Is a straight razor for me??

Okay so I'm new to straight razors. My dad used to use one but stopped for some reason, so i've always thought they were dangerous, because of this I have never seen it as an option for shaving until recently. I've tried so many different kinds of razors including electric ones. I can never shave back to back days its just too painful especially on my neck. The electric shaver did help with my checks and face but when it comes to the neck nothing I've used lets me shave back to back days. So basically I want to know if switching to a straight razor will help with this problem. I usually keep my beard on my face and shave everything on the neck, I don't know if theres a name for this kind of style. From reading around it seems as though shaving the neck is one of the hardest parts after your chin. I've been looking at the following two as a starting point:
Amazon.com: Parker SRW Stainless Steel Straight Edge Barber Razor & 120 Shark Super Stainless Blades: Health & Personal Care
Amazon.com: Van Der Hagen Men's Luxury, Shave Set: Health & Personal Care

Can someone tell me if this is a good way to start if in fact I should start shaving with a straight razor. Also will I need anything else to go along with these two? Any info is greatly appreciated

My neck area is more prone to irritation than the cheeks. I do get more irritation with DE blades than with straights. These replaceable-blade straights use half a DE. I get better shaves with a real straight. But shavettes are a cheep option to see if straight razor shaving is something for you.

There are cheaper options than the Parker: Amazon.com: shavette: Health & Personal Care Beware of the straights Amazon sells as well. Only if they are of a well-known brand they are worth while buying.

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Originally Posted by Kees

My neck area is more prone to irritation than the cheeks. I do get more irritation with DE blades than with straights. These replaceable-blade straights use half a DE. I get better shaves with a real straight. But shavettes are a cheep option to see if straight razor shaving is something for you.

There are cheaper options than the Parker: Amazon.com: shavette: Health & Personal Care Beware of the straights Amazon sells as well. Only if they are of a well-known brand they are worth while buying.

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I'm pretty lost hahaha. What is a DE blade? Is Parker a good brand for a straight blade? What's the difference between a DE and a straight razor?
Sorry for all the questions

I've never used the type of razor you are pointing to.

That being said, most people here don't consider that to be a true straight razor. It's called a Shavette. Generally people say that they are "less forgiving then a true straight".

As far as your neck problem. When I try to get as close with a cartridge as I do with a straight I get a lot of ingrown hair and bumps. While I won't say I get zero with a straight, I get very few. Almost none.

Straights are far from "dangerous". You will get a few cuts while learning, but they will generally heal very fast. There is a learning process. Don't expect to jump in and get beautiful shaves right away.

There is a beginners section on here at the home page. Spend some time reading it. The more time you spend learning, the less time and frustration you will have learning to shave this way.

#1 rule. Be sure and buy a razor that is SHAVE READY. A new razor from anyone probably will not be unless they say so up front. Don't believe people if they tell you the factory edge is good enough. There are good used razors for sale in the Vendor section here and people that know how to sharpen them right.
#2 rule. Learn how to properly strop a razor. You will need this skill to keep the razor sharp enough to use for a while. If you do it right it will stay sharp for a long while. There are many videos on how to shave and strop. Most of the links to the good videos are here in the beginners section.

Follow these rules and I think you will find that not only will your shaving results be better, but you will have fun doing it.

i Didnt like this model i have it in all metal instead of plastic handle, cause you have to wedge your nailes in between the metal sheet that holds the razor blade, but if you do buy it be very carefull cause half razorblades and if your wet on your hands while setting in or taking out the blade you can cut youself easy, better you buy Dovo Shavette if your starting with these razors. I have that shaving mug/bowl from muhle and its ok, shaving stand in acrylic is the same world wide, havent tested the brush or soap so cant say anything about that. ever thought about DE razors? less equipment you have to buy in, but if your commited you can use you next winnings as a millionare on straight razors if the bug bites you, i gott biten and have almost used all my food stamps on straight razor products;) DE Razors and straight razors are very good on necks. i have both of the shavettes i wrote and i cant use the parker, but Dovo`s can be used, just a little easy to cut yourself if your in a hurry or aint carefull with the tips/ends on the razorblade, its usaly not the middle of the razor blade that cuts you its the tips/ends of the blade if you dont lift it at the same time, that means dont set it down with tip or heal first it has to be straight on the face all at the same time. you can test it by shaving with soap and without blade first to see if you lay the blade flat on your neck, then up the stakes after seeing that you dont prick yourself to death with the blade;) you would also need to buy razor blades that you can break in 2 or buy pre-broken blades, and also a styptic pencil. and also if you buy dovo they have 3 collors on the plastic that means RED- normal blades used in DE Razors but brocken in half, the BLACK- plastic is for long blades made by dovo, and the GREEN- i dont know but would think it is for brands similar to feather blades they sell to those expensive Feather Shavette`s. Hope it help even if i write like a gnome;)

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Originally Posted by thelegazy

I'm pretty lost hahaha. What is a DE blade? Is Parker a good brand for a straight blade? What's the difference between a DE and a straight razor?
Sorry for all the questions

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A straight razor is just a blade with a handle.
Attachment 94736
A DE is a double edge razor you can replace the blade in.
Attachment 94737
The one you are looking at is a handle and holder for half a DE blade.

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Originally Posted by Crotalus

I've never used the type of razor you are pointing to.

That being said, most people here don't consider that to be a true straight razor. It's called a Shavette. Generally people say that they are "less forgiving then a true straight".

As far as your neck problem. When I try to get as close with a cartridge as I do with a straight I get a lot of ingrown hair and bumps. While I won't say I get zero with a straight, I get very few. Almost none.

