Should I buy one for my husband?

[marla]

My husband mentioned this week that he has always wanted a straight razor, so I'm thinking of buying him one for christmas. However, my husband has a beard, so I'm wondering if it is worth the expense if he doesnt have that much face to shave. Do you use the blade to trim the beard also?

[AFDavis11]

Yes Marla, and welcome. Several men use a straight razor to lower the expense of puchasing cartridge blades. They do a fine job of maintaining a beard and are a great choice for fine sculpturing work around beards. Shaving around goatees and beards is also very easy to learn with a straight, limiting some potential frustrations.

I recommend a 5/8 from Classicshaving.com sent via their personal honing service. Order early as the Christmas rush is right around the corner. If your husband has a lot of beard and some tight areas to shave into a 4/8 may be just slightly better for him.

(These are the widths of the blade)

[jimmyman]

My husband mentioned this week that he has always wanted a straight razor, so I'm thinking of buying him one for christmas. However, my husband has a beard, so I'm wondering if it is worth the expense if he doesnt have that much face to shave. Do you use the blade to trim the beard also?

While it may seem like a good gift and it is definitely the thought that counts, you may want to use your wily woman ways to discreetly find out if this is something that he really wants and is serious about using, or something that is just going to collect dust. There is more to that just the razor, there is also strops, brushes, creams, soaps, hones, ad naseum. Not to scare you, just to make sure you know what you might be getting HIM into, which means you will be getting into it as well, and have to listen about it .

Like Alan said, even with a beard, he can still shave around it and sculpt it the way he likes, and it is very precise, to the point that he can take off a single hair if he likes. Just food for thought.

Also, if it can be done without too much fanfare, might want to introduce him to this site, see if he is serious about it.

[marla]

Thank you both! Good to know it is something you can use with a beard, and I will try to find out how serious he would be about the upkeep before investing the money.

[FiReSTaRT]

Worst case scenario, if you get the vibe that he'd just put it away and let it collect dust (women know everything ) you can buy him a disposable straight like the Feather AC (again, from classic shaving). They have nice looking models with wooden scales (handles) and the relatively short blade makes precision work easier. Here are a couple of them:
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...46/3907059.htm
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...646/795329.htm
For a full range of Feather AC-related products, go to:
http://www.classicshaving.com/page/page/1240646.htm

[RichZ]

FiReSTaRT gave some nice pictures but I disagree. If you feel that this is for him get him a str8 not a feather. For me it would be counter productive to be constantly buying blades

[heliguy]

I would recommend you visit Tony's site he has a good collection of starter sets. He's a member here and comes highly recommend.
Tony Millers Site
It's a great hobby to get into and if he doesn't I'd bet he has more expensive junk in the basement that never gets used.
Either way its a great Xmas gift.

[JMS]

If you get Tony Millers starter set and your husband decides not to use a straight he can always resell the set here in the "Buy, Sell, Trade" section!

[str84ever]

As previously stated, if your husband is serious about using a str8, you should get him one.

Speaking from experience, I grew a full beard 7 weeks ago. Prior to growing it, I used a str8 razor to shave. Since growing the beard, I now use the str8 to maintain both the cheek and neckline. I was apprehensive at first, but now that I've been doing it for a little while, it's basically become second nature.

I must admit, I am looking forward to going back to using my str8 to do more than maintaining my cheek and neckine. Until then, at least I'm still using what I believe and would imagine mostly everyone else on this board believes is the best razor a guy can use when shaving -- a str8 razor.

Rob

[WireBeard]

Welcome Marla! What a nice gift! All the opinions expressed here should help you in your decision...and really, the risk is minimal as you can always re=sell the items if using a str8 turns out not to be for your husband.

I have a full goatee, but w/o a mustache, so keeping the side even was always a chore. With a straight, I can be e-x-t-r-e-m-e-l-y precise.

Straights also improve the skin through exfoliation and help to prevent skins bumps, ingrown hairs, etc. The beard will also benefit from the moisturing use of hot water, hot towels, etc.

Greg