Thread: Another Newbie

Hi All,

First time post.

I have been pondering for quite some time about straight shaving, as I have been very dissatisfied with my shaving for years. I have for the moment been DE shaving for the last month, but still have the desire to move onto straight shaving.

I have come here via B&B and I see a lot of names here that are very active on that forum also.

One of my issues in regards to shaving is that I have very sensitive skin which is prone to breakout and ingrown hairs or shave bump. It still is a bit of a bloodbath everyday during my shave, and I'm using Proraso as a post shave moisturizer. Now I'm sure my technique still has a long way to go to improve, but things will only get better. By the way I'm 52 yrs old so this is no adolescent skin condition.

Am I silly to think about using a straight considering my skin?

If not, I have this real dilemma as to which way to go with a razor. My head is absolutely spinning with the number of brand names which are mentioned in these forums. I ideally would like to buy a new one, but would really be advised by others as to which way to go (you see I can't make my own mind up) All I know is I want a good quality one which will give me a nice comfortable close shave,and that it can take pride of place with my other shaving gear. Are there better razors than Dovo or Thiers-Issard (no disrespect intended) or for todays modern standards are these as good as you can get?

I had toyed with buying on ebay or at least looking to see whats available, but in reality I don't know what I'm looking at is good or bad, and the other thing is that I live here in Australia, and I just don't want to take the chance.
For all of my shaving acquisitions so far it's cost me a small fortune in shipping, but that is the price one has to pay if you want good quality apparatus.

The other thing of course is I would want it honed first before I attempted to shave with it first, and I'm aware that there are people here that offer this service with other products.

I have seen that there are a couple of other Aussies here, and I suppose they may have asked some of the same questions I have asked now.

I have asked enough questions for now, I enjoy this forum very much, and thank you for your input.

Regards

John

Welcome to SRP, John.

Regarding switching over and sensitive skin. I think that in the long run, straight razors are better for really any type of skin. However, if your skin is really sensitive, you may want to consult a dermatologist as well. A good doctor can always give good advice

If you do decide to make the switch, you may find it a little difficult to do so at first. When shaving with a straight razor, I find that much more dexterity and concentration is required than when using, say, a cartridge razor. With a straight razor the user is completely responsible for all the motions and angles of the razor, which, is why concentration - especially for a beginner - is a must. This all may sound a little daunting, but it's one of the reasons why straight razor shaving is superior. Since the shaver can control all these factors, they may shave with a blade precisely in response to all the contours of the face.

If you're looking for a razor, you came to the right place. There are many sellers on this forum who could hook you up with a fine shaver for very reasonable prices.

Everyone has their favourite brand of razor; so, it's quite difficult to say what's the best. There are lots of different makes, it's just Thiers-Issard and Dovo are pretty much the only two remaining that actively manufacture them.

I have fairly sensitive skinprone to breaking out as well and I find the straight shave is one of the best things I can do to help control the bacteria. I also use a very low alcohol content after shave and natural mosturiser after that and I have been doing pretty well with that regimen.

As for a razor, I'd strongly suggest you get a shave ready razor from a member here. Lynn may still have a few affordables in his User Galler folder and all the vendors here are packing the goods. Check the newby Sticky's for all the details.

X

I second X's recommendation on getting a shave-ready razor from an SRP member.

If you decide to stick with straight razors, it's not hard to find good vintage razors on eBay. Pretty much any vintage razor with steel made in Germany, England or Sweden seems to be a good shaver. We can give you other pointers when you feel ready to add to your collection.

The equipment might seem like a big investment, but if you can resist the various acquisition disorders a couple hundred US dollars will fix you up for a lifetime.

I also think a straight is a good choice for people with sensitive skin. I don't think my skin is particularly sensitive, but I found a DE was a lot gentler than my Mock 3, and my straight is even more gentle because I need fewer strokes and passes.

