Thread: If I could tell a beginner/thoughts on SR from a beginner's perspective

I'm still relatively new to straight razor shaving and all that comes with it, having only been shaving with a straight since January. But I got to thinking about my experiences so far and thought maybe I'd share some of them and my associated thoughts with everyone. And, if there are any new guys out there that haven't taken the plunge yet maybe they could learn a little something from my experience so far.

First off, I purchased my first straight razor, a re branded Dovo Forestal, from the Art Of Shaving. I love the razor, however I wish I could go back in time and not buy anything from them even tho I wouldn't trade my sr for the world right now. The service was Ok, however the price wasn't. I walked out with a small strop, a razor, ti strop paste, cream, aftershave lotion, and some shave oil. I also left the store $400 lighter than when I walked in. On top of that my razor is branded with the stores advertising. After I saw what the real Forestal looked like my heart broke. It broke again when I discovered srd and Srp.

If you haven't taken the plunge yet, I would strongly suggest that you do your research and source the most cost efficient way to do it and try to buy your equipment online if you can. The AOS is good for getting a razor in your hand and getting a feel for the razor so you get an idea of what you would like. And to even compare a Ti vs. A Dovo. But if you buy from them you will end up with a razor that's just isn't as beautiful as the manufacturer intended, and you may be walking funny for a few days because of the unpleasant rape feeling that your wallet just took.

Secondly, I would really like to say that honing isn't as big of a deal that a lot of newbies, myself included, make it out to be at first. It really isn't. A lot of us get pretty intimidated by it at first, either because of the cost of the hones or because you haven't tried to sharpen anything since you were 9 and your dad taught you to spit on a knife hone to sharpen your pocket knife when you were in boy scouts.

If you've already made the commitment and invested in a straight razor, go ahead and do yourself a favor and invest in a set of hones. They will last forever unless you are Lynn Abrams, and honestly, it really isn't that tough. I own both the norton 4/8k and a naniwa set: 5, 8, and 12k. I would recommend the naniwa, and from what I have read here most people do also. Granted, it's an investment, but it's well worth it. Get the hones and watch Lynn Abrams honing videos on YouTube and jump in.

Also, while I'm talking about honing, most of the old timers here will tell you to just go ahead and buy a shave ready razor, and if you shop at srd, then you've got a leg up on already. The main idea for this is that you can jump right into shaving and keep with it, and when you are ready to tackle honing you will know what a good shaver feels like.

But what about the guys who are using an heirloom razor, or like me bought a dull razor at AOS or ebay?

I did the exact opposite of what most people recommend. And personally, I see it as being just as valid as buying a shave ready razor to begin with. I learned what a well honed razor felt like through practice, and conversely I am very familiar with what a shave from a dull razor feels like. I am very proud of how my honing has progressed and I get instant feedback on that progression when I go to shave. And, I feel that I do a pretty Damn good job. Also, for those who are worried of ruining their fancy razors by learning honing: think about it this way: You can learn on a razor that you keep for a lifetime and every mark on it came from your hands and told a story to your grandkids and develops a personal connection with you through your trial and error. Or it can look perfect and tell a story of someone else's hands to your grandkids.

What I'm trying to say is don't make it out to be more than what it is. It isn't easy, but it really isn't that hard. Just jump in like you jumped into shaving and stick with it. When you go into something with confidence you already have a better chance of success than you did before.

I'm not saying all of this to countermand advice given to others here. Just that there are different routes to take for everyone, I explained what worked for me, so just do what works for you.

I think that's enough of a book for now lol. I would love to hear others opinions on what I wrote, or conversely have people give their input on their beginnings and the advice they'd give or what they'd do differently.

Thanks,
Bpfoh

Here, Here and bravo!

I most definitely agree that while buying a shave ready razor from the start is probably best practice, there is also a huge amount of merit in buying a blade that needs a little TLC on the hone. You definitely get the same knowledge and experience, just from the opposite end of the spectrum. Now, that's not to say you can expect to go buy a piece of rusted, chipped and cracked junk, use it to molest a hone or strop and then be able to shave with it. But, I think it stands to reason that taking a blade that is in decent shape and learning to make it shave ready gives loads of experience, which as I'm told is the best teacher. Of course, RUINING said blade can also be a pretty huge learning experience.

