Thread: Greetings from the Great Lakes State!

Howdy! My name is Brandon (arbeaner) and I am new to the straight razor shaving thing. I am here to learn before I buy my first razor. Any advice is welcome. What brand razor do I get? What do I need to get? Where is the best place to buy?

I look forward to interacting with you all!


Brandon

You will need a razor, a strop, soap and brush, and a barbers hone. The first place I would look for these things are in the SRP classifieds. Welcome and if you have any further questions please feel free to ask.

Good advice about looking in the classifieds.
This is a good place to start learning Straight Razor Place Wiki:Books/Beginners Guide - Straight Razor Place Wiki

I must ask. Do I invest in a cheaper razor to start or just bite the bullet and go for the gusto and get a top shelf razor right out of the gate? There are so many choices with prices all over the map. Recommendations? Please and Thanks you!

A common answer to your question is go with a basic razor like a Dovo "Best Quality",or a used razor starting out. The rationale is that the razor (and strop) are likely to get abused in beginner hands. You also have to factor in that some people find out that a straight razor is not for them after trying it for a while. Therefore, it is advised to learn with a less expensive razor; once you have gained some competency, and know you are going to stick with it, go for the top shelf.

You'll find out that price doesn't always provide you with the best razor. The used razors sold on this site can be as good as any high priced razor you may run across. My first was a 5/8 Ralf Aust with a round point. I've since bought a few more that are double and triple the price and the Aust is stll one of my favorites. It seems to take a great edge and cuts great.
As time goes on I'm leaning towards the 6/8 razors more. The little extra weight makes a favorable difference to me.