Straights are far from "dangerous". You will get a few cuts while learning, but they will generally heal very fast. There is a learning process. Don't expect to jump in and get beautiful shaves right away.

There is a beginners section on here at the home page. Spend some time reading it. The more time you spend learning, the less time and frustration you will have learning to shave this way.

#1 rule. Be sure and buy a razor that is SHAVE READY. A new razor from anyone probably will not be unless they say so up front. Don't believe people if they tell you the factory edge is good enough. There are good used razors for sale in the Vendor section here and people that know how to sharpen them right.
#2 rule. Learn how to properly strop a razor. You will need this skill to keep the razor sharp enough to use for a while. If you do it right it will stay sharp for a long while. There are many videos on how to shave and strop. Most of the links to the good videos are here in the beginners section.

Follow these rules and I think you will find that not only will your shaving results be better, but you will have fun doing it.

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Could you possibly point me in the direction of a "true" straight razor? Or as a beginner am I fine with a Shavette? I'm a fairly patient person so I'm not worried too much about cutting myself anymore; if I'm in a rush I'll just run the trimmer and I'll go.

"CanCerManNor" thanks for the info, but what would you recommend for a beginner? This is the first I'm thinking about this so I've never thought of a DE razor (which I'm assuming is a double edge razor?) Do you have a link to the "Dovo Shavette"?

Again thanks for everyone's replies

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Originally Posted by Crotalus

A straight razor is just a blade with a handle.
Attachment 94736
A DE is a double edge razor you can replace the blade in.
Attachment 94737
The one you are looking at is a handle and holder for half a DE blade.

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So the one I am looking at has the handle like a straight edge but half a blade from the DE? I just want to make sure I'm understanding it properly. Which would you recommend to a beginner? A shavette, straight, or DE?

DE's are better than cartridge shavers. Shavettes are somewhere in between.
Straights are better than both.

Look in the classified section here for straights.

What do you think about someone that asks for all kinds of advice, from lots of people, and then doesn't take any of it? :)

Oh well.

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Originally Posted by Crotalus

What do you think about someone that asks for all kinds of advice, from lots of people, and then doesn't take any of it? :)

Oh well.

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Oh man that's harsh, I was just looking for some knowledge and you guys provided it to me. Being a novice I thought I would start with the shavette as I've read a lot of things suggesting I do so. I might not have bought a straight razor today but I do intend to; so it's only a matter of time before I take your advice :P

But I really do appreciate everyone's advice if I took it or not I learnt a lot and that's what I was looking to do, so Thanks.

I apologize for being harsh. I was just a little frustrated because I spent more time answering your questions on here and in PM's than I ever have with anyone.

I never heard of Shark blades. Certainly not a brand that gets mentioned a lot here or on other shaving fora.

Shavettes don't shave like a true straight. The angles are different. The shavette isn't able to lie as flat to the skin as a true straight and still cut cleanly without irritation on some types of skin. I tried them and found they were very harsh and left me burnt. They are more nearly maintenance free and quite inexpensive. The cost of a Whippeddog sight unseen razor package and a Van Der Hagen soap/brush isn't a great deal more than a shavette. $50 or thereabouts.

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Originally Posted by thelegazy

Thanks for everyone's help, but i have decided to go with a shavette. I know I'll probably switch over to a true straight razor in a few months if I like a shavette enought. Much thanks to Crotalus who helped me understand a lot. From asking a couple of friends they have recommended that I start with a shavette. If anyone has any extra input I'd greatly appreciate it or if anyone has an reviews on the shavette I have chosen, Amazon.com: Parker SRW Stainless Steel Straight Edge Barber Razor & 120 Shark Super Stainless Blades: Health & Personal Care
Also are the blades that come with this ready to shave with?

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I started off with a shavette and used 1/2 of a DE blade. You will eventually want to go to a real straight. Whippeddog.com or the classifieds are great places. However, the shavette needs no maintenance like honing or stropping. After a short time you will know what "sharp" is. The Shavette also works well as a travel straight. Now to the bad part, you will want to go to the real thing eventually. Also, I would avoid buying the packages with a lot of DE blades. You will need to experiment with different brands - they all work differently for each razor and each face. I would suggest looking at bullgooseshaving or straightrazordesigns and get a blade sampler pack. That way you won't have 115 blades stockpiled that don't agree with you.
Have fun, welcome, and enjoy the HOBBY

Welcoem and good luck! I tend to mostly use DE razors, but I enjoy SE, straights, and even injectors and shavettes. A shavette is probably the trickiest to use of the lot, so here's my advice to help make it a little easier.

1. Get a shavette that takes rigid blades ( the dovo shavette ( and a few other lesser known varieties) takes several types, one of which is longer and rigid. A long, rigid shavette blade will perform a lot more like a straight razor than half a DE blade.

2. Get an inexpensive DE like a LORD razor, or a tech and some DE blades, and use that to finish up your shaves until you get more proficient with the shavette.

3. Make a very good lather and use decent soap/cream. There are plenty of good soaps and creams online, or, if you want to go local, CO Bigelow cream is decent, as are AOS products (if a little pricey)

4. Pay attention to preshave: Shower first or at least soak your beard a few minutes before shaving, and consider using a pre shave product like Prep, Poraso, etc.

5. Be patent and have fun! Traditional shaving is an art and a skill. it will take a bit of practice to get good at it but it is worth it.

I've never shaved with a DE but I've read a fair bit about them and Shark blades are generally considering VERY sharp and easy to nick yourself with when using a DE. I'm sure they'll take your whiskers off just fine but you may find them a bit too sharp if you buy that Parker package. If that's the case don't give up on shaving with it, go to your local drugstore and buy some other blades and try those, they may be a bit more forgiving. DE blades are really cheap.