Help a n00b spend a (very) small fortune? (Warning: very long post)

I'm sure a lot of you regs are sick of seeing these types of threads, but I'll do my best to help you help me, instead of just "What should I buy? Thanks, Distroid"

So I've spent the last week pouring over every wet shaving site I could find (SRP's Wiki has been down ever since I found this glorious forum, BTW) and showing my wife all the beautiful blades and scales and explaining the finer points of Silvertip Super Badger and trying to find a nice balance between good quality and paying my bills. What I order will basically be my Christmas present so I want to make my descisions count. I will be placeing my order in about two weeks, so I still have plenty of time for re-google-search, but today I sat her down and told her, "Okay, I really can't move foward until I know my budget, so give me a number..." Much to my surprise she said $350 (US). I know it's not much for a nube who has to start from scratch, but it's quite a bit higher than I expected.
So here's where you guys (hopefully) come in. Help me make good buying descisions, please.;) I want something that I can be proud to look at and use but not be heart broken when I eff it up. And I'm sure I will.

Razor
Ok, let's start with the bread and butter of things... the razor. I have some basic ideas about where to start, but then I get a little lost. I figure I want a 5/8 width because I've read many articles that suggest that for a beginner, and it seems to be an industry standard. I also know I want to go with a rounded point, seems like a safer bet to learn with. A full hollow grind seems to be the go-to, but I don't really understand the benefits over a half/quater hallow, other than weight reduction.. Or why an "extra hollow singing razor" would be a good thing. As far as looks go, I'm EXTREMELY picky, but have no idea what I like and don't like. Couldn't even begin to describe what I'm looking for, only that I know what I like when I see it.
Just a few hours ago I was seriously considering a super cheap, but BITCHIN looking razor here: Vintage Straight Razor | Horn Damascus Steel Straight Razor | VintageStraightRazor.com
But in researching the manufacturer I found a few threads on SRP that saved me from that mistake. The Dovo Desert Ironwood Stainless 5/8" thru SRD is JUST BEAUTIFUL! The wood grain reminds me of the briar used to make tobacco pipes (another uber-manly hobby of mine) but the price would really cut (heh;)) into my budget and I'm a little intimidated by Stainless as I've read it's a little harder to get the edge just right.
I've been leaning towards the Dovo La Forme 6/8", but the description mentions a shoulder-less blade, and I wonder how that will affect my learning to correctly hold and manipulate the blade. I'm also concerned with the width @ 6/8 (should I be?)

Strop
I've never used a strop before. In fact, I've never even seen one in person. I've seen a few here say that a 3" is easier to learn on, and that sounds like good advice to me. I think a leather handle might be more comfortable to hold for the slow stropping sessions I'll be starting with. Have I ASSumed incorrectly? I think I'd like to get a strop that also has the fabric webbing so that later on I can use a paste to help postpone honing a little more. But from what I've read, I'll screw my first strop up pretty quickly and will need to replace it after I've mastered the necessary techniques. But I'd really like to make this a ONE time purchase and avoid buying crap first and quality later. But I'd also hate to goober up a $70 strop from inexperience... See why I need your help?

Brush
I Know that Super/Silvertip badger bristles are the best out there, but I've seen Super at $20 and Pure at $80 and have no clue what to look for in a well crafted brush.(a brick and mortor store would REALLY help in this area) I do know that the el cheapo boar bristle i bought at Wally-World pokes my face uncomfortably.

Mug
I love the look of the "apothocary" style mugs. I'd like to avoid the color white if possible. Really no other preferences here.

Soap
Again, I don't know where to begin without seein, feeling, and smelling for myself... so *shrug* I do know I like Almond scents and Sandalwood scents. And since this is a consumable, I'm not terribly worried about it for my initial purchase.

