Hello! Newbie from sunny Miami here to stay, shave and learn!

Hello community! I’m new to the world of straight razor shaving and super excited to learn the art. I have been wet shaving for years now with carts. A few years ago I was gifted a Art of Shaving badger brush and cart holder. I’d say that was my first intro to “true wet shaving” as I always used can shave cream. Once I found soap and creams to use with my brush it opened my eyes! Lol. This month was my birthday and my wife gifted me a straight razor set from classic shaving. It was the Buffalo Horn Damascus Straight Razor and Luxury Shave Set. I think for being a beginners set it is decent and reasonably priced. Started learning the art of straight razor shaving as soon as I received it! I’ll add a couple pics as to what my modest starter collection looks like and will keep adding pictures as it grows (my collection of things always grows!!). You gents should be getting ready to answer plenty of questions from this newbie soon. Haven’t finished going through old post to see if any question I may have, have already been answered. Regardless, just wanted to stop and say hello and I look forward to this new art that I’ll be learning!

Welcome to the forum! Looks like you are off to a great start. Plenty of helpful members here, so ask any questions that come to mind.

Be sure to check out the Shave Library for plenty of helpful information: https://shavelibrary.com/

Hello and welcome to SRP.
You are certainly off to a very nice start.
Enjoy your time here on the forum and have fun.

Pete <:-}

Welcome to the family. Ask away. We all love to share our knowledge. No matter how long you are at it you never stop learning. Take it slowly. You will get cuts. Don't let it discourage you. I have ysed a straight almost 30 years. Tested a freshly cleaned and honed razor this morning. Nice cut over upper lip. Lather ran red right down my chin. It happened to us all.
Looks like you only have two straights. That won't last long.

Welcome to SRP!!!!

A lot of great Gents here to help you out, ask questions and we'll do our best.
As said, check out the library, a ton of useful info there.

Enjoy and have fun!!!

I checked out that set. The listing says that you start with the "damascus" razor and then when you get the hang of the art that you then ready to MOVE UP to the Gold Dollar.
:roflmao

I'm sorry to say that you are not starting out with very good equipment. The Lucas Webster cadre of razor websites is all about hit and run marketing. I highly would recommend that you check out the Buy/Sell/Trade section here for a quality vintage razor.

No need to apologize Utopian. That Damascus has less of a sharp edge than my butter knife. I think it’s purpose is to practice the technique. Regardless though, I’m sure most peoples first everything wasn’t the best. But thanks for your opinion.

Since you are just starting out, I assume that you don't have a hone, just a strop? Did you get the Gold Dollar too? There are lots of videos to help you get started and the best approach is to start with just the cheeks as it's the easiest shaving surface. Experiment with proper angle and, in my opinion, when in doubt, use a lower angle.

That’s correct. I only have the strop that came with the set. I have been looking at tons of videos the past few weeks. I feel like I’m getting sensory overload by viewing so many! Lol. I’m sure in due time with practice and trial and error I’ll achieve the proper technique. As far as honing, should I buy one now to hone the razor or wait till I really feel it’s dulled out on me? I have looked some up, but seem a bit confused. There are so many to choose from. Thanks again!

Don't worry about honeing right now. Learn to shave first. With only 2 razors it is cheaper to send them out than buy hones. A pro honed razor will also give you a bench mark to judge sharpness by.

I only have one razor at the moment. The Damascus is very blunt and dull. And now to think of it. Would I be able to get it sent out to be honed? Or is it strictly used to learn and practice techniques? And are there any places you recommend to get them professionally honed at a reasonable price?

It all depends on brand and quality. Some of the cheaper razors are not worth it.

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Originally Posted by ProBono

I only have one razor at the moment. The Damascus is very blunt and dull. And now to think of it. Would I be able to get it sent out to be honed? Or is it strictly used to learn and practice techniques? And are there any places you recommend to get them professionally honed at a reasonable price?

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Cheap "damascus" razors tend to be made of very poor steel that cannot hold an edge. A good indication of this is the seller's claim that the gold dollar is a step up from the "damascus."

These are known as razor shaped objects. They look like razors but cannot function as a razor. Luke got your money. You got a knick-knack.

not to mention that any quality Damascus will be 500$ up to over a thousand

Woops, I clearly missed the "razor shaped object" starter package mention. Get yourself a quality straight razor and accompanying gear if you wish to continue going that route. No amount of honing by the best honers on the planet will do that RS(PoS)O any good. Just another humble opinion.

Welcome. :)

Thank you.

Welcome aboard. As said check out the BST for a quality razor. Also try to meet with someone local. Many of us are willing to help new folks get going and it will save a lot of time on the learning curve.

Welcome to SRP.
Step up to a Gold Dollar? I didnt know there was a lower grade razor than a GD. Wow...
You have been given some great advice so far. And i agree to start watching the buy/sell/trade thread. You can find shave ready razors there as low as 30 bucks shipped. And if you concider shipping and honning costs, you get a good razor for next to nothing. It might have a few pit marks and stains, but it will be a real razor. Not a RSO.