I personally started with a shavette, and within a week had picked up a Geneva Cutlery Co. 5/8 from an antique store. In my efforts to polish it with a dremel, the wheel snagged the blade and pulled the shank of the attachment into the edge, resulting in a few chips and a small crack. I was pretty ill about that. But, I picked my self up by my boot straps, jumped on the forum here and just read, and read, and read some more. With the wealth of knowledge and wisdom here, I was able to hone the crack and chips out of the blade using a cheap Harbor Freight DMT and some 1k wet/dry sandpaper, then I spent a lot of time on my vintage barbers hone and strop. The end result was a relatively good shaver, though it still needs a bit of work. Thankfully, on Sunday I was finally able to order my Norton starter set so I can hone it, and the other 6 I've acquired (RAD, anyone?), properly.

I say definitely don't be scared to jump in and try a new skill. Just go at the rate you feel comfortable with. Obviously, most of us here, particularly the younger crowd, didn't have someone teach us to use a straight. It's a new skill we've acquired through research and experimentation. We obviously weren't scared to jump in and try a new method of shaving, so why be scared now? If you're good doing only a WTG pass, do so until you feel confident you do an XTG pass. You keep building your confidence until you go WTG, XTG and ATG. The same thing goes for honing, restoring, stroping or anything else for that matter. Do what's comfortable to you until you're comfortable taking the next step. But definitely try something new... after all, it's what led you here, right?

Thanks crouton for expanding on the thread

I think the most important part of anything as a beginner is knowing that Rome wasn't built in a day. We never pick anything up and are experts right away, and inevitably we make mistakes. But it all just adds to the experience and knowledge set.

Nice post and a very good advise for beginner. It make me think when I started using a straight razor, about ten years ago. It was intimidating first, both shaving and honing, but however they are both necessary steps in order to enjoy an art.
My first straight razor was a Dovo 101 6/8 Full Hollow, Round Point. Although the seller said it was shave ready, I soon realized it was anything but shave ready. I soon bought many hones and stones - a good investment you will never regret - and, step by step, little by little, by watching others honing a razor, you finally are successful in having a good edge and, therefore, a good shave.
Never give up and follow Bpfoh's advice: we all started from there, we all know how hard it was in the beginning, but we all know it was worth it. Well done!

I like the idea of my hands being the ones that make or break the shave for me. and I also like the idea that how your razor looks years from now can tell your story. Great post

Me too man. I honestly got into sr shaving because it takes us away from the hustle of everyday life and is a skill that you work for. It may not sound so cool to non sr shavers, but when you get that first perfect shave, or feel your razor cutting hairs like butter because YOU worked for it and put the time in.. It's ridiculously satisfying.

We all remember our first car, and most of us regret selling it when we did. And I would bet that a lot of us would love to find one just like it again someday. My razor is kinda like that. It's nice and cost me a fortune so I understand wanting to keep it nice, but I also want to pick it up in 20 years and have that old friend feeling and shared past. And maybe one day it'll pass to someone else and they pick up some of that too.

I cannot agree with you more, gentlemen! I agree 100%!

Great posts and as a new-comer myself I thought I'd wage in on something that hadn't been talked about yet.

I'm from the other side of the tracks. I started with a cheap shavette-style razor and was amazed after my first shave, I now have a cheap Gold Dollar honed by a local pro also.Shaving has always been a mere chore for me in the past. With extra-sensitive skin, I could never shave 2 days in a row, I also had tried many face-products for men and thought it was all rubbish. Only ever made my skin oily and more irritated.

Since I've been on SRP and using my shavette the biggest advancement for me has not been in the act of shaving, but learning about skincare, which sounds totally odd to me.Using products as simple as the humble Witch hazel has changed my skin from a hyper-senstive area, to maybe just sensitive, which is a massive jump if you've ever been there. Using a nice moisturiser (Currently using Bulldog original) and of course, none of the shave gel and bogus aftershave.