Misc.
I would like a stand that holds both my brush and razor. I've read good things about Alum blocks, so I'm considering it, if it fits in my budget. I want some form of oil or the like to protect my blade from humidity as I will be keeping it in my bathroom. It's just not practical for me to keep it in any other room. I have a facial scrub that I'm pretty content with, but I've always just used alcohol based aftershaves (i didn't know there was a better way lol) so I'll be reading up on what ingredients are best to use and suggestions (with reasons WHY you're suggesting it) would be appreciated. Any other lil pieces that make your shave better?


If at all possible, I'd really like to order everything from one website. It's just easier. But If I have to I'll split things up. And the $350 budget has to include shipping. So some things I may end up just waiting on. But it could be a long wait.
Any help you guys can give me would be GREAT!

Thanks,
-Distroid

Thr up side to that dovo stainless, ismyou wouldn't have to hhone it as much as a carbon.. I have a Friodor that i haven't hone in two years. And if you get it from SRP it comes already honed.

I'm going to go "against the grain" here and recommend the Feather SS Folding razor and Feather replacement blades. You can start quickly with this, know right away what sharpness really is, develop your technique instead of worrying about all the honing, stropping and other maintenance variables and learn how to shave quickly. When the blade seems dull, change it. It'll cost you around $150 with blades, and all you need to complete your kit is a cheap Walmart brush and VDH soap kit. This is truly the best of both worlds. Later, when you are sure that you want to continue with straight razors, you can proceed to make all the mistakes I made and spend all the money that I did. I have lots of straights now, of course, and plenty of other stuff, but if I had to have one razor for a really great shave, I'd go "straight" to the Feather SS.

It seems to me that you have done your research! That is an important first step. I found that my tastes have changed a little since I first started, but may I suggest going to Straight Razor Designs? This will give you a professionally honed blade to start with and they have a great selection of stuff. I started with an 11/16" blade and a 6/8" both vintage. If you want a new razor, I do like the desert ironwood scales and Dovos are reputed to be great shavers. Good Luck and hope this helps.

I have purchased a couple items from star shaving products that I have been happy with. I am the kind of guy that likes to do things on the cheap, so you might get a little more mileage there. Up to this point in my shaving hobby (two and a half months). I haven't spent more than $25 on a razor, I would suggest a vintage blade from the classifieds section. Plus almost all the blades you find there will come professionally honed and shave ready.

wow this question needs to be stickied, this is almost exactly what im wondering very well spoken good sir distroid

When you start straight shaving the unfortunate reality is you need to buy the gear but you don't know what you like and you won't know that until you start using the stuff. So that is a real problem and it is why we recommend getting quality but middle of the road gear so you won't spend a lot and wind up with say an 8/8s razor or 4/8s razor you hate or some fancy mug that winds up too small for the big brush you bought. Once you know you will stick with straight use and you know what you prefer then you can buy top of the line stuff if you have a mind to.

Disposable razors like the feather are an apparent solution to maint. but the only issue is they are not straights no matter how they try and make them look like them or feel like them.

I would check out our vendors and contact a full line supply place and call them up and ask for a recommendation in your price area and get it straight from the horses mouth.

I agree with ace on the purchase with the feathers. Its an easy way to get technique up without having to worry about all the other variables. Also different faces like different grinds. My face tends to like Wedges to 1/4 Hollow. I found out the hard way that hollow grinds are a bit much for me ATM. As for soaps PM me and I will send a sample of SRD soap and an idea of how to utilize it.

Using this forum I came to the concept of using one of Larry's razors from whippeddog.com. He will provide a good razor that is honed properly on the cheap. This will likely not fit into aesthetics requests though. He also provides options for what may be deemed a "learning" set of strops and such. I went for my first 2 months for a pretty cheap overall cost from him and now I am using this very site to buy vintage razors and get them to shave ready condition! (The videos provided are absolutely invaluable to a new enthusiast!) That is where you can really tailor your aesthetics!

All that being said, I don't necessarily think you will destroy your first strop as long as you hold to one rule. NEVER be in a rush! If you keep the whole shaving process slow and relaxing (as it very well is!) you will be able to learn with little damage to your equipment and yourself!

