Thread: Suggestions for First Razor

First off, hello SRP. My first post on the site. From the time I've spent here so far, I can tell there are a lot of really knowledgeable members that can provide some valuable input.

Second, a bit about me. I first started shaving with an electric shaver, which I quickly found out was just a step above shaving with a weed eater. For years now, I've been paying out the you-know-what for cartridge razors, without great results. My facial hair is not overly thick and seems to grow fairly slowly; I can get by shaving twice a week.

And now, on to the question at hand. I'm looking for recommendations for a first razor, as well as some specific suggestions on items to put together a shaving kit. I have a lot of hobbies, so I understand that investing a bit more up front can make a new endeavor more enjoyable. However, since I have a lot of hobbies, I don't have a ton of money to sink into a shaving kit, so I want to make sure I spend my money where it's best used; exotic wood scales will not be found on my first razor. After looking around, I'm thinking that buying new is my best bet. I would rather pay a little more and know that my first razor is truly shave ready. I'd like to find a razor that is readily available; it seems like most sites are having trouble keeping Dovo in stock.

Thanks in advance for the suggestions.

I went with a king cutter from Boker but only because of the better performance vs dovo best quality I was hearing about but that's rather a big step up in price though.

Welcome to SRP!

I would also check out the classified section on here... you can score some pretty good razors on the cheap, and they're usually shave ready. Your other option would be to to check out any of the site sponsors pages (Straight Razor Designs, Vintage Blades LLC, Classic Edge, etc.) and see if you can find something.

Whatever you do, I wouldn't go for things you see on eBay and other auction sites. It's tempting, but unless you're willing to also pony up the money to have a razor restored (assuming it even can be) it should be avoided.

While you're at it, I would also suggest taking a good long read through the wiki for info on beginning shaving with a straight razor. It's all explained in such a way that it makes the learning curve easier to deal with.

Good luck, and I hope you find what makes you happy!

I should also say, while Dovo seems to be fairly standard for beginners - and I like mine just fine! - a lot of people around here have very nice things to say about Ralf Aust. Don't be afraid to branch out! Lots of good razors out there.

Originally Posted by alexm

I should also say, while Dovo seems to be fairly standard for beginners - and I like mine just fine! - a lot of people around here have very nice things to say about Ralf Aust. Don't be afraid to branch out! Lots of good razors out there.

Good point. I'm not really too concerned with what the brand name is, especially since I couldn't name a single brand of straight razor a week ago. I'm after the best quality razor for my money. It appears that both Dovo and Ralf Aust fall into that category.

From what I can tell, I should be able to get a good, not great, razor for $80-$100, depending on the exact razor and scales. Any specific recommendations for brushes, strops, soaps, etc?

You can always compare prices for yourself, but it's my impression that a kit's going to be a better option, especially once you consider that buying from multiple sources can rack up shipping charges fast.

Originally Posted by tylerm713

Here's a question about kits, like the one that you posted. Are the savings substantial enough on such a kit that it makes sense, or can I put together a kit with equal or better parts for the same kind of money. I'm not one to buy a bundle just to get a bunch of stuff if there is a better way to go about acquiring the things I need.

Originally Posted by tylerm713

Any specific recommendations for brushes, strops, soaps, etc?

Brushes: you should be fine sticking to the basics.
Strops: again, basics will be fine. If you do order from SRD, I've enjoyed the 'premium fabric' option on their strops as an improvement over the webbing at only a small upcharge.
Soaps: I've had good success with Ogallala Bay Rum soaps, though I just ordered some Mike's Natural Soaps to try out. They get glowing reviews. You may want to order a variety of samples from various companies - personal preference plays a larger part in soaps than in brushes or strops.

I assembled my stuff as individual purchases, but that was because I hadn't done any research and didn't know any better. I'd trust the vendors to put together kits they know will please their customers.

I would not, however, trust a brand-new blade that cost less than ~$90. That puts the baseline around the Dovo Bests. Sounds like Dovo has had trouble keeping up w/demand (still fallout from the Bond movie?) lately. Used blades in our Classifieds are good bets; that's where most of my collection has come from.

Happy shopping, and happy shaving when you get to that point. And above all, welcome to SRP.

Originally Posted by roughkype

I assembled my stuff as individual purchases, but that was because I hadn't done any research and didn't know any better. I'd trust the vendors to put together kits they know will please their customers.

I would not, however, trust a brand-new blade that cost less than ~$90. That puts the baseline around the Dovo Bests. Sounds like Dovo has had trouble keeping up w/demand (still fallout from the Bond movie?) lately. Used blades in our Classifieds are good bets; that's where most of my collection has come from.

Happy shopping, and happy shaving when you get to that point. And above all, welcome to SRP.

Thanks for the input. All of the blades that I'm looking at start around $90-$100 (Dovo Best, Ralf Aust). I'm also looking at a couple of Bokers that are around $150, but I'm thinking I would rather spend the extra $50 on a variety of soaps to experiment with.

Don't forget to budget a strop. You can't have a razor in the house without a strop. It's the law, and like Gravity it's a good, solid one.