Thread: Straight razor shaving in the Philippines

I'm moving to the Philippines for about two years and was wondering if anyone knows what kind of SR supplies I would find there, what kind of shops and basically, what would I need to acquire that I won't find there.

I've searched the forum and people talked about knife laws (yes it is permitted to bring a SR in the country), but I didn't find anyone sharing their experience once they arrived.

Thanks a lot for your help.

No idea what you will or will not find there, but as long as you have internet, the world is yours.

Yeah, I know, but shipping charges and custom fees put a real damper on things. Furthermore, there's a part of the Philippines that's supposably famous for its sharpening stones (Batangas) and I was wondering if anyone had knowledge on this.

I don't know about the Phillipeans, but here in Thailand the Thais aren't able to grow enough facial hair to support a shaving market. The only shaving stuff that can be found here is the M3 and goo in a can.

Things may be similar in the Phillipeans. But you could have a lot of fun looking for and playing with exotic hones.

I am unfortunately very very much afraid of that. My brother in law doesn't shave, he plucks the three facial hair that grow every month using a pair of tweezers...

I know they have a Crabtree & Evelyn and barbers that use straight razors according to my wife, but I haven't seen anything on the web that would resemble what Lynn started in North America.

Now comes the question: What to buy before I go (in a week and a half)

My current setting is: Dovo 6/8" half-hallow in good condition, but could use a touch up
A decent strop with minor lacerations (it was the one I started with)
An Edwin Jagger best badger brush that's losing a bit too much hair for my taste

I was planning to get clubman aftershave and a H.L. Thater Silvertip Shaving Brush 28 mm. I have a budget of $200 (Canadian - I live in Toronto).

I decided the brush was a more important investment than a new strop or a new SR, however, I am happy to hear your opinion on the matter.

Thanks to everyone who replied so far

Things I would stock up on before leaving would be things that run out. Think soaps, creams, and aftershaves. You could get by with one good razor, a strop and a brush. Then there is always the internet. If the Phillipeans is anything like Thailand small packages marked shaving equipment seem to slip past customs.

Thanks! I have been stocking for a while now, both my everyday proraso and my Saturday Crabtree and Evelyn shaving items. Should be lasting for a couple of years.

Thanks a lot for the custom cheer up, it's nice to know. How much do you pay for shipping though?

I'm also wondering after if I should invest in a pasted strop instead of a brush in case my plan to learn honing there goes south. I know they have shops that sharpen blades near the place I'll be staying. I just don't know if they see many SR.

I think I normally pay from $10 to $15 for one or two razors in a package. Any more than that and I start to think they are making money from the postage.

And one more thing, it may not be a good idea to give your razor to someone to sharpen if they are only capable of growing three chin hairs. If they don't use one they can't hone properly.
For the peace of mind it would be worth while paying for shipping to get someone overseas to hone for you. You can also try to hone your own, but it would still be a great idea to have a professionally honed razor to fall back on.

Somehow, I imagine there will be some back street market someplace with straights, but by far you are more likely to find DE razors. In fact, you'll probably find new-made ones in some shops. Worth considering.

And this brings to mind some book I was reading that said men there used to shave with Balisong knives before Western straights were introduced...I'd like to see that, I would.