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Originally Posted by ace

I'm going to go "against the grain" here and recommend the Feather SS Folding razor and Feather replacement blades. You can start quickly with this, know right away what sharpness really is, develop your technique instead of worrying about all the honing, stropping and other maintenance variables and learn how to shave quickly. When the blade seems dull, change it. It'll cost you around $150 with blades, and all you need to complete your kit is a cheap Walmart brush and VDH soap kit. This is truly the best of both worlds. Later, when you are sure that you want to continue with straight razors, you can proceed to make all the mistakes I made and spend all the money that I did. I have lots of straights now, of course, and plenty of other stuff, but if I had to have one razor for a really great shave, I'd go "straight" to the Feather SS.

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I will second this motion. The Feather artist club SS razor, feel like the real thing. The razor is very well design and very maneuverable on the face. The razor will give you BBS (baby butt smooth) face much quicker than with the full metal straight razor. No stroping to learn right away, no maintaining the edge, just learn soap mixing and straight razor shaving (which is a big plate by it self).

My son started on this system and he was getting BBS in three months, vs me in 6-7 months. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy stropping, honing and trying different steels and grinds, but learning strictly straight razor shaving, nothing beats the Feather system. The razor is $99.00 + $22.00 for the Feather ProGuard blades (better for learning) (15), each will last 10-15 shaves, leaving you a lot of cash for a nice brush like a Thater (one time investment) and some killer soaps and creams, scuttle, alum block, aftershaves, aftershave balms and everything that makes a wet shaving pleasant. You will always have a sharp edge, that is in its own right forgiving, which will lead you to good technic (light pressure and good angle).

Even if you go the full steel route, consider the feather as your second razor. It will give you a bench mark to keep the edge on the other razor and it will serve as an excellent travel razor. Get a strop that you could buy a replacement leather and practice on folded news paper, until you get it down. If you decide on the Feather SS, just take the blade out and practice your heart out stropping on your nice strop. Once you get the flip and a rhythm down (two-three weeks for me) you will be able to strop with confidence with your full metal straight.

There is more ways to skin a cat and whatever you decide, it will be fine, just stick with it and don't give up, even when that perfect shave evades you for a while, because I'm here to tell you, that it will come. Good luck! Double O

There are some really nice post here! These guys at this site are the best, they help you out with there personal experience like nobody else. Which is a great thing when you have questions. I must say I jumped right in when after having a barber shave me with a straight razor. I bought everything at AOS for $350. My first shave was just as good as the barbers shave, and I was soooo happy. But I nicked my Strop more than I will tell you so I had to buy another one. I did a lot of practicing and watched a lot of videos. Now stropping is second nature just like shaving with the straight razor.

After four months my razor started getting dull, so I had to send it out for honing. Then I bought my own stones and now I do my own honing. While my razor was at the shop I had to buy a back up razor.

This is what I have heard, you are a collector when you have two of something.

Straight razor shaving is awesome, i've been shaving for six months and can't wait for my next shave. I'm telling you this because I now have 7 razors now. I bought a Georgetown scuttle and love it. I bought a small rice steamer and love that to, it makes my beard very easy to shave.

It's pretty cool to have SRP to look at and ask questions. People here really understand the finer points of personal grooming.

But most of all it's pretty cool to have your wife tell everyone her husband uses a CUT THROAT RAZOR to shave with.

Good luck with your decision, I say go all out and get a nice razor from SRD and get free honing. Practice using the strop with a dull butter knife and watch a lot of videos on youtube.

I agree with thebigspendur:

. . . You don't know, yet, what you'll like.

And I'd go further:

. . . You don't know, yet, whether you'll enjoy straight-razor shaving.

I'd be inclined to spend the money in two stages:

. . . 1) something from WhippedDog.com or the "Classifieds" here, with a
. . . . Poor Man's strop or a Star Shaving strop;

. . . 2) when you have some experience, a more-expensive razor and strop
. . . if you decide that you want them.

But I always was a cheapskate . . .

. charles

PS -- you don't have any hones on your equipment list, so you shouldn't be worrying about how hard it is to hone a stainless-steel blade. You don't have that problem, yet.

