three are Dovos (three different models) and one is a restored Steinbruck & Drucks) and each razor whether the same brand/model tends to shave differently. They are not "perfect carbon copies" of each other if you get my drift here. But if that is what you desire to do, then by all means; do what you feel works for you.

The most important advice I can give you based on my own experience, utilize the Wiki and/or videos/SRD's DVD as your guide, ask questions in the forum, take your time, never rush a shave or a shaving goal, have fun, enjoy the experience. Don't get hung up on the BBS shave, focus on your technique which includes pre-shave prep, pre-shave stropping, handling the razor, face stretching, lather making, actual shaving, and your post shave face rinse, after shave balm or splash. Also before I forget, taking care of the razor after your shave. I might have left out something, but there are a great group of gentlemen here in this forum that will pick up whatever I miss and offer you advice and tips based on their experiences. But the bottom line, it's your face, your razor, and your shave.

I have posted this many times in this forum: You are taking a daily mundane chore and turning it into a daily pleasurable ritual.
Enjoy and have fun!
Patrick

Withdrawn. Didn't read very carefully. Nevermind.

Originally Posted by nick190000

I don't mind spending a bit more for the Illinois strop ...

My emphasis was on 'nicer', not cheaper, but the 827 is a good strop, it works well after you get it broken in. BTW Illinois has tons of models too, I think the one I liked best was no.361 or may be no.651 or something like that.

Originally Posted by nick190000

Thoughts on having multiple razors?

They are not necessary, one razor is enough as long as it is good quality and you know how to use and maintain it. Unfortunately you don't really do, so you may prefer to get a backup, but it all depends on your temperament and priorities. I have well over 200 razors, and I'm working on decreasing the number of duplicates and other multiples, but it hasn't really worked too well. It's easier for me to find a reason to just keep them for at least a little longer.

If you are going to go with the #827 just google it, as that price you found is quite high it should be $32 or there about...

Originally Posted by gugi

I think the one I liked best was no.361 or may be no.651 or something like that.

why did you like those better? which strop would you recommend from SRD

Dunno, the leather was different and worked better, more like the old cordovan strops. Of the SRD strops I have the latigo, premium1 and premium4, and I've used premium1 the most (premium 4 is relatively new for me, even though I must've gotten one of the very first ones). If you don't mind spending the extra money for the premiums, I'd say either one of them, if not, the latigo works quite well too, but it takes time to break in.
I also find that the poly webbing works unexpectedly well. As far as function is concerned I think it's better than the fabric on the illinois strops, but it has weird feedback at first - like when I drive on the metal bridge by my house. It mellows with use though and feels more like a normal fabric.