What Size is best for what?

Hi everyone,
I'm a newbie here in search for the way to a great shave and it seems like shaving with a SE is the way to go.

I have never used a straight edge razor and before I consider buying one I would like to know your thoughs on a SE with disposable blades vs. a regular SE.

I would also like to know what size would be best for shaping around the mustashe and goat-t areas? I should also mention that my hair is quite thick and grows back fairly quickly.

I enjoy shaving and I love a close shave but the mach3 is not cutting it for me. My hair grows back fairly quickly and I can't seem to get that close shave that we all want.

I am getting married in December and I would like to learn how to use the SE by then. My lady appreciates a good shave and so do I.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Pedro

Welcome aboard, Pedro. You provided just the right kind of information. For shaping and precision, you want a small blade, like a 4/8. For your heavy growth you want a heavy grind like a wedge. I believe there's a DOVO 4/8 wedge out there. Someone who's more into DOVOs should be able to tell you where to get it. In any case have it honed by Lynn or Joe at least the first time around.

Thanks Firestart, I truly appreciate your help.
I will start looking at some Dovo 4/8 and I'll let you know what I can find.

Also, what do you think about the SE with disposable razors?

Cheers,

Pedro

Pedro,
DOVO isn't the only brand you should be looking at. Wait for some more responses before making a purchase. Maybe one of our vendors has something in stock.
You are probably talking about the Feather. It's a very sharp system, maybe even too sharp, especially for a beginner. The blades are also fairly harsh, so don't get one if you have sensitive skin. Shavette-type shavers are good as a learning prop but I'd rather use a DE than use one of those on a regular basis.

I agree except I think a 5/8 would also be ok. I have razors from 3/8 to almost 1 inch and I love them all at different times. If I haven't shaved in a while the big boy is my choice however for a quick touch up I like the smaller 3/8 or 4/8. Think of them like the difference between a sports car (4/8) and an SUV (7/8, 8/8) . Good luck and enjoy.:)

For your needs I would recommend a specific grind which is called by various names. Wedge, flat grind, or 1/4 grind.
This is a stiff grind that is not deflected by a thick or coarse beard.
For a size I would recommend eithe a 3/8 or 4/8 razor width.

Just my two cents,:)

Randy, do you have any of those lying around? That way Pedro is guaranteed to have something that would be shave ready and then some.

I wouldn't recommend 3/8 if you've got a heavy growth. If you go for a 4/8 you might be more comfortable with a wedge or half hollow as they are a little bit heavier and thus have more momentum through the thicket. 5/8 probably wouldn't be a bad size or even a 6/8. A lot depends on the shaver and his personal preference. There's a lot to be said for getting the standard 5/8 and seeing how it treats you.

Blade shape should be a consideration too. I like Spike tips for their precision, but a French Point can also be very useful for trimming around mustaches.

I would encourage you to go for a regular straight rather than a disposable. I've never shaved with a Feather but I remember the feel of the injector style straights from my youth and they're just not as comfortable as the real deal.

X

PS I voted for you. :nj

i'd also agree that if you consider your growth to be coarse, then a wedge may be the answer for you. they really do have the weight behind them to do so much of the work on their own without the need to push.

while i agree that a smaller size blade is easier to control ( those 7/8 8/8 are like driving a mac truck), the smaller sizes also require you to rise them off as they don't have the room to hold the lather as much as the big ones. 4/8 is plenty small.

don't forget, that straight shaving takes some time to get right, smooth, baby butt face. it won't happen your first week or 2nd or 3rd..so plan on a learning curve and the shave improving each time. it won't be like picking up a gillette or a bic and the technique is the same. its totally different and takes some time. so plan on it and give it a chance to improve and become the delight of your day.

~J

ps. i really have alot of controll with the standard concave 5/8th razor.. its small enough to be precise and light enough to be precise. but wedges are nice if you have the very heavy growth.

I think everyone is going to give you advice based on what is their favorite type of razor. It really takes experimenting to see what works best for you. Personally I think a 5/8s is a good starting point for most people. You can use it for trimming and shaving most types of beards and its easy to handle and as you gain experience and confidence you can go up in size if you think you need it or try a wedge.

My advice was based on Pedro's needs and not my preferences. I only have one wedge in the rotation and it sure ain't my favourite. All of the other razors in my rotation are full hollow grind. Well I have 2 half hollows but they haven't met my hones yet.
The reason I suggested a small wedge was to do precision trimming of coarse hair.

How well do small wedges hone and strop? I'm thinking about getting one (or a few) just for the upper lip portion of my shave.

Would I be too far gone in the st8 razor world if I used TWO razors to shave with each time?

In general wedges are bears to hone. Its not the size so much but the grind because there's just more metal to deal with. Stropping is no problem its the same with all razors. I'm really not a big wedge person myself I have only one and its a DD Satin Wedge which is a small wedge and actually is kind of a modified wedge but its characteristics are still wedge like. Before I get myself into trouble here maybe one of the wedge experts here can talk more about the care and feeding of them.

Personally I don't switch razors while shaving but there are many who do. We won't think any the less of you if you follow that practice!

Ask three straight razor shavers this question, get eight different opinions. ;)

But seriously - as someone already said, the 5/8 size is the "standard" - you might even want to consider something like a 5/8 to shave and then a 3/8 to trim around your goatee. I have a 3/8 and it's a cute little bugger.

I'd stay away from the shavettes and feathers. I know there are some people who advise that they're a cheap way to learn, and you don't need to worry about honing and stropping. But the weight is way off compared to a "real" straight (they're much, much lighter) and since you're liable to have a heavy hand to start out, that spells trouble.

Good luck, though! You'll find out that you need about 10 different razors to suit various moods. And then there's the remodeling of the bath to accomidate said razors...