Yeah well I always say go big or go home. Seriously. It's going to take a while to learn, and if you love your equipment and dumped a ton oh cash into it, it'll motivate you to carry on during those inevitable points when you get frustrated.

Besides that - even if you did quit and you bought yourself a fine razor, you'll still have a fine razor to either show off in your den, easily sell if you want to get some of your moneys back, or pass onto someone else you might care for.

When it comes to brushes - why explore - if you can treat yourself right off the bat, go for it. The brush will always treat you right even if you (heaven forbid lol) went back to carts.

A strop is a funny thing for me. Though I would say go big I have destroyed a few. But I think I am the exception. Buy two "lessor" strops! They look great in the den.

Soaps - creams - aftershaves - they are all investments in yourself and will be used at one point or another. don't go overboard - you'll have a few things to learn so learning the subtlety's of each one right off will only complicate matters.

A good Norton or Naniwa 4.8 or 3/8k stone or any hone will never go to waste - unless you don't have a kitchen.

It's all good - go as big as you can. Nothing will go to waste. And you'll be glad you got quality right off the bat. If you can afford it - go big right off the bat. After that it's all supplementation :).

What I will conclude with though is what I think is the most important - the vendor. Make sure the vendor has a reliable reputation and will do you right with honing your first blade - it's huge. There is lot's of time to mess with stuff that's a bit off the beaten path later on, but initially you really want a vendor that's been around for a while and that will take the time to communicate with you if need - be.

That's my 2 cents! It's fun spending other peoples money :)!

I'm with earcutter here all the way. I'd also recommend the Stainless razors. It won't stop it from rusting, given time, in a humid bathroom, but it will go a long way to ensuring it doesn't, with the care you stated you would give it.


Mick

Well as far as mugs go, I have an apothecary polycarbonate mug in black from BestGroomingTools.com - Double Edge Safety Razors, Wet Shaving Supplies, Barber Razors, Shaving Soap, Shave Brushes, and I love it; in fact I haven't found the need for another mug at all, and if it slips out of your hand, or you bump it off the counter like I did in a half asleep daze, it will bounce! As far as razors, I would look into either Boker, Dovo, or Thierres Issard for your first from SRD, vintagebladesllc.com, or thesuperiorshave.com, all of these guys sell razors ready to go. I have bought from all three and can vouch for all of them as good businesses and sharp edges :tu For a strop a good 3" latigo will serve you well. I still use mine almost every other day, and still love it. For soaps, if you know you like Almond scents try Cella Sapona shave soap...very nice stuff. I don't like sandlewood, so I won't comment on it. Spieck makes a great soap stick and cream for a very reasonable price. Shoeboxshaveshop.com, italianbarber.com, westcoastshaving.com, SRD, and royalshave.com all carry very nice selections of soaps, creams, aftershaves, preshaves, and the like. As far as brushes go, I prefer the super and best badger hairs, not b/c they are cheaper, but some of the silvertip just feels flimsy to me, and I like the stiffer brushes for my wiry stubble; otherwise if feels like I'm just mopping my face w/ the brush. I would think about what type of beard you have and go from there based on that and preference of scents of soaps, and aesthetics last. If you hate your razor, but it looks pretty, then you got a nice paper weight. Worry about function first, appearance last. Even if the razor has cheap plastics scales, you can always have customs put on later. Myself or a number of guys can put about any material and different shapes and such for a reasonable price should you decide to, so don't get hung up on the scales; you can change those anytime, but the blade you're always stuck w/ no matter what.

Thank you all so much for all the advice!
I'd meant to mention in my post that I'm not interested in Vintage razors, in the same way I don't like Estate (used) tobacco pipes. I understand the benefits of buying that way, but starting out, I want to buy new.
Several mentioned trying out the Feather Artist razors, but to me that seems like buying a 4 Wheel ATV to learn on before buying a Harley. Yea, it's less expensive, and the same basic ideas, but not quite the same and you end up spending way more money in the long run.
As far as "it might not be for me", that just isn't the case with me :) SR shaving is something I've been interested in for YEARS it's only become a reality over the last couple weeks. I know it's something I'm going to pour myself into, but I'm sure it's a common occurrence and I appreciate the concern.