I've not got a little arsenal of soaps now from a stick of Palmolive (Which is the least lavish of my lot), a pot from Crabtree & Evelyn and have just recieved my first stick of Arko, which is brilliant! Worth the wait from Turkey, Absolutely.

I also went cheap on the brush, I got a $7 'Davinci' nylon bristle brush from Coles, figuring if I'm going to ditch it, I better not over-invest but all I was doing was getting a pretty crappy insight into SR shaving. I now have a silvertip Haryali brush which is suffice but worlds above the Davinci, their razors are trash however, as well as some nice wash cloths for wiping my face - much forgotten item!

My tip would be - Get into it how you can, but make a plan and recognise after reading and researching what your strategy is. I own a hot hatch, have over $15k in photography equipment (the other hobby) as well as saving for our first house, so I know that SR gear isn't something I should be throwing $400 nor could afford, but now I've been here a little while, I know how I'll progress. I recoginise that my equipment is below par, but if the shave is good and getting better with my stropping advancement, I know with a decent razor, better strop and loads more hands-on experience, it'll be the best thing I've ever done for my face.

Just to reiterate, don't forget the products - no matter how much your wife teases you for 'getting into skin-care'. The mornings I wake up without painful pimples on my face and neck are worth any harmless digging she likes to add in. Also to add on the shavette vs straight, a new razor in a shavette will always feel sharper than a sharp straight, they're different steels as well as you strop one, and not other (read: possible stuff one edge and don't touch the other).

Originally Posted by NickB

My tip would be - Get into it how you can, but make a plan and recognise after reading and researching what your strategy is. I own a hot hatch, have over $15k in photography equipment (the other hobby) as well as saving for our first house, so I know that SR gear isn't something I should be throwing $400 nor could afford, but now I've been here a little while, I know how I'll progress. I recoginise that my equipment is below par, but if the shave is good and getting better with my stropping advancement, I know with a decent razor, better strop and loads more hands-on experience, it'll be the best thing I've ever done for my face.

This.

Definitely get in however you can... I started with a shavette, the same as you, and a Van Der Hagen luxury set I found at my local Walgreens because it was inexpensive to start (plus I was going back and forth on SE or DE shaving and could use the blades for either). I actually started with the shavette over the DE razor, and was hooked. I've used the DE razor maybe twice to touch up and once in the shower when running late, so it's not a total waste, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the process and relaxing ritual of SE shaving and I feel it gives a better shave overall.

Originally Posted by NickB

Just to reiterate, don't forget the products - no matter how much your wife teases you for 'getting into skin-care'.

I dunno... seems like there's a joke in here somewhere about self medicating??

Dunno, I would venture to say that for most people spending $400 on a dull razor, strop, a bit of shaving cream and aftershave, another 200 on hones, and few weeks learning to hone a razor is not a good start.

I submit that the most important thing is to do your homework first, not after an impulsive purchase.

Everybody is different. To some people getting all set up with a great vintage kit for around $100-$150 is perfect, for others getting a brand new set with a razor properly sharpened by Lynn is optimal, to others a high end custom with damascus blade and scales made of exotic materials is what is appropriate as a first razor.
To feel accomplished some need to start with a piece of steel bar, a grinder, and a kiln, others with a billet and a hammer...

The only common thing is that doing your homework first would give you a good idea what is necessary for a success with this type of shaving and then you can decide where is the appropriate place for you to start. It depends on your personality, your priorities, your values, your financial situation, your experience with tools....

I guess after sticking around for 5 years I may be considered as approaching an 'old timer' and from what I have seen the vast majority of our members only need a sharp razor, quality strop, a spare $30 to send off the razor for rehoning in a couple of weeks when they make a mistake and mess up the edge, and after a month and a half-two start venturing into touching-up their razor.
This is really the easiest and cheapest approach because it builds the necessary skills incrementally.

But again, there is always much smaller number for whom different approach is the best option.