Hello from the Sunshine State
Hi all,
I've been getting cut-throat shaves from my barber for about the last six months, & within the last week have been researching DE razors. My barber however, suggested if I was genuinely interested in wet shaving, to consider straight razors & thus I've ended up jumping between SRP & Shaving101. I guess the decision to make the switch to traditional shaving has come about because of how much nicer, cleaner & healthier my skin has become since getting regular cut-throats & I've always enjoyed shaving.
Would absolutely love some help in getting a decent kit setup. Price isn't a huge thing, but I don't want to go overboard, nor do I want to sacrifice quality to save a few bucks.
I've found a couple of online retailers who do "Beginner Kits", which I've attached links to below, although I am open to suggestions of purchasing items individually if the quality of the some of the kits are a bit sketchy.
The first set is from Shaverhut.com.au Shaver Hut Entry Level
And at $299 it contains:
-Dovo Classic ⅝" half-hollow, carbon steel blade
-Muhle Pure Badger Brush
-Frank Shaving Leather & Canvas Strop
-Valobra Shaving Soap
-Clear leather balm strop paste
-Cyril R. Salter Styptic Pencils
The second is also from Shaverhut.com.au Thiers-Issard Straight Razor Kit
$349
-Thiers-Issard ⅝" Straight Razor
-Thiers-Issard best badger brush
-Leather, double sided-paddle Strop
-Shaving bowl & soap
-Alum block
-Sharpening paste
Third is the Mensbiz.com.au Standard Straight Razor Kit
$250
-Dovo Solingen ⅝" Classic Black
-Dovo Solingen Double-sided canvas/leather strop
-Dovo solingen leather balm
-Men's Biz Super Badger Shaving Brush
-Shaving cream, a choice of Proraso Eucalyptus & Menthol or Sandalwood & Shea Butter, Speick Shaving Cream, or finally TOBS Avocado +$10
Last but not least of the kits is the Mensbiz.com.au Deluxe
$400
-Dovo Solingen Tortoiseshell ⅝"
-Dovo Solingen Extra Wide Russian Leather Strop
-Dovo Leather balm
-Shavemac Silvertip Shave Brush No. 177
-Shave cream, a choice of GFT Almond, Coconut Oil, GFT, Limes, Rose, Sandalwood or Violet.
I'd most likely also purchase a stand for the brush. As I said, if people think these kits are a little too good to be true, I am very much open to hearing alternatives.
Look forward to hearing from you all, and thanks in advance.
Sincerely,
Harley
EDIT: I also know that the razor's aren't necessarily honed when bought, so any help in pointing me towards someone who can hone/willing to teach would be fantastic too, I know I saw a couple while perusing the forums, but I didn't think to write them down. Cheers.