I think I've settled to a kit from SRD. The Dovo La Forme 6/8 wet shaving kit upgraded here and there. Getting the 3" Red Latigo strop, and upgrading(?) the brush to an SRD Overstuffed Silvertip #6 (it's so pretty!) Included in the order is a tub of SRD's shaving soap, any experience with it? Eh, I'll search the forums and see what I can find. REALLY excited about the Opus X scent! EO's from a tobacco leaf?!?! The very idea just sounds manly as hell!
Hopefully I'll be placing my order today :) and when it comes in I'll post pictures and a n00b-review of the products and probably contribute to the Cut Of The Day Thread LMAO!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ace

I'm going to go "against the grain" here and recommend the Feather SS Folding razor and Feather replacement blades. You can start quickly with this, know right away what sharpness really is, develop your technique instead of worrying about all the honing, stropping and other maintenance variables and learn how to shave quickly. When the blade seems dull, change it. It'll cost you around $150 with blades, and all you need to complete your kit is a cheap Walmart brush and VDH soap kit. This is truly the best of both worlds. Later, when you are sure that you want to continue with straight razors, you can proceed to make all the mistakes I made and spend all the money that I did. I have lots of straights now, of course, and plenty of other stuff, but if I had to have one razor for a really great shave, I'd go "straight" to the Feather SS.

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I agree with Ace on this one. Decide if you really want to be a straight razor shaver by using one with disposable blades first. A traditional straight requires stuff to keep it sharp. I also agree on the VDH kit to get you an introductory brush, shaving bowl, and good shaving soap for $10-$12.

The Feather is the very best of the line, but actually you can go as low as $20 to give straight razor shaving a try. Parker SR1 Barber Straight Razor and 10 Red Pack Personna.

As it turned out, straight razor shaving was for me. A few friends thought I was nuts for even trying it, but they already thought I was nuts. The dirty little secret that we have over here at Straight Razor Place is that typical shavers get ripped off all the time for buying the shaving gear widely available in stores. ";"

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

I agree with Ace on this one. Decide if you really want to be a straight razor shaver by using one with disposable blades first. A traditional straight requires stuff to keep it sharp. I also agree on the VDH kit to get you an introductory brush, shaving bowl, and good shaving soap for $10-$12.

The Feather is the very best of the line, but actually you can go as low as $20 to give straight razor shaving a try. Parker SR1 Barber Straight Razor and 10 Red Pack Personna.

As it turned out, straight razor shaving was for me. A few friends thought I was nuts for even trying it, but they already thought I was nuts. The dirty little secret that we have over here at Straight Razor Place is that typical shavers get ripped off all the time for buying the shaving gear widely available in stores. ";"

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I would not recommend a VDH kit or the Parker for that matter. IMHO it would not give you a fair representation of what a straight razor shave should be. I bought the VDH kit for 12.99 at Wal-Mart to try and that was after I had my brush from Frank Shave (good brush) and the Tabac soap. It really was a turn down, both on the brush and the soap.

Never used a Parker, but I read here from people that started with them and later bought a real straight, that it was day and night on their experience with both (straight been a much better experience). All I can say with certainty is that a Feather shave is 99% like the real thing.

The reason Ace and me recommended you the Feather is, it is a system that feels very much like the real thing without the stropping or blade maintenance. It is a way to truly experience a real straight razor shave every time with a sharp edge. Instead of having an edge degrading with use as you start learning how to strop, and later how to touch up the edge. This way, when you start stropping the full steel razor, you would know the effect you are having on the edge because you can discard technic as the culprit. It is a good building block for straight razor shaving. That's all.

Many of us have done it the hard way, and standing there figuring why you can't get a close shave is daunting sometimes. Yes, we all have worked thought it, but that doesn't mean there are better ways to go about it. Double O