Thread: First shaving setup ; thick hair and control.

So I am a student, who hates buying disposable razors. Actually. I just hate them full stop.

So I find, after a day or two of casual research, myself here, choosing from the following razors; I would like a new one.

under 100


The thing is I am a student, so I would prefer the razor I buy to last me for, say, a million years, given my fiscal situation

I have very thick hair and like styling my facial hair into different guises now and then, so y question is; how nessesary is it to follow the rounded advice (I like control in areas) and, due to my rather thick hair (as in width of hairs and density of them) is a half hollow the way to go?

Many thanks for the tips.

Any of those razors will serve you well, and should easily last you a life-time. I would be proud to own any one of those.

If you are really that poor, make sure you do a search on straights on the cheap. You can do a few things very inexpensively, like strop on newspaper for example.

The "best" advise I can give you is be patient and take it slow - both learning and with "needing" to buy more stuff. Welcome to SRP and congrats on taking the next step!

The Dovo Best Quality is one of the best "sub-$100" new razors you can buy IMHO...But then again I am a fellow newbie so you may get some better opinions on here as well!

Welcome,

The link you have there shows a prety good starting razor, Dovo Best Quality 5/8ths. I have the same one, from when i started out. This razor has a good grind for heavy shaving, mine is what i thought was 1/4 hollow but dovo may call it half hollow...If I have a couple days growth i still pick this one up for the shave. It may have a round tip which people say is less acurate for styling but I find with a little attention to details it does just just as good and without the risk of a nick. Remember you need more then just the razor, you also NEED a strop to maintain the edge until it needs sharpening.

Given you money saving situation, I'm in the same boat so I found a few ways to save, first I dont buy "fancy" soaps just the cheap stuff but i try to condition my beird very well before shaving (Sampoo in the shower). Second I made my own strops: I found a guitar strap with some really good leather and made my own for a 1/3 as much a buying one. I also made a linen strop from a wornout pair of jeans. The library has a good resourse for making strops. ( Categoryo It Yourself - Straight Razor Place Wiki )

As long as you dont get hooked in this hobby you'll actually save money!

nathaniel

You may want to check the classifieds and the vendors forums as well. I have gotten two sub one hundred dollar razors here both shave ready and really good shavers as well. Plus i have had the advantage of getting some older pieces which i like as well. Nothing wrong with brand new but the old craftsmanship is more than comparable to what is made today as well.
Dovo is a very respected company so you have good choices at your fingers.

Good luck in deciding and keep us informed on your progress.
Anthony

If you have a thick heavy beard, and are set on a Dovo, I would go w/ the 6/8 half hollow; little more heft so you don't get into a bad habit of trying to apply pressure w/ the 5/8.

Hey gents, Thanks for the tips.

The reason I am looking at Dovo is because of their pricing and because of the reputation for reliable quality that they seem to have. I also would like to ask if hand size dictates what razor I should go for. I have large hands, but not massive.


earcutter : Cheers - the info be kept in mind. I am reletivley short on cash, but I prefer to buy qaulity. The classfields look good and I am great fan of used buying, but am in the UK so shipping and vat ect would know the price up and up, in my experience, untill for a fraction of the cost you could go new.

jpcwon : Nice to see other new members!

111Nathaniel : Yeah - I kinda am looking on thsi as a short term splurge and a very long term save!

aespo: Well, again, classfields here look great, but I am in america and cant trust myself on ebay due to a lack of experience.

So to everyone:


43585

Ten quid more than the Best Quality, I like the aesthetics more. Harder to sharpen, but I have been putting a edge to chisels for years, so feel I could probably develop decent enough honing skills quickly.

Any comments?

43585 is a nice razor, Harder to sharpen may just be an opinion. I have no experience with stainless, but Lynn said that they just sometimes require more strokes on a finisher. I hope I quoted him right...I only sharpen my chisels up too 4000 so i was wonering if you have the finishers required to make a razor comfortable to shave with?

Hey don't forget the library, it taught me the basics of honing (and stropping/shaving/lathering and so on). Which allowed me to learn and ask the great people here on SRP questions that really refined my skills. I think i read through the library 10 times before i first tried to hone a razor, helps to keep all the "details" in your mind until they become skills.

I will be getting separate tools for the job and I have read it!

I will probably go stainless then! I think I will be ordering the 43585 this evening. Will a no brand ebay strop do for now?

With one of these: Artamis Mens Shaving Brush and Hanger Pure Badger Hair: Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home

I think I will be set, apart from a bowl and a hone, but i will get one of them second hand at some point on the bay.

Any idea where I can get a cheap razor case from? I dont think that that dovo comes with one...

It should come with a plastic case.