So take your time. Its easy to get in over your head. Keep the RSO to open mail with. And ask all the questions you need. We are always wanting to help new guys i to this old way of shaving. As the sayi g goes, after 100 straight razor shaves you start to understand what your doing. So easy does it.

I actually posted in BST already and have set myself up to purchase a SR that I have wanted for years now, but never seemed to be able to find one. Liking this place already😬

Welcome to the forum!

Welcome to the forum!!

Yeah, I've seen guys here sell shave ready razors for little more than it would cost to have one honed. I'm talking about quality razors made in Solingen and Sheffield.

Standard razors (not the highly sought after ones) can be bought for a bargain if you look.

My first razor was a Henckels with a chip that took a lot of time to remove and then hone using knife sharpening stones to put a less than ideal edge on it. I was trying to save money and it cost me in the long run. I didn't realize how great the guys were here and that they are really passionate about helping new guys out. I've been a member for a few years, but I took a long hiatus from razors so I'm still learning and I still think of myself as a student. Take care and enjoy the new hobby.

Welcome aboard, Leatherneck--there are a few of us here!

You've received some great input on razor choices (nice Clauss USMC that you purchased). I'll add to the conversation by suggesting that you pick up at least one more shave ready blade in addition to your Clauss. Chances are decent that you may dull your blade while you're getting the hang of stropping, so a 2nd razor is nice to have during that phase.

I also suggest not purchasing a whole bunch of razors (& especially expensive ones) for a few months. First, you'll somewhat lessen your learning curve if you consistently use the same razor (sorta like not using a different rifle on each day you're at the rifle range...not a good op). Second, your blade preferences will likely evolve as you gain proficiency and experience (e.g., preferred widths, grinds, points, and etc.). Third, if you decide this blood sport isn't a good fit for you, you're not stuck with a bunch of tools that you'll no longer use and may take a financial loss on if you sell them.

Again, welcome aboard and have fun!

Hello and welcome on the forum. Once again a "perfect kit for beginners" was sold. Why perfect for beginner? Because only beginners can fall in that trap.
The only good thing is that it forced you to look on the web and find the forum.
You received here some good advices. One more: enlist in the monthly SRP Giveaway contest. As there is less then 100 participating guys each month, you have a fair chance to win a straigth perfectly honed.

Welcome to SRP. The folks here are extremely generous sharing their experience - which is extensive - and providing advice. Read what’s in the library and ask questions. Even if they have been asked before, someone will respond without passing judgement.

A warning: as you get into shaving with a straight, there will be temptations to invest in more razors, hones, strops, brushes, soaps, etc. Tread carefully at first. Look at the B/S/T forum and you will find many good deals that are almost always better priced and far better quality than you will find on online auctions. Get your razor professionally honed or find an SRP member close to you who can hone it for you. That will help you shave comfortably and safely and set a standard for any honing you might want to try yourself in the future.

Enjoy your new hobby.

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Originally Posted by SemperFi

Welcome aboard, Leatherneck--there are a few of us here!

You've received some great input on razor choices (nice Clauss USMC that you purchased). I'll add to the conversation by suggesting that you pick up at least one more shave ready blade in addition to your Clauss. Chances are decent that you may dull your blade while you're getting the hang of stropping, so a 2nd razor is nice to have during that phase.

I also suggest not purchasing a whole bunch of razors (& especially expensive ones) for a few months. First, you'll somewhat lessen your learning curve if you consistently use the same razor (sorta like not using a different rifle on each day you're at the rifle range...not a good op). Second, your blade preferences will likely evolve as you gain proficiency and experience (e.g., preferred widths, grinds, points, and etc.). Third, if you decide this blood sport isn't a good fit for you, you're not stuck with a bunch of tools that you'll no longer use and may take a financial loss on if you sell them.

Again, welcome aboard and have fun!

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What’s up Devil! Thanks for the advice and the welcoming! The member that helped me out with the clauss SR is amazing. I can’t thank him enough! I was an Artilleryman with Kilo 3/11 out of 29 Palms. I was in from 6/01-10/05. What about you?

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Originally Posted by YoWan

Hello and welcome on the forum. Once again a "perfect kit for beginners" was sold. Why perfect for beginner? Because only beginners can fall in that trap.
The only good thing is that it forced you to look on the web and find the forum.
You received here some good advices. One more: enlist in the monthly SRP Giveaway contest. As there is less then 100 participating guys each month, you have a fair chance to win a straigth perfectly honed.

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Yowan, thanks for the advice. Forgive the ignorance, but I was trying to figure out how to join the contest and giveaways and can’t figure it out. Can you or someone else please explain it to me. Thanks again folks! ��

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Originally Posted by ProBono

Yowan, thanks for the advice. Forgive the ignorance, but I was trying to figure out how to join the contest and giveaways and can’t figure it out. Can you or someone else please explain it to me. Thanks again folks! ��

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You are here in the welcome center, beginners division, presentations sub forum. There is the sub forum contests and giveaways in the same division. The next one will start tomorrow. Read well the rules, it's easy.