Thread: So I've pieced together a kit for my first wet shaving experience any advice?

Here's what i'll be getting:

from vintage blades llc:

-Dovo 5/8 best quality full hollow razor: $79.99
-Shaving mug with soap: $15.99
-Acrylic drip stand - Large: $7.49

From Whipped Dog:

-poor man's strop kit: $23
-22mm silvertip brush: $26

Total: $152.49

From my research I think this would get me a pretty complete kit, but I wanted to see what you guys thought about this, if you have any suggestions or anything I'm missing please comment.

soap/cream if you havent already

The shaving mug includes a bar of shaving soap, any day idea how much one bar lasts?

srry i cant help you there , ive never used a whole puck of soap cause i keep buying more soaps/creams ... id imagine you will use it faster at first until you learn to make lather properly( i know i did ) ... i know i ate through a tube of Proraso sandalwood like a mad man cause i was using way to much cream , then to much water , then add more cream ... ect ect ...lol

That does seam like a great kit. The only thing that it doesn't include that I would get with the other kit would be the balsa wood with the iron and cromium oxide, are these really necessary?

And also, how accurate is what they say that everyone cuts their first strop? Cause I don't want to buy a really good one just to end up cutting it up.

Have you already bought the kit? If not, I'd dump the drip stand; I know it's only 7 bucks but you don't need one. The razor sounds nice, a 5/8 full hollow is a nice profile.

I never nicked my strop as a beginner, I nicked it more later when I got 'lazy'. I'd actually get a good quality strop. A puck of soap will last a LONG time. I'd also get some cream, maybe Musgo Real, Body Shop Macca Root or something. Most creams are a lot easier to lather than soap, and as a beginner, you may want to eliminate as many variables as possible. What I mean is, you need to limit the number of elements that are 'wrong'.

BTW, pretty much any bowl can be used. I've used a two dollar rice bowl from the Asian markets and it worked really well. I'd save money on the bowl and ensure a really good quality cream.

You'd save even more money by just getting everything from WhippedDog. I own one of his sight unseen razors and I really like it. All the other accessories I purchased (poorman's strop, silvertip badger brush and soap, 12K barbers hone) are all very good products. I was 100% satisfied with my purchase, and will be ordering from Larry again in the future. So I'd say if money is an issue, just go with everything from WhippedDog. Plus, a vintage razor is much cooler than a brand new Dovo, IMO.

+1 on saving the money on the mug. Mine became a razor holder in short order. Asian market bowls are pretty sweet.

Originally Posted by rober1217

And also, how accurate is what they say that everyone cuts their first strop? Cause I don't want to buy a really good one just to end up cutting it up.

I've never cut a strop. You can put a paste on the secondary strop surface of the back of the leather. I much prefer paste on a hanging strop to balsa, but that may just be my personal preference...