Not really a noob

After about 15 years with the cartridge type razors, they've gotten too expensive and just don't work. I'm working on returning to shaving the way I was taught, a good badger brush, mug and soap and either a DE Safety or straight razor. My dad told me when I was 15 that to truly learn to shave, one must learn with a bare blade, and I learned with one of my grandpa's straight razors. I looked at the price of cartridges and decided that taking the time for a real shave with a DE wasn't a problem.

Then I looked online for a new razor and OMG have things changed, I'm lost in all the selections, when I was using a DE you had Gillette, or an expensive one. Now the list is unreal, I'm having trouble figuring out where to start. The only DE I've ever found that I really liked was the Gillette Fatboy, but the one dad gave me has finally worn to the point the butterfly doors won't stay closed and the blade won't sit still.

The main problem I'm encountering is Straight razors are now over a $100 dollars for a good one, DE razors are too numerous to figure out which one is the right one without spending a small fortune. The shave soap and brush is the easy part, I discovered Col. Conk in the early 90s and fell in love with the glycerine soap, and know a good badger brush when I see one.

So I'll be here reading and asking questions about all this new stuff, I'll be starting with a DE because I'm not sure if I want to take up the task of maintaining a straight razor. And yes, my father taught me how to hone, refresh and rebuild the edge on straight razors.

Welcome to the 'Place'
Whist my bias is toward a straight I recently went to a cheap DE for head shaving for the convenience factor.
Check out our DE forum also, if you haven't already :
http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...-se-forum.html

Welcome to SRP, BardicDruid! If you are interested in purchasing a straight razor look at the classifieds here at SRP. There are regularly vintage razors in good condition sold for much less than the price of a new straight.
I have had good luck finding vintage Gillette DEs at antique stores.

welcome and thanks for the intro! good roots run deep, all fathers should be of such quality and teach their sons. the selections certainly are overwhelming but fortunately there are many experts willing to help sift out where to start. check youtube for some good advice on de as well as straight selection. on the plus side having so many offerings has meant several good blade manufacturer are offering economical premium blades. maybe once you find a good starter for a de you could pick up a sample pack of different premium blades and get a feel for what your face prefers!

Hi and welcome. Sounds like you already know most of what you need and a good read round the site or in the library will bring you up to speed quick enough. Good luck finding what you're after.