What do I need?

[pmilg]

Greeting from Chicago!

I have been shaving with a safety razor for about a year and would like to transition to a straight razor. What else do I need besides a razor and strope? I have the brush, bowl, soap, lotion, etc.

Also what type of razor would be a "best" beginner razor?

Thanks

[OCDshaver]

I'm not sure if there is any beginner razors. Many will tell you to get a round point 5/8 or 6/8. Nothing wrong with that but a square tip isn't that much different or safer. Buy something of quality (Ralf Aust, Revisor, Dovo, etc) but you might want to avoid spending too much in case you change your mind. The classifieds here are a great option so give that a look. The most important thing is that it's shave ready. A razor that's not will ruin your first experience with it.

[eddy79]

OCD has pretty much covered it. A strop and razor is all you need. Reading in the library and watching the vids on YouTube will help though. Just make sure your razor is truly shave ready and not a factory edge. Good luck

[rmagnus]

A healthy bank account.

Since you've been wet shaving a razor and strop is about it but the "I want, I need" more stuff is endless, lol.

[OCDshaver]

I'm not sure if there is any beginner razors. Many will tell you to get a round point 5/8 or 6/8. Nothing wrong with that but a square tip isn't that much different or safer. Buy something of quality (Ralf Aust, Revisor, Dovo, etc) but you might want to avoid spending too much in case you change your mind. The classifieds here are a great option so give that a look. The most important thing is that it's shave ready. A razor that's not will ruin your first experience with it.

Let me add one more thing, stay away from a spike point razor. Even many experienced users do not like them because you can fillet you face quite easily with one. Read up on the difference between a regular square tip and a spike. Essentially, a square will have the very edge slightly muted to avoid an incredibly sharp point at the very end of the edge. You'll have enough to worry about without that added level of danger.

[lnk]

Make sure that if it doesn't seem right, STOP! It should be a smooth experience. Don't force it. Lots of good how to videos. Watch them, then watch them some more....Good luck.

LNK

[therewillbeblood]

I started shaving about a year ago and didn't want to invest too much. So I purchased a Dovo Best Quality 5/8 and find it shaves just fine. As others have mentioned, being shave ready is the key. I found a paddle strop works better for me than a hanging strop.

[Phrank]

Let me add one more thing, stay away from a spike point razor. Even many experienced users do not like them because you can fillet you face quite easily with one. Read up on the difference between a regular square tip and a spike. Essentially, a square will have the very edge slightly muted to avoid an incredibly sharp point at the very end of the edge. You'll have enough to worry about without that added level of danger.

Yes, the old spike point...learned very quickly to be very careful with one of those!

As OCD says, it's an added dimension you don't need when you're learning. With a spike point, you always have to know where it is on your face, because if you don't know where it is, it will tell you soon enough!

And a Dovo 5/8th or something similar is a good starter blade.