Good luck,
Josh

i had the worst razor burn for years using normal old cartrigde razors. bic,mach3,gillette sensor excel ...blah blah blah.

switched to straight shaving almost a year ago and now a days i have absolutely NO razor burn. not even on my neck!! that was the worst spot for me. if i shaved and wore a collard shirt ...forget it i would have the worst red neck and then razor burn and small ingrown hairs to follow. i switched to straight shaving and the razor burn continued for about a week maybe 2 until my skin adjusted to straight shaving but from then on out i haven't had ANY razor burn. also i started shaving the night before as that will allow my skin more time to rest before putting on a shirt also. the shaves are so close and good that the extra hours while im sleeping you can't see any 5 oclock shadow anyways.

shower
shave
wet splash
spritz of thayer's non alcoholic witch hazel (really think this helps)
(aftershave when face feels dry if desired)

you will find the products that we all use from these manufacturers (commercial or home made) are so high in quality that your skin will react positively from it.

so try switching, give your skin a couple weeks to adjust espeically as you are learning. the learning phase will take a month to get down. and i'd bet you will definitely see a large improvement in skin.

the start up cost for straight shaving is a bit more then other types. however once you get these basic tools they will last you forever.

~J

Originally Posted by joshearl

...Pretty much any vintage razor with steel made in Germany, England or Sweden seems to be a good shaver. We can give you other pointers when you feel ready to add to your collection.

Good luck,
Josh

And lets not forget that there are also a number of quality U.S. manufacturers as well (vintage I mean).

Jordan

Hello everyone,

And thanks for the warm welcome.

I find it interesting that consistently through most of the threads that you all agree that using a straight is better for sensitive skin. I would not have thought that and was prepared for you all to tell me to forget the idea. So I'm excited about that.

In regards to my skin, I have been to many doctors and dermatologists over the years. There is never any real reason for it, except to say that I have always been very oily. The dermo's have put me on a couple of courses of Accutane, which had fantastic short term results for maybe a year after, but the long term result has given me permanent liver damage and a long depression which has now long gone but at the time I was unaware that this was one of the side effects

I have never really had any cleansing regime in the past, and hated putting any moisturisers on, as by the end of the day I would just be a oily mess. Since changing back to DE shaving I have changed regimes completely and am spending a lot more time on my personnel skin care and shaving. So much so I have to get up an hour earlier in the mornings before work to carry out these things. I have also been in consultation with Nicole Sommers from GentsLLC Shaving-Skincare who is a very hard working, friendly, and gurus of all things skin care and shaving related. I hope I'm allowed to mention her name here, she has been fantastic and I'm awaiting on a shipment of things from her that will help me turn the corner in cleaning up and settling down my skin. Enough about my skin.

Now about all these different razors. I see 2 or 3 different types of steel mentioned or combinations mentioned. What should I be looking for, and what is Inox? Scales........is there any better type than another, wood, horn, plastic, etc or does this just boil down to personnel preference? How do they handle hot water.

As I'm at work as I type this, perhaps at this point I should put a halt to my questions, so I thak you once again.

Regards

John

John,

Inox is stainless steel. Most razors are carbon steel, which rusts more easily but is easier to sharpen. Stainless is more rust resistent, but it's harder to hone. Some people say it holds an edge longer, while the carbon takes a finer edge. I have no experience with stainless, so I'll stay out of that debate.

Scales are mostly a matter of preference. Their main functions are to protect the blade when the razor is closed and to help balance the blade while you shave. Water resistence isn't as much of an issue as you'd think, because you really want to try to keep most of the razor dry. If water gets in the pivot area you'll almost definitely get rust very quickly. (A carbon steel razor can show rust in half an hour if you don't dry it properly.)

I hardly wet my razor when I shave, because I wipe the blade on a towel instead of rinsing it under the tap. I give just the blade a quick rinse when I'm done, dry it on a towel, and set the open razor on my desk to air dry. I haven't had any rust spotting after I learned my lesson with my first blade...

Generally plastic scales are the least prized, but I think it's more because they lack the coolness factor than because they have any real drawbacks. Most of my vintage razors have some kind of plastic handle.

Josh

Hi Josh,

Yes i would have to admit to liking the wooden or horn type more or even mother of pearl, but I suppose you have to pay more for those exotic types. How sensitive are they to being dropped by accident?

So what would most people use here carbon or stainless? And another question is what width should I be looking at. As I have read it's suggested that a 5/8 round is the way to go.

John

I started straight razor shaving because I had a sensitive skin. With str8s I have less irritation and can get closer shaves. My skin has matured now so irritation is less of a problem.
All you need to start is a shave ready razor and a strop. Several members do sell them at reasonable prices. If you buy form a member you will even be able to resell them through SRP to another member so you will be able to minimize your loss.

Stropping instructions are in the help files. The summary of Christopher Moss's book was helpful to me. I cannot find the web version but I can mail you the one in my computer if you like.