Welcome to the most helpful, friendly and informative site on the web! Also welcome to a whole new world of shaving.

A truly shave ready razor is a must! Most businesses that sell new straight razors advertise them as ‘shave ready’ but in reality they are sorely lacking as they only have the factory edge on them. Straight Razor Design sell truly shave ready razor honed by Lynn Abrams.

However there are many, many nice vintage beginners razors out there! Keep an eye on the classifieds. I picked up my first ones for less than $30 delivered. Since then I’ve acquired some rather nice ones including a new Revisor.

The shave ready razor will give you an example of how it should shave. To maintain that edge you will need a strop. This is a good one and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg:

[Barbers & Clippers] Fromm Razor Strop Illinois 827

Glen (GSSISGUN) has used that same strop for over 30 years, I believe it was his only strop for about 28 years!

Canned goop will work alright with the disposables etc, however a brush, cup and shaving soap is another must have. You can pick up a beginner’s shaving kit at a Rite Aid, WalMart etc for about $10 to$12. It will get you going.

Hones:

You have your hands full just trying to learn the angles to get a nice shave with, also stropping takes a while to learn how to do properly. Many a beginner has ruined a perfectly nice edge with improper stropping.

I always advise to wait on the hones! Learn the basics before you tackle another level that is an Art of it’s own!!!

I speak from my own personal experience! While I learned the Art of Shaving and Stropping quicker than many, I waited for over a year before I attempted to learn to hone! I’m glad that I did! I had a solid background of knowing how my razors felt when they had been properly by Pros and others that knew what they were doing.

Today I can give you references from others that have enjoyed my edges!

You will find that most of this Art is personally preference! That includes razor styles, grinds, country of origin etc!

Again welcome!