Thread: 30 year old newbie from southport U.K.

Hi all,

Ever since watching the latest James Bond film I have been intrigued by straight razor shaving. I researched this a lot and now my wife has indulged my eccentricity and bought me a new dovo straight. She has teamed this up with a Mitchell's wool fat soap, a badger hair brush and a locally made leather and canvas strop. (Lucky husband) Whilst my razor is off to be honed I just have a few questions before I excitingly get to try out my razor.

1, what is the canvas side of my strop for?

2, do I need a strop paste? I don't see myself honing my own razor so does paste help keep an edge for longer?

3, I only need to shave around once a week maybe less. Will I need to oil my razor in between, and if so what with?

Thanks in in advance for any answers, I am sure I will get as much as shaving properly as you lot obviously do!

Welcome to the SRP Forum!

You Sir, are a lucky man. I wish that my wife took that kind of interest in my straight razor shaving hobby.

Here is a link to the SRP Beginners Guide to Straight Shaving. This will help you with the things you need to know before you begin your experience with a straight razor.

Here is a link to the SRP Library. This will help you with pretty much anything relating to shaving with a straight razor.

Here is a link that will help you find other SRP members in your area, just insert your location and hit search now. Note that the user name listing in red is a mentor, if you should need any personal help.

Welcome to the world of straight razor shaving!

Originally Posted by Turner2210

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1, what is the canvas side of my strop for? The canvas side is used to clean the blade and warm it up for stropping.

2, do I need a strop paste? I don't see myself honing my own razor so does paste help keep an edge for longer? I don't really see a need for strop paste. However, some people love it. I would suggest just buying a barbers hone or a finisher to maintain your blade periodically.

3, I only need to shave around once a week maybe less. Will I need to oil my razor in between, and if so what with? I just dry my blade well after use and keep it out of the bath room. However, a thin layer of mineral oil, on the blade, will not hurt it at all.

Welcome aboard

Welcome to the forum Turner2210. Congratulations on finding the best place on the Interweb! Nice to see another UK member. There are threads galore for you to explore and learn from. You'll notice that opinions vary massively on what to do, what not to do, the best bit of equipment for this or that. You'll see this a lot - YMMV. It means Your Mileage May Vary. Different members get different results and thus, what works for us may not work for someone else. You'll experience it.

There isn't one most important point to learn. All areas are just as important. Correct stropping is important, shaving angle is important, good lather is important... and so the list goes on!

You have a steep learning curve ahead of you! Be patient. If one particular thing doesn't work for you, try something else. If you can't find the answer on here, just ask. Just don't become disillusioned and give up! Good luck!

Welcome to SRP, from another UK member.

Welcome from Bristol UK hope you enjoy your new razor. LexTac answered all I think. I'll just add be careful when getting stropping at first, so you di not damage the edge or stropp.

Welcome. Paste can certainly help keep your edge going but it does need to wait until you have your stropping technique figured out. You won't ever need to learn to hone. It is a lot cheaper to send them out, and there are guys that hone in your general part of the world.

Welcome to SRP!

Thanks LeX. And thanks for the encouragement from the rest of you guys. Looks like more reading for me before my razor comes back!

Hi and welcome. Any questions feel free to ask