Thread: 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.

Hi and welcome. I would suggest that you check out SRD. The kits will cost about the same in the end but the strop will be bigger and you can get replacement pieces, everything is upgradeable, every piece in the kit is quality and the razor will come honed which will cost you about another 30 here. In the down under forum is a thread about Australian supplies. Sure the guy's from the east will be along shortly and be able to help more with local items. Good luck and any questions feel free to ask.

Hi and welcome to SRP. I see you are from Australia. We have a "down under" forum dedicated to your fellow countrymen, though not exclusively, and perhaps an introduction there, with a link to this thread, might pay off. I don't recall who, but some of the fellows are from Brisbane.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/down-under/