Thread: First buy

Hi everyone,

I must thank you all for the numerous articles on this website. It is such a useful resource to get started. As mentioned in some articles, it is not obvious to choose a razor, especially for the first time. Everybody as preferences and best price/quality is quite subjective. Still, I am here to ask that exact question. I live in Canada, Montreal city and somehow I'd rather buy locally, but if I can't help it I'll buy online. There is one well known store for shaving equipment around here and here is their website (or more specifically, their straight razor section). It's quite small, but may I get your opinion on the blades they have?

Centre du Rasoir

While doing some research on the 89$ Dovo razor, I stumble on these guys :

Dovo 6/8 Straight Razor - Cream

They do the sharpening themselves, for 20$ (included in the price) and guarantee the "shave ready" I saw mentioned many times here. Perhaps going with these guys would be better considering that?
Somehow, I feel those razors are over priced, but then again, I know nothing on the subject. Which is in part why I'm turning to the forums.

And I'm a not sure if this is important to consider, but my beard type as always given me problems and it is one of the reason I want to try the Straight Edge method. I have a VERY coarse beard but not so dense. If I let it grow, it curls and prick my skin bad. And if it is quite long, they then to be hard enough to "break". Also, I have a few well known (to me only) beard hair that will sometimes grow under the skin. Still, I'm not here to complain, just mayhaps this information might be useful in pointing out specific types of razors or shaving techniques (or preparation/post-shave) that might help.

I'm not a student, I have enough money to buy a decent razor, but I don't want to go overboard. I'd like good, but basic stuff to see if it's something I'll be happy with.

Since I tend to be a bit lazy, I swore not to buy another razor cartridge until I learn and buy what I must for straight razor shaving. There is no turning back.

Thanks in advance for any advice!
Dan

I would look in the "classifieds" section..nice razors there in 5/8 and 6/8 sizes for less

I have only been straight shaving for 3 months now and so I will admit that my advice doesnt stand for much in comparison with the guys here. But I will tell you that Dovo is a solid brand of razor that is reasonably priced and I bought a nice 5/8 to shave with, but it doesnt shave as well as my vintage Campbell wedge, my RAD has led me to purchase many a good shave ready razor and non touches my stubble as well as the campbell wedge.

In short what I am trying to say is: dont just look at the shop bought Dovos etc have a look in the SRP classifieds section here or on whipped dog, you can pick up a nice shave ready vintage for half the price of a shop bought razor.

Welcome to the forums, Dan. I'm sure all of your questions can be answered here. First of all, I always recommend new shavers to Larry over at whippeddog.com. He has what most people consider the best start-up set around, the sigteadyht unseen razor. With this you will be guaranteed a truly shave ready razor. Plus, his free for honing swap out program will let you try various types of razors without breaking the bank. Make sure you read all the stickies and newbie posts. Most questions you have can be answered there, but, if you do have other questions, just ask.

Welcome to the forum. There are not too many places in Canada to buy new straight razors. Here is another place you might consider Fendrihan - Classic Wet-Shaving, Quality Leather Goods and Gifts For Men . Phil at Classicedge has been good to deal with in a couple of transactions I have had with them. I am going to guess that $100 is a ball park starting point for brand new currently manufactured straight razors and it goes way up from there. As the previous poster has pointed out a good used razor can be had in the classifieds here for less money. Either way, make sure that the razor you purchase, new or used, is shave ready. You will also need a strop at the very least to help maintain whatever razor you buy. You might also want to consider getting a second razor so you have a spare on hand when the other needs to sent out for honing. That is unless you plan to learn how to hone your own and buy the necessary hones. Just saying there is a lot more to it than just buying a razor. Sorry can't help with skin conditions as I don't suffer from ingrown hairs.

Bob

There is nothing wrong with the dovo best line. I have one in 6/8's that is among my very best shavers.
Key is to make sure you get it honed by a reputable honemeister so that it is truly shave ready and learn proper stropping and skin stretching. I am not familiar with the site you have posted, but I know straightrazordesign.com, vintagebladesllc.com and classicshaving.com are all places I have received truly shave ready blades from. Of course you can always use the classifieds to pick up a nice blade, but remember if you ruin a new dovo there are thousands to take its place. If you ruin a vintage beauty its gone for ever lol

Thanks everyone for the quick and interesting replies!

I did a search on this forum about the online store : The Classic Edge Shaving Store Your Straight Razor Specialists.
It is mentioned a few times and always with positive!
Thus I choose to buy from them and I went with this starting package :

Straight Razor Set with C-mon!

The seller also give 6 months of free honing with this products.
He personally answered my message saying that I will dull the blade with poor stropping the first time around and as to not discourage new user, the honing is free.
I thought that a rather good deal and just decided to go with it. Mayhaps I will buy a second razor 2-3 weeks into it, in case I have to send it back.
And also, because I might want to learn to hone it myself and the second one will serve as a good reference being professionally honed.

As far as honing goes, is it ok to use the same stone for kitchen knives as razors?
Or it's better to keep them separate? (or maybe it's a silly question because I don't know what I'm talking about? hahaha)

Thanks again all for the answers. I can't wait to get mine in and will definitly post the results of the first shave here for the curious and well, I just might need some help too! hehe
Cheers
Dan